Chesney: Thunder is playoff contender
The part-owner told the Curbstone Coaches that the team achieved its first-year goal.
By GREG GULAS
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
BOARDMAN — As the Mahoning Valley Thunder prepares for its second season of arena league football, at last one person associated with the club is bold enough to call them a playoff contender.
Tim Chesney, one of the owners of the af2 team, spoke to the Curbstone Coaches during their weekly meeting Monday at the Blue Wolf Banquet Center and was quick to point out that the family-oriented, high-scoring game was both entertaining and well-received last season by fans.
He also believes that this year’s team is already a playoff-caliber unit.
“Our goal last year wasn’t to make money,” said Chesney. “Instead, we wanted to brand this organization as high-quality; an organization that puts out a positive product for everyone to enjoy. Upon the completion of last season, I believe we felt like we accomplished that goal.
“We brought something new and exciting to the Valley and heading into the final three weeks of the season were still right in the thick of the playoff hunt. We needed to win two of our final three games in order to qualify and only won one so that, needless to say, is one of our goals this season,” he added.
Several rules changes have been implemented for the 2008 season in order to help NFL scouts get better looks at the many indoor hopefuls.
“Last season, linemen pretty much played both ways but this year you will find them either on the offensive or defensive side of the ball,” Chesney said.
Also, the two linebackers will have their job descriptions changed so that scouts can get better reads on their play.
One thing that hasn’t changed, however, is the size of the field (still 50 yards with first downs every 10 yards gained) with no punting on fourth down.
“You either kick a field goal or go for it on fourth down. With goal posts half the size of the normal outdoor goal posts, scoring at times can be difficult on the final down of a drive,” Chesney said.
Mike Hold heads into his second season as the Thunder coach with a bevy of talent on the training camp roster.
Local products Josh Tanner and quarterback Josh Swogger are already in the fold, as are Derion Fuqua, son of former Pittsburgh Steelers and New York Giants running back “Frenchy” Fuqua, and Brian Majors.
“This past December, Josh Swogger worked out for the Atlanta Falcons and my guess is that once training camps open he will get another shot from some NFL team,” Chesney said.
“Coach [Hold] wouldn’t tell me who he felt would be this year’s break-out player, but Brian Majors might be the fastest player in our league and is faster that 98 percent of the players in the National Football League. I’m just saying that Majors has as good a chance as any to be that break-out player for us this season.”
Every player in af2 receives $200 per game and a $50 bonus if the team wins. “We are also allowed to provide housing and meals for the players, but cannot go above the league-mandated monies per game or will be fined,” Chesney said.
The Thunder’s 16-game season begins March 29 when they play hots to the Albany Conquest at the Chevrolet Centre.