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WIFL Training Camp Prospectus

January 19, 2007 - World Indoor Football League 2 (WIFL 2) News Release


Gosh only knows how many of these preseason camps the World Indoor Football League's coaches, players and staffs have gone through in their storied careers. They've even experienced preparing for a start-up league's inaugural season once or twice.

So the storyline on the eve of the WIFL's final sprint to opening day is the simple fact that players are arriving in their respective cities, doctors are administering physicals, rooming assignments are being made and there's a least a half-dozen logistical nightmares some staff members are trying to resolve the best they can.

It's indoor football, dang it.

"I actually like the part getting where I'm getting ready for training camp better," admitted Columbus Lion coach Jason Gibson. "Because as soon as practice starts, it's over before you know it and we're playing. "I enjoy camp each year," Gibson added. "You want to take what you've learned from previous years and become a better coach and teacher."

The Daytona Beach Thunder opens training camp on Sunday, January 21. Their opening-day opponent, the Augusta Spartans, follow eight days later on the 29th. The Osceola Ghostriders and Columbus Ghostriders, who meet in the WIFL's second game on February 24th, begin work on February 3rd and 5th.

Teams must trim their current 40-man rosters down to 25 (20 active, 5 inactive) for their respective opening days.

TRAINING CAMP PREVIEWS

AUGUSTA SPARTANS

Dates: January 29 - February 9

Location: North Augusta Middle School

Times: 5:30- 7:30 p.m.

THE BUZZ: Hometown hero Bubba Diggs returns a strong core from a 5-9 team that was playing well at the end of the 2006 season

PLAYERS TO WATCH: WR Anthony Young QB Jamie Williams DL John Cratic, LBRalph Scott OL/DL Marion Warer WRMarvin Sconee DB Shaun Sanders

COACH DIGGS SAYS: "I'm looking for leaders and guys from last year to step up and take control. I want that edge early."

QB SITUATION: Williams and Brandon Thatcher will compete for the starter's job.

KEY CONCERN: Stability and consistency in the secondary

WHAT THE HECK? Diggs plans to don a three-piece suit at the season-opener and the home opener. Fans can vote on which outfit he wears.

COLUMBUS LIONS

Dates: Feb. 5-17

Location: Columbus Civic Center

Times: 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.

THE BUZZ: Same city, same coach, different name, owners and league as Jason Gibson recovers from his 2006 AIFL experience where one of the few positives was a playoff berth.

PLAYERS TO WATCH: WR Jarwarski Pollack QB Andrew McKay, DB Eddie Ravenell, DE Jarun Dailes, RB Eugene Goodman

COACH GIBSON SAYS: "I have a lot of guys right out of college and they're still in football shape, that's what I'm excited about."

QB SITUATION: Former Georgia Bulldog McKay leads the pack despite being a rookie.

KEY CONCERN: Gibson's worried about the experience level at wide receiver.

WHAT THE HECK?: He's in the middle of the Southeastern Conference heartland and Gibson's signing former ACC players?

DAYTONA BEACH THUNDER

Jan. 21 -- Feb. 4

Location: Sperling Sports Complex, DeLand

Times: 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

THE BUZZ: Former NY Giant and Tampa Bay Buc Leon Bright takes over an underachieving 6-8 team from 2006.

PLAYERS TO WATCH: QB Bo Bartik, WR Cory McKinney, DL Dereck Rivers, OL Tommy Moody,

COACH BRIGHT SAYS: "Can we get everyone together, be productive and gel on the field? That's the question."

QB SITUATION: Bartik is the proven indoor veteran, but can former Bethune-Cookman star Lawrence McCloud and FIU's Tavares Woodley beat him out on talent alone?

KEY CONCERN: Thunder lost DB Nick Allison and RB Brad Lee to the AFL's Orlando Predators.

WHAT THE HECK? Thunder has two former Division I BASKETBALL standouts (Stetson's EJ Gordon and Bethune-Cookman's Cleveland Williams) on the pre-season roster. Gonzaga ain't on the schedule, is it?

OSCEOLA GHOSTRIDERS

Feb. 3 -17

Champion Sportsplex, Orlando

Times: Practice: 3-5 and 7-9

THE BUZZ: Head Coach Marquette Smith has 24 former Division I players on his roster, including eight from nearby UCF.

PLAYERS TO WATCH: QB Damon Dowdell, QB Brandon Sumner, QB Fabian Walker, DL Carl Reaves, LB Stanford Rhule, DB Charles Jones, OL Ray Marshall, WR James Panui

COACH SMITH SAYS: "I feel great. I feel excited. There's a lot of positive energy. This will be one of the competitive camps I've been a part of."

QB SITUATION: Pretty darned good. Dowdell ( Michigan State ), Sumner (UCF) and Walker ( Florida State ) all have logged quality D-1 minutes.

KEY CONCERN: Talent's there, but only seven returning players means team hasn't come together.

WHAT THE HECK: After two years in the NIFL, how's Osceola going to do against teams that have matching helmets or actually show up? Not mocking you, Marquette.



World Indoor Football League 2 Stories from January 19, 2007


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.


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