Xplosion Conduct First Tryout for 2008
by Randy Snow
December 11, 2007 - Continental Indoor Football League (CIFL)
Kalamazoo Xplosion
The Kalamazoo Xplosion of the Continental Indoor Football League conducted their first open player tryout on Sunday (December 9) in preparation for the 2008 season.
About 20 players showed up at the Soccer Zone in Oshtemo, including some returning players from last year's 11-3 playoff team. Among last year's players in attendance were defensive lineman Andy Story, wide receiver Eric Gardner, center Anthony Harris and backup quarterback Randy Hutchison.
Last year's starting QB, Bill Skelton, will not be returning to the team next season as he has decided to concentrate on getting his Masters Degree instead. Hutchison will not only play QB for Kalamazoo this season, but he will also serve as the assistant offensive coordinator under new head coach Mike Sparks.
"I've already put in quite a bit of time recruiting players," Hutchison said. "I've been searching for offensive linemen and other guys who can help us."
Hutchison and five other Xplosion players, who live in Fort Wayne, Indiana, carpooled up to Kalamazoo last season for games and practices. The CIFL recently added an expansion team in Fort Wayne, the Freedom, but Hutchison decided to return to the Xplosion for another season. It was the familiarity with the ownership and the players that influenced his decision to return to Kalamazoo.
"It's a very steady organization," he said of the Xplosion. "They do things the right way, we know where we're practicing and we know when we're practicing. Everything runs like clockwork. Not to say that Fort Wayne won't have that as well, but you never know."
At least one of the Xplosion's players from Fort Wayne last season won't be returning, however. Defensive lineman Alf Fertil has already signed on with the Freedom.
Coach Sparks was pleased with the turnout at his first official event with the team. "I was pleased with the number of veterans that showed up to work out," said Sparks. "We got to look at some promising local guys. We invited five or six guys who were here today to join us at our future workouts and then join us in training camp. You can't tell a whole lot until you get pads on, and we won't do that until February."
Sparks has already begun putting together his coaching staff for the upcoming season. One assistant coach will be Ron Tyner, who will serve as the Xplosion's line coach in 2008. Tyner was a coaching intern with the Grand Rapids Rampage of the Arena Football League last season.
There will be two more open tryouts for the team on January 13 and February 3.
SCHEDULE SURPRISES OWNER
For the most part, Kalamazoo Xplosion owner Mike Johnson was pleased when he saw the 2008 schedule. But there was one thing about it that took him by surprise. Johnson and his Xplosion co-owners, Mike Trumbell and Esteban Rivera, also own another team in the CIFL, the expansion Saginaw Sting. Johnson was surprised to see that their two teams, both located in Michigan, do not play each other during the regular season.
"We were shocked when that happened," said Johnson. "But we are in two separate divisions."
Last season, the Steubenville Stampede and the Summit County Rumble, both from Ohio, were also operated by the same owner. However, both teams folded after the season ended. Does Johnson feel that he is spreading himself too thin by owning two teams?
"Our situation is different," Johnson said. "We have a pretty strong business model. What I tell everyone is that you can run two teams with 150% effort, not 200% effort."
Next weekend, Johnson will be at another player tryout, this time for the Saginaw team, which will take place in Grand Blanc, Michigan.
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Randy Snow is a freelance football writer from Kalamazoo, Michigan. Since 2003, he has covered the Arena Football League, arenafootball2, United Indoor Football, the Continental Indoor Football League and the All American Football League. Randy has been a member of the Arena Football League Writer's Association since 2005 and can be reached at randysnow22@yahoo.com.
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Continental Indoor Football League Stories from December 11, 2007
- Xplosion Conduct First Tryout for 2008 - OSC Original by Randy Snow
- Silverbacks sign former Springfield South star Greene - Dayton Silverbacks
- Outlawz Add Six to 2008 Training Camp Roster - Two Coaches - Lehigh Valley Outlawz
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