Chicago Rush Pursues Local Talent
Published on October 25, 2004 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Chicago Rush News Release
The football lore of the tri-state is luring the Arena Football League's Chicago Rush coaching staff to the area November 6th for an open tryout.
Arena Football, the fastest growing sport in the United States, signed an exclusive contract with NBC that includes weekly broadcasts throughout the season, plus playoff and championship games.
The League is familiar to many in this area. Former League President Jim Foster developed the Arena Football concept while attending the Major Indoor Soccer League's 1981 All-Star game. Sketched on a 9 x 12 inch manila envelope, the AFL concept was put on hold due to the start of the United States Football League.
Delayed until 1987, the AFL's inaugural season included such well known football names as: Darrel "Mouse" Davis, architect of the run and shoot offense as League Director of Football Operations and Ray Jauch, at that time the most winning coach in CFL history, who became the head coach of the Chicago Bruisers. Tim Marcum, currently the most winning coach in AFL history, led the Denver Dynomite to the first Arena Bowl, the League's championship game, while Pittsburgh native, Joe Haering, coached Pittsburgh Gladiator quarterback Mike Hohensee as he threw the first touchdown in Arena Football history.
These events provide a historic backdrop to the November 6th tryout at the Robert Morris University Island Sports Center near Pittsburgh. During Hohensee's tenure with the Gladiators, he became well versed in the area's football mystique. The motivation and intensity of football talent developed from peewee leagues to the pros have produced an unrivaled list of all-stars in the Hall of Fame. It is that wealth of talent that drew Mike Hohensee back to his one-time football home to hold an open tryout.
"We consider this area one of the hot beds of talent when it comes to football", Hohensee emphatically stated. "We expect to find top flight players at this camp who will go to camp with us in Chicago come January." "Last year we had a tremendous turn out for our Pittsburgh camp. There were many players who got try-outs with us and a few who actually came to camp with us. We are looking forward to another opportunity to find the next great Arena football player from the Pittsburgh area."
The open tryouts attract a wide variety of prospects. Some are former Division 1-A athletes with professional pedigrees, while others never made it past the college gridiron. Others are former high school players still hungry for a chance to play. A good example is New Orleans Saints wide receiver Michael Lewis, a former New Jersey Red Dog and Tommy Maddox target. As well as, former Rush offensive specialist Antonio Chatman, currently playing for the Green Bay Packers.
AFL open tryouts provide an opportunity for athletes to demonstrate their ability in non-contact drills â such as the 40-yard dash, 20-yard agility shuttle and vertical jump â as well as a series of one-on-one individual position drills.
Hohensee said that he welcomes area athletes to participate in the November 6th tryout by contacting his office at 847/252-7334. It is his intention to find the player(s) willing to compete for roster spots and contribute towards an Arena Bowl championship.
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from October 25, 2004
- Chicago Rush Pursues Local Talent - Chicago Rush
- Arena Football League's Mike Hohensee Returns to Area â Can You Fill His Shoes? - Chicago Rush
- Goddesses have arrived in Las Vegas - Las Vegas Gladiators
- Soul signs four more free agents - Philadelphia Soul
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