Breaking News: Michna Not in Arizona For Rush

Jeff Sims
Saturday May 12, 2012

  A source from the Chicago Rush has confirmed that starting quarterback Russ Michna has not made the
trip to Arizona for the team’s match-up against the Rattlers this evening.

According to the source, Michna is out due to a personal commitment. The Rush coaching staff has
known about this since the start of the season and has been prepared for this weekend.

Back-up quarterback Luke Drone will start for the Rush tonight as two of the top teams in the league
battle for positioning in the National Conference.

Earlier in the week, the team signed Dennis Gile to back-up Drone for this week.

“Luke is a good quarterback,” said Rush head coach Bob McMillen when asked last week about the
team using Drone in goal line packages over the past few weeks. “He is a competitor. He stays after
practice and continues to try to get better and work at it. He is going to be a great one once he gets his
shot.”

Well, obviously his shot is now!

Drone was an undrafted free agent out of Illinois State that was signed by the Buffalo Bills in 2008. He
was later released prior to the season.

He spent the 2009 season in the AF2 with the Peoria Pirates and then the 2010 season in the IFL with
the Bloomington Extreme.

Last season, Drone was the back-up to Dan Raudabaugh with the Dallas Vigilantes. In limited action,
Drone went 23 – 40 with the Vigilantes for 269 yards and five touchdowns against two interceptions. So
far this season, Drone has four rushing touchdown in goal line situations, three passing touchdowns, and
a two point conversion pass to Rush kicker Mike Salerno.

Gile is no stranger to the game of Arena Football as well, having spent time with the Arizona Rattlers and
Utah Blaze during the 2005 and 2006 seasons.

Having seen Drone play in both the IFL and the AFL, he is a quality back-up quarterback, something
the Chicago Rush always seem to have a knack to find. Other back-ups that were previously in the
organization prior to becoming starters were Michna and two-time Arenabowl winner Matt D’Orazio.

With the ability of Rush Director of Player Personnel, Scott Bailey, to find quality quarterbacks, expect
the Rush to still remain competitive this evening against the Rattlers.