DeGEORGIA RETURNS TO FOOTBALL
Remember JARROD DeGEORGIA? Quick, who was the quarterback of Lompoc High’s first CIF championship team in 1990? No, it was not NAPOLEON KAUFMAN. It was DeGeorgia.
And now the strong-armed gunslinger who went on to Wayne State and 12 years in pro football in Sweden and three different arena leagues, has become coach, offensive coordinator, and Director of Football Operations of the Sioux City Bandits of the United Indoor Football League. This is the team he took to the championship game in 2005.
Here’s the story from January in the Sioux City Journal.
Bob Scott has been impressed with the maturity of Jarrod DeGeorgia since he assumed the position of assistant head coach with the Sioux City Bandits in mid-December.Scott, the Bandits' general manager/managing partner, allowed DeGeorgia to grow on the job.
DeGeorgia signed players, organized training camps, made recommendations for assistant coaches and even sat in on a few meetings as Scott interviewed potential head coaching candidates.
During a press conference Thursday at the Tyson Events Center, Scott promoted DeGeorgia to head coach. DeGeorgia, who quarterbacked the club to the 2005 United Indoor Football championship game, introduced his three assistant coaches, Jason Walding, Mike Winklepleck and Andy Yost, as well as the latest player signings, offensive linemen Erv Strohbeen and Drew Lewis.
"We had reservations because of his lack of experience," said Scott. "J.D., on the field, was (like) a coach when he played for us. He has handled the job well and made decisions on players and coaches."I've watched him and I can tell you, he has been very mature. We believe he is ready to go and we believe he can do a good job."
"We had reservations because of his lack of experience," said Scott. "J.D., on the field, was (like) a coach when he played for us. He has handled the job well and made decisions on players and coaches."I've watched him and I can tell you, he has been very mature. We believe he is ready to go and we believe he can do a good job."
"I'd like to thank Bob for his trust," said DeGeorgia, who becomes the 11th head coach in the nine-year history of the team, including Roger Jansen, Tom Luxford and Pat Arens, who were named interim head coaches following the resignation of Rich Britt one game into the 2007 season.
"We want to build stability," added DeGeorgia. "I live here. I'm not going anywhere. I've been around the game a long time. I told them I can do it and they nodded.
"There's some things I'm nervous about, but I have a lot of contacts I can talk to. Bob and Mark (Carley, assistant general manager) have been tremendous. Bob's door is always open. I've been there three weeks straight to pick his brain."
Scott's original intention was to hire a head coach to groom DeGeorgia into the position. Ten candidates were interviewed.
"The big concern was J.D. had a young family and no job," said Scott. DeGeorgia has since been employed with Bill Thompson State Family Insurance of Sioux City.
"You look at the teams in the UIF and the coaches are local," said the 6-4, 335-pound Strohbeen, the Bandits' center for eight seasons. "They stay here after the season, they're not here one year, then done. The number one thing he'll bring to us is leadership."When we were in the huddle and Jarrod brought the play in, nobody questioned it. I believe as a head coach, when he calls the play, he'll put players in the right position to make it happen. He will be a good coach."
In their only exhibition game the Bandits demolished the St. Joseph Ravens last Saturday (are you ready?) by a score of 121-0. Here’s more from the Journal.
The St. Joseph Ravens may never more want to venture indoors to play a football game. Sunday, at the Tyson Events Center, the Sioux City Bandits demolished the Missouri outdoor team in an exhibition game, 121-0. The Bandits scored 17 touchdowns in the mismatch, returning two of seven interceptions for touchdowns. Sioux City rushed for 127 yards and passed for 185 yards, while limiting the visitors to a negative 20 yards of total offense.St. Joseph plays in an eight-man outdoor semi-pro league. The Bandits open United Indoor Football league action tomorrow at Wichita.
Church Still Buzzing
Only when Church remains free of symptoms for two consecutive days will doctors clear him to play-- from MLB.com
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