Post by Gene on Jul 11, 2009 11:32:54 GMT -5
7/11/09
By Brian Rippey
Reading Eagle
As the Reading Express prepares for the biggest road game in its four-year history, Adam Vogel knows what his teammates are thinking.
But nobody's been saying much about the Express' successful run that has brought nearly everything to Reading except an American Indoor Football Association championship.
"We don't really speak about it," said Vogel, a defensive end for three of the Express' four seasons. "We just haven't been that elite team for a year yet. We've got that opportunity this year. There's no reason we can't do it. We've just got to execute this week and take care of this week."
The Express (12-3) will visit the Columbus Lions (12-3) in the Columbus (Ga.) Civic Center Monday at 7:30 p.m. for the Eastern Conference championship.
Reading will be making its fourth straight trip to the conference championship game, but just its first on the road. The Express has won only one of its previous three appearances in the conference final. That was in 2007 when the Express went on to lose to the Lakeland Thunderbolts in the AIFA title game in Florence, S.C.
"It's a little frustrating," admitted Matt Sola, a four-year starter at linebacker. "At the same time it's definitely a good achievement to make it there. We want to make a great achievement and win it."
The Express has been a model of consistency during its four-year existence. Reading is 53-14 and has won four division championships to go with its 2007 conference crown.
But the chances to win a championship are running out for several players, including four-year starting offensive tackle Mark Stout, who turned 39 this week. Stout has been talking about retirement for the last two seasons and could be making his last run at a championship.
"Sometimes you get to the point where you've got to win," Stout said. "If you don't win you don't win, you're just a good team that can't win a big game. I think that's what we're known as right now unfortunately."
Although it's frustrating for the players, coach/general manager Bernie Nowotarski said the Express' .791 winning percentage is something that should make everyone proud, especially the six players who have been with the Express for four years.
"I don't know what gets you over the hump," Nowotarski said. "The bottom line is we're consistent. We work hard on the field; we work hard off the field. It's paid off with playoff appearances and conference appearances. We've made it to the big show once. You certainly want to win them, but you've got to get there first."
The Express punched its ticket to the conference title game by avenging two of its regular-season losses with a 50-20 thrashing of the Baltimore Mariners last week.
A win Monday night would send the Express on the road again to face the winner of the Western Conference championship game between the Wyoming Calvary and Utah Valley Thunder for the AIFA title.
"Now that we're here again we know what it takes to win a game here," Sola said. "We have a good group of guys that are ready to make that push. We know as long as we come together and play as a team, we can play with anybody in our league."
Monday's game will be Reading's second trip to Columbus in the last two seasons. Last season Reading suffered a 50-25 loss to the Lions when it was still searching for an identity.
This time the Express players know exactly who they are, a team looking to bring the first outright professional championship to Reading in 14 years.
"Guys that have been here the whole time understand the urgency," Stout said. "They want to get it done. You want to go out on a high note; you want to finish up. You want to prove to everybody that you can actually do it."
Contact Brian Rippey: 610-371-5070 or brippey@readingeagle.com.
Source: www.readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=147686
By Brian Rippey
Reading Eagle
As the Reading Express prepares for the biggest road game in its four-year history, Adam Vogel knows what his teammates are thinking.
But nobody's been saying much about the Express' successful run that has brought nearly everything to Reading except an American Indoor Football Association championship.
"We don't really speak about it," said Vogel, a defensive end for three of the Express' four seasons. "We just haven't been that elite team for a year yet. We've got that opportunity this year. There's no reason we can't do it. We've just got to execute this week and take care of this week."
The Express (12-3) will visit the Columbus Lions (12-3) in the Columbus (Ga.) Civic Center Monday at 7:30 p.m. for the Eastern Conference championship.
Reading will be making its fourth straight trip to the conference championship game, but just its first on the road. The Express has won only one of its previous three appearances in the conference final. That was in 2007 when the Express went on to lose to the Lakeland Thunderbolts in the AIFA title game in Florence, S.C.
"It's a little frustrating," admitted Matt Sola, a four-year starter at linebacker. "At the same time it's definitely a good achievement to make it there. We want to make a great achievement and win it."
The Express has been a model of consistency during its four-year existence. Reading is 53-14 and has won four division championships to go with its 2007 conference crown.
But the chances to win a championship are running out for several players, including four-year starting offensive tackle Mark Stout, who turned 39 this week. Stout has been talking about retirement for the last two seasons and could be making his last run at a championship.
"Sometimes you get to the point where you've got to win," Stout said. "If you don't win you don't win, you're just a good team that can't win a big game. I think that's what we're known as right now unfortunately."
Although it's frustrating for the players, coach/general manager Bernie Nowotarski said the Express' .791 winning percentage is something that should make everyone proud, especially the six players who have been with the Express for four years.
"I don't know what gets you over the hump," Nowotarski said. "The bottom line is we're consistent. We work hard on the field; we work hard off the field. It's paid off with playoff appearances and conference appearances. We've made it to the big show once. You certainly want to win them, but you've got to get there first."
The Express punched its ticket to the conference title game by avenging two of its regular-season losses with a 50-20 thrashing of the Baltimore Mariners last week.
A win Monday night would send the Express on the road again to face the winner of the Western Conference championship game between the Wyoming Calvary and Utah Valley Thunder for the AIFA title.
"Now that we're here again we know what it takes to win a game here," Sola said. "We have a good group of guys that are ready to make that push. We know as long as we come together and play as a team, we can play with anybody in our league."
Monday's game will be Reading's second trip to Columbus in the last two seasons. Last season Reading suffered a 50-25 loss to the Lions when it was still searching for an identity.
This time the Express players know exactly who they are, a team looking to bring the first outright professional championship to Reading in 14 years.
"Guys that have been here the whole time understand the urgency," Stout said. "They want to get it done. You want to go out on a high note; you want to finish up. You want to prove to everybody that you can actually do it."
Contact Brian Rippey: 610-371-5070 or brippey@readingeagle.com.
Source: www.readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=147686
