Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, November 11, 1995 TAG: 9511120002
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JAMES C. BLACK STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Three days a week, the athletes gather for practice at Washington Park.
Before workouts, they laugh and joke and talk about previous and upcoming games.
During practice, they complain of pains, but they find the energy and determination to make it through another day.
No, this is not the football team from nearby Addison Middle School, but the semi-pro Roanoke Rush.
This is not the first time a semi-pro team has called Roanoke home. But Rush owner Nick Rush would like to make it the first one to succeed.
Over the past three decades, the valley has seen the likes of the Roanoke Buckskins, the Virginia Hunters and the Roanoke Express. The Buckskins lasted a couple of years, and the latter two did not complete a season.
The Rush not only completed the regular season; it made the National Minor League Football playoffs and will visit West Virginia tonight in the second round. For many of the Rush's 50 or so players, it has been a lifetime dream revitalized.
For some players, strapping on the helmet and pads again was no big deal, because they only recently have completed their college eligibility. For others, it has been a long time between snaps.
``I've always been athletic, and I wanted to see if I could still play,'' said Anthony Drakeford, a former Ferrum College running back who turns 29 this month.
The NMLF promotes itself as ``a fresh new football concept'' that fills ``the gap between collegiate and professional football.'' It cites Johnny Unitas, Joe Klecko and current Arizona Cardinals defensive lineman Eric Swann as minor-league products who have enjoyed success in the NFL.
But more than sending players to the NFL, the Rush wants to be a part of Roanoke. Rush players see the consistent fan support given the Roanoke Express hockey team and hear of the 6,000-plus crowds at home games. They crave the same type of attention.
``We need fan support,'' said fullback Jamie Warren, 22. ``If [fans] come out and support the team like they do in hockey, Roanoke will be well known for its athletes.''
It would help if the NMLF were affiliated with a major professional league, like the Salem Avalanche baseball team's affiliation with major-league baseball, but that's unlikely.
``There's an attitude by the NFL, [Canadian Football League] and the Arena League that they don't want to set a precedent of sponsoring or supporting us,'' said NMLF Vice President Wayne Liddick.
The lack of sponsorship has been a financial hardship for the owners and players. The Rush's ticket prices ($8) are the highest of any sports franchise in the valley. Yet, the Rush players received less than $25 apiece as part of an incentive plan.
Nick Rush has denied telling the players they would receive a salary. Players agreed that they were not promised money directly, but believed they would be paid if attendance reached 5,000 or more at Victory Stadium.
According to numbers given to the league, the Rush averaged more than 5,000 for its first two games but was under 4,000 for the season. Some players continued to go to practice and play in games without worrying about finances. Others disappeared.
While salaries have been a sensitive subject with the Rush, the league had a very clear policy prior to the season - don't pay the players.
``I wish we could pay the players like the Arena League, but we've advised teams not to get into that,'' Liddick said. ``Don't promise a guy $200 a week. After three games, you'll find you have no team.''
Liddick has worked with eight teams in different minor-league systems and knows that owners often incur higher costs than anticipated for equipment, travel and other game-related expenses.
The league office says it doesn't know how many teams are paying salaries, but at least one team has a payroll - the West Virginia Lightning. Rush fullback Billy Pate played for West Virginia to start the season and said Lightning players are paid a percentage of the home gate.
With former West Virginia University star Major Harris at quarterback, the Lightning has the highest home attendance in the league.
While the Rush does not pay salaries, it has complied with a league mandate requiring injury insurance. Warren, Drakeford and offensive lineman Stewart Boyd required surgery or needed therapy and had their expenses covered.
Many of the Rush players have full-time jobs and support families. The camaraderie is one of the reasons they continue to play, but others are looking at the bigger picture.
``About 95 percent of the team wants to play at the next level,'' Boyd said. ``You have a few guys who realistically know we're not going to the next level. But Rob Majors, Jerome Preston, Freddie Ford and Robbie Colley - guys like that know they should be at the next level.''
For now, the next level is the Federation of Italian-American Football.
Liddick says NMLF has an agreement that 100 players from its 27-team league will be drafted by FIAF in December. Players from NMLF will be drafted at three levels - gold, silver and bronze - and receive between $2,000 and $5,000, as well as transportation and housing in some cases.
Scouts from the FIAF attended NMLF games during the season, but Liddick said draft choices won't necessarily come from the all-star team or the league's statistical leaders.
``Some guys may have nice jobs here where they won't be at liberty to take off from February through May,'' Liddick said.
One of the players fitting that profile is Drakeford, a receiver for the Rush. He works for Planned Parenthood and the Roanoke City Health Department and is comfortable with his job in Roanoke.
``I would have to wait and see the possibilities,'' Drakeford said. ``How stable is it?''
That is what the Rush is waiting to find out. Can and will a team survive in a market, that in the past, has rejected this level of football? Only time will tell.
by CNB