Simmons comes to the Ruff Riders from Bradenton, Florida, where he played his high school football at national powerhouse Bradenton Manatee, which is also the home of former Nebraska great Tommie Frazier. Simmons started his college career at Butte College. During his two years at Butte, he was considered to be one of the best players on the team and for his outstanding play during his sophomore year he was named the Receiver of the Year at Butte. Simmons finished his college career at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. With Simmons help, IUP was able to advance to the NCAA Division II Playoffs during both of the seasons that he played there. Simmons only has one year of indoor experience with the DC Armor of the AIFA so far, but during that year he was the leading receiver on the team with 45 catches for 935 yards and 13 touchdowns. When asked for comment, Coach King had this to say about the addition of Hinton and Simmons "Joe Hinton and Rickie Simmons are two great athletes. There is a saying in football that "speed kills" and these players definitely have the speed and athleticism to be devastating on a football field. We are privileged to get these two great athletes to come to Abilene and they are going to add to the fun, fast, and explosive brand of football that we are going to play this year."
Saturday, December 18, 2010
RUFF RIDERS SIGN BLALOCK
The Abilene Ruff Riders are pleased to announce the signing of Jamaine “Coco” Blalock. Coco comes to the Ruff Riders after playing for the Arkansas Diamonds last year in the IFL. Coco is considered to be one of the most exciting players in all of indoor football. He is known for being a threat to take it to the end zone any time he touches the ball. Last year, while playing for the Diamonds, he lead the team in all purpose yards despite only playing in nine games. He also returned two kickoffs for touchdowns which was 3rd most in the IFL. Before his time with the Diamonds, Coco was a star wide receiver in the Arena Football league. He played for the Milwaukee Mustangs, Columbus Destroyers, and Las Vegas Gladiators during his six years in the AFL. Coco’s best season in the AFL was in 2005, when he had 73 receptions for 853 yards as well as 13 touchdowns for the Las Vegas Gladiators. When asked for comment, Brett Quigley, the general manager for the Abilene Ruff Riders, had this to say, “We are truly excited to have a player like Jamaine Blalock come to Abilene. Jamaine has dominated at every level he has played and we feel he will continue to do so in the SIFL. Jamaine is one of the most exciting players in indoor football and he is like the indoor version of the NFL’s Desean Jackson or Devin Hester. Our fans are going to be amazed at the things that he can do on a football field.”
The Abilene Ruff Riders 2011 season kicks off on March 12. Season Tickets are as low as $35 per seat for the entire season. For season tickets or to become a valued partner in a soon to become championship winning SIFL franchise call (325) 677-7277.
Thursday, December 16, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: The Abilene Ruff Riders are pleased to announce the signing of Jamaine “Coco” Blalock. Coco comes to the Ruff Riders after playing for the Arkansas Diamonds last year in the IFL. Coco is considered to be one of the most exciting players in all of indoor football. He is known for being a threat to take it to the end zone any time he touches the ball. Last year, while playing for the Diamonds, he lead the team in all purpose yards despite only playing in nine games. He also returned two kickoffs for touchdowns which was 3rd most in the IFL. Before his time with the Diamonds, Coco was a star wide receiver in the Arena Football league. He played for the Milwaukee Mustangs, Columbus Destroyers, and Las Vegas Gladiators during his six years in the AFL. Coco’s best season in the AFL was in 2005, when he had 73 receptions for 853 yards as well as 13 touchdowns for the Las Vegas Gladiators. When asked for comment, Brett Quigley, the general manager for the Abilene Ruff Riders, had this to say, “We are truly excited to have a player like Jamaine Blalock come to Abilene. Jamaine has dominated at every level he has played and we feel he will continue to do so in the SIFL. Jamaine is one of the most exciting players in indoor football and he is like the indoor version of the NFL’s Desean Jackson or Devin Hester. Our fans are going to be amazed at the things that he can do on a football field.”
The Abilene Ruff Riders 2011 season kicks off on March 12. Season Tickets are as low as $35 per seat for the entire season. For season tickets or to become a valued partner in a soon to become championship winning SIFL franchise call (325) 677-7277.
Monday, December 13, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: The Abilene Ruff Riders are pleased to announce the hiring of their new head coach, Shon King. Coach King comes to the Ruff Riders after being the head coach/ offensive coordinator of the Quad City Steamwheelers in 2009. The Quad City Steamwheelers played in the AFL 2 league. While with the Steamwheelers, Coach King molded his offense into one of the best in the AFL 2. In 2008, Quad City had the #2 offense under Coach King’s guidance and he followed that impressive year up with the #4 rated offense in 2009. Prior to his coaching career, Coach King enjoyed had an illustrious playing career for Quad City in which he was nicknamed “Mr. Saturday Night”. He is the only player in Quad City history to have his number retired by the organization. Scott Anderson spokesman for BCPSA, the ownership group for the Abilene Ruff Riders, had this to say about the hiring of Coach King, “Our search for a new coach began with approximately 20 candidates, after going through our evaluation process; Coach King became the obvious choice. The ownership group feels that his offensive scheme, connections that will allow him to recruit great players and his community focus will place the Ruff Riders in the best possible position to win a championship for Abilene. We want to thank all of the candidates who applied and the Abilene community for their support and direct involvement during this process. It was the input from our sponsors, season ticket holders, and staff that helped us, as owners, to make what we feel is the right decision for Abilene. The 2011 season is quickly approaching and we wait with great anticipation, to see this decision payoff on and off the field.”
The Abilene Ruff Riders 2011 season kicks off on March 12. Season Tickets are as low as $35 per seat for the entire season. For season tickets or to become a valued partner in a soon to become championship winning SIFL franchise call (325) 677-7277.
Thursday, December 9, 2010
The Abilene Ruff Riders will play in a new league early next spring, and have a new coach on the sidelines.
On Wednesday, the local arena league football team announced Shon King as its third coach. He succeeds Rodney Blackshear, who served as interim coach for the final seven games of the 2010 season. Blackshear was named head coach during the summer but resigned to take the same job for the Amarillo Venom of the Indoor Football League.
Blackshear took over for Gerald Dockery, who was fired after the team started 0-5. Dockery had guided the team its first two seasons.
The Riders played in the IFL last season, finishing 2-12, but will compete in the Southern Indoor Football League the coming season.
King was the head coach of the Quad Cities Steamwheelers, a charter member of the af2 based in Moline, Ill., that ended operation when the league folded before the 2010 season. King said he then coached at Norfolk (Neb.) Senior High School, where he had coached from 2003-2004.
“I still had the itch for the indoor game,” he said by phone to explain how he became one of 20 applicants for the Riders job. “I want to help this team build a winning tradition.”
Quad Cities had the No. 2 offense in af2 in 2008 and was No. 4 in 2009. King played for the team the 2000 season, when Quad Cities went 19-0 and won the inaugural af2 championship. He was chosen Arena Cup MVP, and the 2005 Wayne State graduate and standout receiver was selected rookie of the year.
He also played for New York Dragons, Tulsa Talons during that team’s 2003 title season, Philadelphia Soul and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers.
In 2009, he was voted the No. 3 all-time receiver/kick returner in af2.
King said he will recruit players to power an offensive-minded team.
“But in the indoor game, you take what they give you and try not to make a whole bunch of mistakes,” he said. “We will try to light up the scoreboard.”
He said he would rely on his af2 contacts to bring players to Abilene and has a core group of players who could join him in Abilene. Also, he will look at players who were on the Riders roster last season and would be interested in returning to the team under new leadership.
“We want to look at local hometown talent, get the best guys,” he said. “I want players who are hungry and are passionate and have good character.”
King said he’d want to get a start on the 2011 season 2-3 weeks before the first game. Repetition and “knowing the game” will be more important, he said, than long workouts.
While he will search for an experienced arena-style quarterback, King said it’s important to fill each position with skilled players who can play several positions.
“I’m from California and I know Texas is a hotbed for talent, and we definitely wanted to get down there and get some of that Texas talent,” he said. “I’m looking forward to it.”
The Riders have made the postseason once, finishing 8-6 in 2009 but losing in the first round of the IFL playoffs.
Saturday, September 11, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: The Abilene Ruff Riders held their first tryout for the upcoming 2011 season this past Saturday at Abilene Christian High School. The Ruff Riders have joined the Southern Indoor Football League and they used the tryout as the first phase of trying to revamp their roster to compete for a championship in the SIFL. Coach Blackshear had this to say about the tryout “It was a great start for the 2011 season.
We are immersing ourselves in the new rules of the SIFL and I think we got a great start on some of the new players that are going to help us bring a championship to Abilene.” The Ruff Riders will also be holding another tryout in Abilene sometime in early March. They will announce the future tryout on their website.
The Abilene Ruff Riders will play the 2011 s
eason in the Southern Indoor Football League. The
2011 season will being sometime in late March. Season tickets are currently available, for more information please call (325) 677-7277.
Monday, August 23, 2010
Contact: Dawn Fleishans, Office Manager
Phone: 325.677.7277
Email: dawn@abileneruffriders.com
The Abilene Ruff Riders will be holding open player tryouts on Saturday, September 11, 2010 at Abilene Christian School located at 2550 N. Judge Ely Blvd. Abilene, TX 79601. Registration for the tryouts will begin at 8:00 a.m. with the tryouts officially starting at 9:00 a.m. All participants will be required to sign a waiver, complete a registration form and pay the $40.00 registration cash or money order fee. Abilene is a grass field and Dallas/Ft. Worth is Astroturf.
Dallas/Ft. Worth Area:
Second Tryout date is October 16, 2010 at Velocity Sports Performance 1800 East Hwy 114 Southlake, TX
Registration begins at Noon with tryouts officially starting at 1:00 pm. All participants will be required to sign a waiver, complete a registration form and pay the $40.00 registration cash or money order fee.
Coach Blackshear is guaranteeing to sign at least one player at each tryout.
Those that are participating must dress in proper workout attire and have appropriate footwear. Every player will be required to participate in offensive and defensive drills. Each participant will compete at one of the following positions: quarterback, wide receiver
The tryout session is expected to last up to three hours depending on the number of participants and each player will be tested in drills related to the indoor football game, including the 40-yard dash and 20-yard short shuttle. For more information regarding the tryouts please contact Abilene Ruff Riders Head Coach, Rodney Blackshear, at or the Abilene Ruff Riders Front Office at (325) 677 - PASS (7277).