ALBANY, GA- The South Georgia Wildcats are very excited to announce the af2 league office has assigned WR Buchie Ibeh to the Wildcats roster.
Last season Ibeh played in nine regular season games and the playoffs with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers. He amassed 916 yards receiving on 77 receptions on his way to scoring 20 touchdowns. Ibeh led the Pioneers to a berth in the 2007 ArenaCup where he scored 2 touchdowns and gained 112 yards receiving in a losing effort.
"Buchie is one of the most complete receivers in this league," said Head Coach Derek Stingley. "His combination of size, speed, catching ability, and knowledge of the game is very rare in this league."
Ibeh spent the 2006 season as a member of the AFL champion Chicago Rush. He caught 16 passes for 205 yards while tallying 6 touchdowns.
"Buchie Ibeh is a winner," said General Manager Darren McPhail. "He has played in two straight championship games in the AFL and the af2 and we're excited about adding that mentality to our team and locker room."
The Wildcats open up the home portion of their schedule on April 5th against the Louisville Fire.
Season tickets are still available by contacting the box office at 229-435-2TIX.
Yard Dawgz Add Players as Training Camp Approaches
OKLAHOMA CITY -The Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz have been assigned two athletes by the arenafootball2 league office in preparation for training camp.
OL/DL Devin Rutledge (6'5, 275) played for the Missouri Southern State University Tigers where he was a member of the 2006 All-MIAA First-Team Defense. He spent two seasons at Pima Community College in Arizona where he earned NJCAA National Defensive Player of the Week (2004) and Western States Football League Defensive Player of the Week (2004).
Lynden Smith (6'2, 300) was an all-around high school athlete and chose to play basketball at Southwestern Christian College in Terrell, Texas. He also attended Ball State University and is currently attending Southern Nazarene University. Because of his athletic ability, he is projected to take the field as a fullback/linebacker. Smith graduated from Putnam City High School in Bethany, Oklahoma, in 2000.
The Yard Dawgz host the Arkansas Twisters on Saturday, April 5th, at 7:05 p.m. on Compassionate Care Hospice Field at Ford Center. Season tickets start as low as $66! Call 405.228.3294 for more information or visit www.okcyarddawgz.com.
ALBANY, NY - The Albany Conquest announced today that quarterback Ryan Hart has signed with the Grand Rapids Griffins of the Arena Football League.
Hart, 23, made his professional indoor football debut during the 2007 season with Albany as the Conquest's starting quarterback. Last year the Coral Springs, FL native led the af2 in Completions (374) and was ranked fourth in Completion Percentage (65.3%), Pass Attempts (573) and Total Offensive Plays (599). Hart threw for 3,953 yards and 83 touchdowns, while tying a Conquest single-game franchise record of eight touchdown passes twice, on April 21st vs. Green Bay and June 15th against Cincinnati. The 6'2", 220 lbs former Rutgers quarterback, posted a 111.3 QB rating last season and averaged nearly 250 passing yards per game.
"Ryan made the most of his opportunity with us and showed that he is an AFL caliber quarterback," said Conquest Head Coach Jeff Hoffman. "We are very excited to see him move up to the next level and we think he will have a very long and successful career."
"I'd like to thank the coaching staff in Albany and the Albany Conquest for giving me the opportunity to learn the arena game," said Hart. "They believed in me and gave me the chance to polish my skills and I am very thankful that."
The Conquest will begin their 2008 season on the road at the Mahoning Valley Thunder on Saturday, March 29th at 7:05 pm. The Conquest's home opener will be on Sunday, April 13th at 4:00 pm against the Peoria Pirates at the Times Union Center.
Full and partial season ticket packages are now on sale for the 2008 Albany Conquest regular season. For more information please contact the Conquest at (518) 487-2244 or online at www.albanyconquest.com.
Conquest Return Three More Players From 2007 Squad
ALBANY, NY - The Albany Conquest announced today that wide receiver Jared Jones, defensive backs Aharon Kiett and Matt Millard have been assigned to the Conquest by the af2 for the 2008 season, bringing the Conquest's announced roster up to four players.
Jones, 25, missed seven games due to injury in 2007, but was the Conquest's top kick-returner as he complied 776 return yards in 32 attempts for an average of 24.2 yards per Kick Return, which led the league and ranks amongst the top All-Time kick-returners in the af2. The Syracuse, NY native, and former Syracuse University wide receiver, had two returns for touchdowns last year; a 56-yard kickoff return TD against Cincinnati on June 15th and a 55-yard missed-field goal return TD on June 30th against Louisville. Jones, 6'0", 200 lbs also finished the season tied for the team lead in receiving yards per catch (11.7), he had two rushing touchdowns and he contributed 6.0 tackles on defense.
"Jared learned the indoor game and made a lot of progress," said Head Coach Jeff Hoffman. "He showed us that he is not just a great in the return game, but that he is a very balanced offensive weapon."
Kiett (pronounced KIT), 22, also battled injuries and missed seven games during the 2007 season, but that did not stop him from being one of the Conquest top defensive backs. The Atlantic City, NJ native had 37.5 tackles in nine games and ranked second on the roster with eight defensive breakups. Kiett, 5'11, 185 lbs, had arguably his best game of the season on April 21st vs. Green Bay where he had a season-high seven solo tackles, four defensive breakups and recovered a fumble. Kiett, who played his college football for Kean University, recorded his first career af2 interception on June 30th vs. Louisville.
"Aharon has great speed, good hands, excellent vision and he breaks on the ball quickly," said Coach Hoffman. "He looks to be a major factor and one of the leaders in our secondary this year."
Millard, 24, was injured in the Conquest's first day of training camp and missed the entire 2007 season. The 6-0, 205 lbs defensive back played four years of college football for Division II Kutztown University in Pennsylvania. Millard, a Secane, PA native was a three-year starter in the secondary from 2003-2005 for Kutztown.
"Matt was on the injured reserve all of last year, but he used his time wisely," said Coach Hoffman. "He studied and learned the indoor game and he has the potential to be a very good player for us."
The Conquest will begin their 2008 season on the road at the Mahoning Valley Thunder on Saturday, March 29th at 7:05 pm. The Conquest's home opener will be on Sunday, April 13th at 4:00 pm against the Peoria Pirates at the Times Union Center.
Full and partial season ticket packages are now on sale for the 2008 Albany Conquest regular season. For more information please contact the Conquest at (518) 487-2244 or online at www.albanyconquest.com.
AMARILLO, TEXAS The Amarillo Dusters announced today the final open tryout for the Amarillo Dusters football team in preparation for the 2008 season.
The tryout will be on Sunday, February 24, at the North Exhibit Hall of the Amarillo Civic Center. Registration will begin at 1:00 pm. Please bring $60 cash for the registration fee.
"We saw some good talent at the last tryout and I'm looking forward to seeing the athletes that will be at this tryout," said Chris MacKeown, head coach for the Amarillo Dusters.
Participants will be tested in the 40, vertical jump, short-shuttle, and broad jump as well as position-specific drills. Players are asked to bring Astroturf shoes only, no cleats. Head Coach Chris MacKeown and his staff will conduct the workout and evaluate each prospective player.
Former West Texas A&M football player, Donald Hooks was signed at the last tryout. Five other players at the tryout were invited to training camp to compete for spots on the 2008 roster.
Season tickets are on sale now. Call the box office at (806) 350-7277 to reserve your seats today. For more information, visit our website at www.dustersfootball.com.
Steamwheelers to Host Second Deck Mates Dance Team Tryouts on February 7th
(Moline, Ill.) - The Quad City Steamwheelers will hold a second Deck Mates Dance Team tryout on Thursday, February 7th. The tryout will be a one day audition held at Jai Johnson's Karate Center (3112 Avenue of the Cities in Moline). Registration will begin at 7:45 p.m. and the tryout will start promptly at 8:00 p.m. There is a $20.00 tryout fee.
"We had a successful first tryout," said Shawn Brown, Vice President and General Manager of the Quad City Steamwheelers. "We had a good group of participant's tryout earlier this year; however, we are still looking for several more dancers."
Dancers should wear black dance pants, a midriff exercise shirt and appropriate dance shoes.
The Deck Mate dancers receive many great benefits in addition to pay. Some of the benefits include: free gym membership, hair care and tanning.
Applicants seeking more information about trying out for the 2008 Deck Mates should contact Jill Bartlett-Hill at the Campustown store located in both Northpark and Southpark malls or call the Steamwheelers office at 309-797-8500.
The Green Bay Blizzard is pleased to announce the members of the 2008 Freeze Dance Team. Open tryouts were held on Saturday January 26th in the Brown County Memorial Arena with more than 30 girls participating in hopes of earning a spot on this year's squad. After a grueling 4 hour tryout, 14 dancers were selected to dance for this year's squad. This squad includes 8 members from last year's team as well as 6 new-comers. Among one of the new members of the Freeze Dance Team is 2007 Miss Green Bay, Danielle DuFour.
Allyson Seltzer (Dance Team Coordinator/Coach) and Stephanie Dahlman (Assistant Coach) are pleased to announce the following ladies to the squad.
1. Allyson Seltzer (Dance Team Coordinator/Coach)
2. Stephanie Dahlman (Assistant Coach)
3. Ali Kropidlowski
4. Andrea Jurgilanis
5. Kiara Henke
6. Megan Heller
7. Sarah Greiling
8. Roxie LeRoux
9. Danielle DuFour
10. Kristin Murray
11. Katie Doucette
12 Melissa Dahlman
13. Alicia Bunnell
14. Julia Sumnicht
To see the Freeze Dance Team at all 8 Blizzard home games, purchase your season tickets now for as little as $56 for the entire season by calling the Blizzard office at (920)405-1264.
BOARDMAN, Ohio- The Mahoning Valley Thunder is pleased to announce the assignment of Josh Swogger by the arenafootball2 League Office. Swogger (6'5, 238), a Quarterback is a first year af2 player.
Swogger, of Vienna, Ohio was one of the most celebrated Youngstown area athletes of the past decade. After beginning his high school career at Mathews, Swogger transferred to Youngstown's Ursuline High School prior to his junior season. In two years with the Irish, Josh threw for over 3,900 yards and 30 touchdown passes, completing 60 percent of his throws. Swogger did just as much damage on the ground, rushing for nearly 1,000 yards and 16 more scores, earning First Team All-SVC (Steel Valley Conference) and All-Ohio honors in both of his two seasons at Ursuline. During his senior season, Swogger lead Ursuline to a 14 and 1 record that culminated in a Division IV State Championship. For his efforts, Swogger was named the 2000 Division IV Ohio Offensive Player of the Year, CBS Sports All-American, and nominated to play in Ohio's North-South All-Star Game.
After receiving scholarship offers from Louisville, Cincinnati, Eastern Michigan and Akron among others, Josh accepted a scholarship to Washington State University. Swogger began his Cougar career in the 2003-04 season as a red-shirt freshman. Josh saw action in nine games that fall completing 50 percent of his passes for 548 yards and a touchdown. As a sophomore, Josh started the Cougars first six games before being sidelined because of a foot injury. In those six games Swogger threw for 1,283 yards with 13 touchdowns and seven interceptions. Swogger saw action in three games for WSU as a junior completing half of his passes for 147 yards and one score.
Josh transferred to Montana for his senior year in 2006. In one season with the Grizzlies Swogger averaged over 200 passing yards per game, throwing for 2,659 yards with 17 scores and 12 interceptions, helping the Grizzlies reach the Football Sub-Division (I-AA) semifinals. Following his collegiate career Josh spent time in training camp with the NFL's Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills along with the Colorado Crush of the AFL.
QUARTERBACK BRINGS SIZE, SMARTS UNDER CENTER
"Josh has terrific size for a quarterback, and a cannon arm. He's a real student of the game, not too many looks are going to surprise him. He's been around a number of different offenses, so he's pretty comfortable in the pocket." Said Thunder Head Coach Mike Hold. "Having a local kid under center is something this community can rally around, we're excited to bring Josh back to the Mahoning Valley and expect big things both for him and the Thunder." Hold continued.
All media outlets and Thunder fans are invited to attend a press conference introducing Swogger as the newest member of the Thunder. The press conference will be held Tuesday January 29th at 3pm at the Chevrolet Centre in Youngstown. Swogger and Head Coach Mike Hold will be available for comment.
The Mahoning Valley Thunder opens the season at home Saturday March 29th on Cortland Banks Field inside the Chevrolet Centre. Be a part of all the action in 2008 as the Thunder continues their climb towards the ArenaCup9 Championship. Season ticket prices start as low as $96 and are on sale now. For more information call the Thunder Offices at 330.758.4af2 (4232).
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