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Rumble Announce First Signees

November 15, 2006 - Continental Indoor Football League (CIFL)
Summit County Rumble News Release


WOOSTER - There can't be a football team without players.

After making a big splash by announcing the formation of the Wayne County Rumble arena franchise this summer, and naming the coaching staff two weeks ago, the team is working on the final step to competing - signing players.

Although there are no guarantees they'll be a part of the final team that debuts in the Continental Indoor Football League on March 24, the Rumble has signed more than a dozen players to contracts to attend their mini-camp Jan. 20-21.

Team owner Ramone Davenport clarified that the players offered contracts are not guaranteed they'll make the team, but it's certainly a good sign that the team is interested in them.

"We've had several tryouts, including the one in Wooster, and we've found some players who we can think can play at this level," said Davenport, whose team will play at the Alice Noble Ice Arena in Wooster. "There were a lot of dreamers at the tryouts, but we've found some good guys.

"We'll continue to look for more players, including a tryout we have planned coming up in Toledo. Like with the NFL, the contracts are not guaranteed and the players have to make the team."

Players who make the team can be paid anywhere from $100-$300 per game Davenport said.

Included among the first players to be signed in Rumble history are eight local products: Damon Robinson (WR) and Josh Ferguson (WR/DB) from Orrville; Tommy Sines, (Smithville, K, WR/DB) and Brandon Freed (QB/LB) from Smithville; Ryan Sullivan (LB) from Dalton; and Will Mengel (OL/DL), John Ogden, (LB) and Bryan Schaaf (K) from Triway. (Yes, that's the same Schaaf who's familiar to many in the area as a Daily Record sports writer.)

Jaime Ungaro (DL) from nearby Coshocton High School has also been offered a contract.

"We feel it's important to keep local guys on the roster as long as possible, and could go into January's mini-camp with up to 40 players," said Rumble director of operations Sean Morley. "Rosters during the season are capped at 25, with a team being allowed 21 'active' players for each game."

Morley said that when the college football season ends he expects to find several more invitees, including one or more from The College of Wooster.

"Once this fall season concludes, things will be getting a lot more hectic in terms of players coming and going from the roster as we find the best 40 guys to take to camp," Morley said.

Former Ashland University speedster Dalorean White headlines a long list of out-of-area players who have been invited to camp.

Here's a glance at several players the Rumble highly regard who signed after a recent Canton tryout:

* Dalorean White (5-10, 185, WR/DB, Ashland University) - In 2004, he finished second for the Eagles in receptions and receiving yards. He led the team in TD receptions as well as kickoff return average and in 2005 led the Eagles in all receiving categories. The fastest player on the team, Dalorean has been timed in the 40-yard dash at 4.35 seconds.

* Ali Grose (DB) - Was with Rumble rival Marion Mayhem in 2006. Played at Youngstown State for a season before transferring to Ashland. A first-team GLIAC defender his senior year, Grose led the team in interceptions with seven. In between college and the GLIFL, Grose was an All-Star with the Mansfield Marauders for three seasons.

* Mike Hall (6-3, 225, QB) - Has indoor experience, playing for the Miami Valley Silverbacks, then of the AIFL, last season. He was in the Navy for four years and played competitive football while in the service.

* Len Kirby (6-1, 305, lineman) - Played for Clarion University in Pennsylvania. He has played for the Mansfield Marauders for the past three seasons and was an All-Star the past two.

* Mike Wiles (LB) - Red-shirted at Ohio State. A four-year letterwinner at Columbus South, he was the team's MVP and leading tackler.

* Jamie Adams (WR-DB) - After graduating from Medina has played for the Ohio Invaders based in Cleveland.

* Matt Friesner (WR/DB) - A Capitol University product, Matt played professionally for the Marion Mayhem of the CIFL and Peoria Roughriders of the UIF in 2006.



Continental Indoor Football League Stories from November 15, 2006


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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