More Than 20 Las Vegas Locos Players To Welcome Sports Fans To Free Locos Fan Fest
April 8, 2010 - United Football League (UFL 1) - Las Vegas Locomotives News Release
LAS VEGAS, NV - Thursday, April 8, 2010 - More than 20 players from the United Football League champion Las Vegas Locos will welcome sports fans to a free Locos Fan Fest at Sam Boyd Stadium on Sunday, April 11 from 3pm to 5pm.
A young local hero will be honored at the Fan Fest. Oscar Rodriquez, a bilingual fifth grade student in Las Vegas, helped paramedics communicate with non-English speaking passengers after a bus crash in Arizona last month. The tragic accident involved 22 passengers, including Oscar. Paramedics say that Oscar, who also suffered from injuries after the crash, stayed calm and collected in order to help the rescue workers.
The youngster will be presented with a personalized Locos shirt bearing his name by head coach Jim Fassel, who was impressed by the bravery of the young boy in a moment of crisis.
"Oscar showed great courage and showed concern for the welfare of others when he himself was hurt and the Locos want to reward him in some way," said Fassel. "In football we teach the importance of teamwork and how to react in the face of adversity and those are qualities this young man clearly showed at a very serious and troubling time."
The accident took place at 5:30 am in Sacaton, AZ, located a few miles north of Casa Grande, the home of the Locos training facility.
Among the players posing for photographs with fans, signing autographs and recalling the Locos' triumphant 5-2 campaign will be running back Marcel Shipp, who had 81 carries for 291 yards and 3 touchdowns and ended the UFL Premiere Season as the league's fourth-leading rusher. He spent seven seasons with the Arizona Cardinals, rushing for 2,197 yards and 11 touchdowns.
A familiar figure in attendance at Sam Boyd Stadium will be Locos wide receiver Casey Flair, a popular former UNLV walk-on who caught at least one pass in every one of his 35 games for the Rebels. Among the defensive standouts mixing with fans on Sunday will be linebacker Teddy Lehman, who was the UFL's leading tackler last season, and defensive back Nick Turnbull, who claimed a league-best three interceptions in 2009.
Coach Fassel, who will also meet and talk with fans, said: "The players will enjoy a chance to interact with the dedicated fans who cheered them on to the championship last season and with new fans who are going to become Locos diehards this year."
The Locos will also hold a private Ring Ceremony open to invited VIPs and media at the Vanity Night Club at Blue Martini (593 Las Vegas Boulevard South) in Las Vegas from 7-10pm when the 2009 UFL Premiere Season-winning players, coaches and staff will receive their championship rings. Media are invited to attend.
Players attending the Locos Fan Fest...
8 Danny Baugher Punter Arizona League-leading punter with 30 punts for 1,301 yards... highest average with 43.4 yards per kick... recorded 3 touchbacks.
87 Adam Bergen Tight End Lehigh His 30 catches for 242 yards was second highest for the 2009 Locos and seventh highest in the League... averaged 10.5 yards per carry and had 2 touchdowns... recorded 43 receptions for 381 yards and 2 touchdowns with the Arizona Cardinals in 2005 and 2006. 65 Martin Bibla Offensive Guard University of Miami Led the offensive line for the Locos in 2009... spent 3 years with Atlanta Falcons before he earned All-Arena honors with the Philadelphia Soul in 2008.
79 Jesse Boone Offensive Center University of Utah Was the starting center for the 2009 Champion Locos.
24 Wale Dada Defensive Back Washington State Finished the 2009 season with 37.5 tackles, the second most for the Locos as well as second overall in the League... also had 2 interceptions.
53 Frank Davis Guard South Florida Started every game for the Locos in 2009... first Panamanian to earn a spot on an NFL active roster... became the first Panamanian to start and play in an NFL game in 2006.
66 Robbie Felix Offensive Line UTEP Started at center in the first game of United Football League's "Premiere" Season... was a first team All-Conference USA honoree while at UTEP.
89 Casey Flair Wide Receiver UNLV Played on both sides of the ball...had 1 reception for 6 yards for the Locos in 2009... made 2 tackles on defense.
94 George Gause Defensive Tackle South Carolina Made 3.5 tackles for the Locos in 2009... recorded a forced fumble and fumble recovery. 84 Brian Hernandez Wide Receiver University of Utah Recorded 3 catches for 14 yards during the Locos 2009 season... was the leading punt returner with 7 returns for 114 yards... second most yardage in the League.
78 Ross Kolodziej Defensive Tackle Wisconsin Made 6 tackles for the Locos in 2009... forced a fumble and recorded a fumble recovery.
27 Greg Laybourn Safety Oregon State University Had 1 tackle and 1 assist for the 2009 Locos defense.
54 Teddy Lehman Linebacker Oklahoma Led the Locos defense with a League best 43.5 tackles and 1 sack... selected in the second round of the NFL draft by the Detroit Lions...only rookie linebacker to start all 16 games in 2004... finished the 2004 season with 102 tackles, the second most tackles on the team. 12 Russ Michna Quarterback Western Illinois University Finished with 6 of 8 completions and 55 passing yards... has the second most passing yards in Western Illinois history with 6,434.
56 Brandon Moore Linebacker Oklahoma Posted 32.5 tackles and 1 sack in 2009... seventh most tackles in the League and tied for the most forced fumbles with 2 and 1 forced recovery... spent 2002-2007 with the San Francisco 49ers... made 244 total tackles and 15 sacks in 6 year NFL career.
52 Ronnie Palmer Linebacker Arizona Made 7 tackles on the Locos defense.
13 Tab Perry Wide Receiver UCLA One of the Locos leading receivers with12 receptions for 212 yards and 1 touchdown... made 1 tackle on defense... second in kick returns with 11 for 249 yards...
57 Marcus Riley Fullback Fresno State Made 2 tackles for the Locos defense in 2009... spent time with the Green Bay Packers, St. Louis Rams and Chicago Bears before playing in the UFL.
26 Marcell Shipp Running Back UMass Ranked fourth in the league with a team-best 81 carries for 291 yards... Scored 3 touchdowns... caught 2 passes for 14 yards... spent 7 season with the Arizona Cardinals where he had 605 carries, 2, 197 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns.
84 Andrae Thurman Wide Receiver Southern Oregon One of the top receivers in the League... made 16 catches for 235 yards and 1 touchdown... had 1 carry for 4 yards... made 1.5 tackles on defense... 36 Isaiah Trufant Defensive Back Eastern Washington Made 12.5 tackles in the 2009 season... his 1 interception came in the Championship game and set up the game winning field goal against the Florida Tuskers.
21 Nick Turnbull Defensive Back Florida International Key component of the Locos defense with 28 stops... had 3 interceptions for 20 yards to lead the League... had 2 fumble recoveries which was the League best as well.
31 Trey Young Defensive Back University of Montana Completed 12 tackles in the "Premiere" Season... had 2 interceptions for 82 yards... forced 1 fumble.
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