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Bandits Counting Down to Start of Inaugural AIFL Season

April 12, 2005 - American Indoor Football Association (AIFA)
Richmond Bandits News Release


The countdown is on for the Richmond Bandits indoor football team. Head coach Rik Richards has whittled the roster down to 23, 18 of which will be active for the season opener that is a mere hours away.

All that is left is to determine which five will sit as taxi players, and which 18 will be donning the red, silver, and blue as the Bandits ride into their new home, on the turf in the Richmond Coliseum as the 2005 Atlantic Indoor Football League (AIFL) season kicks off this weekend.

Last Saturday, Richards and staff had a first-hand opportunity to see what they have assembled in Richmond as the Bandits scrimmaged the Raleigh Rebels at their training facility in Wake Forest, N.C. Richards commented that he was happy with the way his team played in certain areas, but that his squad wasn't perfect

"We didn't play lights-out, but that's what scrimmages are for," said Richards. "We gave a lot of guys a shot, several of which I knew we would have to cut just based upon the framework of the league. But those guys did see some playing time in the scrimmage and were given a shot."

Defensively, the Bandits came away with three interceptions and recovered a fumble. One of the interceptions was hauled in by Richard Rodgers of North Carolina Central from his cornerback position. Former Charleston Swamp Fox, Chris Segaar, corralled on of the other two picks in the contest. Segaar added a receiving score on offense to complete his well-rounded performance.

On offense, the Bandits put 35 points on the board, but did toss three INT's of their own, two of which came in the red-zone.

"We've got a pair of talented quarterbacks in here vying for the starting job," explained Richards. "Will (Burch) and Robbie (Jenkins) both tried to make the plays on the field and may have forced a few throws, but that is a correctable mistake. Most of the miscues we had are things we can talk about and fix as we head into the season."

Burch, an arena football journeyman, was one Richards called the "franchise player" when he inked a deal with the Bandits. However, Jenkins, a QB out of Bridgewater College, has pushed Burch both in practice and on the field. Richards, and offensive coordinator Brent Williams, will have a tough chore deciding upon who will take the field under center in the home opener.

Another former Swamp Fox, fullback Mike Davis caught a hitch out of the backfield and rumbled 30 yards for a score.

Richmond's talent pool includes players such as former Virginia State standouts Kevin Coles and Damon "Redd" Thompson, who is also a veteran of arenafootball2, including two seasons in Richmond with the Speed. Others include Virginia Union's Bobby Phillips, who also played professionally in the NFL with the Minnesota Vikings, and former VMI Keydets, Quesan Wigfall and lineman Craig Howard.

The Bandits will open the inaugural 2005 season at the Richmond Coliseum on Saturday, April 16 at 7:05 pm versus the Carolina (Charlotte) Sharks. For more ticket information, including season and single-game tickets, fans can call the Bandits' front office at (804) 780-0383.



American Indoor Football Association Stories from April 12, 2005


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