For our fans that are waiting for the NEPA Miners Home Opener at Scranton Memorial Stadium on July 12th, we still have a good four months until kickoff, but training camp is right around the corner.  Miners Football will host one more tryout/combine at the Riverfront Sports Complex on April 12th to find more hidden talent from Scranton, Wilkes-Barre, Hazelton and football players from all over North Eastern Pennsylvania.  At the same time returning members from the Miners inaugural 8-4 season will begin there quest for a 2008 national championship.  The off season has been a good one as the coaching staff is looking to expand; the official staff will be named in the upcoming weeks.  Minor League veteran Lineman Robert Rae and Receiver Jermaine Bolden look to add leadership while newcomers Joe Polacek TE, Steven Lackey OL, Sam Parlopiano WR, Robert Toner FB and Joshua Steeley WR who attended the AAFL tryout look to boost the Miners West Coast Offense.  Former Scranton Eagle Kyle Popish is coming on board to bolster an already fierce Thunder 3 Defense led by sack master Malcolm Singleton who wants to repeat last season’s record setting season.  Eddie Meehan OL, Matt Pfancook WR and Tim Krauth LB are rehabbing from injuries and are hoping to recover quickly.  Veteran Running Back Andre Chollette is returning and Kings graduate Damon Saxon has his sights set on 1000 yards rushing.  Donnie Jackson-Bey, minor league footballs All-Time Leading Rusher is working harder than ever and willing to play any position to end his career with a championship.  Veteran Player award winner Ziggy Wisniewski OL and Willie Mims DB are also considering another season before they hang up the cleats. Rookie Iron Man winner Chris Hoover will be playing Iron Man ball again but this time on both sides of the line and tackle machine Jamie Hoover (no relation) is returning.  JP Antosh is returning at QB looking to earn the starting job.  Tight End Andre Myers adjusted well to a switch to Tight End last season.  Young talent Billy Blackman, George Graham, Aaron Pitts and Keair Hopewell are competing for starting positions.  Jamie Kendrick, Jeremy Kendrick, Jovan Garcia, Sean Hill, Mike Collins and Rasheen Smith have potential for breakout seasons.  The Miners did lose starting Center Ron Sebastionelli who will be serving in Iraq and is still waiting to hear back from other veterans.  The Miners also have other prospects on paper that they are excited to see but have to wait until April 12th to know who they officially have before hitting the gridiron.  The team will have its first practice on April 15th; anyone not attending the combine will have to climb up the depth chart as the coaching staff will be evaluating their roster on the 12th.  “We are looking to have the best 53 teammates by time we put the pads on”, stated Miners Head Coach Dan LaMagna.  The NEPA Miners are on a mission to win a national championship, who is stepping up to join them on the 12th?

This entry was posted on Sunday, March 30, 2008 and is filed under Miners News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.