Getting to Know All-Arena WR Aaron Boone
Published on August 31, 2010 under Arena Football League (AFL)
Utah Blaze News Release
So despite the 2-14 season, you had one of the best seasons of your career and earned Second Team All-Arena, what are your thoughts on this past season?
Obviously, I'm disappointed with our overall record as a team but I was not disappointed with the effort. I think we all fought hard, game in and game out we just couldn't find a way to get the wins we so desperately wanted. We went through a lot this year and I'm proud the way we kept fighting until the end. Individually, yes I had one of the best seasons of my careers and I'm very honored to be recognized by the votes of coaches and fans and be selected to the All-AFL team. It's really an honor to be considered one of the best in the game at your position. However individual success in this game only comes with a lot of other guys doing their jobs.
Looking forward to 2011, what are your plans and what are you looking to accomplish on the field?
I would love to be back out there in 2011 and continue where I left off. I'm 32 right now playing against a bunch of guys in their early to mid 20's, so it's important to me that I stay in shape in the off season and keep my body ready for the demands of a season. I hope to be a consistent player next year and hopefully we will have a much improved product on the field. Next year will almost certainly be my last season so I want to win next year that is the bottom line!
What are you plans for the offseason?
So far my wife has had me on the go! In the last few weeks since the season ended I have had some greatly family time with my wife and 11month-old girl, Kaiya. We already went to Yellowstone for a week in an RV then the Uintas for a week of camping. As far as employment, I have been interviewing with a few companies and hope to decide here in the next week or two moving forward with my off the field career.
What was the best advice you've ever been given?
There are a couple quotes I have always liked. "Work will win when wishy washy wishing won't" by Thomas S. Monson and "Football is a survival game."
What would you say is your biggest accomplishment in sports?
I don't think it has been just one single event, I think it's been my whole journey. My career started as a freshman at 2A Millard High School, as a scrawny 5-foot-6, 119 pound kid from a small town in little, old Fillmore, Utah. I only played a handful of plays as a freshman and as a sophomore was so bad they played on the freshman team. No one expected or believed I would accomplish anything as a football player, but me. So, that's the way I have always played with a chip on my shoulder out to prove people wrong. That chip led me to be an All-State QB my senior year and a state championship. That chip took me to walk on Snow College and becoming an All-American WR. That chip got me a full ride scholarship to Kentucky to play in the greatest football conference in the country the SEC which I led as senior in receiving touchdowns. From there it was the NFL with the Dallas Cowboys, Chicago Bears and Carolina Panthers, then NFL Europe with the Berlin Thunder where I was named to the ALL-NFL Europe team as one of the top WR in the league and we won a World Bowl Championship. Then after shoulder surgery with the Panthers and getting released I started my AFL career being named to the All-AFL Rookie team with Kansas City Brigade in 2006 and now years later being voted to the ALL-AFL team is a huge accomplishment. It's been an awesome ride and an awesome journey of highs and lows, success and even occasional disappointment. So, I guess that has been my biggest accomplishment in sports, overcoming the odds and believing that it was all possible when no one else did.
How do you set your goals for the season?
My goal going into every year is simply be the most consistent player possible. I want to be dependable to the team and make the plays I'm supposed to and as often as possible even the ones I'm not. I want to be a strong link on the team that the guys can count on.
What one or two things do you currently do in your training that are keys to your success?
I heard and interview with Jerry Rice once and he said his secret to longevity in his career was never getting out of shape, so I try to do that. I keep a consistent workout routine of lifting, running and catching balls and I have fun I'm a very active person and my wife keeps my off the couch.
What's the hardest part about playing in the AFL?
As a WR I think the hardest part to the AFL is to get used to the walls. They hurt and they always win a fight! You can't just run out of bounds when a big guy is coming after you, in this game you get hit by the big guy and the wall.You have to train your body how to catch the ball knowing you're going to get smashed in to the walls. It's so much fun playing in my home state though where I have so many friends and family in the stands supporting me and harassing the other teams.
If you could be an animal, what animal would you be?
Cat snake! They are really fast.
Arena Football League Stories from August 31, 2010
- Arena Football League Extends Commissioner Jerry Kurz' Contract - AFL
- Geathers Signs with the CFL's BC Lions - Spokane Shock
- Soul Assigned Mike Hohensee As Head Coach - Philadelphia Soul
- Getting to Know All-Arena WR Aaron Boone - Utah Blaze
- Orlando Predators to Play 18 Game Schedule in 2011 - Orlando Predators
- Yard Dawgz Launch High School Athlete of the Week - Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz
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