Believers hope win is in the Cards
March 24, 2004 - National Indoor Football League (NIFL)
RiverCity Rage News Release
When the Show Me Believers face off against the Atlantic City Cardsharks on Sunday, March 28 at 1:30 PM in the Family Arena, they will be hoping to notch their first win of the 2004 season. Already two games into the season, the Believers find themselves 0-2, but improving.
"We lost in double overtime last week and feel that if we can get our act together, we have a great shot to get in the win column this week. Atlantic City will be coming to town with a different idea, however." Stated Mike Wyatt, Believers Head Football Coach.
The Atlantic City Card Sharks will bring an expansion team into town, but the team management has gone out and procured some indoor football veterans to help with their cause.
Mike Siani, a former All Pro member of the Super Bowl Champion Oakland Raiders was the first acquisition. Siani had been the Head Football Coach of the Myrtle Beach Stingrays, last season and brings knowledge and experience of the indoor game with him to the Boardwalk.
In his role as General Manager and Head Football Coach, Siani, picked up some players that he feels can give his team instant credibility in indoor football. Siani went after a trio of wide receivers that may be as good a group as anyone in the NIFL can boast. That group includes: Greg Murckerson a former Temple University star who was a key component in the Ohio Valley Greyhounds NIFL Championship run in 2003; James De Maise of Kings College who starred as a wide receiver in the defunct Indoor Football League; and Shawn Foxworth who has experience with the Montreal Allouettes in the Canadian Football League.
At quarterback, Siani landed Tony Racioppi, a NCAA III All American from Rowan University who was twice the New Jersey Athletic Conference Player of the Year. Racioppi had also played professionally in Europe for the Milano Frogs of the Italian Football Federation.
Defensively, the Cardsharks will look for former Dallas Cowboy defensive end, Keith Jackson from Cheyney State. The lightening quick 6'3", 280 pound Jackson also has experience with the British Columbia Lions of the Canadian Football League as well.
"Atlantic City won't be your typical expansion team. Coach Siani has surrounded himself with a good nucleus of players with pro experience. That will help get them over that typical expansion team concerns. " added Wyatt.
The game has been tabbed Christian Family Day by the Believers and will feature halftime activities that will include David Stewart, CEO of Worldwide Technologies. The game will also be a focal point for raising awareness for the plight of the starving people of Haiti with a food donation station being set up at the arena, where fans may bring unprocessed beans and rice.
Kickoff is set for 1:30 PM on Sunday at the Family Arena.
National Indoor Football League Stories from March 24, 2004
- Player Spotlight â James Jones - Black Hills Red Dogs
- Prather Named NIFL Atlantic Conference POW - Tupelo FireAnts
- Horsemen win thrilling opener over Show Me, face red-hot Fort Wayne - Kentucky Horsemen
- Believers hope win is in the Cards - RiverCity Rage
- Greyhounds have Big Mac Attack - Ohio Valley Greyhounds
- Hounds Bring Back Flora - Ohio Valley Greyhounds
- NIFL Announces Players of the Week - NIFL
- Diesel Excited About Home Opener - Tri-City Diesel
- Cavalry ready for first game - Wyoming Cavalry
- Another Mountaineer joins Greyhounds - Ohio Valley Greyhounds
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