Four More Players Assigned to Steamwheelers Squad
January 7, 2004 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Quad City Steamwheelers News Release
DAVENPORT, Iowa â The Quad City Steamwheelers announced today that they were assigned four more players to the 2004 training camp roster. Included are three rookies who will join a familiar name to the Steamwheelers, WR/DB LaRico Cole.
Cole is coming off a 2003 season in which he saw action in 10 of the Steamwheelers 16 games and was on the playoff roster. In the regular season Cole caught 8 passes for 110 yards and four touchdowns.
On the defensive side, the 5'10 178 lbs. Cole added six tackles, including 0.5 tackles for a loss. He also returned one kickoff and a missed field goal attempt for a combined 13 yards.
Cole was also playing behind some of the af2's top stars in OS Ira Gooch and WR/DB's Jeff Hewitt and Tim Dodge. Gooch and Hewitt were recently promoted to the AFL. Dodge is returning to the Steamwheelers despite some AFL offers.
"LaRico was a big contributor last year, but got caught up in all of the numbers that we had at his position," head coach Rich Ingold said. "He is hungry to make his mark this year."
The rookies include DS Steve Monson, K Matt Russell and FB/LB Brian Davis.
Monson, a 5'8 185 lbs. four-year starter out of Ball State and also received a two-day tryout with the Steamwheelers during the 2003 season.
"Last season I wanted to get a look at him to see what he could do as he came highly recommended to me," Ingold said of Monson. "He has everything that you are looking for in a defensive back. He is quick and has great acceleration."
The first kicker was assigned to the 2004 training camp squad in the form of Russell. Russell (5'11 180 lbs.) was a walk on at Ohio State University and backed up Mike Nugent in 2002.
"I worked him out at the end of last season and was impressed with his accuracy and the strength of his leg, so I wanted to give him the opportunity to compete for the job," Ingold said.
The fourth addition is a name that could be familiar to fellow Quad Citians and is very familiar to current Steamwheelers FB/LB Josh Fourdyce.
Davis and Fourdyce played together in 1999 as members of the then IFL Peoria Pirates. The Pirates have since moved to the af2.
Davis also played his college ball at Augustana (Ill.) College, just down the street from The MARK of the Quad Cities, home to the Steamwheelers.
Davis could be challenging Fourdyce for the FB/LB spot, but could also be challenging for a position on the line. "Davis is a guy who has the flexibility to play FB/LB and OL/DL," Ingold said. "He is a big guy that can move."
Davis played last season for the Twin City Storm, a semi-pro team in the Midwest Football League.
The Steamwheelers also had OL/DL Cory Bern placed on re-assignment.
These players now bring the training camp total to 13. The Steamwheelers are allowed to bring in 35 players into training camp and must have the roster cut to 21 players by opening day.
The Steamwheelers are anxiously awaiting the 2004 schedule, which is due out in the middle of this month as they look forward to their fifth anniversary season. Anyone interested in season tickets can contact the Steamwheelers Director of Ticketing Brian Forth at 563-324-4888 or toll free at 888-STEAMTIX (888-78326849).
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