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UIF Sioux City Bandits

Bandits Announce Three New Player Additions

May 11, 2007 - United Indoor Football Association (UIF)
Sioux City Bandits News Release


(May 11, 2007-Sioux City, IA) The Sioux City Bandits of the United Indoor Football Association announce today three new players that have been signed for the rest of the 2007 Season. Also the Bandits are honoring our area public servants and hosting a woman's football clinic before the game on May 26th with Lexington.

Today the Bandits announce three new players that will make an immediate impact for the rest of the season. Signing with the Bandits are:

Trae Johnson (WR, 6'3 205lbs) Trae comes to the Bandits after starting the season in AF2 with the Cincinnati Jungle Cats. In four games with Cincinnati, he had 6 TDs and over 350 yards receiving. Johnson decided to leave Cincinnati and come to play with the Bandits. Trae completed his college career with the Morningside Mustangs in 2005. Teaming with Bandits' QB Craig Fobbe, they set numerous records as a quarterback-wide receiver duo. In 2005, in 13 games, Johnson had 81 catches for 1,910 yards and 21 TDs. He averaged 23.6 yards per catch and 147 yards receiving per game. He was named to the NAIA All-American First Team. Johnson is a native of San Bernadino, CA. Coach Jansen "To get a player of Johnson's ability is a real plus for our organization. He can stretch the field with his speed and is a tremendous route-runner and has great hands. We hope to be able to keep him here for our final 9 games. Fobbe and Johnson have a great relationship on the field and we hope that continues here with the Bandits."

Andre Raymond (RB, 6' 220lbs) Andre comes to the Bandits to fill a need at running back for the injured Zach Molacek. Raymond completed his college career at the Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, Illinois in 2003. During his college career he played with Dallas Cowboys' QB Tony Romo. In 2003, Raymond rushed for 580 yards and 3 TDs while averaging 3.7 yards per rush. Coach Jansen "Raymond is a large force at running back. He has only been at practice for a few days, but has a lot of athletic ability. We are thrilled to be able to find a player of his caliber this late in the season. Coach Bob Stevens found Andre through his many connections in Indoor Football."

Freddie Weinke (DL, 6'3 255 lbs) Weinke comes to the Bandits after starting the season in Springfield, IL in another indoor football league, that team ceased operations a week ago. Weinke is a cousin of NFL QB Chris Weinke, who plays for the Carolina Panthers. Weinke was a 2001 graduate of Cretin-Derham Hall in Saint Paul, MN where he was class mates with Joe Mauer of the Minnesota Twins (MLB.) Weinke was ranked in Max Emfinger Top 100 BlueChips and was an All-Region Selection by SuperPrep Magazine in 2000. Weinke played Defensive End on the 1999 5A State Championship Team and the 5A State Championship Runner-Up team in 2000. Weinke accepted a scholarship to play for the University of South Dakota in 2001 but ended up leaving the team during the 2001 season to transfer to Iowa State University in 2002. Weinke was a Division II to Division I transfer-rule and had to sit out the 2002 season. Weinke re-joined the team in 2003 but suffered an injury during off-season training which led to 2 knee surgeries in 2003 and 2004. Weinke played Tight End for the Marion Mayhem of the Great Lakes Indoor Football League (GLIFL) which is now called the Continental Indoor Football League (CIFL) in 2006. In 2007 Weinke spent time with the Central Valley Coyotes located in Fresno, California of the Arena Football League 2 (AF2). Coach Jansen "Again, finding a player of Freddie's ability is a key for our late-season success. GM/Managing Partner Bob Scott found Freddie through his connections. We are hopeful that Weinke can step in and play right away."

The Bandits also announce the release of several players: Defensive End Rudy Foye, Kicker Cody Butler, Defensive Lineman Raymond Moore and QB Rico Watkins.

In addition, the Bandits would like to announce they are honoring our area public servants, in the police/fireman/rescue departments at the May 26th game vs. Lexington. Attending will be public servants from IA: Akron, Anthon, Correctionville, Hawarden, Hinton, Kingsley, Lawton, LeMars, Merrill, Moville, Onawa, Salix, Sergeant Bluff, Sioux City, Sloan, and Whiting. From South Dakota: Elk Point, Jefferson, and North Sioux City. From Nebraska: Dakota County and South Sioux City. County offices represented will be from Dakota and Union County, Monona, Plymouth and Woodbury County. The Bandits are pleased and proud to have this special night for our men & women that protect and serve in their respective communities. We will hold special recognition at half-time for all of these men and women.

Also on May 26th, the Bandits are scheduling a Women's Football Clinic that will be held prior to the start of the game, starting at 5pm. Women can participate by getting a $10 ticket at the Tyson Events Center Box Office. Their ticket will include admission to the Women's Clinic and the game that night. The Clinic will focus on football basics that will be conducted by Assistant Coach Tom Luxford and Bandits players. For more information contact the Tyson Events Center Box Office.

The Bandits (2-4) continue their 2007 season this Saturday, May 12th, at Sioux Falls against the Storm (6-0). The Storm have won 26 consecutive games and are looking to tie the Indoor professional record of 27 consecutive games set by Ohio Valley in 2002/2003. Kickoff is set for 7:05pm at the Sioux Falls Arena. After a May 19th road game to Fort Collins, CO to take on the Colorado Ice, the Bandits return home May 26th vs. Lexington Horsemen.

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