Fire Set to Open Training Camp

Published on March 14, 2006 under arenafootball2 (af2)
Louisville Fire News Release


Louisville, KY - Coming off the best season in team history the Louisville Fire is set to open training camp in preparation for the 2006 season tomorrow. The Fire made it to the ArenaCup Championship game last season falling to Memphis 63-41. The training camp roster will have a solid core of veterans from last season's team along with many newcomers who spent time in Arena Football League (AFL) camps earlier this year.

The most interesting battle heading into training camp will be at the quarterback position. The Fire will have to replace 2005 af2 Offensive Player of the Year Matt Sauk, who made the jump to the AFL. Joel Steele is the only quarterback with arena football experience, after serving as Sauk's backup last season. Steele saw action in three games in 2005. Challenging Steele will be former Hanover and Covington Catholic (KY) quarterback Brett Deitz, who spent time with the Tampa Bay Storm of the AFL. Derrick Crudup (Miami, FL), will also be a factor in the quarterback race. Crudup backed up both Ken Dorsey and Brock Berlin while at Miami.

"I feel like this will be a fun battle to watch during camp," said Fire head coach Tommy Johnson. "All three of these guys have the talent to be starters."

While the Fire will be young at the quarterback position the receiving corps will bring the most experience to camp. Returning from last season's American Conference Championship team are wide receiver/linebacker Lawrence Matthews, wide receiver/defensive back Cesare Manning, offensive specialist Rob Mager. The Fire also expects to see Dennis Fryzel and Nate Green returning from last season. In addition Anthony Payton, the Fire's all-time leading receiver, will be returning to the Fire after spending 2005 with the Las Vegas Gladiators (AFL). Newcomers Pierre Wright (Eastern Kentucky University), Jerald Burley and Vincent Wright will also challenge for a spots on the roster. In addition Charles Ealy spent time in the Los Angles Avengers (AFL) camp this season.

"The experience coming back, along with the newcomers should make this a tough position to earn a spot on the roster," commented Coach Johnson.

The defensive specialist position will see the return of just one player from last season's roster, Kabote Sikyala (Ka-boo-tay Sick-e-ala) who joined the Fire half way through the 2005 season. Jeremy Chandler (Western Kentucky) and Rob Baker will both be new to arena football, but bring a lot of speed and athletic ability to the secondary.

The offensive and defensive lines will feature guys who spent time in both NFL and AFL camps recently. Will Rabatin (Louisville), Justin Ard (Murray St.) and Edgar Yauch are three natural offensive lineman that will compete for the offensive line specialist job. (af2 instituted a new rule for 2006 that will allow one lineman to play just offense and be substituted for a defensive lineman who will just play defense.) Defensively Nick Brockington, Danny Nephew, Dwayne Lefall and Issac Hilton are all expected to make an impact on the line. Koby Clark (Louisville), returns from last season's team, and Clenton Ballard, who was drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars are also expected to compete for a spot on the final roster.

"This really should be a fun camp. We feel we have a lot of talent coming in, but we also have a lot of young guys so we will have to work hard from start to finish," said Coach Johnson.

The training camp schedule is as follows:

March 15 - 18:

9:00 A.M. - Team Meeting

10:00 A.M. - Practice Mockingbird Indoor Soccer Facility (except Friday will be at Old Cardinal Stadium)

Noon - Lunch

2:00 P.M. - Team Meeting

3:00 P.M. - Practice Old Cardinal Stadium

March 20 - 25:

4:30 P.M. - Meeting

5:30 - 7:30 P.M. - Practice Old Cardinal Stadium

Regular season practice schedule will begin on March 27.

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