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Bandits to Battle Ghostriders in Inaugural Season-Opener

April 15, 2005 - American Indoor Football Association (AIFA)
Richmond Bandits News Release


Despite a change in the opponent moniker, the Richmond Bandits will begin play in the Atlantic Indoor Football League Saturday evening at the Richmond Coliseum (7:05 kickoff). The AIFL announced today that the franchise awarded to Charlotte will not compete in its inaugural season due to "inability to fulfill league requirements."

"We're going to play football," said Bandits head coach/GM Rik Richards. "It's essentially the same team with the same personnel just a different name."

He added, "We're very excited to return indoor football to the city, and most importantly, the fans of Richmond. Our focus at this time is to get ready for our opener and taking care of business that it entails."

The ill-fated Sharks will be replaced by the league-formed "Ghostriders," who like the Raleigh franchise, will travel for the 12-game regular season. The AIFL's second traveling team will be coached by Earl Rose.

After whittling the roster down to 23, Richards and his staff had the chore of determining which 18 would dress, and of those, who would start. One of the fiercest battles this pre-season was for the starting quarterback job between arenafootball2 journeyman Will Burch and Robbie Jenkins.

"Will (Burch) is going to get the start and we would like to get Robbie (Jenkins) some playing time under center. The way football works, you've got to go with the hot hand," said Richards.

Among the starting supporting cast will be four former Virginia Tech Hokies, including Sugar Bowl champions Bryan Still ('95) and Chris Segaar ('99). Rounding out the four are Lawrence Lewis, who played for the Independence Bowl Champion Hokies in 1993, and fullback Mike Davis, who played for Richards and was a teammate of Segaar with the now-defunct Charleston Swamp Foxes formerly of arenafootball2.

The Bandits' gun-slingers will have a prime target to throw to – and it should be a familiar face behind the facemask. Damon "Redd" Thompson, a former Virginia State standout, will suit up on Saturday for Richmond. Thompson also played two seasons for the af2's Speed, nearly totaling 2,000 yards receiving with 35 touchdowns.

Kickoff is scheduled for 7:05 pm on Saturday, April 16 at the Richmond Coliseum.

Tickets for the debut performance of the Bandits range from $36.00 for seats that are mere feet from the hard-hitting action to the general admission price of $5.50 for upper level seats. For more information, contact the Bandits front office at (804) 780-0383.

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