January 19, 2001
When the Birmingham Thunderbolts break training camp and return
to Birmingham, one of the first orders of business will be
to assist the Alabama Community Blood Bank in a blood drive
at Legion Field. The blood drive is set for Jan. 31 from 7
a.m. to 7 p.m. in the visitors locker room at Legion Field.
Those wishing to donate blood should enter the stadium through
Gate 17 behind the North endzone. Various Bolts players and
cheerleaders are expected to be in attendance throughout the
day to assist with the blood drive. Players and cheerleaders
will also be available for photographs and autographs to those
donating blood. For additional information concerning the
blood drive or Alabama Community Blood Bank Group Night when
the Thunderbolts kick off the season against the Memphis Maniax
Feb.4 should contact director of community relations Kerry
Goode at (205) 488-2663.
The Bolts will work against the Orlando Rage for the fourth
time in training camp Saturday afternoon. For the second time
Birmingham and Orlando will team up for one-on-one work with
receivers and defensive backs, as well as extensive work in
the kicking game.
Birmingham is finally scheduled to hook up with Chicago during
the final week of training camp. The Bolts and the Enforcers
are scheduled to scrimmage Wednesday afternoon. The scrimmage
will be open to the media and the public.
With the final week of camp on the horizon, the war to win
the job as kicking specialist is still waging. Brad Palazzo
and Andy Russ are both still in camp, but the Bolts will carry
just one kicker on the 38-man active roster. In specialty
period at Fridays practice, Palazzo made all three of his
attempts from 32, 37 and 37 yards. Russ was one of three from
the same distances. However, since only one kicking specialist
will be carried, place kicking is only part of the equation,
with punting the other half.
Birmingham will be forced to trim its roster from 62 to a
league-mandated 54 players by 9 a.m. EST Monday. The transactions
will be released by the XFL at 4:30 p.m. EST the same day.
The final cut to 38 active players is scheduled for Jan. 27.
Seven practice squad players will be named the next day.
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