Notes: Wheelers launch campaign for new investors
- Font Size:
- Default font size
- Larger font size
By Craig DeVrieze | Saturday, April 19, 2008 |
With the team on the cusp of the 100th victory in franchise history, the Steamwheelers are launching another drive for 100, managing partner Mike Bawden said this week.
Bawden said he and ownership partners Alan Millage and Joe Sisler have begun a campaign to land 100 new investors who are willing to pony up a minimum of $5,000 to ensure the longterm stability of the nine-year-old af2 club.
“Our goal is 100, and the only reason we picked that number is because it is a nice round number,’’ said Bawden, whose club will take a 99-41 all-time record into Saturday’s game vs. Iowa at the i wireless Center. “The goal really is to get as good a broad-based ownership in the team as we possibly can.”
Bawden said he isn’t issuing an ultimatum but said the financial challenges the Q-C team annually faces pretty much speak for themselves.
The team nearly folded in 2006 before Bawden stepped forward and bought it back from the league. Without new support from Millage and Sisler last fall, the Wheelers would not have seen a 2008 campaign.
“We think the community and the team are fatigued with this year-by-year ‘Are we going to come back?’ ” Bawden said. “This is an ultimatum in terms of, ‘Let’s get out of this year-by-year thing and really start thinking longterm.’ That’s the only way we can be a community asset.”
For the minimum investment, Bawden said investors can apply 20 percent of their money toward tickets and sponsorships through 2013. For information, Bawden can be e-mailed at mbawden@steamwheelers.com.
Jack’s back — for Iowa
Tim Dodge won’t be the only former Steamwheelers’ af2 Ironman of the Year to take the field with the Barnstormers on Saturday.
Jack Walker Jr., last year’s top two-way af2 player after a stellar season with the Steamwheelers, signed Thursday with Iowa.
Walker, who spent the offseason recovering from surgery to repair his right shoulder, had wanted to sign with the Steamwheelers but said he was told by Q-C coach Troy Biladeau that his receiving corps was set and that Walker, a starter the last four Q-C seasons, would have to battle for playing time.
“I didn’t want to leave family,” Walker said. “Coach Biladeau wanted to stay with what he had.”
Key down, bear down
The Steamwheelers have converted 9 of 15 third-down opportunities and rank third in the league in that category at 60 percent.
“First of all, we would like to get out of those situations, third- and fourth-and-long,” said quarterback J.J. Raterink. “But (the high conversion rate) is a testament to having veteran guys who understand you don’t panic when first and second down don’t work out and who also understand when it’s time to step up.”
In one instance Friday in Louisville, Raterink said he looked at veteran receiver Kris Peters “and he kind of gave me that smile Kris has. I knew he was going to be there.”
There, too, was second-year catcher Jesse Schmidt, who reeled in a drive-extending catch on a third-and-10 that coach Troy Biladeau billed the play of the game.
“J.J. had two guys draped on him when he threw, and Jesse had a defensive back right on him and he just reached out and caught it,” said the coach.
Around af2
- Green Bay has traded for Arkansas quarterback Collin Drafts, who saw a half of action for the Twisters this year. Drafts will challenge Green Bay rookie Shane Adler for the starting assignment. The Steamwheelers visit Green Bay next week.
- Peoria on Wednesday acquired former Green Bay standout receiver-linebacker Robert Garth in a trade with Arkansas. Bruce Cowdrey also cut four and signed three after his club lost by a point in Albany.
- Jason Anderson, a wide receiver who spent two years but saw no action with the Houston Texans, has been signed by the Amarillo Dusters.
n 2007 af2 Offensive Player of the Year Ryan Vena officially has returned to quarterback at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. The Steamwheelers travel to Pennsylvania May 10 for a rematch of their 48-41 season-opening victory at the iwC.
del.icio.us
Digg
NewsVine
Fark
redditMore Stories By Craig DeVrieze
» More Football Stories
Highest Rated Articles from the last 7 Days
- Technology News Articles
- Computers, MP3, Phones & More. See Product Pics, Specs & Reviews.
- www.NexTag.com
- 2008 Diet Of The Year:
- Finally, A Diet That Really Works! Seen On CNN, NBC, CBS & Fox News.
- www.Wu-YiSource.com
- Cheap Airfare
- Compare multiple travel sites. Discount web fares made easy.
- www.LowFares.com
- Ads by Yahoo!
