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Coach's Corner with the Baltimore Mariners' Chris Simpson

July 19, 2010 - American Indoor Football Association (AIFA)
Baltimore Mariners News Release


BALTIMORE, MD (July 19, 2010) - From my hotel room, I can look across I-95 and 895 towards the Inner Harbor and the downtown Baltimore skyline. In the evenings, the Natty Boh guy, lit in bright neon red, gives me the occasional wink. In a city that does not know much about our Mariners I take great pride in becoming a part of its sports history.

I am very much aware of the history of professional football in the Charm City. I believe that you have to understand its meaning to fully embrace the challenges ahead of you in order to achieve that level of success. Mark Yost, a journalist of more than 20 years once commented on history, "History, although sometimes made up of the few acts of the great, is more often shaped by the many acts of the small." The Baltimore Mariners may be a small fish in the great sea of Baltimore's sports legacy and a small league team in a big league market however we are still playing for a national championship.

The last professional football championship to be played in Baltimore was in 1959 at Memorial Stadium. The Colts defeated the New York Giants 31-16 to win the NFL title. In the beginning, it took Baltimore a couple of years to warm up to their new NFL team. Colts great Raymond Berry wrote this forward in the book Football in Baltimore: History and Memorabilia:

"It was July 1955 when I first reported to the Baltimore Colts training camp for my first year in professional football. There was no way I could know what the coming years were going to bring. None of us - players, coaches, owner Carroll Rosenbloom, the people of Baltimore and Maryland - none of us realized we were all going to experience a rare and unforgettable era, and we were going to experience it together."

Our determination and persistence, to get Baltimore to fall in love with its Mariners, has been a challenge and rewarding. I am amazed when I am approached now and people want to talk about the Mariners. These folks are random people who are just now finding out about our team or have been following it through the internet or media. I have not reached "celebrity" status in this city but, it's great when someone hollers out, "Hey coach!" and I don't know them from 'Adam'. When people from the Ravens and the Orioles are talking about us; that says something. When local media personalities start asking for interviews, that speaks volumes. I am truly humbled and blessed to be a part of something that has Baltimore abuzz. It's amazing what winning can do. I kind of like it!

Five professional football teams have called Baltimore their home over the past six decades. The Baltimore Colts were established in 1955 and brought three NFL Championships to the city in 1958, 1959 and 1968. They also won Super Bowl V by beating the Dallas Cowboys 16-13 with a last second field goal in 1971. In 1985, the Baltimore Stars of the USFL brought the city another championship. Ten years later, in 1995, the Baltimore Stallions of the CFL brought home the Grey Cup. In 2000, the Vince Lombardi trophy came back to Baltimore when the Ravens beat the New York Giants 34 - 7 in Super Bowl XXXV. It would be a tremendous opportunity and privilege to add the Baltimore Mariners to that list.

I am just sitting back and soaking it all in. I have a beautiful wife who has supported me every step of the way; I have an Ownership and General Manager who believe in me; I have a coaching staff who is committed to excellence and I have players who are willing to pay the price to win a national championship. As I sit back and look across the city from my hotel room, I like to think that Mr. Natty Boh is winking at me, much like my Dad does, signifying that Baltimore is proud of what we've done, giving its approval and welcoming us into is great sports legacy.

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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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