QB Mike Scipione to lead Raptors at Sioux City

March 31, 2005 - United Indoor Football Association (UIF)
Tennessee Valley Raptors News Release


HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – Neal Lindsey got his chance to start at quarterback for the Tennessee Valley Raptors. Now Mike Scipione will get his.

Scipione didn't play a snap during the Raptors' 53-51 season-opening road loss at Evansville on March 19, but he'll be under center Friday night when Tennessee Valley visits the Sioux City Bandits (1-0) at the Tyson Events Center. Kickoff is set for 7:05 and the game will be broadcast on WUMP 730-AM.

Raptors coach Dick Adams said that he's eager to see the 6-foot-6, 245-pound Scipione in action. Lindsey struggled through the air in his team's inaugural United Indoor Football game, but did run for one touchdown and threw for another late score in the last-second loss.

"I think Mike has had a good week of practice,'' Adams said. "He's getting better each day. I'm looking forward to getting to Iowa and seeing how he performs under pressure. We'll just go from there."

Scipione backed up Tim Couch at Kentucky in 1998 before moving on to a record-breaking three-year career at Division III Western Connecticut State, where he threw for 5,625 yards and 58 touchdowns through three seasons. He set school marks for passing yards in a game (477) and season (2,372) as a senior in 2003, and threw a record 26 touchdowns as a junior on his way to setting the WCS career mark.

Now he'll get his first start on a 50-yard field and take on a Sioux City team that's coming off a 57-29 win over the Black Hills Red Dogs.

"I've always believed that you can't get better at football without playing football,'' Scipione said. "Things have slowed down a lot for me. I'm not where I'm going to be down the road, but the game speed has slowed down and I'm starting to understand what it takes to be a successful quarterback in this kind of league.

"Outdoors, you can wait for guys to break and you can see things with time to sit in the pocket. Here, you're in your throwing motion as things are happening. It's a different game."

A late signee, it took Scipione some extra time to get in rhythm with his receivers. He said things are finally starting to click with a group that includes Kerwin Cook, Luke McArdle, Durocher Miller and Chesaurae Rhodes.

"Cook gives you a lot of room for error and he'll go get the ball,'' Scipione said. "Miller is about as tough as they come at receiver and Luke and Rhodes are extremely talented. Those guys are great."

The Raptors will take next weekend off before opening their home slate April 16 against the Tupelo Fireants. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. and it's "White Out Night" at the Boneyard with every fan in attendance will receiving a "Ninth Man T-shirt".



United Indoor Football Association Stories from March 31, 2005


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central