Exhibition game

Learning process continues for Wheelers, foe March 28th
Craig DeVrieze

A crew of Australians and New Zealanders will be trying to prove they can play arena football tonight at The Mark of the Quad-Cities.

A crew of could-be Quad-City Steamwheelers will be looking to do the same.

In what is being billed as the first indoor football game on American soil pitting a foreign team against a professional team from the United States, the Steamwheelers will host Team Downunder in a controlled scrimmage starting at 7:30 p.m.

The contest will feature two 15-minute halves and will be played under regular game conditions. No score will be kept, however, because af2 rules say scrimmages cannot be scored.

Cost of admission is $5 for adults, $2 for students.

A total of 17 Team Downunder players, three coaches and a handful of administrators have made the 20-hour plane trip to the States specifically for this opportunity.

They hope to take what they know about the arena game back home and launch a league of their own.

First, though, they hope at least to give the Steamwheelers some semblance of competition.

We are here for the learning, Team Downunder offensive coordinator Mike Sea said earlier this week. Having said that, we have got some great athletes here, many who would feel comfortable on an arenafootball2 team. They are here to play.

Still, the Steamwheelers are much more experienced at the indoor game in particular and the outdoor game in general, so Q-C coach Rich Ingold likely isnt worried about his still-forming team taking it on the chin.

His main goal is to answer a few remaining questions with only a week before the Wheelers open their 2003 campaign vs. Hawaii at The Mark.

Ingold plans to maker his final cuts after tonights game. He could release as few as five of his 30 players, if three players go on short term injured reserve.

The coach plans to keep two quarterbacks, a kicker two wide receiver-defensive backs, three fullback-linebackers, seven linemen, three defensive specialists and an offensive specialist.

Players on the roster bubble can make their case tonight.

Each guy is getting evaluated every day, Ingold said. What I am looking for (tonight) is guys who look comfortable in the arena setting, guys who dont get screwed up by the walls, guys who can catch the ball off the net.

It is good for our guys, he added. It is a game-like atmosphere and I like that we are getting into the arena and that we are going to hit someone else. Our guys are beat up. We have been pounding each other.

A key issue that might be settled tonight is who will wear the tag of offensive specialist.

The candidates are former Purdue receiver Randall Lane, unsung University of Indianapolis product LaRico Cole and last years record-setting Steamwheelers OS, Davenporter Ira Gooch.

Although Gooch came to camp hoping to expand his AFL worthiness by becoming a two-way player, Ingold said he plans to do what is best for the team.

If Ira Gooch is our best OS, he is going to be OS, Ingold said. If he is my best receiver, I am taking away offensive reps by having him play defense.

Gooch still could double as a jack linebacker, but Ingold said he believes the speedy receiver has the offensive talent to make it to the AFL next year on offense alone.

He could be an OS at the next level, Ingold said.

Craig DeVrieze can be contacted at (563) 333-2610 or cdevrieze@qctimes.com.