KRR ver 2
03-06-2008, 11:41 PM
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/nb/katy/sports/5589159.html
With new coach, Katy out to build on inaugural 7-7 season record in IFL
By W. J. RICHARDSON
Chronicle Correspondent
GOOD football teams are comprised of three core ingredients — good management, good coaching and exceptional talent.
After finishing 7-7 during their inaugural campaign last season, and just one game out of the Intense Football League playoff mix, the Katy Ruff Riders are extremely confident that they have something special brewing as they kickoff the 2008 season next week against the Frisco Thunder.
"We feel as though last season was an opportunity for us to sort of get our feet wet and learn how to play in this league," said head coach Stephen Wiggins. "We will be so much better prepared mentally to compete week after week this season."
Wiggins enters his first season at the helm of the Ruff Riders after taking over for Donald Hollas, who departed the team back in October.
The Houston native served as a special assistant for the team last season.
The team concluded its final preparations for the new season on Sunday with a scrimmage against the Conroe Storm. The coaching staff will use that experience to gauge the talent level and make the final cuts in effort to trim the roster down to the league-mandated 23 active players.
"As everyone knows, the final few cuts are always the hardest," Wiggins said. "We just had so many guys play so hard, it will be extremely disappointing to have to tell some of them that they will have to go home,. Hopefully some of them might be able to join us at some point later down the line."
New faces
Though faced with the challenges of having to compete with a proliferation of arena teams sprouting up around the area, coupled with the arrival of the new All American Football League in Houston, the initiative of signing high-caliber talent during the offseason was an arduous task.
"Our approach has been to never assume that anything is a given until it's actually a done deal," Wiggins said. "We also make an effort to not only sign the most talented players, but find guys that have the ability to adjust on the fly and help us in various positions when needed."
The team has re-signed eight key players from last year's squad, but the bulk of the roster will be a compilation of new names and faces.
Several area schools such as Texas Southern, Prairie View and the University of Houston will have representation on the field this spring, though there will also be an added mix of national grid iron powers such as Iowa State, Arkansas and Nebraska that fill out the roster.
Former Baytown Lee and Baylor standout Jermaine Alford has signed with the club this season and will challenge Albert Higgs for snaps behind center. Higgs, the 18-year pro from Sonoma State took almost every snap for the Ruff Riders last season and led the IFL in passing yards.
The team has also signed two additional players with proven QB credentials. Deer Park resident Austin Flynn, who played his collegiate ball at Iowa State before converting to wide out, and Jamaal Lord, who had a productive career passing and scrambling in Lincoln for the Nebraska Cornhuskers.
"It's nice to have the depth and the high level of competition at such an important position," offensive coordinator Marc Saldana said. "Competition is always good, plus we feel as though we have several guys that can help us win if called upon."
On defense, last season standouts Rod Kelley (DE), Derrick McCullar (DB), Freeman Cook (DL), Darvin Peterson (LB) and Michael Mouton (LB) are slated to return.
Strong business model
While the on-the-field product is what drives the organization, the key component in the arena experience is predicated around a business model that is entertaining, fast-paced and family-oriented.
With that in mind, the Ruff Riders spent the entire off-season diligently making improvements in all important areas of their operations.
"We have improved our concessions and the entertainment during games, which also includes expanding our cheerleading squad," managing partner David Iglinsky said. "We have also added exciting promotional events and even revamped our website to offer interactive features."
The area that Iglinsky is most proud of is his coaching staff. The team was able to bring back Saldana and defensive coordinator Gerald Dockery. Brian Wiggins and Jimmy Klingler have also been added to the staff this season.
"We feel as though we have the best and most experienced coaching staff in the league," Iglinsky said. "I cannot express how happy we are to have all these terrific people in place striving to lead us to a championship."
The Ruff Riders open the season on Saturday, March 9, in Frisco against the Thunder. The first home game is April 12, as the 2007 IFL champion Louisiana Swashbucklers come to town.
All home games are played at the Leonard E. Merrell Center in Katy.
With new coach, Katy out to build on inaugural 7-7 season record in IFL
By W. J. RICHARDSON
Chronicle Correspondent
GOOD football teams are comprised of three core ingredients — good management, good coaching and exceptional talent.
After finishing 7-7 during their inaugural campaign last season, and just one game out of the Intense Football League playoff mix, the Katy Ruff Riders are extremely confident that they have something special brewing as they kickoff the 2008 season next week against the Frisco Thunder.
"We feel as though last season was an opportunity for us to sort of get our feet wet and learn how to play in this league," said head coach Stephen Wiggins. "We will be so much better prepared mentally to compete week after week this season."
Wiggins enters his first season at the helm of the Ruff Riders after taking over for Donald Hollas, who departed the team back in October.
The Houston native served as a special assistant for the team last season.
The team concluded its final preparations for the new season on Sunday with a scrimmage against the Conroe Storm. The coaching staff will use that experience to gauge the talent level and make the final cuts in effort to trim the roster down to the league-mandated 23 active players.
"As everyone knows, the final few cuts are always the hardest," Wiggins said. "We just had so many guys play so hard, it will be extremely disappointing to have to tell some of them that they will have to go home,. Hopefully some of them might be able to join us at some point later down the line."
New faces
Though faced with the challenges of having to compete with a proliferation of arena teams sprouting up around the area, coupled with the arrival of the new All American Football League in Houston, the initiative of signing high-caliber talent during the offseason was an arduous task.
"Our approach has been to never assume that anything is a given until it's actually a done deal," Wiggins said. "We also make an effort to not only sign the most talented players, but find guys that have the ability to adjust on the fly and help us in various positions when needed."
The team has re-signed eight key players from last year's squad, but the bulk of the roster will be a compilation of new names and faces.
Several area schools such as Texas Southern, Prairie View and the University of Houston will have representation on the field this spring, though there will also be an added mix of national grid iron powers such as Iowa State, Arkansas and Nebraska that fill out the roster.
Former Baytown Lee and Baylor standout Jermaine Alford has signed with the club this season and will challenge Albert Higgs for snaps behind center. Higgs, the 18-year pro from Sonoma State took almost every snap for the Ruff Riders last season and led the IFL in passing yards.
The team has also signed two additional players with proven QB credentials. Deer Park resident Austin Flynn, who played his collegiate ball at Iowa State before converting to wide out, and Jamaal Lord, who had a productive career passing and scrambling in Lincoln for the Nebraska Cornhuskers.
"It's nice to have the depth and the high level of competition at such an important position," offensive coordinator Marc Saldana said. "Competition is always good, plus we feel as though we have several guys that can help us win if called upon."
On defense, last season standouts Rod Kelley (DE), Derrick McCullar (DB), Freeman Cook (DL), Darvin Peterson (LB) and Michael Mouton (LB) are slated to return.
Strong business model
While the on-the-field product is what drives the organization, the key component in the arena experience is predicated around a business model that is entertaining, fast-paced and family-oriented.
With that in mind, the Ruff Riders spent the entire off-season diligently making improvements in all important areas of their operations.
"We have improved our concessions and the entertainment during games, which also includes expanding our cheerleading squad," managing partner David Iglinsky said. "We have also added exciting promotional events and even revamped our website to offer interactive features."
The area that Iglinsky is most proud of is his coaching staff. The team was able to bring back Saldana and defensive coordinator Gerald Dockery. Brian Wiggins and Jimmy Klingler have also been added to the staff this season.
"We feel as though we have the best and most experienced coaching staff in the league," Iglinsky said. "I cannot express how happy we are to have all these terrific people in place striving to lead us to a championship."
The Ruff Riders open the season on Saturday, March 9, in Frisco against the Thunder. The first home game is April 12, as the 2007 IFL champion Louisiana Swashbucklers come to town.
All home games are played at the Leonard E. Merrell Center in Katy.