Post by 50yardfan on Mar 20, 2011 12:36:45 GMT -5
Blue Racers hope success continues on and off field
www.marionstar.com/article/20110320/SPORTS/103200322/Blue-Racers-hope-success-continues-off-field
MARION - The Marion Blue Racers will resume their season this weekend with the same optimism they had at the start of their inaugural Continental Indoor Football League campaign nearly a month ago.
Following last week's bye, they will kick it off again at 7:30 p.m. Saturday against the Dayton Silverbacks in the Marion Veterans Memorial Coliseum.
The Blue Racers are 1-1 on the field with a win over Port Huron and a close loss to defending CIFL champion Cincinnati.
With a win and a tight loss to a strong club, Marion CEO and general manager LaMonte Coleman believes the Blue Racers are succeeding in many areas.
"A lot of people here have been real receptive and supportive," said Coleman, who founded the club after the Marion Mayhem folded a season ago. "The former team here had mixed reviews, but we do a lot of family-oriented things to support Marion."
Attendance for the Blue Racers' first home game was about 1,000 and Coleman said it was even higher for their game with the Commandos a week later.
"That means the word is out about the team, community and family fun," Coleman said.
A lot of people in the Marion area have helped to resurrect indoor football here, Coleman said.
"I want to thank Mayor Scott Schertzer, the Marion County commissioners, the Marion Area Chamber of Commerce and the Marion County Fair Board for making this possible," he said. "We could not do it without them."
But Blue Racers management isn't about to rest.
"We're really trying to get out into the community more with our players and coaches," said Ryan Sawyer, team vice president of operations. "We have to get back out there and do more.
"We always want to give back to the Marion community for all of its support in coming to the games, and we want to show people we are here to stay."
That's good news for fans like Ron Vanest of Prospect, who feared professional football in Marion was long gone after the Mayhem's demise in 2010.
"I've watched the football here ever since it got started, and I'm happy it's back," Vanest said. "I really enjoy the Blue Racers being here. It's a lot of fun watching them."
Fellow fans Barry and Kim Disbennett of Marysville think the same.
"It was fun the first time we saw them (in the Blue Racers' opener)," Kim Disbennett said. "It's a very exciting game."
Barry Disbennett has liked what he has seen, both on the field and along the sidelines.
"I think the Blue Racers have looked very impressive," he said. "It's condensed, intense football.
"Another draw for us is that our daughter, Nicki, is a member of the Blu Raes dance and cheerleading team."
Nicki Disbennett is also a student at The Ohio State University-Marion.
The Disbennetts were just a family affair at the Marion home opener, but one week later for the Cincinnati game they brought more friends with them to watch.
Also on hand for the game against Cincinnati were Lois and Ed Lorenz, who made the nine-hour drive from their home in Savannah, Tenn., to watch placekicking son Tyler play for the Blue Racers in his first two games in Marion.
"We're impressed," Lois Lorenz said. "The Blue Racers' players and coaches have been very nice to us."
So nice that they plan on attending all of Tyler's home games, no matter the drive.
"It's been a real good experience for us," Ed Lorenz said.
MARION BLUE RACERS 2011 SCHEDULE
All home games are in Veterans Memorial Coliseum
All games begin at 7:30 p.m.
March 5 Port Huron W, 44-37
March 12 Cincinnati L, 44-50
March 19 Bye
March 26 Dayton
April 2 Indianapolis
April 9 At Dayton
April 15 At Port Huron
April 23 Bye
April 30 Chicago
May 7 Bye
May 14 Indianapolis
May 21 At Chicago
May 28 At Cincinnati
www.marionstar.com/article/20110320/SPORTS/103200322/Blue-Racers-hope-success-continues-off-field
MARION - The Marion Blue Racers will resume their season this weekend with the same optimism they had at the start of their inaugural Continental Indoor Football League campaign nearly a month ago.
Following last week's bye, they will kick it off again at 7:30 p.m. Saturday against the Dayton Silverbacks in the Marion Veterans Memorial Coliseum.
The Blue Racers are 1-1 on the field with a win over Port Huron and a close loss to defending CIFL champion Cincinnati.
With a win and a tight loss to a strong club, Marion CEO and general manager LaMonte Coleman believes the Blue Racers are succeeding in many areas.
"A lot of people here have been real receptive and supportive," said Coleman, who founded the club after the Marion Mayhem folded a season ago. "The former team here had mixed reviews, but we do a lot of family-oriented things to support Marion."
Attendance for the Blue Racers' first home game was about 1,000 and Coleman said it was even higher for their game with the Commandos a week later.
"That means the word is out about the team, community and family fun," Coleman said.
A lot of people in the Marion area have helped to resurrect indoor football here, Coleman said.
"I want to thank Mayor Scott Schertzer, the Marion County commissioners, the Marion Area Chamber of Commerce and the Marion County Fair Board for making this possible," he said. "We could not do it without them."
But Blue Racers management isn't about to rest.
"We're really trying to get out into the community more with our players and coaches," said Ryan Sawyer, team vice president of operations. "We have to get back out there and do more.
"We always want to give back to the Marion community for all of its support in coming to the games, and we want to show people we are here to stay."
That's good news for fans like Ron Vanest of Prospect, who feared professional football in Marion was long gone after the Mayhem's demise in 2010.
"I've watched the football here ever since it got started, and I'm happy it's back," Vanest said. "I really enjoy the Blue Racers being here. It's a lot of fun watching them."
Fellow fans Barry and Kim Disbennett of Marysville think the same.
"It was fun the first time we saw them (in the Blue Racers' opener)," Kim Disbennett said. "It's a very exciting game."
Barry Disbennett has liked what he has seen, both on the field and along the sidelines.
"I think the Blue Racers have looked very impressive," he said. "It's condensed, intense football.
"Another draw for us is that our daughter, Nicki, is a member of the Blu Raes dance and cheerleading team."
Nicki Disbennett is also a student at The Ohio State University-Marion.
The Disbennetts were just a family affair at the Marion home opener, but one week later for the Cincinnati game they brought more friends with them to watch.
Also on hand for the game against Cincinnati were Lois and Ed Lorenz, who made the nine-hour drive from their home in Savannah, Tenn., to watch placekicking son Tyler play for the Blue Racers in his first two games in Marion.
"We're impressed," Lois Lorenz said. "The Blue Racers' players and coaches have been very nice to us."
So nice that they plan on attending all of Tyler's home games, no matter the drive.
"It's been a real good experience for us," Ed Lorenz said.
MARION BLUE RACERS 2011 SCHEDULE
All home games are in Veterans Memorial Coliseum
All games begin at 7:30 p.m.
March 5 Port Huron W, 44-37
March 12 Cincinnati L, 44-50
March 19 Bye
March 26 Dayton
April 2 Indianapolis
April 9 At Dayton
April 15 At Port Huron
April 23 Bye
April 30 Chicago
May 7 Bye
May 14 Indianapolis
May 21 At Chicago
May 28 At Cincinnati