Xplosion Begin Training Camp
by Randy Snow
Published on February 3, 2008 under Continental Indoor Football League (CIFL)
Kalamazoo Xplosion
The Kalamazoo Xplosion of the Continental Indoor Football League conducted their third and final open tryout on Saturday, February 2. About 10-15 new players participated in the two-hour session along with many of the returning players from last season. As many as ten of the first time participants at the tryout were invited to join the team for the start of training camp, which begins on Monday, February 4. The team expects around 35-40 players to participate in training camp.
For Xplosion head coach Mike Sparks, the real work is about to begin. With the start of training camp, the team will now begin the process of officially signing players to League contracts for the 2008 season. Players like WR Brian Dolph, QB Randy Hutchison, K Brad Selent and WR Eric Gardner are all set to return for another season with the Xplosion.
One other player from last season, RB Little John Flowers, is also expected to return to the team. "We're real hopeful," Sparks said of Flowers' return. "During the last conversation I had with him, he was real excited about the opportunity (to return to the team). But just like all these guys, we don't pay them enough to make a living at it, so they're playing that against real jobs and everything else."
The Xplosion begin the regular season on Friday, March 7 with a road game in the Windy City against the Chicago Slaughter. Their first home game is on Friday, March 14 against the Rock River Raptors, a first-year team in the CIFL.
KALAMAZOO TO SCRIMMAGE SAGINAW
While the Kalamazoo Xplosion and the Saginaw Sting do not play each other during the regular season this year, the two teams will meet in a preseason scrimmage in Kalamazoo on February 23. The scrimmage will take place at the Soccer Zone on Sprinkle Road from 7-9 PM. Both teams are owned by the same ownership group of Mike Johnson, Mike Trumbell and Esteban Rivera.
Owner Mike Johnson said it was a no-brainer having his two teams get together before the start of the season. "It will make our organization stronger as a whole," said Johnson. "By 1) getting coaches together and collaborating as an organization and 2) getting some different bodies out there and seeing different schemes."
Fans and the media are welcome to attend the scrimmage as well as all practices throughout the season. For a complete list of Xplosion practice dates and locations, visit the team's official web site at www.kzooxplosion.com.
This could be the only opportunity for fans in Kalamazoo to see the Saginaw Sting this season, but two other CIFL teams from Michigan are coming to town during the regular season. The Flint Phantoms will be here for a game on Friday, March 21 while the Muskegon Thunder visit Wings Stadium on Saturday, May 3.
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Randy Snow is a freelance football writer from Kalamazoo, Michigan. Since 2003, he has covered the Arena Football League, arenafootball2, United Indoor Football, the Continental Indoor Football League and the All American Football League. Randy has been a member of the Arena Football League Writer's Association since 2005 and can be reached at randysnow22@yahoo.com.
Continental Indoor Football League Stories from February 3, 2008
- Xplosion Begin Training Camp - OSC Original by Randy Snow
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer(s), and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
