Post by Banana Cat on Mar 12, 2011 6:51:58 GMT -5
Former Ohio Valley Greyhounds John Wehrle (K) and John Cooper (WR) are alive and well in Utah playing for the AFL's Blaze.
www.theintelligencer.net/page/content.detail/id/552882/Wehrle-Back-to-Kicking-in-Pros.html?nav=523
www.theintelligencer.net/page/content.detail/id/552882/Wehrle-Back-to-Kicking-in-Pros.html?nav=523
Wehrle Back to Kicking in Pros
March 12, 2011
By RICK THORP
WHEELING - The dream is alive and well for John Wehrle.
Wehrle, a mainstay on the powerful Ohio Valley Greyhounds teams of the last decade, has signed a contract to kick for the Utah Blaze of the Arena Football League.
Wehrle will be in uniform when the team opens its season at home Thursday against the Tampa Bay Storm.
''They asked me to stay for the season,'' an excited Wehrle said from Salt Lake City, minutes after signing the deal.
Wehrle kicked for the Greyhounds from 2002-07 and won back-to-back National Indoor Football League championships in the process. The 2003 squad went 17-0.
Out of football since leaving the Greyhounds in 2007, Wehrle, a Marshall University alum, always wanted to get back in the game. He just never found the right opportunity.
Until he met Doug Blevins.
Blevins is one of the most widely recognized experts on the art of kicking. He served as kicking coach for the Miami Dolphins for six seasons, in addition to other pro stints.
For the past nine years, Blevins has concentrated on his own kicking consulting business.
''About a year ago, I decided to take an offer to meet him,'' Wehrle said. ''I worked out with him in Georgia last April and he was really impressed.
''And, now, it's finally paid off. I guess the coach here has known Doug for a while and Doug gave him my name, to make a long story short.''
Earlier this week, Wehrle flew to Utah for a tryout.
''I got here Monday and worked out Tuesday,'' he said. ''The guy they had on the roster came back in town, and we had a kick off and I won.''
That other kicker was Carlos Ojeda who, ironically, was the kicker who replaced Wehrle on the Greyhounds' roster in 2007.
While Wehrle, 33, is excited about this opportunity, it was tough leaving his family, especially his young son, Aiden. He also has been given a ''leave of absence'' from his job at Jim Robinson Toyota.
''I wanted to get myself back in to see if I could really do it,'' Wehrle said. ''People always told me that if I ever got an opportunity to give it a shot. But I couldn't find anyone that would give me a chance.
''Hopefully, this will lead to something.''
Wehrle is joined on the Blaze's roster by receiver John Cooper, another former Greyhound.
''I told him we could try to win another ring together,'' Wehrle said.
March 12, 2011
By RICK THORP
WHEELING - The dream is alive and well for John Wehrle.
Wehrle, a mainstay on the powerful Ohio Valley Greyhounds teams of the last decade, has signed a contract to kick for the Utah Blaze of the Arena Football League.
Wehrle will be in uniform when the team opens its season at home Thursday against the Tampa Bay Storm.
''They asked me to stay for the season,'' an excited Wehrle said from Salt Lake City, minutes after signing the deal.
Wehrle kicked for the Greyhounds from 2002-07 and won back-to-back National Indoor Football League championships in the process. The 2003 squad went 17-0.
Out of football since leaving the Greyhounds in 2007, Wehrle, a Marshall University alum, always wanted to get back in the game. He just never found the right opportunity.
Until he met Doug Blevins.
Blevins is one of the most widely recognized experts on the art of kicking. He served as kicking coach for the Miami Dolphins for six seasons, in addition to other pro stints.
For the past nine years, Blevins has concentrated on his own kicking consulting business.
''About a year ago, I decided to take an offer to meet him,'' Wehrle said. ''I worked out with him in Georgia last April and he was really impressed.
''And, now, it's finally paid off. I guess the coach here has known Doug for a while and Doug gave him my name, to make a long story short.''
Earlier this week, Wehrle flew to Utah for a tryout.
''I got here Monday and worked out Tuesday,'' he said. ''The guy they had on the roster came back in town, and we had a kick off and I won.''
That other kicker was Carlos Ojeda who, ironically, was the kicker who replaced Wehrle on the Greyhounds' roster in 2007.
While Wehrle, 33, is excited about this opportunity, it was tough leaving his family, especially his young son, Aiden. He also has been given a ''leave of absence'' from his job at Jim Robinson Toyota.
''I wanted to get myself back in to see if I could really do it,'' Wehrle said. ''People always told me that if I ever got an opportunity to give it a shot. But I couldn't find anyone that would give me a chance.
''Hopefully, this will lead to something.''
Wehrle is joined on the Blaze's roster by receiver John Cooper, another former Greyhound.
''I told him we could try to win another ring together,'' Wehrle said.