Ralph "The Snake" Barone to stop in as back-up QB

May 12, 2004 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Albany Firebirds News Release


Albany, N.Y. May 12, 2004 – Just one day after Albany Conquest reserve quarterback Gus Ornstein left Albany for the Canadian Football League's Calgary Stampeders, Conquest Head Coach Rick Buffington has decided that Ralph "The Snake" Barone will back-up QB D Bryant this Saturday when Albany travels to face the Louisville Fire at 7:30 p.m. at Freedom Hall in Louisville, KY. The game will be televised live on UPN Capital Region and heard on 104.5 The Buzz.

Barone, a southpaw, performed action scenes for Dennis Quaid in the movie "Any Given Sunday," and was a standout at Division I-AA Northeastern University. He set numerous single season passing records at Northeastern, including total offense (2,814 yards), completions (183), attempts (355), and touchdowns (20). He set single game records including marks for touchdown passes (6) and total offense (380 yards). Prior to his two seasons at Northeastern (1991 and 1992), Barone was an Honorable Mention NJCAA All-American at Hudson Valley Community College passing for 1,667 yards in 1990, second most in school history. Barone played for Conquest Assistant Head Coach Dave Bochette at Hudson Valley. Barone, from Schenectady, N.Y., was a standout at Mohonasen High School.

Barone's professional football resume includes free-agent tryouts with the CFL's Toronto Agronauts and Arena Football League's Florida Bobcats. He has played semi-pro football for the Marlboro Shamrocks in Massachusetts for the past 10 years, and most recently last summer. Barone took snaps at practice Wednesday night.

"We will have Ralph (Barone) travel with us to Louisville this weekend," said Coach Buffington. "As far as back-up QB beyond this weekend's game, we will reevaluate that next week," he added.

Ornstein started in four games this season, before QB D Bryant earned the starting job last week leading Albany to a 52-45 win over Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers on May 8. Ornstein is slated to arrive in Calgary on Thursday for the team's training camp, which begins on May 22.

The Albany Conquest plays the Louisville Fire at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 15 as they travel to Freedom Hall in Louisville, KY. On April 24, the Fire beat the Conquest 62-56 on a touchdown with three seconds remaining. The Conquest's next home game is against the Macon Knights on Saturday, May 22 at 7 p.m. at Pepsi Arena. Albany Conquest fans can purchase tickets, including a new "Pick 4 Ticket Package with Bon Jovi," at the Pepsi Arena box office, by visiting www.albanyconquest.com or by calling 518-487-2081 or 518-487-2085. In addition, individual game tickets can be purchased through TicketMaster by calling 518-476-1000. The Pick 4 Ticket Package offers fans the ability to select four of the Conquest's remaining five home games, including the July 23rd game featuring a special one-hour performance by Bon Jovi.



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