XFL Memphis Maniax Press Release 5


 
Maniax Press Release 5
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Maniax battle the elements, but still get some work done

When Head Coach Kippy Brown addressed his Memphis Maniax for the first time on Monday at the club’s second mini-camp, he told the 69 players and coaching staff that there would be “some bumps on the road.” Mother Nature made sure that Kippy wasn’t exaggerating when frigid weather and a major ice storm struck Memphis and most of the Mid-South during the first two days of mini-camp.

Brown, though, didn’t have to deal with the storm himself. He left camp Tuesday morning during the team’s first workout to return to Green Bay, Wis., and honor his commitment to the Packers to remain as their running backs coach for the rest of the 2000 season. Brown got a taste of Tuesday’s cold weather, but the skies were clear and the only ice was in the training room when Brown boarded his flight for Green Bay. True, he was promptly greeted with snowy conditions in the Midwest, but, as he said before he left, “snow and cold is a way of life up there.”

Despite the icy conditions, the Maniax have been very productive through the first two days of mini-camp. This camp features all rostered players. Only the offensive skill positions were represented in the club’s first mini-camp four weeks ago.

The Maniax managed two crisp workouts at their outdoor practice facility adjacent to Tim McCarver Stadium and the Liberty Bowl on Tuesday. Thanks to the cooperation of the University of Memphis athletics department, the Maniax worked for two hours Wednesday morning at the indoor practice facility on the UM campus. The club spent the rest of the day with extended meetings and videotape review and planned more meetings Wednesday evening at the Adam’s Mark Hotel. They even may manage to walk through a few plays in one of the hotel’s large meeting rooms. The hotel maintenance need not worry, though. The mini-camp is a no pads, non-contact week of practice.

Assistant Head Coach Rich McGeorge, running the camp in Brown’s absence, feels that the icy day was still a very productive one. “Kippy told the guys there would be some bumps and we hit one right after he left,” said McGeorge. “We’re still very pleased with what we have managed to accomplish. We had a chance to see the guys run and throw a little this morning at the University. It was really a pretty good workout.”

“Much of this mini-camp is a learning process anyway,” added McGeorge. “We really don’t lose a lot if we miss one outdoor practice and spend that time reviewing tape and teaching the offensive and defensive schemes. I just hope that the weather cooperates tomorrow so we don’t lose any more practice time.”

Maniax’ running back Rashaan Salaam, the 1994 Heisman Trophy winner at the University of Colorado and a San Diego native, wasn’t totally daunted by the chilly and icy conditions. “Like Jesse Ventura said on TV, this is real football. Hey, in February we may see days like this. In the XFL, we have to be prepared for anything!”







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