A Very Special Season
Published on June 12, 2012 under American Indoor Football (AIF)
Harrisburg Stampede News Release
HARRISBURG, PA (June 11, 2012) - I needed a few days to re-group and get my thoughts in order. I just want to re-cap what was a very special season.
I have been an Indoor Coach since 2005. I have been on the field for 94 regular season games, 12 Play-Off games including a National Championship win in 2009. That Championship season has a special place in my heart as do the players, coaches and staff members that were a part of that memory.
Every season brings up's and down's, the good, the bad, the laughs and the tears. In my time as a Head Coach, I have had hundreds of players on my squads and in some way every player touches me emotionally in a special way and they become just like one of my own sons. With that said, the players on our team this year have left a life-long impression on this coach. I can without a doubt say this was the closest group I have ever been associated with and I cannot truly put into words how special this group is to me. We may not have completed our goal of becoming the 2012 AIF Champions, but this team did much more than that. This was a team of players that unselfishly went into the community and spent countless hours with kids and sponsors. This was a team that accepted our system and worked at it and left it all out on the field every week. They were gentlemen, fathers, sons, brothers and competitors. They were there for one another all season long and they are Champions to me in every way both on and off the field. This season was never about me and my medical condition but these guys constantly checked on me. They became my inspiration and strength to be at practice and be on the field. I have never been more proud to be a part of a team and a group of players than this group. I am already looking forward to the 2013 season and having many of these young men back in Harrisburg.
I also want thank my Assistant Coaches; this is also a group of men that shared the same vision and work ethic. We strategized, watched film, studied tendencies and we laughed and enjoyed all of what the season had in store for us. To just say Thank you to Justin and Marques seems like it's not enough. Justin got us off the ground and organized the entire team and front office in less than 45 days and that is an enormous task. Then having Marques come in just made us better. Without them and their love for this team and this sport, the Stampede wouldn't be here. Their hard work found new sponsors and kept returning sponsors along with a huge increase in our Fan base. We look forward to more of the Harrisburg Business Community getting involved for the 2013 season. As well we look to continue to increase our attendance and our fan involvement.
Finally, I have to Thank my Wife Jill who is the perfect football wife. As well as all the Coaches and Owners wives and their support. As I said, this was a Team of Destiny, from top to bottom and we all wanted the same things and at all times we were, no, we are "LaFamilia".
American Indoor Football Stories from June 12, 2012
- Stampede Players Called to AFL - Harrisburg Stampede
- A Very Special Season - Harrisburg Stampede
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