Sacramento Football

Five players find spot on Mountain Lions roster

2011-05-22T22:10:40Z

Last week I wrote that the Sacramento Mountain Lions were holding open try outs in Sacramento on Saturday May 14 and Sunday May 15. A total of 245 players showed up to the workout, and five would find a spot on the roster on coach Dennis Green’s roster.

The Mountain Lions signed Eric Arogbofa (tight end, Tuskegee University), Daniel Catalano (defensive end, Northern Michigan University), JT Gilmore (linebacker, Western Oregon University),Adam Tafralis (quarterback, San Jose State) and Marcus Smith (defensive lineman, University of Arizona) after the Sacramento tryouts.

Tafralis grew up in Millbrae, where he starred at Mills High School. After three years at San Jose State (2004-07) he was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Indianapolis Colts.

Smith was raised in San Diego before playing at Arizona. He has spent two seasons as a practice squad player before playing with the Canadian Football League’s Montreal Alouettes.

Before the open try outs in Sacramento, Coach Green and his coaching staff held similar tryouts in San Diego, signing both tight end Dominique Jones (Shepherd University) and defensive end Brian Coulter (University of Missouri).

"We had an exciting weekend of two tryouts in Sacramento,” Green said. “We were really impressed with a lot of players at the tryouts, but we did not want these particular (five) players to leave without knowing of our willingness to commit to them on the spot. They have the talent and potential to help us be a tremendous team in our upcoming season."

That season will begin in August, but the schedule is yet to be finalized. Ticket information will be available soon at www.sacmountainlions.com.

Mountain Lions Open Player Tryouts set for this weekend

2011-05-13T23:29:06Z

While the NFL and its players await news as to whether or not their season will even occur, the Sacramento Mountain Lions of the United Football League will be holding two open player tryouts in Sacramento this weekend. The first tryout will be on Saturday at Foothill High and on the second will be on Sunday at Natomas High. Both tryouts will start at 9 a.m. and finish at noon.

If you are worried as to whether they will pick anyone up, don’t be, as they added two players already – tight end Dominique Jones and defensive end Brian Coulter. Both players were picked up in a tryout that was held in southern California earlier in the month. They are looking for players at all positions. Athletes will be timed in the 40-yard dash and will participate in a series of individual and team drills.

If you are interested, or know someone who should be, you can register online at here or register in person 7:30-8:45 a.m on the day of the tryout.

“Our entire coaching staff is excited about the opportunity to have these tryouts,” Green said. “All the players who came (to tryouts) last year worked hard and quite a few made it to training camp.”

Dennis Green’s Mountain Lions went 4-4 last season and look to build onto their young organization.

Although the Mountain Lions’ schedule has not been finalized, the season will begin in August. Ticket information will be available soon at www.sacmountainlions.com.

Mountain Lions Hire New Defensive Coordinator

2011-02-16T22:41:19Z

While Sacramento was recovering from their football hangover that was the Super Bowl, the Sacramento Mountain Lions made Martin Bayless defensive coordinator on Tuesday.

In 2010, Bayless was the special teams coordinator as well as the defensive backs coach for Sacramento. The previous year Bayless was the defensive backs coach for the California Redwoods.

Bayless played 13 years at Safety in the NFL (1984-1996) and was voted San Diego Chargers Man of the Year in 1990 and 1991 as well as the Kansas City Chiefs NFL Man of the Year in his final season as a pro.

After his playing days Bayless spent some time in the Buffalo Bills’ front office as the director of player development in 1998. Since then he has moved to coaching, where he has coached at every level; from High School, to college, to NFL Europe.

Last season Bayless took care of two important parts of the Mountain Lions staff. Although he might not think so, there will be a lot more pressure on him.

“Martin Bayless has been on our staff for the two previous years and has an outstanding understanding of the UFL,” said Mountain Lions head coach Dennis Green. “With 13 years as an NFL player, coaching experience in the NFL and his years in NFL Europe, Martin is ideally suited to handle these added responsibilities.”

Bayless is appreciative of the opportunity and see’s a lot of potential in the UFL.

The UFL has definitely been a great developer of players and also coaches,” Bayless said. “People keep using the comparison of NFL Europe. There are a lot of talented people on all levels, whether they are coaches, players, PR directors, strength and conditioning coaches, looking for opportunities to grow in the business. This league has given me an opportunity to grow as a coach.”

Bayless was a safety in the NFL, playing for St. Louis, Buffalo, San Diego, Kansas City and Washington. He played in 192 NFL games, starting 153 and making 1,186 tackles, 11.5 sacks and 12 interceptions. He was a star at Bowling Green in college and was inducted into the school’s Hall of Fame in 1989. His 27 career interceptions at Bowling Green rank second in NCAA history.

It will be year no. 14 for Martin Bayless as the coach, but no year as important as the one that precedes him.

Two more Mountain Lions make the jump to NFL

2010-12-26T18:20:28Z

While Santa Clause and his elves were getting ready for their busiest time of the year, two Sacramento Mountain Lions added their names to a long list. Not the list that Santa uses, but instead, a list of UFL players signed to NFL teams.

Fullback ,Tyler Clutts, and Kicker, Fabrizio Scaccia, are the most recent UFLers gone NFL. Clutts is now a member of the Cleveland Browns practice squad while Scaccia finds himself on the 49ers practice squad.

I know we’re talking about “practice”, but opportunities like these are what every aspiring pro football hopes for.

Clutts, who originally came to Sacramento as a long snapper, had a strong season that paved the way for Sacramento running back, Cory Ross. Ross ran for 435 yards and four touchdowns and recently was named 2010 UFL Offensive Player of the Year. He was able to adapt in the UFL and fill a need for Sacramento. Clutts was orginally a defensive end coming out of college, but he actually played defensive end for Fresno State, recording 23.5 sacks in his collegiate career.

Scaccia played his first professional season for Sacramento this fall after spending six seasons playing semi-pro football. Last summer Scaccia played in the Arena Football league and was a member of the Arizona Rattlers. In ten games for Arizona, Scaccia went 69-74 on extra points and 1-4 on field goals. In one of his first six seasons of semi-pro ball Scaccia put a 68-yarder between the uprights.

Mountain Lions head coach, Dennis Green spoke highly of these two players when asked about their departure.

“Fabrizio and Tyler have been two of our most dedicated players,” Mountain Lions head coach Dennis Green said. “Both represent the classic success stories we find in the UFL. Their futures are truly bright. The entire community of Sacramento and our Mountain Lions fans are very proud of them.”

If Scaccia and Clutts can grab the attention of their coaches before the season ends, they may find themselves on an active NFL roster come next summer.

Daunte Culpepper isn't done just yet

2010-12-21T19:56:33Z

When Daunte Culpepper was taken by the Minnesota Vikings in 1999 and he put on the purple No. 11 jersey, the party started for him, but that fun only lasted for so long.

With guys like Cris Carter and Randy Moss, he was thrown to the lions with lions on his side. Not many young quarterbacks are given an opportunity like that. But for Culpepper and Minnesota it wasn't smooth sailing for as long as they would have hoped.

Soon after Carter’s departure, Culpepper would follow suit. In 2005, after he went down with a knee injury, he found himself calling Miami, Oakland and Detroit home in a span of just three years.

Since 2006, Culpepper has been in two of the toughest cities to play: Oakland and Detroit. Neither city had a defense or run game strong enough to help Peyton Manning keep his job. The supporting cast has been far from supporting, and when a team struggles, the finger is either pointed at coaching or the man under center – and sometimes both.

The three-time NFL Pro Bowler found himself without a job in 2010, and his former head coach in Minnesota, Dennis Green, had one for him.

The same coach who drafted him out of the University of Central Florida was looking for a quarterback, and Culpepper was soon reunited with Green and Mike Kruczek, Culpepper’s offensive coordinator from his Central Florida days.

“Being able to be reunited with coach Green and my old college offensive coordinator coach Kruz (Mountain Lions offensive coordinator Mike Kruczek),” Culpepper said when asked what the highlight of the past season was.

Culpepper started all eight games this season for the UFL’s Sacramento Mountain Lions. He led the league in completions (183), attempts (300), passing yards (1,944) and completion percentage (61 percent). Culpepper also tied for the lead in passing touchdowns with 10 while also scoring two on the ground.

A few Mountain Lions teammates have taken advantage of their situation and made that leap to the next level. Safety Andrew Sendejo was picked up by the Dallas Cowboys , and Culpepper’s backup, Richard Bartel, was signed by the Arizona Cardinals. If Culpepper gets a call this year, he’ll listen, but he’s shutting down for the rest of the year.

“I have committed to my family that I would take the rest of this year to be home with them,” Culpepper said. “I also feel strongly that as a quarterback, the best situations are where you can prepare to play rather than being thrown into playing, with little to no preparation, but with an expectation to be successful. Been there, done that!”

If Culpepper is unable to sign with an NFL squad, expect him to be back in Sacramento. He showed appreciation to the fans here and made it known that he isn’t done playing football quite yet.

“I loved playing for Sacramento this year. I expect that if I choose not to sign with an NFL team in this coming off-season, then I will be more than happy to re-sign with Sacramento,” he said. “I love playing the game, and I have a lot of football left in me! I can see why the UFL chose Sacramento as a place to have a team. They are a committed group! No fair-weather fans in Sacramento!”

On Monday night, Culpepper was named one of the 50 greatest players in Minnesota Vikings history. It’s hard to ignore the numbers he had early on in his career in Minnesota.

In is best statistical season Culpepper threw for 4,717 yards and 39 touchdowns with a passer rating of 110.9.

“I am really honored to be selected,” he said. “It will be tough to be on the sidelines watching instead of playing.”

The Sacramento team that had close to 50 players on its roster in its first season hopes that one of Minnesota’s top 50 will find himself in Sacramento come next season.

Photo Credits:

Photo of Culpepper under center, Ron Nabity
Photo of Green, David Alvarez
Photo of Culpepper post game, Steven Chea

Sacramento Mountain Lion trades his Cougar in for Star

2010-12-03T01:29:23Z

When the Dallas Cowboys travel to play the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium on Sunday, a familiar face to the Sacramento Mountain Lions faithful will be seen. The 6-foot-1 225 lb Safety, Andrew Sendejo, will be suiting up for the Cowboys after signing a contract on November 29.

In Sacramento, Sendejo, led his team with 48 tackles and ended up tying for second in the UFL. He made it known that he was thankful for his opportunity in Sacramento and appreciative of his time here.

“I’m thankful that I had the opportunity to come play in the UFL, because if it wasn’t for the UFL I probably wouldn’t be where I’m at. I’ll always remember my time in Sacramento.”

Going from the California weather to that of Dallas Texas won’t be a tough transition for him, being that he was raised in Texas.

Along with football, Sendejo played soccer, twice being named All-District. A dream as a kid playing High School football in Spring Branch, Texas, he’ll be able to turn that dream into a reality this Sunday, putting on his no. 36 Cowboys jersey for the first time.

“Family and friends are already Cowboys fans but now that they know somebody; they’re even bigger Cowboys fans,” Sendejo said. “I’m just trying to stay focused on football learning the playbook and learning the defense, [so I can] get on the field as fast as I can.”

Sendejo played college football for the Rice Owls, where he totaled 318 tackles, finishing his college career second on the all-time tackles list for Rice. He intercepted 9 passes, forced 7 fumbles and earned an honorable mention in 2009 but his senior season was cut short because of an injury. Sendejo participated in a rookie mini-camp with the Tampa Bay buccaneers and worked out for the New Orleans Saints but it didn’t work out. He would soon find himself flying out to Sacramento to play here for the Sacramento Mountain Lions.

He participated in his first practice for the Cowboys on Monday and will continue to play scout defense and scout special teams for the time being.

“I’m going out there to try and fly around, bust my tail and prove to the coaches and staff that they made a good decision.”

River City Gators beat Central Coast Barnstormers

2010-04-19T00:35:44Z

I had the opportunity to go to my first Semi-Pro football game last night. The River City Gators took on the Central Coast Barnstormers at River City High School.

With the addition of the UFL’s Sacramento Mountain Lions, Sacramento must prepare for something they aren’t used to; a semi-pro football team.

We all know about the Sacramento Kings and Sacramento River Cats, but a football team is a whole other degree of sport that Sacramento isn’t familiar with. In Sacramento the players we are familiar with, on the Kings and River Cats, get paid for what they do. The River City Gators pay to play. Their love of the game doesn’t rest behind 6 and 7 figure contracts. These are players that have a passion for the game you don’t always see in the pros.

I spoke with one of the team-owners, Jason Kang, during the game who shared with me the diversity of the Gators.

Receiver Byron Wallace and o-lineman, Drew Adams, are both math teachers in Sacramento. Linebacker Lamont Providence spends a lot of his time training younger athletes in the area as well as athletes his age. Gabe Sorenson, who has been the center for the Gators the last seven years, has competed in a strong man competition.

Many other players own their own businesses and work around the community serving the youth during the week and playing football on Saturdays.

Although it may be semi-pro, the Gators are not to be taken lightly. The Gators are coming off a season in which they were first in the NCFL East Division with a record of 7-3.

They took on one of the better teams in the league Saturday night the Central Coast Barnstormers who finished last year with a 9-1 record.

The Gators got the quick lead but the players and coaching staff expected to be up by more.

The Gators scored on a pass from quarter-back and California State University, Sacramento alum, Blake Mori, who found former teammate at Sac State, Camron Mbewa. Mori found tight-end McRuben Fleurinord on a fourth down conversion that set-up a short rushing touchdown by Eric Bailey in the first-quarter.

After Mori threw an interception to Barnstormers corner, Will Costa, the score went to 14-14 in the second-quarter.

The Gators wildcat formation quarterback, Robert Arthur, showed that he can take it to the air as well, throwing it to Byron Wallace in the corner of the end-zone.

Going into halftime, the Gators were up 21-14, but in the second-half the Gators pulled away, finishing the game 35-21.

“I expected a hard fought battle and I didn’t think (Central Coast) would lay down,” said Gator Head Coach Charlie Ruiz. “I feel we have a very potent team, but sometimes we like to hold ourselves back and I think that’s what kept the game close initially.”

Linebacker Lamont Providence, whose brother Kyle was down in Arizona trying out for the UFL, he blamed the team for the slow start, “The offense threw a pick and ran it back to the ten. We fumbled one of our own touchdowns on the five. We gave them 14 points.”

The Gators will get ready for an away game with the Marin Bulldogs next Saturday.

For more on the River City Gators check out http://www.rcgatorfootball.com/homepage.html

Pictures courtesy of Ahsan Awan