Kalamazoo Xplosion Conduct Third Player Tryout
by Randy Snow
Published on January 14, 2007 under Continental Indoor Football League (CIFL)
Kalamazoo Xplosion
On Saturday, January 13, the Kalamazoo Xplosion of the Continental Indoor Football League conducted its third open player tryout in preparation for the 2007 season. Fifteen hopefuls participated in the tryout, which was conducted at the team's indoor practice facility, Triple Threat Sports in Battle Creek.
One player who was there to tryout was quarterback Bill Skelton, who started every game last season for the Fort Wayne Freedom of United Indoor Football. Skelton made the hour and a half drive up to Battle Creek from Fort Wayne, Indiana in hopes of being able to continue playing indoor football.
"I love football," said Skelton. "I still feel like I can compete at a high level. If my body's able to play and the good Lord keeps blessing me, then I'll keep playing."
The Fort Wayne Fusion of arenafootball2 has replaced the UIF Freedom in Fort Wayne. Skelton tried out for the Fusion recently and has had several teams in the UIF contact him about playing for them, but he wants to stay close to Fort Wayne because of his job. When he is not playing football, Skelton is a high school math teacher in the Fort Wayne area. If he does not sign with the Fusion, Kalamazoo is the next closest indoor football team. Skelton is no stranger to Kalamazoo either; his sister attended Western Michigan University.
Even though the Xplosion is an expansion team this year, there are several players from the Battle Creek Crunch, which folded after last season, who will be on the Xplosion roster going into training camp next month. Those players include Crunch starting quarterback Tim Kubiak, wide receivers Brian Dolph and Eric Gardner, lineman Kyle Lackscheide and kicker Brad Selent.
"We're going to have a better nucleus coming into camp this year," said Xplosion head coach Bob Kubiak. "It gives us a bit of confidence going into the season." With a core of experienced 7-on-7 players, Kalamazoo could have a decided advantage over the other teams in their division. Their division opponents are the Chicago Slaughter, Muskegon Thunder and Springfield Stallions, all teams that are new to the CIFL.
ANOTHER OPEN TRYOUT?
There is a chance that there could be one more open player tryout before the start of training camp. Coach Kubiak said he would like to find a few more linemen to round out the roster. For information on that possible tryout, keep checking the team's official web site, www.kzooxplosion.com.
Training camp for the 2007 season begins on February 24. The Xplosion open the season on Saturday, March 24 in Ohio against the Marion Mayhem. Their first home game at Wings Stadium will be on Saturday, April 14 against a division rival, the Chicago Slaughter.
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Randy Snow is a freelance football writer from Kalamazoo, Michigan. Since 2003, he has covered teams in the Arena Football League, arenafootball2, United Indoor Football and the Great Lakes Indoor Football League. Randy has been a member of the Arena Football League Writer's Association since 2005 and can be reached at randysnow22@yahoo.com.
Continental Indoor Football League Stories from January 14, 2007
- Kalamazoo Xplosion Conduct Third Player Tryout - OSC Original by Randy Snow
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer(s), and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
