Post by Banana Cat on Jun 9, 2011 5:27:13 GMT -5
www.mlive.com/sports/saginaw/index.ssf/2011/06/saginaw_sting_quarterback_tomm_1.html
Saginaw Sting quarterback Tommy Jones returns to team, is expected to play in Ultimate Bowl
June 08, 2011
Kyle Austin | The Saginaw News
SAGINAW — He’s back.
A week after leaving the team for what was termed a personal leave of absence, Saginaw Sting quarterback Tommy Jones was back in town at Tuesday’s practice. He’s expected to suit up for Friday’s Ultimate Bowl against Eastern Kentucky at 7:30 p.m. at The Dow Event Center.
Jones declined to speak publicly about his departure or unexpected return to the team. But no matter the reason for his absence, the team is glad to have him back after gutting out a first-round playoff win, 48-47, against Northern Kentucky without him last Friday.
“You can win one game without your quarterback, to win two is pretty tough,” Sting coach Vince Leveille said. “I think we kind of surprised Northern Kentucky with an offensive scheme they weren’t really ready for. When you’re ready for it, it’s a whole different ballgame.”
The Sting made it to this week’s championship game by suiting up a pair of wide receivers, Yvens Louis and Kevin Brown, under center. Louis hadn’t played quarterback since high school. Brown never had.
Yet with two mobile quarterbacks and a strong defensive effort, the Sting pulled off an improbable victory.
Afterward, the team felt like the championship had been won. This week has been about refocusing.
“We’ve just got to pound it into guys’ heads, that wasn’t the championship game,” linebacker Phillip Smith said. “This is the championship game we worked all year for. We’ve got a great group of guys, I think everybody did their celebration already, and I think everybody knows it’s work time.”
Jones, a six-year indoor football veteran, led the UIFL this season with a 61.7 percent completion rate and 77 touchdowns. His 3,054 passing yards were second in the league. He is 9-4 as a starter this season.
On top of his offensive ability, his return helps players return to their normal positions.
The Sting are 2-0 against Eastern Kentucky this year, but haven’t faced the Drillers since March 24. Leveille said much of their personnel has turned over since then.
What hasn’t changed, though, is the Sting’s success at home. The Sting are 7-1 at The Dow this year, and have won their last five home games. Leveille said that’s due to both geography and the team’s home crowd.
“A lot of it’s travel, because we’re so far north, every team has to travel five, six, eight hours to get here,” Leveille said. “A lot of it is our home crowd. It doesn’ t matter what size they are, whether they’re 500 or 2,000, they’re loud.”
Going into the final game of the season, the Sting felt like something finally broke their way. The team went through a coaching change just before the start of training camp, and another one three weeks into the regular season, when Leveille took over.
Since then, they’ve had to deal with sanctions for use of an illegal player, travel issues and the departure of their starting quarterback.
Through it all, the team says it’s brought them closer together.
“Every week it’s something,” Smith said. “Since we’ve been here, since day one, we’ve had to go through something. There hasn’t been one week here that’s been a peaceful week, we’ve always had to go through something. I think that’s what made us stronger.”
Tickets for the Ultimate Bowl are $10 until 5 p.m. Thursday, and can be purchased at The Dow Event Center box office. After Thursday, all non-front row tickets will be $15.
June 08, 2011
Kyle Austin | The Saginaw News
SAGINAW — He’s back.
A week after leaving the team for what was termed a personal leave of absence, Saginaw Sting quarterback Tommy Jones was back in town at Tuesday’s practice. He’s expected to suit up for Friday’s Ultimate Bowl against Eastern Kentucky at 7:30 p.m. at The Dow Event Center.
Jones declined to speak publicly about his departure or unexpected return to the team. But no matter the reason for his absence, the team is glad to have him back after gutting out a first-round playoff win, 48-47, against Northern Kentucky without him last Friday.
“You can win one game without your quarterback, to win two is pretty tough,” Sting coach Vince Leveille said. “I think we kind of surprised Northern Kentucky with an offensive scheme they weren’t really ready for. When you’re ready for it, it’s a whole different ballgame.”
The Sting made it to this week’s championship game by suiting up a pair of wide receivers, Yvens Louis and Kevin Brown, under center. Louis hadn’t played quarterback since high school. Brown never had.
Yet with two mobile quarterbacks and a strong defensive effort, the Sting pulled off an improbable victory.
Afterward, the team felt like the championship had been won. This week has been about refocusing.
“We’ve just got to pound it into guys’ heads, that wasn’t the championship game,” linebacker Phillip Smith said. “This is the championship game we worked all year for. We’ve got a great group of guys, I think everybody did their celebration already, and I think everybody knows it’s work time.”
Jones, a six-year indoor football veteran, led the UIFL this season with a 61.7 percent completion rate and 77 touchdowns. His 3,054 passing yards were second in the league. He is 9-4 as a starter this season.
On top of his offensive ability, his return helps players return to their normal positions.
The Sting are 2-0 against Eastern Kentucky this year, but haven’t faced the Drillers since March 24. Leveille said much of their personnel has turned over since then.
What hasn’t changed, though, is the Sting’s success at home. The Sting are 7-1 at The Dow this year, and have won their last five home games. Leveille said that’s due to both geography and the team’s home crowd.
“A lot of it’s travel, because we’re so far north, every team has to travel five, six, eight hours to get here,” Leveille said. “A lot of it is our home crowd. It doesn’ t matter what size they are, whether they’re 500 or 2,000, they’re loud.”
Going into the final game of the season, the Sting felt like something finally broke their way. The team went through a coaching change just before the start of training camp, and another one three weeks into the regular season, when Leveille took over.
Since then, they’ve had to deal with sanctions for use of an illegal player, travel issues and the departure of their starting quarterback.
Through it all, the team says it’s brought them closer together.
“Every week it’s something,” Smith said. “Since we’ve been here, since day one, we’ve had to go through something. There hasn’t been one week here that’s been a peaceful week, we’ve always had to go through something. I think that’s what made us stronger.”
Tickets for the Ultimate Bowl are $10 until 5 p.m. Thursday, and can be purchased at The Dow Event Center box office. After Thursday, all non-front row tickets will be $15.