(29 November 2000) – Well, Orlando, the pieces are slowly coming together for the Rage’s inaugural season with the XFL.
After finishing up a 5 day minicamp for the skill positions, the Orlando Rage are getting ready for the full squad minicamp on December 10-17. After that, training camp will be conducted in January. The Rage’s season begins on 2/3/00 at 8 P.M. against the Chicago Enforcers at home, in the Citrus Bowl located in downtown Orlando.
As for shining stars of the first minicamp, wide receivers Siaha “Si” Burley, formerly of UCF, Kevin Swayne out of Wayne State, Scott Cloman from Southern, and the speedy University of Washington alum Mario Bailey definitely stood out.
Running backs Derrick Clark, formerly of NFL Europe as well as nearby Apopka, Florida, and former NCAA record holder Brian Shay are looking sharp as well.
The starting quarterback looks to be NFL Europe vet Jeff Brohm, with Dan Kuklick not too far behind him. But as everyone knows, the game is played with 11 men on each side, and in full pads and contact; however, under the focus of Brohm and the watchful eye of coach Galen Hall, the Orlando Rage look to be one of the top teams in the East, at the very least.
The Rage did spend 8 of their first 15 picks on interior linemen, with the selection of two defensive ends in the first six rounds (rounds three and six). It is not unusual for gems on both sides of the line to pass by NFL draft boards, as evident by former Cleveland Brown Orlando Brown, who went undrafted and became a staple of offensive lines in Cleveland, Baltimore, and Cleveland again.
Will any gems arise form the Orlando Rage? Maybe a recent NFL prospect like Dan Goodspeed, the offensive tackle from Kent State? Or maybe even the second round selection Dan Collins from Boston College-is he part of the new tradition of BC linemen NFL prospects such as Chris Hovan,of the Minnesota Vikings, or Damien Woody, from the New England Patriots? For now, I’m sure Mr. Collins doesn’t mind being the cornerstone of the Orlando Rage’s offensive line.
