Post by fwp on Dec 12, 2009 7:23:13 GMT -5
www.tri-cityherald.com/1026/story/825851.html
KENNEWICK — Pat O'Hara is headed to Las Vegas this weekend with an open mind.
He is not expecting to hit the jackpot, but he hopes he doesn't bust out either.
But just like everyone that heads to Sin City, the Tri-Cities Fever coach hopes to leave with more than he came with.
O'Hara and his coaching staff will conduct their first open tryout for the 2010 season Sunday at Ed Fountain Park in Las Vegas, looking to add to his 2010 roster.
"Maybe we find one player, maybe we find none," O'Hara said. "Maybe we find five."
O'Hara has signed 10 players for the Fever's inaugural season in the Indoor Football League that is expected to start in February. He says he has a lot of interested players wanting to play for the Fever, but has been very selective.
"We are trying to put the right pieces together and I think we are doing it the right way," O'Hara said. "We are not just going out and signing a bunch of guys to sign a bunch of guys."
The Fever's roster at this point is heavy on defense. O'Hara has signed four defensive backs, two linebackers and two defensive linemen.
On offense, the Fever has signed quarterback Colin Drafts and receiver Brandon Horace.
Only one player -- defensive back Courtney Miller -- has IFL experience. The other nine players have arena football experience.
O'Hara said he likes where he is in the recruiting process and is confident that when camp opens in mid-February, he will have the majority of pieces he needs.
"We have a model and I think we are on that path," he said. "We obviously need to get some linemen, but we want to get the right ones."
* * *
Emery Beckles, the Fever's former jack-of-all-trades, recently signed with the Ogden Knights, the AIFA team owned by several Tri-City investors. Beckles played in parts of four seasons for the Fever, and was released in the middle of last season.
* * *
The Central Valley Coyotes appear to be without a home. The Coyotes were dropped from the Arena Football One website and have not resurfaced anywhere else yet.
KENNEWICK — Pat O'Hara is headed to Las Vegas this weekend with an open mind.
He is not expecting to hit the jackpot, but he hopes he doesn't bust out either.
But just like everyone that heads to Sin City, the Tri-Cities Fever coach hopes to leave with more than he came with.
O'Hara and his coaching staff will conduct their first open tryout for the 2010 season Sunday at Ed Fountain Park in Las Vegas, looking to add to his 2010 roster.
"Maybe we find one player, maybe we find none," O'Hara said. "Maybe we find five."
O'Hara has signed 10 players for the Fever's inaugural season in the Indoor Football League that is expected to start in February. He says he has a lot of interested players wanting to play for the Fever, but has been very selective.
"We are trying to put the right pieces together and I think we are doing it the right way," O'Hara said. "We are not just going out and signing a bunch of guys to sign a bunch of guys."
The Fever's roster at this point is heavy on defense. O'Hara has signed four defensive backs, two linebackers and two defensive linemen.
On offense, the Fever has signed quarterback Colin Drafts and receiver Brandon Horace.
Only one player -- defensive back Courtney Miller -- has IFL experience. The other nine players have arena football experience.
O'Hara said he likes where he is in the recruiting process and is confident that when camp opens in mid-February, he will have the majority of pieces he needs.
"We have a model and I think we are on that path," he said. "We obviously need to get some linemen, but we want to get the right ones."
* * *
Emery Beckles, the Fever's former jack-of-all-trades, recently signed with the Ogden Knights, the AIFA team owned by several Tri-City investors. Beckles played in parts of four seasons for the Fever, and was released in the middle of last season.
* * *
The Central Valley Coyotes appear to be without a home. The Coyotes were dropped from the Arena Football One website and have not resurfaced anywhere else yet.