River Rats Fall Short in Loss to Winter Haven

Read this article at the FCSL website.

SANFORD, Fla. (June 7, 2011) - The Sanford River Rats tied the game three different times, but could never take a lead before falling 5-4 to the Winter Haven Loggerheads at Historic Sanford Memorial Stadium Tuesday night.

"We're just as easily 3-1 as we are 1-3," River Rats Head Coach Steve Piercefield said. "We've lost these three games by a total of five runs. The effort that these guys have put forth has been tremendous."

Sanford (1-3) starting pitcher Taylor Smith (Rollins College) and reliever Adam Albers (Saint Leo) both put forth tremendous effort from the mound. Smith struck out six and walked none in five innings of work.

Albers came in to a bases loaded jam in the sixth and struck out the first two batters he saw to close the inning.

Albers had to relieve Ryan Heinz (George Washington) after Heinz walked two and allowed an RBI single that gave the Loggerheads a 4-3 advantage.

"Ryan's back was a little tight," Piercefield said. "But Adam came in and, like he's done in his last two outings, slammed the door."

Alex Mendez (USF) had an RBI triple for the River Rats' first run followed by a sacrifice bunt from Blake Boyd (Nova Southeastern) to score Mendez for the tie.

Boyd's second RBI, a sacrifice fly to deep right to send Pat Fortunato (Rhode Island) home, came in the fifth and tied the game once again at three.

After Albers slammed the door on the Loggerheads in the sixth, Sanford yet again tied the game with what was nearly a triple from Ian MacGeorge (Embry-Riddle). Kyle Foti (Flagler) scored on MacGeorge's blast, but MacGeorge was called out at third.

Drew Leonard (Millsaps College), pinch running for Garrett Horan (Dickinson College), scored the winning run on a sacrifice bunt from Kevin Clements (Trinity) in the ninth.

Sanford managed to get Johnny Mazur (Florida Tech) to third in the ninth on two passed balls but were unable to capitalize.

"It's frustrating that they're not getting to see the results that they want," Piercefield said. "But this is only going to make us a better team."

Piercefield isn't hitting the panic button, however. "Our goal is to create consistency, so to make big changes doesn't make too much sense."

Sanford travels to Chain of Lakes Park to take on Winter Haven (2-2) Wednesday at 7 p.m.

Sanford Falls to DeLand After Rough Outing

DELAND, Fla. (June 5, 2011) - The Sanford River Rats fell to the DeLand Suns 6-5 after the Suns rallied for a four-run seventh inning in DeLand Sunday night.

Sanford reliever Steven Chaffee (Wingate) was on the mound for two-thirds of that seventh, and took the loss.“Our pitching staff did another great job tonight, but one inning sometimes can make or break you,” River Rats Head Coach Steve Piercefield said. “Chaffee located pitches, but they put great swings on them. They swung the bats well so a lot of credit goes to DeLand for sticking to their approach.”

DeLand catcher Galen Smith (Cleveland State CC) hit a double to start the Suns’ seventh. Centerfielder Stephen Bellantoni (USC-Aiken) singled, followed by another single from JT Warmoth (Embry-Riddle) that scored Smith. Shortstop Aaron Silbar (Columbia) hit DeLand’s third consecutive single before Andre Colon (St. Thomas) hit a two-RBI double to put the Suns up by one, a deficit that Sanford could not overcome.

Andre’s twin brother Steven Colon (St. Thomas) was on the mound for DeLand and picked up the win. Dane Stone (St. Thomas) earned the save for the Suns, striking out the last two Sanford batters.

“Our game plan offensively was the same approach we’re going to take most of the year: whatever they’re going to give us, we’re going to take,” Piercefield said. “Whether that’s a bunt hit, hit and run, or a stolen base.”

The small ball plan was evident Sunday. TJ Gavlick (North Florida) laid down a sacrifice bunt in the second, and Ryan Woodrey’s (Nova Southeastern) bunt in the fifth turned into a safe trip to first on an error by DeLand’s pitcher.

“Our guys have really bought in to playing small ball,” Piercefield said. “It’s tough to defend, and we’re always trying to put pressure on the defense. The guys did a great job of it today: we scored five runs. Typically that’s enough to win ballgames.”

It wasn’t all dink-and-dunk, however. Austin Liput (USC Upstate) hit a two-RBI triple in the fifth to give the Rats a 4-2 lead.

“Tuesday we’re going to go out and we’re going to battle again,” Piercefield said. “Good teams are always put in these situations. It’s a matter of learning from them so that the next time they present themselves it’s second nature and we come through with the big inning.”

Sanford’s next contest on Tuesday, June 7 is a rematch at Historic Sanford Memorial Park between the River Rats and Winter Haven Loggerheads set for 7 p.m.

River Rats Suffer 5-2 Loss on Opening Night

SANFORD, Fla. (June 2, 2011) - The Sanford River Rats opened the 2011 season with a 5-2 loss to the defending Florida Collegiate Summer League Champion Winter Park Diamond Dawgs Thursday night at Historic Sanford Memorial Stadium.

Despite the loss, “There were a lot of positives tonight,” River Rats Head Coach Steve Piercefield said. “These guys played extremely hard tonight.”

River Rats (0-1) starting pitcher JR Edwards was charged with the loss giving up four earned runs on seven hits in four complete innings on the bump.

Jeremy Strawn started on the mound for Winter Park (1-0) and earned the win after he threw five shutout innings. He recorded eight strikeouts, including six consecutively, while allowing three hits.

“He did an excellent job,” Piercefield said of Strawn. “Guys like that are going give everybody trouble because he was able to throw all three pitches for strikes.”

Ryan Heinz and Adam Albers combined for five innings of relief work for Sanford and prevented the Diamond Dawgs from further scoring.

“The bullpen came in for five innings of shutout baseball against one of the better lineups we ar going to face,” said Piercefield.

“Defense kept doing what it was doing,” Piercefield said about fielding, including a 5-4-3 double play to end the sixth inning, and a hard throw from right fielder James Ramsay to catcher Andrew Valencia to tag Michael Danner six feet from the plate in the ninth.

“We threw up a zero in the error column. That’s always nice,” Piercefield said. “We also swung the bat well. As the game progressed, our at-bats got continually better.”

The River Rats had their best scoring opportunity in the sixth with bases loaded after Austin Liput reached by way of walk, followed by an Andrew Valencia one-out double and a Ramsay walk. Unfortunately for Sanford, Winter Park turned a double play of their own - a 4-6-3 that ended the inning.

Third baseman TJ Gavlick scored the first run for Sanford in the seventh. The second River Rats run came in the eighth as Liput crossed the plate on a Ramsay RBI double. Liput led off with a hit ground ball along the first base line that hit first base and bounced into the outfield allowing him to reach second. In the following at-bat, Ramsay tacked on another double for the Rats driving in Liput, 5-2.

“We’re gonna get after it on Saturday,” Piercefield said. “As the game went along, you saw everyone settle in. If we can maintain that, we’re going to be a powerhouse for the league.”

The River Rats will hit the road as they face the Winter Haven Loggerheads on Saturday, June 4 at Chain of Lakes Field. First pitch is slated for 7 p.m.

Read this article on the FCSL website here.

Tuskers Linebackers Have Georgia On Their Minds

Read this post on the UFL website here.

Ray Charles famously had Georgia on his mind in 1960. Tuskers fans may be singing that same tune 50 years later when they get a glimpse of their team’s linebacker corps this season. Odell Thurman, who returns for his second season as a Tusker this year, will be joined by new Tuskers Tony Taylor and Arnold Harrison this summer. Harrison, Taylor, and Thurman all attended the University of Georgia at various points from 2000-2006, overlapping for two years in 2003 and 2004.

It’s still early in training camp, but already the three teammates are reminiscing. “It’s fun to be back and see everybody again,” said Taylor. “It brings back a lot of memories. We’ve already been talking about a lot of stuff. Hopefully we can go out and help the team the same way we did back in Georgia.”

“It’s great to be back with the Tuskers and I excited that Arnold and Tony are here,” Thurman said. “It makes me more excited knowing that we all played together, started together. Hopefully when camp is over it’ll be the same way again.”

Harrison was the first to become a Bulldog, joining the team with a redshirt designation in 2000. In 2001, he got his first playing time as part of a defense that allowed an average of 108.8 rushing yards per game, helping his team along to an 8-4 record. Taylor joined the team the next year, and was part of a defense that allowed 63.1 fewer passing yards per game than the previous year.

“Tony Taylor came and it was obvious that he was talented and very smart, so you knew he would be a good player,” Harrison said. The 2002 Bulldogs posted a 13-1 record on the year, with the lone loss a 20-13 defeat against the University of Florida. Georgia would go on to stomp Arkansas 30-3 in the SEC Championship Game before a New Year’s Day 26-13 drubbing of Florida State in the Sugar Bowl.

Thurman came to Athens, GA in 2003 and, as a starter along with Harrison, was part of a defense that was ranked fourth best in the country in total yards allowed. “Odell came, and instantly we knew we were the future of the defense,” Harrison said. “We sat behind Tony Gilbert and Boss Bailey waiting for our time to shine.” “We ran the D,” said Thurman of the three’s time starting. “We had a lot of help with the safeties, but our coach demanded that we know every position on the field. We studied longer than the quarterbacks.”

The team went 11-3 with narrow losses to LSU and Florida during the regular season and a 34-13 beating at the hands of LSU in the SEC Championship Game. The team finished the year with another New Year’s victory, this one a 34-27 overtime defeat of Purdue in the Capital One Bowl in the Citrus Bowl. Harrison has positive memories of his first time playing in the Citrus Bowl six years before anybody knew what a Tusker was. “It was probably one of the most exciting games I ever played in,” Harrison said. “They were touting a high flying offense, but we had the big, mean defense. We scored first in overtime and then on defense we stopped them on first down. On second and third down, I had two pass deflections in the end zone. On fourth down Tony Taylor ended the game with an interception. It was a great way to win and great way to close out the season.”

“I remember being on the edge of my seat, worried Purdue was going to come back and beat us,” Thurman said. “But Tony sealed the deal. They threw me the ball at the end of the game,” Taylor said simply.

Thurman’s Bulldog legacy lives on in the form of “YouTube” videos of his first game against Auburn. Jason Campbell had led the Tigers to the Georgia 2-yard-line early in the fourth quarter, but a third-and-goal pass was deflected and intercepted by Thurman, who then raced 99 yards for a touchdown to make the score 26-0. “That’s one of my most memorable plays in my personal football history,” Thurman said. “It’s funny, on the play sheet, I got two minuses for not being lined up right and not being in the right position. They always joke about how I’ll be out of position but make a big play.” “That’s one of those plays you’ll never forget as long as you live,” Taylor said. “I remember hitting the ball. I think Arnold’s going to tell you he hit it but I think that’s a lie, personally,” Taylor said with a laugh.

The Bulldogs of 2004 were the first with this trio of linebackers to not compete in the SEC Championship due to losses to Tennessee and Auburn, but finished their third Jan. 1 bowl game with a 24-21 victory over Tuskers’ quarterback Brooks Bollinger’s alma mater Wisconsin in the Outback Bowl. “We’re definitely going to give Brooks a hard time about that,” Taylor said.

Harrison and Thurman would depart for the NFL after 2004, having posted a 42-10 record in three years. Georgia finished in the Top 10 each of those years as well. Thurman was a semi-finalist for the 2004 Dick Butkus Award.

Harrison’s playing for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Thurman going to the division rival Cincinnati Bengals didn’t slow down the Bulldogs in 2005, though. With Taylor’s help, Georgia posted a 10-3 record. The Bulldogs played in their third SEC Championship Game in four years, where they savaged LSU 34-14. Unfortunately, Taylor and the rest of the Bulldogs closed the season with a loss to West Virginia in the Sugar Bowl.

Taylor was named a defensive captain for the 2006 season and the Bulldogs started out strong, outscoring their first five opponents 128-34, including two shutouts. “Those are crazy numbers, but that’s just the way we were programmed. Work hard, put in the hours, and it pays off on the field,” Taylor said. While four losses in their final five regular season games kept them out of SEC contention, the Bulldogs finished strong, beating three ranked opponents in a row.

“Everybody was starting to doubt us and write us off,” Taylor said. An early afternoon road game against #5 Auburn got the Bulldogs started on their turnaround. “It was a 12 o’clock game,” Taylor said. “I think they were asleep on us. It was like we were in practice, we just killed them.”

A home game against #15 Georgia Tech closed out the regular season for Georgia, a game Taylor described as “a good hard-fought battle.” Georgia then defeated #14 Virginia Tech in the Chick-fil-A Bowl to cap the season with an exclamation point.

With Taylor’s departure for the Atlanta Falcons as an undrafted free agent in 2007, the three former teammates were all working on taking their games to the next level.

Their NFL careers, however, mirrored the 2005 Bulldogs’ campaign: successful, but ultimately not as successful as they may have liked. Harrison’s Steelers won two Super Bowls while he was on the roster: once in 2005 without making any appearances and again in 2008 while he was out on injured reserve. Thurman was a candidate for the 2005 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award, but ultimately lost out to Shawne Merriman; Taylor’s Falcons had such a rough 2007 that their head coach Bobby Petrino resigned to coach the Arkansas Razorbacks. But like the 2006 Bulldogs, this trio seems poised to overcome disappointments.

Harrison wants to continue the tradition of defensive dominance the three displayed in college. “We prided ourselves on being great on defense,” Harrison said. “It started in the linebacker room. Coach VanGorder, the defensive coordinator and linebacker coach held us to an extremely high standard.”

Those high standards still ring true for all three players. “Coach Gruden and his assistants say the main thing is to get back to your ultimate goal, the NFL” Thurman said. “It’s just another opportunity to show people I can still play. The coaches are 100% behind us for that.”

Gruden had high praise for the Georgia linebacker he knows best: “Odell is exactly what you want in a linebacker and we’re happy to get him back,” Gruden said. “He’s probably the most explosive linebacker in our league and maybe in any league, really. He’s a dominant player. He can run and he’s got a great nose for the football. He’s a physical specimen. He’s going to have an even better year this year with another year under his belt with Coach Bresnahan.”

Coach Gruden didn’t hesitate to discuss possible defensive schemes using the trio, either. “Taylor has the ability to play all three positions,” he said. “Harrison’s more of an outside guy, more of a strong side backer, but we’ll let them compete and see what happens. We feel really, really good about our linebacker corps and the competition there is going to be fierce. It’s been fun watching them compete in training camp.”

Ultimately, Coach Gruden may have had Georgia on his mind as he scouted players for this year, and for good reason. “We know Georgia’s always had great defenses and the years they played together they were unbelievable on defense for a reason: those three guys were all over the place, flying to the ball,” Gruden said.

“It was an honor and a privilege to play with Tony and Odell then and I look forward to reuniting with them this season,” Harrison said. “I’ve probably been stalking the Tuskers online for the last couple of months, just watching the highlight tapes of everybody, trying to get back in the mood of football,” Taylor said. “I think it’s a great opportunity to come out here and be with the guys. It’s exciting to me.”

Thurman made it known what he expects from himself and his teammates this season. “Remember last year,” he said. “We were undefeated. When it’s time to put the hammer down, just put it down. Don’t stop, don’t let up, we’ve got to finish it this time.”

Switching Positions Nothing New to Tuskers' Foster

Read this post on the UFL's website here.

It’s not often that a football player changes positions on the offensive side of the ball after high school. Occasionally tackles and guards will get shuffled on the line as the routine wear and tear of a season takes its toll, but converting a quarterback to wide receiver is almost unheard of.The Pittsburgh Steelers’ Antwaan Randle El is probably the most famous example of a college quarterback moving to receiver in the pros, but second-year Tuskers wide receiver Jayson Foster not only switched positions for the pros, he switched multiple times in college at Georgia Southern.

“My freshman year I moved around a lot,” said Foster. “I got the opportunity to be on punt return and kick return and they gave me a chance to get in a few plays at quarterback when we went up by a lot, so I got to move around a lot and it worked out for me.”

During that first season in 2004, GSU coaches moved Foster to wide receiver where he played in all 12 games and started three on his way to being the first player at Georgia Southern to score a touchdown five different ways: rushing, passing, receiving, punt and kick return. Small wonder he was named “Freshman of the Year” by the Southern Conference coaches.

For his sophomore year, Foster moved to the starting quarterback position, but the homework he put in during his first year helped make the switch easier.

“In practice my freshman year I would do quarterback drills then some receiver drills,” Foster said. “We had two guys graduate and in the offseason doing quarterback drills, I finally won the starting job.”

Foster set more records in 2005 as the only player in NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (FCS, formerly Division 1-AA) history to score at least one rushing touchdown in 12 games, a feat he downplays. “When you run the option as QB, you get the ball a lot. We had a good team that year; I just seemed to find the end zone a lot.”

He finished the season with 1,481 yards rushing, third best for quarterbacks in FCS history, and an average of 123.4 yards per game.

Foster was moved back to receiver for 2006, his junior year, but the accolades kept coming for him as he was named First Team All-Southern Conference wide receiver by the conference coaches and as a return specialist by the media.

He again set a school record as the only player to have at least one rush, reception, punt return, and kick return for 80 yards or more.

“The punt return was probably one I shouldn’t have returned, I got lucky with that one,” Foster said. “The play I had the longest reception on, I actually got a penalty right before that so they moved us back to give us the 80 yards. I had to make up for the penalty.”

In 2007, Foster’s senior year, he moved back to quarterback and lead Georgia Southern to a 7-4 record while averaging 167.6 yards rushing per game and amassing 3,047 yards of total offense- for yet another school record. Foster won the 2007 Walter Payton Award, as the nation’s top player in FCS and was also named the Southern Conference “Offensive Player of the Year.”

Foster moved into the NFL after graduation as an undrafted free agent, spending time with the Miami Dolphins, Pittsburgh Steelers, Denver Broncos, and the Baltimore Ravens before finding a home with the Tuskers in 2009.

While he didn’t put up the same record-setting numbers he did at Georgia Southern, Foster had a solid year with the Tuskers, catching 21 passes for 308 yards and three touchdowns.

“The adjustment was a little difficult,” Foster said of moving back to wide receiver. “When you don’t know the lingo and you haven’t made those receiver steps in two years… It’s a different type of running and you’ve got to get used to all that.”

As the second full day of training camp ended, Foster said he was more comfortable with his role as a receiver. “When I first started out, I didn’t know the names of the routes, the uniqueness of the routes,” Foster said. “You just have to pick up on the lingo when it comes around. Coming back for this second year, I know a lot more terminology so I think I’ll do a lot better.”

Tuskers Head Coach Jay Gruden also expects an improvement in Foster’s production this year.

“He’s got the ability and the speed obviously,” Gruden said. “He was just a little bit raw last year, but he worked through it. We expect huge things from Jayson, both outside and inside the slot.”

And what of gadget plays like the pass Randle El threw to Hines Ward (another quarterback-to-receiver convert) in Super Bowl XL- do the Tuskers have anything like that in the works for Foster? Neither Foster nor Gruden ruled it out completely.

“Not yet, but Jay has a lot of plays drawn up,” Foster said. “Who knows what he has in his offense?”

“He’s more of a running quarterback than a passing quarterback,” Gruden said. “But you never know.”

Wiggins Sees UFL As Viable Alternative for Former NFL Players

Read this article on the UFL website.

Jermaine Wiggins entered professional football when the New York Jets took a chance on him as an undrafted free agent 11 years ago and signed him to their practice squad.

It was the beginning of a long NFL career for Wiggins, during which he caught a Vinny Testaverde pass for a touchdown as part of the Jets’ Monday Night Football comeback dubbed the “Miracle at the Meadowlands,” won a Super Bowl ring with the Patriots in Super Bowl XXXVI, and played against the Patriots with the Panthers two years later in Super Bowl XXXVIII.

Wiggins left Carolina and spent three years with the Vikings before signing with the Jaguars in March of 2007. He suffered a concussion during a preseason game in August that same year and was released. In short, by almost any definition, Wiggins has had a successful and impressive NFL career.That success leads one to ask an obvious question. Why would a player who achieved the highest honor of his sport sign with an unproven league, which Wiggins did after being drafted by the Florida Tuskers in the UFL’s Premiere Season Draft in 2009?

“It’s the opportunity to continue doing what it is that I do, and that’s playing professional football,” Wiggins said. “It’s a way to keep my career going and have the opportunity to make a living. The NFL only has so many jobs and the UFL is giving guys the opportunity to continue their careers, whether on the field, as a coach or working in the front office.”

After signing with the Tuskers, Wiggins had only an abbreviated time in training camp to get familiar with the offense. Luckily, he had some help from a former teammate.

“When I was in Minnesota I worked with [quarterback] Brooks [Bollinger],” Wiggins said. “I had a good relationship with him there. He’s smart, he’s a competitor, and he knows the game of football. He was able to come in and make the transition very smooth. He didn’t miss a beat, he just got into it.”

That chemistry and experience helped lead the Tuskers to an undefeated regular season and a chance for Wiggins to play in a third championship game. An overtime loss to the Las Vegas Locos was not what Wiggins and the team had envisioned, though.

“We played well last year but we obviously didn’t attain our goal, which was winning a championship,” Wiggins said. “To me, in order to be successful you have to win a championship.”

Wiggins is enthusiastic about the opportunity the UFL has given him and other players. “The one thing I really want to get out there is that the UFL is a great opportunity for guys to create a career,” he said. “Look at the UFL and say ‘Hey, I’m fortunate enough to be in the UFL. Let me try to build a career here.’ If you’re blessed enough to get that opportunity [to play in the NFL], that’s great but the main focus is building that career with the UFL.”

Tuskers Head Coach Jay Gruden understands what it means to the veterans in the UFL. “I think one, they love to play the game and two, they feel like they have a lot more football left in them despite people telling them they don’t,” Gruden said. “Jermaine proved he has a lot more football left in him.

For his part, Wiggins sees the opportunity long-term. “I’m trying to build a fan base where fans will look at like ‘Hey we’re going to get to know these guys who will play for our teams for four, five, six years,’” Wiggins said. “I’m a sports fan myself. I’m a die-hard Red Sox and Celtics fan and it’s good to see some consistency with your players.”

Charity Starts at Home for Carter

Read this article on the UFL website.

Florida Tuskers safety Jerome Carter never had a football camp to attend when growing up in Lake City, Fla. And that has been a motivating factor for him as each July he hosts a free clinic for underprivileged kids in the small community.

“First, it’s about getting the kids out there and having fun. It’s a way for me to get involved and give back to the community,” Carter said. “Second, I never had the chance to interact with football players growing up, so that’s another reason why I do this.”

“Overall, I think It’s important for professional athletes to get involved,” Tuskers Head Coach Jay Gruden said. “You’re creating relationships with the kids, which is a good thing. Jerome has done a great job in getting involved in his community.”

Carter’s football credentials were established early in his career. The Gainesville Sun named Carter its State Player of the Year for 2001, and the Florida Athletic Coaches Association named him the Class 5A Player of the Year his senior year.

“He’s a talented guy,” Gruden said. “He’s been coached by great coaches and for this reason Jerome can offer a lot to these young kids both from his experiences off the field and on the field. Anytime you can better the place where you grew up, man, it’s an important thing to do.”

Carter would go on to Florida State and in 2002, his first year of football there, scored on a blocked punt against Wake Forest. Carter was an honorable mention All-Atlantic Coast Conference selection as a junior, and was the defensive team captain his senior year. Carter finished his career at FSU with 257 tackles, 2.5 sacks, and 3 interceptions.

After being drafted into the NFL in the fourth round by the St. Louis Rams in 2005, Carter finished his rookie season with 38 tackles, including 12 in one game against the Houston Texans. He added 18 more tackles to his career numbers the following year plus two interceptions for 39 yards, including a big pick against the Detroit Lions.

After missing the next year with an injury, Carter was signed by the Dallas Cowboys in 2009, but was waived in August that same year, just in time to sign with the Florida Tuskers. He played in all six regular-season games for the Tuskers last season with five starts. His 24 tackles and 2 interceptions for 98 yards were enough to get protected status from the Tuskers for this upcoming season.

“It’s very important to get him back,” Gruden said of Carter’s return to the Tuskers. “Jerome’s a smart guy. He’s always in the right place at the right time. He has a year of experience under his belt at the safety position in our defense which is huge, because we ask a lot of our safeties. It’s going to be good to have a guy back there experienced with the terminology and the system that we run. He’s a great leader and he’s shown that he’s a great player.”

The Tuskers, who went undefeated in the 2009 season with a 6-0 record, open training camp in mid-August. The team will play four regular season home games at the Citrus Bowl. Season tickets start as low as $60 and can be obtained at 407-545-8123.