A Rookie with a Veteran Style of Play
Gary Stibolt
Thursday July 8, 2004
Welcome to the life and times of Terrance Dotsy. Terrance grew up as the baby in his family. He has an older brother John and a sister Tanesha. He lost his father to a terrible accident when he was only two-years old but grew up with the love of his mother Beverly and his stepfather Earnest. "To this day, I pray before the games and after the games that he will take care of me," said Dotsy. "Because I know if he were still here, that is what he would do." Terrance uses that as strength as he made his way through high school at Santa Clara in California.
He went through school playing football and basketball as well as other sports. "My favorite was basketball but I had a body for football so that is what I did but I think I was better at basketball to be honest with you," explained Dotsy. When he played basketball, they won a state championship in high school. He then went to California Berkley. That is where he met Jamal Cherry.
"I would race Jamal just to improve my speed. He would always beat me but by my senior year, I was catching up with him." Although he suffered a torn MCL in his senior year at Cal, Dotsy was able to graduate healthy and in great shape this past spring. It was the relationship he developed with Jamal Cherry that would lead Terrance Dotsy to the Steamwheelers and introduce him to the game of arena football.
Terrance has been with the team for three weeks now and he played his first game with the Steamwheelers after only two practices. He has made a major impact on a line that has had its share of ups and downs. "I never even heard of arena two," explained Dotsy. "I heard of arena one but not two so I didn`t know what to expect." Terrance has relied on game film study sessions and on other players. His transition to the game and a new team of players was and remains to be very impressive. "I watch film a lot. Jerry Montgomery, Jamal Cherry, and Flint, they all help me out a lot especially Flint. I`ll watch what the other team is doing on one play and then watch two or three others on what these guys are doing."
Dotsy also likes his coaches too. "Coach Ingold and Roehlk, both, have helped make the transition very easy. They are patient with me especially on the PAT part of the game where it is a little different." Watching Dotsy over these past few weeks has been impressive. He has had a couple of knockdowns, forced fumbles, and a sack. There is team chemistry with him in the mix. There are some differences though between playing football and living in California and out here in the Quad Cities.
"Here, everyone says hello to you," explained Dotsy. "In California, everyone is so tuned into their lives you take it for granted. There are good athletes here too and the Quad Cities has really great fans!
Despite being the rookie player in the huddle, Dotsy feels like he belongs here. "When I got here the train was moving. I have had to try and fit in. We had a set back last week but we are re-focused and ready to dominate the game on Saturday."
The Steamwheelers take to the road this Saturday night when they will face the Tennessee Valley Vipers in Hunstville, Alabama. Terrance Dotsy will be there ready to make the big plays and play veteran style football despite being the new guy on the block.
Gary Stibolt has covered the Quad City Steamwheelers since their 2000 inaugural season. He also owns, operates and is the Chief Editor/Publisher of SteamwheelerFans.com, a website dedicated to the Steamwheelers and their fans. He coresponds for other media outlets covering arenafootball2. In addition to leading the Steamwheelers Fan Club, Gary serves as Coordinator of the National af2 Fan Club. He is married with two sons and works as an Infrastructure Analyst for Deere & Company in their Corporate Computer Center in Moline, Illinois.