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Coach's Corner with the Baltimore Mariners' Chris Simpson

July 29, 2010 - American Indoor Football Association (AIFA)
Baltimore Mariners News Release


BALTIMORE, MD (July 29, 2010) - Unbelievable! That is the only word I can really use right now to express the Mariners 2010 season. Six months ago, we set out to win a championship. We had no idea that we would accomplish that in the fashion that we did. It has been a remarkable journey.

Last Tuesday I came into the office and found that the turf was still down in the arena. I took a few moments and walked around the field, reliving each moment. Two days earlier, over 6,000 fans saw the Mariners finish an undefeated season and win their first national championship. It was loud, cameras flashed, video rolled and both players and coaches left it all on the field. When the final seconds ticket off, there were tears, hugs and high fives. The trophy was awarded and there were more pictures and more interviews. In the locker room, the champagne flowed.

Of all the hoopla surrounding the victory, one moment stands out the most. When receiver Scorpio Brown scored the final touchdown of the game, securing our championship, he came to the bench, hugged me and began to cry. He let it all out. All of the hard work and sacrificed paid off. I am not sure how I held my composure but, I simply held him and let him know that he was finally a champion. There were no cameras there to record it; just a moment between a player and his coach that I will never forget for as long as I live.

I want to thank our owners Dwayne Wells, Kevin Fash and the entire BRIG Group for giving me the financial foundation and support to make this happen; to my GM Greg Justice, despite what the critics said, brought me back to Baltimore in 2009 and allowed me to develop this team from top to bottom; to my coordinators Steve Gaunt and Mike Moyseenko for developing a tremendous offense and defense; to my coaches Ron Meehan, Bryan Milburn, Jason Blackman and Alex Moyseenko for your hard work and dedication; and to my players, thank you for your commitment to excellence and the sacrifices you made to accomplish our goal. I am honored and privileged to be called your coach.

I want to thank the staff and volunteers, led by Jim Hopkins and John Wolfe, for their tremendous support behind the scenes; to our sponsors for your belief in our organization and to the best fans in the country, thank you for your relentless efforts to back your Mariners and promote the team.

It all really hasn't sunk in yet. There have been meetings, interviews, and planning for next season. Things are always moving forward. When I return home to my wife and Virginia Beach, I am sure that the emotions and feelings will come to the forefront.

Tuesday, there was nothing left but the silence and the memories. This is something that no can ever take away from us; the 2010 Baltimore Mariners earned the right to be called Champions. What an awesome feeling.

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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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