Enter your search terms Submit search form   Web www.ALL-XFL.com Press Release 11 TRAINING CAMP NEWS AND NOTES (page 1) 01/18/01 TRANSACTIONS CLAIMED: January 8: Wilky Bazile (Defensive Tackle, Syracuse) LIVE FROM NEW YORK Champing at the bit since training camp began, the HITMEN tasted their first live action on Friday, January 5 in an 11-on-11 goal line drill. Defensive players are traditionally ahead of the offensive players at this stage, as was evidenced by the results of the hard-hitting action. With players cheering on both sides of the field, head coach Rusty Tillman placed the signature red and black XFL football on the two-yard line. The offense was given four downs to score, but like a baseball pitcher who has command of his good stuff, the HITMEN “D” threw a shutout, thwarting four consecutive advances toward the end zone. Linebacker Bernard Russ stuffed running back Dino Philyaw on the first play, setting the tone for the dominating defensive effort. Russ, who has three children, carries some additional motivation with him. “I’ve gotta make this team,” Russ confided to Vice President and General Manager Drew Pearson. “I’ve got some mouths to feed back home. They’re counting on me.” PLEASE PASS THE SYRUP Not all of the hard hitting was limited to the defense. Fullback Louis D’Agostino delivered the first “pancake” block of training camp. HITMEN TRAINING CAMP NEWS & NOTES – Page 2 D’Agostino leveled strong safety Nakia Reddick with a crushing lead block, steamrollering him to his back. The “decleated” Reddick was chided by his teammates for his poor technique. D’Agostino, on the other hand, received congratulations from the offense. An energized Michael Blair managed to break through the black and blue wall for the team’s first-ever touchdown on the very next play. The burly fullback bulled his way in from two yards out. “CURBING” THEIR ENTHUSIASM Tillman, impressed with his players’ intensity during the Friday evening session, gave the troops the night off on Saturday. “Don’t come in before 1 a.m.,” Tillman said above the team’s cheers. The player’s enthusiasm was short-lived, however. Apparently, the team hotel is located in a remote area of Orlando and other than going to a nearby convenience store for a Slurpee or venturing into the swamp, there isn’t too much to do. Heeding the head coach’s advice, players could be found sitting on the curb outside the hotel frantically checking their watches, waiting for a grinning coach to allow them entrance. SOMEBODY’S WATCHING ME The HITMEN coaches are not the only eyes focused upon the team. Scouts from the NFL, CFL and the Arena League were noticed in the stands. Representatives from the Tennessee Titans, Atlanta Falcons and Jacksonville Jaguars were in attendance, along with the Canadian Football League’s Montreal Alouettes. San Jose was the lone Arena League representative. With notepads and pens in hand and furiously scribbling notes, these observers were not in Florida to write entries in their diaries. [Page 1 | Page 2]

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