Wanna-Bes Working It in Chicago
Mary-Ann Williams
Tuesday February 19, 2002
Out of 165 men who showed up, five looked interesting enough to the coaching staff to consider for a job. That’s 3% of the people who tried actually making a big enough impression to warrant writing it down by Coach Mike Hohensee. By next week we’ll know how many of those five men will actually get penned; one can guess that all five will not.
Frank Trentadue made the cut, and is one contender for a spot on the 2002 Rush. A former student of Arizona Rattlers Vice President Gene Nudo, Trentadue knows the Arena world well. The 27-year old linebacker signed with the Quad City Steamwheelers, taking a spot after bailing last year due to financial considerations.
“We just couldn’t afford it,” said Trentadue. “This year we’ve sold the house and are moving closer to the Quad Cities so we can make a go of it.”
Trentadue’s wife, Lisa, supports her husband’s dreams 100%. “We’re young. He has to give this a shot and see if he can make it. There’s plenty of time later for everything else.”
Should Trentadue get a spot on the Rush, his Steamwheelers contract will be voided, as AFL takes precedence over af2, but the problem then will be where will the Trentadues live. Having already sold their home five minutes away from Allstate, the family would have to find something nearby again.
“It’s worth it,” laughed Frank. “Oh yeah, it’s worth it. This was going to be my last year of trying. I figured I’d give it a go with the Steamwheelers and see if it went anywhere. Now, there’s a chance I’ll get picked up here. Figures it’d be when I’m ready to give it up it all works out.”
One of the 10 or so men who made the last cut on February 15, Trentadue has a very real chance at being one of the five men getting a call back. Where does this leave the other 160 guys?
Still on the hunt, according to Danny Augustus from Dallas. The 30-year old FB/LB flew up to Chicago from Dallas to make the tryout, walking in the door an hour and a half late, but not willing to accept his chances were over. After all, he suffered through the Dallas tryouts, going against 1500 men.
“It was crazy. I didn’t have the right shoes, so it didn’t go well. This time I was late, so I didn’t get to run the 40 or anything. But I’m not giving up,” Augustus said. “I’m not the type to give up.”
Most of the players on the field weren’t going to give up. As the first group of men cut walked off the field, one guy clapped his hands and shouted encouragement to his fellow athletes.
“That’s all right. It don’t mean nothing. We’ll just do it next time, that’s all. We’ll just do it next time.”
Mary-Ann Williams lives in Chicagoland with her four children, Carter, Jackson, Jeremy, and Riley Jade. As a freelance writer, she`s written articles for the Associated Press, Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times, Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel and the Daily Herald. She also serves as editor of the AFL-side of Arenafan Online, and covers the Chicago Rush.
