Post by Free Agent Fan on Feb 3, 2007 10:21:14 GMT -5
Kickoff time: MudCats debut tonight
2/3/2007 1:23:29 AM
Daily Journal
TUPELO -The region's latest foray into professional sports takes the field tonight as the Mississippi MudCats entertain the Pittsburgh RiverRats at BancorpSouth Arena.
Kickoff, which marks the return of indoor pro football to the area after a year's hiatus, is set for 7:30 p.m.
It was a loose and confident bunch of MudCats who spent about an hour in a walkthough Thursday night at Tupelo Middle School, under the watchful eye of head coach Brian Brents.
Brents, in his first head coaching job, admits to some sleepless nights this week. "You don't know what you've got until you take the field, but we feel good about our preparations," said Brents, 26.
"From the first day, it's phenomenal to see how well everybody came together as a team."
His squad hasn't logged much time on its home field, rising at 6 a.m. Wednesday to get in an extra session on the turf that was installed at the arena this week.
"That was a good chance for our quarterback and receivers to get their timing down," Brents said.
The home team's roster is studded with former area standouts and Division I players, while the RiverRats' roster is made up primarily of small-college players from that area.
Of particular interest tonight should be the contrast of strong-armed MudCats quarterback Tommy Jones and Pittsburgh's scrambling David Dinkins.
Jones threw for 100 touchdowns in 16 games as he led the Odessa Roughnecks to the Intense Football League championship last season.
Dinkins, the RiverRats' franchise player, spent the past two seasons playing for the Erie Freeze of the AIFL -the predecessor of the reorganized American Indoor Football Association. Dinkins was that league's MVP in 2005.
"We can't worry too much about the other team and what they're going to do," Brents said. "Right now, we just have to focus on us. If we execute and take care of business, especially on special teams, we'll be tough to beat."
The Tupelo FireAnts played here from 2001 to 2005, posting a winning season in 2004.
Ticket prices for tonight's game range from $25 to $5. Call 841-6528 for more information.
Among the players with area connections on tonight's roster:
WR Darryl Carter (Tupelo High School assistant coach), DB-kick returner Bobby Hill (Fulton), Travis Johnson (Shannon, Ole Miss), PK John Marlin (Tupelo, Miss. State), RB-DB Rico McDonald (Ripley, Delta State), FB-LB Calvin Thomas (Corinth), lineman William Stewart (Pontotoc, Miss. Valley).
2/3/2007 1:23:29 AM
Daily Journal
TUPELO -The region's latest foray into professional sports takes the field tonight as the Mississippi MudCats entertain the Pittsburgh RiverRats at BancorpSouth Arena.
Kickoff, which marks the return of indoor pro football to the area after a year's hiatus, is set for 7:30 p.m.
It was a loose and confident bunch of MudCats who spent about an hour in a walkthough Thursday night at Tupelo Middle School, under the watchful eye of head coach Brian Brents.
Brents, in his first head coaching job, admits to some sleepless nights this week. "You don't know what you've got until you take the field, but we feel good about our preparations," said Brents, 26.
"From the first day, it's phenomenal to see how well everybody came together as a team."
His squad hasn't logged much time on its home field, rising at 6 a.m. Wednesday to get in an extra session on the turf that was installed at the arena this week.
"That was a good chance for our quarterback and receivers to get their timing down," Brents said.
The home team's roster is studded with former area standouts and Division I players, while the RiverRats' roster is made up primarily of small-college players from that area.
Of particular interest tonight should be the contrast of strong-armed MudCats quarterback Tommy Jones and Pittsburgh's scrambling David Dinkins.
Jones threw for 100 touchdowns in 16 games as he led the Odessa Roughnecks to the Intense Football League championship last season.
Dinkins, the RiverRats' franchise player, spent the past two seasons playing for the Erie Freeze of the AIFL -the predecessor of the reorganized American Indoor Football Association. Dinkins was that league's MVP in 2005.
"We can't worry too much about the other team and what they're going to do," Brents said. "Right now, we just have to focus on us. If we execute and take care of business, especially on special teams, we'll be tough to beat."
The Tupelo FireAnts played here from 2001 to 2005, posting a winning season in 2004.
Ticket prices for tonight's game range from $25 to $5. Call 841-6528 for more information.
Among the players with area connections on tonight's roster:
WR Darryl Carter (Tupelo High School assistant coach), DB-kick returner Bobby Hill (Fulton), Travis Johnson (Shannon, Ole Miss), PK John Marlin (Tupelo, Miss. State), RB-DB Rico McDonald (Ripley, Delta State), FB-LB Calvin Thomas (Corinth), lineman William Stewart (Pontotoc, Miss. Valley).