Post by Canton Cougar Fan on Apr 19, 2008 5:48:22 GMT -5
www.cantonrep.com/index.php?ID=408472&Category=17&subCategoryID=0
Saturday, April 19, 2008
BY Jim Thomas
REPOSITORY SPORTS WRITER
CANTON Rashan Hall has said many times he loves Canton Legends fans.
Faced with a possible sale of the team, the former McKinley High School star only wishes there were more than just the die-hards.
"The fans of Stark County, they love their high school sports," Hall said. "They love pro sports. The minor-league sports, that's a tough sell.
"I don't think the word has got out enough. I don't think they've got marketed. We've had minor-league soccer, minor-league baseball, and they've both had to move.
"It's just a tough sell."
Hall, though, is not discouraged about a sale. Or about the team's 0-4 start as it heads to Huntington, W.Va., for a 7 p.m. game Saturday against the Heroes.
"The team is planning on staying in Canton," said Hall, who is in his third year with Canton and fourth in indoor football. "I know that. The record, that part has been frustrating. We've been so close every week. Really, we've lost every game inside (the opponent's) 5-yard line.
"But to stay upbeat and continue to practice hard like we've been doing is a plus. We know we're a good team. We're just a couple pieces away from putting it together."
Hall has done his part this season. He leads the Legends in tackles for loss with four.
An aggressive pass rusher and the heart of the Legends' defense, Hall is second on the team in tackles and has broken up two passes.
When he runs onto the Memorial Civic Center turf before a game, Hall shakes it for all to see. The Legends faithful respond with a lot of love for their local hero.
"I still have a lot of passion for the game," he said. "That hasn't changed."
But Hall wants to make it clear that if the Legends are sold, it's not the reason he won't be back.
"I'm 29, going to be 30 in January," he said. "This is my last year. I told my mother I wanted to play football 20 years, until I'm 30. Of course, I thought four or five of those years would be in the NFL."
That didn't happen, but Hall said playing in front of Canton fans has been rewarding. He tries to reward them with his best every game every time.
"People take pride in their state football," Hall said. "Any time a team comes in from the South, they know about Ohio football. It's very important we represent our city and state."
Reach Repository sports writer Jim Thomas at (330) 580-8336 or e-mail:
jim.thomas@cantonrep.com
LEGENDS at HEROES
WHEN Saturday, 7 p.m.
WHERE Big Sandy Superstore Arena, Huntington, W.Va.
RADIO WNPQ-FM 95.9
RECORDS Canton 0-4, Huntington 3-1
NOTES Canton lost, 38-35, to Augusta (Ga.) in the final minute Saturday when a touchdown was called back and a last-second field goal to tie the game struck the Canton Memorial Civic Center ceiling. Huntington is coming off a 54-24 home win over Erie, which defeated Canton, 38-24, earlier in the season.
Saturday, April 19, 2008
BY Jim Thomas
REPOSITORY SPORTS WRITER
CANTON Rashan Hall has said many times he loves Canton Legends fans.
Faced with a possible sale of the team, the former McKinley High School star only wishes there were more than just the die-hards.
"The fans of Stark County, they love their high school sports," Hall said. "They love pro sports. The minor-league sports, that's a tough sell.
"I don't think the word has got out enough. I don't think they've got marketed. We've had minor-league soccer, minor-league baseball, and they've both had to move.
"It's just a tough sell."
Hall, though, is not discouraged about a sale. Or about the team's 0-4 start as it heads to Huntington, W.Va., for a 7 p.m. game Saturday against the Heroes.
"The team is planning on staying in Canton," said Hall, who is in his third year with Canton and fourth in indoor football. "I know that. The record, that part has been frustrating. We've been so close every week. Really, we've lost every game inside (the opponent's) 5-yard line.
"But to stay upbeat and continue to practice hard like we've been doing is a plus. We know we're a good team. We're just a couple pieces away from putting it together."
Hall has done his part this season. He leads the Legends in tackles for loss with four.
An aggressive pass rusher and the heart of the Legends' defense, Hall is second on the team in tackles and has broken up two passes.
When he runs onto the Memorial Civic Center turf before a game, Hall shakes it for all to see. The Legends faithful respond with a lot of love for their local hero.
"I still have a lot of passion for the game," he said. "That hasn't changed."
But Hall wants to make it clear that if the Legends are sold, it's not the reason he won't be back.
"I'm 29, going to be 30 in January," he said. "This is my last year. I told my mother I wanted to play football 20 years, until I'm 30. Of course, I thought four or five of those years would be in the NFL."
That didn't happen, but Hall said playing in front of Canton fans has been rewarding. He tries to reward them with his best every game every time.
"People take pride in their state football," Hall said. "Any time a team comes in from the South, they know about Ohio football. It's very important we represent our city and state."
Reach Repository sports writer Jim Thomas at (330) 580-8336 or e-mail:
jim.thomas@cantonrep.com
LEGENDS at HEROES
WHEN Saturday, 7 p.m.
WHERE Big Sandy Superstore Arena, Huntington, W.Va.
RADIO WNPQ-FM 95.9
RECORDS Canton 0-4, Huntington 3-1
NOTES Canton lost, 38-35, to Augusta (Ga.) in the final minute Saturday when a touchdown was called back and a last-second field goal to tie the game struck the Canton Memorial Civic Center ceiling. Huntington is coming off a 54-24 home win over Erie, which defeated Canton, 38-24, earlier in the season.