Rush Roll out the Cuts after Successful Mini-Camp
Kevin Sheller
Wednesday March 21, 2001
For all the players attending mini-camp in Chicago, those are words they hoped to avoid.
“It’s cut down day right now,” whispered defensive specialist Derek Stingley, who has absolutely nothing to worry about when the cuts are announced. He stood beside me as the names were called and he was surprised at a few. “Some of those guys I was impressed with in camp."
We look to players like Stingley on days like these. He’s been consistently one of the best defensive players in the Arena Football League. He’s seen many players cut over the years, and he’s played against some of the best. He knows talent.
“The talent that [head coach Mike Hohensee] brought in here is young talent, but at the same time we have a couple of veterans on the team who I think are going to help the young talent that we brought in. I think we have a good mix of receivers. I’m impressed with the offense. We will need some work. We will get to work on time, that’s what training camp is for.”
 Mike Hohensee directed a solid mini-camp Image courtesy of Kevin Sheller |
“They’re not dropping balls, they’re not breaking assignments,” said Hohensee. “They’re playing at a high level every play. That’s what you are looking for, especially with a young group like this. You have to rely on some energy - some enthusiasm – to hang with these veteran teams.”
The makeup of mini-camp has been a perfect situation for the Rush. The three-day camp of two-a-days hosts only the wide receivers, defensive specialists, quarterbacks, and centers. The rest of the “big guys” show up on Friday when regular camp begins. With experienced veterans on the line and at running back, the Rush signed a horde of WRs to try to find the best rookies and free agents possible. With the league mandate of 30 players by March 22, a scenario of trying out (and cutting down) wide receivers is the perfect fit for Chicago’s needs.
“The mini-camp helped us a lot. It helped to inform these guys on what the Arena League is all about,” said Stingley. “[Hohensee] did a good job for this three-day mini camp.”
One of the biggest hurdles these rookies face is the process of learning the game of Arena Football at the same time as they demonstrate their athletic ability. In three days of practices, it is difficult to make the mind and body meld as one. For Koscielski and WR/DB Damien Morris, they had a slight advantage over the other rookies because they’d been through training camp before.
 Dale Koscielski gets a second chance after an unsuccessful run in Albany Image courtesy of Kevin Sheller |
“When I was in Albany, I went into a situation where they had a world-championship team,” explained Koscielski. “At every position, they were full. I always knew that I had the talent, but I wasn’t in the right opportunity”
Of course, both players were pleased to discover that their names were not announced with the not-so-elite-eight.
Although the process is not scientific, and it can be tough on the minds and emotions of those who go through it, winning is the ultimate goal. And Stingley expects nothing but the best. “I’m used to winning. I’m used to winning all the time. And I’m taking that same attitude here. The offensive players we have here can make it happen.“
Note: The cuts will be officially announced in an upcoming press release from the Chicago Rush. We`ll post the announcement as soon as we receive it.
Kevin Sheller ia founder of Arenafan Online and was the principal owner until 2004. Kevin graduated from the University of Akron with a degree in technical writing, and has been a member of the Arena Football Internet community since 1993. He has worked as a professional web programmer and is also the executive producer for a computer/video game company. The most recent Xbox title to his credit is called Hunter: The Reckoning.
