San Jose Wolves are proud to announce the signing of former NFL Player and College All-American Omar Jacobs. Omar was the 2008 American Indoor Football Association’s MVP and AIFA Bowl II MVP. Jacobs etched a place in college football annuals after putting together statistically one of the best single seasons in college football history. In 2005 Jacobs passed for 41 touchdowns and 4 interceptions for the best statistical season ever for a Quarterback at Bowling Green State University.

Drafted in the fifth round of the 2006 draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers Omar spent time as well with the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs. Omar was projected to be the starter for the Berlin Thunder in NFL Europe in 2007 but was injured in camp and kept out of the season. Omar entered the AIFA in 2008 with the Florence Phantoms and lead the phantoms to a 13-4 record and their first division and conference titles. In AIFA Bowl II Jacobs passed for 180 yards and 4 touchdowns to lead Florence to the title.

“It’s a great day for the Wolves and our signing of elite caliber players such as Omar send a clear message to our fans and our rivals about the quality of play we expect to bring to the area” said Wolves General Manager Bennie King. “Omar gives us all the intangibles that a franchise QB brings to a ball club and we expect big things from him this year as we compete in the Western Division.”

Two Former Maryland Prep Stars, New Jersey Standout Added to Camp Roster

BALTIMORE, MD (December 9, 2009) – The Baltimore Mariners have added three rookies to their training camp roster including two former Maryland prep stars, Richan Gaskins (Eleanor Roosevelt) and Delannie Spriggs, Jr. (Northern), and Damon Harrison a standout at Malcolm X. Shabazz High School of Newark, New Jersey.

Gaskins, a 6’1”, 220 pound defensive back and Washington D.C. native excelled at Eleanor Roosevelt High School of Greenbelt, Maryland before moving on to Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Gaskins was invited to a workout with the Washington Redskins in 2009.

Wide Receiver Spriggs, was a dual threat at Northern High School of Owings, Maryland. He earned All-County honors as a running back and kick return specialist and was named to the Washington Post All-Metro team as an honorable mention selection. Spriggs was on the Salisbury University football team for one semester, but went on to achieve All-American status at the Division 3 school as a sprinter on the track team.

A standout quarterback and kick returner at Shabazz High School, Harrison continued his gridiron success at Shaw University of Raleigh, North Carolina as a wide receiver. In three seasons as a starter for the Bears he played in 30 games, pulled in 72 catches for 1,433 yards, and notched 12 scores.
 
For more information about the Baltimore Mariners go to www.baltimoremariners.com.

Reading Express GM/Head Coach Bernie Nowotarski reports today that he has signed from the great football state of North Carolina, Chris Osborne from Elizabeth City University.

Chris currently resides in Jacksonville Florida. He is a 6’1” 307lb nose tackle and can also play all three positions on the offensive line.

Chris played his high school football at Jean Ribault Sr High. Where he was a 4 year starter and a 2 year Captain. Chris went on to attend Savannah State University and was a 2 year starter. He then transferred to Elizabeth City University and completed his career leading the Vikings to a CIAA Conference Championship.

“We are looking forward to seeing Chris in Reading. He is a big, young, strong and agile nose tackle. Having the offensive line skills as well creates a good competition base for Chris. He’s anxious to get here and we look forward to his arrival” commented Nowotarski.

Check out the New Express website for all your Express information at www.expressindoorfootball.com. Follow GM/HC Bernie on Twitter at http://twitter.com/CoachBDB

The Ogden Knights Professional Indoor Football team announced the signing of DB/WR Emery Beckles and WR Charles Brandon.

Emery Beckles joins the Knights as a triple threat; Defensive Back, Wide Receiver and Kick Returner.  For the past three season, Beckles has been honing his indoor skills up in Tri-Cities, Washington, where he is the all-time team leader in Kick Return Yards (1433; long of 51-yards), Field Goal Return Yards (64), second all-time in Interceptions (7) and third all-time in All-Purpose Yards (1866).

Through 28 games, Beckles accumulated 68.0 Total Tackles (49 solo, 28 asst.), seven interceptions (one returned for a touchdown), four Pass Breakups and one Sack.  Offensively, he rushed 12 times for 6-yards and three touchdowns, while pulling in 33 receptions for 282-yards and five touchdowns.

No matter what weapon in the Knights’ arsenal Coach Coleman has in store for Beckles, he is sure to make big-time plays any chance he has.

Charles Brandon may not be the same triple threat as Beckles, but with his speed and consistency at the WR position, there is no telling what heights he may sore to during the 2010 season.

BALTIMORE, Maryland (December 6, 2009) – The American Indoor Football Association has released the 70th edition of its Internet radio program, This Week In The AIFA.

This edition focuses on the AIFA's western expansion to Yakima, Washington and San Jose, California. The program also covers the league's November Meetings in Las Vegas. Special guests on the show are new San Jose Wolves GM Bennie King, team owner Ryan Peterson, AIFA co-founder Michael Mink and Ogden Knights President Travis Vance. Additional voices heard on the program include new Yakima Warriors coach Lance Brown, Baltimore Mariners GM Greg Justice and Reading Express coach and GM Bernie Nowotarski.

This Week In The AIFA is a downloadable Internet radio program, sometimes referred to as a “Podcast.” The program is produced by Bill Hazen Productions, in conjunction with the AIFA and OurSports Central Radio. It is available for download directly through both the AIFA's web site (www.aifaprofootball.com) and OurSports Central's web site (www.oursportscentral.com).

This Week In The AIFA is written, produced and hosted by veteran play-by-play broadcaster and AIFA Media/Public Relations Director, Bill Hazen. The program utilizes the latest in digital audio technology to increase the audio quality of interview segments from throughout the league.

Oakland Mills, Shepherd University Star Signs with Baltimore

BALTIMORE, MD (December 5, 2009) – James Violand, who was an All-Metro performer at Oakland Mills (Columbia, Maryland) High School, an All-Region lineman at Shepherd University, and was named a National Strength and Conditioning Association All-American Athlete, has been signed by the Baltimore Mariners of the American Indoor Football Association (AIFA). The offensive lineman seeks to make his professional debut in the 2010 season, which will kickoff in March.

“Violand was one of those guys you hope to see at an open workout.  It did not take long to notice him and for Coach Simpson to sign him to a training camp contract.  I look forward to seeing him battle the vets on this squad as he makes his debut in camp,” said Mariners General Manager Greg Justice.
 
A 6’3”, 250 pound lineman, Violand lettered for four seasons at Oakland Mills High School helping lead the Scorpions to the state quarterfinals in 2000 and the state finals in 2001. As a senior Violand was named to the Washington Post All-Howard County Team and was named All-Metro by the Baltimore Touchdown Club and played in their annual All-Star Game.

GM and Head Coach Bernie Nowotarski is proud to announce that he has signed former Widener University stand-out, Tyreak Saviour.

Saviour (5-11, 195) attended Academy Park High school in Sharon Hill Pa. He played football, ran track and also played baseball. After high school Tyreak attended Widener University from 2001-04 where he caught 186 passes for 2,977 yards and 25 touchdowns. He currently ranks 1st in Widener history in total receptions in a season (71) and in a career (186), he also is 1st in most touchdowns in a game with four. He is third in total receiving yards in a season and fourth in total receiving yards in a career. He is also fourth in receiving touchdowns in a career.

Saviour received post season honors for his achievements in 2003 and 2004 from Don Hansen Gazette where he was named 2nd team all east region both years. He was named 3rd team D3football.com preseason all America for the 2004 season. He was also named first team all MAC conference two consecutive years and also was his team’s receiver of the years for two consecutive years.

“This is an incredible win-win for the AIFA,” said league co-founder John Morris from AIFA headquarters in Baltimore. “Not only is the market one of the most dynamic in the country, but the ownership has tremendous dedication to the sport. The Bay Area is very well established as an indoor football market, and the San Jose Wolves will provide an outstanding product for the fans.”

The Wolves were unveiled at a press conference in San Jose Wednesday afternoon. Team owner Ryan Peterson was introduced to a group of assembled media. Peterson is the CEO of OCZ Technology, a company on the cutting edge in the development of a new generation of solid state hard drives for storage in computers and other devices. The company also produces computer memory chips and power supplies.

Also introduced was former AIFA Executive of the Year, Bennie King, who will serve as GM and Director of Football Operations for the Wolves. AIFA co-founder Michael Mink represented the league at the press conference.

San Jose is the tenth largest city in the nation and the largest city in the San Francisco Bay Area. The region constitutes the fifth largest market in the country, with a population of approximately 7.4 million people. The city is in the heart of Silicon Valley, home base for many of the nation's most prominent computer and Internet companies.

King, who held prominent front office positions on AIFA championship teams in both Lakeland, Florida and Florence, South Carolina, believes the league's Western Conference has been strengthened substantially during the off-season. The Wolves are planning to announce the first of several major player signings today.

“There is a very strong indoor football pedigree here,” King told This Week in the AIFA. “The bar has been set high. I think we're going to have a very cohesive unit and it can move forward and make this (franchise) really something in this area.”

Complete coverage of this story will be featured on the league's Internet radio program, This Week in the AIFA. The next edition of the program will be available for download through the AIFA's web site (www.aifaprofootball.com) and OurSports Central (www.oursportscentral.com).

The staff from your Ogden Knights Indoor Football Team and Trademark Sports Group would like to wish all those in the Ogden area, the Great State of Utah and the rest of the nation a very happy and safe Holiday Season. We would like to ask the entire Knights’ fans around Utah, join us in saying a special thanks to members and their families in all branches of our Armed Forces serving around the world. Thank you for your sacrifices and may you return home safely. God Bless.

On another note the city of Ogden needs to get ready for a Championship run in 2010. We are committed to bringing the best players we can find into Ogden and putting the most competitive team on the field that we can. We are about building winners; this is evident from the staff we have assembled here in Ogden.  Travis Vance, our team President and General Manager, was a part of a Championship team back in 2005. His first act of business was bringing in the man that led the team to that Championship back in 2005.  Head Coach, Doug Coleman, is leader on and off the field and a Championship QB with the 2005 Tri-Cities Fever. Our supporting front office staff has worked for General Manager Travis Vance for the last three years and brings an exceptional amount of experience in Indoor football to the city of Ogden and are truly professionals.

Adam Foley Part of NCAA Playoff Team, Mariners Takeaway Leading D

BALTIMORE, MD (December 2, 2009) – Defensive Lineman Adam Foley, who was part of a 2009 Baltimore Mariners defense, which led the American Indoor Football Association (AIFA) in turnover margin, has re-signed with the indoor football club, which will kick-off its third season in March of 2010.

"Adam is an out of town player that immediately felt at home in Baltimore.  He came to us after training camp and fought his way into the starting line-up.  With the ability to play multiple positions on both sides of the ball, I look forward to seeing a focused and fired up Adam in training camp," stated Mariners General Manager Greg Justice.

A 6’4”, 270 pound lineman out of Fleming Island, Florida, Foley was an All-County linebacker as a junior and senior and added All-County tight end to his resume as a senior for Clay High School of Green Cove Springs, Florida. He also lettered for three seasons in baseball and basketball. Following his high school career he moved north to attend Fordham University of the Bronx, New York. Making the varsity squad as a true freshman he saw action in nine games in 2000.  In 2001 he played in seven games on the defensive line totaling seven tackles and notching his first college sack.