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Meet the Richmond Bandits – Part Two

March 24, 2005 - American Indoor Football Association (AIFA)
Richmond Bandits News Release


Continuing to fill the roster for the rapidly approaching onset of training camp, head coach Rik Richards has announced three additional signings for the inaugural season of the Richmond Bandits in the Atlantic Indoor Football League (AIFL). Richards has inked lineman Julian Graham (Univ. of Pittsburgh), and backs Bobby Phillips (Virginia Union) and local-standout Damon Thompson (Virginia State Univ.).

Graham is a strong lineman who was a three-year starter at the University of Pittsburgh, playing in every game while he was a Panther. Over his four-year career, Graham accounted for 187 total tackles, including 66 during his sophomore season alone despite playing the final eight games with a torn tendon in his right hand.

After the NFL passed on the talented Graham in 2000, the Philadelphia, Penn., native decided to try his luck north of the border in the Canadian Football League. He made it until the final cut on the roster of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers before being released.

Back home in Philly, Graham was preparing to become, as he said it, "a working man," as a shifter at the local United Parcel Service (UPS). But before he made the first drive into work, Graham got the call from the Blue Bombers asking him to report back to Canada to assist the CFL franchise along the defensive front as a pair of linemen had gone down with injuries. In his first game – on the third play from scrimmage, to be exact – Graham broke through the line and sacked the Calgary Stampeders' quarterback, Dave Dickenson, for an eight-yard loss. He would add an additional sack for 12 yards later on in that first professional appearance.

In two seasons with the Blue Bombers, Graham tallied 16 tackles in 11 games. He also sacked opposing quarterbacks three times, tallied one tackle for a five-yard loss, deflected two kicks, and batted down a pass at the line of scrimmage.

In high school, Graham recorded 340 career tackles, including 105 during his senior year and hauled down opposing quarterbacks 55 times during his career at John Bartram High School. On offense, he gained 715 yards rushing as a fullback. Graham earned the Philadelphia Tribune Scholar Athlete of the Year award in 1995 and was selected to play on the Philadelphia Public League All-Star team as well as in the prestigious Big 33 Football Classic.

"Julian (Graham) is the type of player I always love to see. He's a lot like me in the aspect of we can't live without the game of football," said Richards. "His experiences in helping rebuild a defense at Pittsburgh, as well as in Canada, will help this team. He knows what it's like to almost have football taken away from him so I know he'll bring it each and every down."

Bobby Phillips was an accomplished running back at Richmond's Virginia Union University. Since his playing days with the Panthers, for whom he amassed nearly 4,000 yards on the ground, Phillips has played professional football in three different leagues, including the NFL, NFL Europe, and the CFL.

Signed as a free agent by Minnesota in 1995, Phillips saw action in eight games with the Vikings, rushing a total of 14 times for 26 yards. He battled starter Amp Lee for playing time and was a key reserve for the NFC-member.

In 1996, Phillips pursued his professional career in Europe as a member of the Frankfurt Galaxy. For two seasons, Phillips rushed for the Galaxy, helping the team to back-to-back appearances in the World Bowl. Frankfurt dropped the '96 contest to the Scottish Claymores as Phillips was limited to 17 yards on seven carries. A year later, despite his 44 yards on nine carries, the Galaxy came up short in the finale again. During the 1997 season, Phillips rushed 144 times for 760 yards, an average of 5.3 yards per carry, scoring on six occasions. He was voted All-World League by the media for his performance.

Following the 1997 season, Phillips again tried his hand in the NFL, joining up with the Pittsburgh Steelers in camp battling for a running back spot. He also moved north of the border, playing for the Edmonton Eskimos of the CFL in 1999. He rushed 26 times, gaining 114 yards and a score in limited playing time.

On Phillips, Richards commented, "Bobby has a tremendous amount of experience at multiple levels of football. He has been to the top and knows how hard it is to both get there and to stay. He will be an invaluable asset to this squad, to our younger players, and to me in helping us attain the AIFL Championship."

Local product, Damon Thompson, attended Virginia State University in Petersburg, Va., where he was a three-year finalist for the Harlon Hill Trophy, which goes to the NCAA Division II Player of the Year. He set both school and Central Intercollegiate Athletics Association (CIAA) records with 268 career receptions for 4,387 yards. During his career, Thompson earned CIAA Receiver of the Week honors seven times, as well as the 1998 and '99 conference Offensive Player of the Year.

A three-time Black All-America selection, Thompson was earned first team All-CIAA honors as both a wide receiver and a kick returner.

Professionally, Thompson returned to Richmond in 2003 to play for the former Richmond Coliseum tenant, the Speed of arenafootball2. That season, he hauled in 122 passes for 1,569 yards with 27 TDs to finish third in af2 in total receptions and fourth in receiving yards, receiving yards per game, and all-purpose yards.

In 2003, Thompson and the Speed played against current Bandits' head coach, Rik Richards, who was amidst his first-year as the Swamp Foxes' skipper. On June 14, 2003, Thompson, facing the tenacious Richards-led Foxes defense that entered the game ranked atop the af2 total defense standings, caught six passes for 70 yards. He accounted for his only score on the night taking a kickoff out of his own end zone 56 yards to pay-dirt.

After the Speed raced out of town, likewise did Thompson. He quietly landed on the roster of the Wichita Stealth four games into the 2004 season, but like its namesake, delivered big results by dropping bombs on opposing defenses. In his first game in the purple and black, Thompson tallied five touchdowns to set the league on its ear. On the season, he pulled in 67 passes from Portsmouth, Va., native Aaron Sparrow for 1,097 yards and 29 touchdowns, breaking the Stealth's single-season scoring, receiving touchdown, and overall touchdown records in the process. He was thrice named the offensive player of the game for the Stealth.

Overall, in two years of arena football play, Thompson has combined for 2,666 yards on 189 receptions with 56 touchdowns.

"I can't emphasize enough how excited I am to have Damon back here in Richmond," said a smiling Richards. "I've played against this guy and I know how difficult it is to contain him. I'm just thrilled that I don't have to scheme against him, but rather get to help him attach opposing defenses. He's got great quickness and is football smart – and honestly, his numbers in the indoor game speak for themselves."

The Bandits will open the inaugural 2005 season at the Richmond Coliseum on Saturday, April 16 at 7:05 pm versus the Carolina (Charlotte) Sharks. For more ticket information, including season and single-game tickets, fans can call the Bandits' front office at (804) 780-0383.

The Atlantic Indoor Football League is the hottest new professional football league and will kickoff its inaugural season April 16, 2005. For more information, visit www.aiflonline.com.

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