Veterans ready to start training camp with Extreme

February 20, 2008 - United Indoor Football Association (UIF)
Bloomington Extreme News Release


First-year Bloomington Extreme indoor football coach Kenton Carr plans on welcoming back 15 players from last year's playoff roster when preseason camp opens Sunday for the 2008 campaign.

"We feel very good about the players we have coming to camp with us," said Carr, whose team begins drills with a 45-man roster that will be trimmed to 30 prior to the Extreme's regular-season opener March 8 against three-time defending United Indoor Football champion Sioux Falls at 7:05 p.m. at U.S. Cellular Coliseum.

The Extreme will actually get its first taste of competition Feb. 29 with an exhibition game against the Rock River (Rockford) Raptors at 7:05 p.m. at U.S. Cellular Coliseum. Rock River was in the UIF last year, but is in the Continental Football League this year.

"The players and coaches are eager to get going on what we expect to be a successful season," added Carr, who is beginning his first season as Bloomington's head coach following a playing career at quarterback that included stops in Peoria and with the Extreme last season.

The Extreme looks to build on last year's team that compiled a 9-8 record and ended one game short of reaching the UIF championship game.

Offensively, the Extreme returns the majority of its passing game that ranked second in the league by averaging 175.8 yards per game.

Quarterback Dusty Burk, who averaged 198.3 yards per game while throwing for 2,578 yards and 47 touchdowns, is back for another season along with wide receivers James Walton, Glen Johnson, Shatone Powers and Ken Duffy.

Johnson ranked second in the league in receiving yards per game average at 66.7. He had 934 yards on 76 catches, while catching 14 touchdown passes. Walton ranked second in the league with 987 yards on 75 catches with 22 touchdowns.

Also returning on offense are linemen Eric D. Johnson and running backs Eric Powell and Carlos Lattimore, who will likely see a considerable amount of time in the defensive backfield this year.

Returning players on last year's playoff roster on the defensive side of the ball include three-fourths of the starting backfield. That group includes James Temple, Mike Crumpler and Terrill Mayberry.

Other returnees are lineman Quince Holman and Eric M. Johnson, who had a change of heart about retirement, along with defensive back Dion Brown. Also returning is veteran place-kicker Peter Christofilakos, who is the team's career scoring leader.

Carr also will welcome 10 veteran players who have seen limited action for the Extreme over the past two years. Leading that group is offensive lineman Nick Ruud, who is attempting to come back from a season-ending knee injury last year.

Other players in the group include offensive linemen Jamarkus Gorman, Adam Grubbs and Mike Rudicil; wide receiver Marcus Hayden; defensive linemen Chris Burgess and Montel Conner; linebackers Brian Houston and Calvin Jones; and defensive back Preston Glover.

The Extreme is planning a number of events and specials prior to and during the exhibition opener on Feb. 29.

Extreme players will be available for pictures and autographs from 6 p.m. until 7 p.m. at the Bloomington PrairieThunder hockey game Feb. 27 at U.S. Cellular Coliseum. Extreme season ticket-holders also will have the opportunity to pick up tickets at the hockey game.

During the Extreme game against Rock River, fans will be treated to free hot dogs and popcorn, compliments of the Extreme football team and U.S. Cellular Coliseum.

It also has been labeled as a "guarantee victory game" by Extreme officials. So, when the Extreme wins all fans in attendance will receive free Big Macs at McDonald's the day after the game.

Season and individual tickets are on sale for Extreme games at the U.S. Cellular Coliseum box office, 101 S. Madison Street; by calling 309-434-2679 or 866-891-9992; or email at www.uscellularcoliseum.com

Fans, who have purchased season tickets, also can pick them up at the Coliseum box office between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.



United Indoor Football Association Stories from February 20, 2008


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