PHASE II BEGINS IN GREAT FALLS MONTANA: CONTINUITY, RESPECTABILITY AND A PROTOTYPICAL QUARTERBACK GREET THE 2005 GLADIATORS

GREAT FALLS – The semi-pro football roller-coaster ride continues in Great Falls, Montana.

Fortunately, the ride is headed UP.

When Great Falls first splashed into the RMFL scene in 1999, there was a lot of excitement, hope, talent and results. The team performed well (finishing 6-4), made the playoffs and established themselves as a positive force in area football.

2000 was more of the same. A division championship and more wins than losses (finishing 7-3), however, it ended in an ugly debacle in Idaho Falls in the playoffs. The roller coaster began a down swing.

The then Great Falls Rangers management pulled the team out of the RMFL and attempted to compete in a national tournament-style league. The team struggled with management, resources and eventually players, finally folding by the middle of 2001.

In 2003, the Great Falls Gladiators made another attempt in the RMFL, finally struggling to keep the team together with a concentrated military involvement, the team folded at mid-season, forfeiting it’s final 3 games.

In 2004, GM, Brad Thurber took over the team. Ex A&M Aggie, Mike Morgan took over the coaching duties and the Gladiators began to rise from the ashes. After an impressive performance in a close loss in their home opener to Idaho Falls (6-0), the Gladiators under-performed to a 1-7 finish. The Gladiators lone victory was the 21-0 Sports Illustrated game the next week.

The problems for the Gladiators centered around a patchwork offensive line and a talented quarterback that was in the form of an athlete playing the quarterback position (Dee Jones).

The Gladiator defense, on the other hand, was quite solid. Similar to the Glacier Knights, the defense would have been even more impressive had the Gladiator offense been more productive. The Gladiators finished 13^th (of 16) in offense and 11^th in defense. Had the offense been a little more effective, the Gladiators “D” would have been an RMFL top tier defense for certain.

So, the Gladiators set out to fill a wish list that included primarily 3 things: 1) a “true” quarterback, 2) Offensive Linemen and 3) more depth. They believe they have accomplished both.

According to GM, Thurber, he believes the “continuity” will be a big factor as much as the changes. The Gladiators will be a better team and look to not go down easy in what sets up to be potentially the most interesting division in the RMFL.

KEY ADDITIONS:

Richard Thompson – Quarterback

Mike Campbell – Offensive Line

Mo Sipili – Offensive Line

Preston Sykes – Offensive Line

Carlos Uresti – Offensive Line

James Cantrell – Defensive Back

Josh Brock – Defensive Line/Linebacker

OFFENSE:

The Gladiators seem to have clearly filled their greatest needs in the off-season. More and bigger lineman and a pro-typical quarterback. At 6-2, 190, Thompson is an ideal quarterback fit for this team. Thompson played collegiately at Northern Montana and seems to posess the same tools and poise as Madison’s Troy Dougherty. With an offensive line averaging 285 pounds a man: Mike Campbell (6-3, 305), Mo Sipili (6-1, 310), Preston Sykes (5-10, 235), Carlos Uresti (6-4, 295) and the only returning starter, Drew Wanner (6-3, 260). This line packs experience, size and an emotional leader in Uresti. After Thompson at quarterback and a revamped offensive line, little is certain about the rest of the Gladiator offensive starters. Much competition still exists at the running back and receiver slots. Names competing for running back include Shannon Moore, Clint Cannon and George Jackson. At fullback, competition exists with Chad Kennedy, Rodney Scott and Jason Kiono. Tight end competition rages between Jermaine Saunders, Joe Thomas and returning starter, Brad Thurber (likely to play more on defense). At wide receiver, John Cheek, Chris Corbin, Eddie Haley, Lewis Cochran, Damond Orr and Carl King are competing for two slots. A team seriously needing a pre-season game to make some playing determinations has none scheduled. Although I always say, if a team has a good offensive line and a good quarterback, they will likely be very successful (heck, forget the quarterback, just a good offensive line!). Well, in this day and age, it certainly would help to have some bonified threats. I don’t know much about the stable of players competing for offensive skill positions, but I do know if any of them was a Buck Mouser, Dave Garza, Norvel Young, Ernesto Ramos or Travis Boden, there wouldn’t be uncertaintly over who would start. The Gladiator offense will still be better, perhaps not explosive enough to vault this team into one of the 12 playoff spots. Projected Offensive Ranking: 15^th.

DEFENSE:

Overall, this defense had something to be proud of in 2004. They just needed to travel better. They had a 43 spot put on them by the Davis Vipers in a game that turned around the Vipers season down in Ogden. Troy Dougherty and the Madison Lionz put up 60+ on them in a game that was closer than the score down in Rexburg and Mike Manning and the Bulldawgs dropped 40+ points on them in the season finale in Burley, Idaho. In 2005, the Gladiators longest road trip will be to Pocatello, Idaho, a team struggling with their own personnel situation. The rest of the Gladiator games are within the confines of Montana, a much easier road problem. The defense is relatively unchanged from 2004. Thurber and head coach, Mike Morgan are very high on new defensive line acquisition, Josh Brock. Brock joins familiar names, Mike Rohde, Mike Pease (both previously linebackers), Dave Hodgkin and Sam Morgan. Make no mistake, this is a solid and aggressive bunch of players and will, no doubt, score some quarterback sacks, however, none of these players tips the scales at more than 250 pounds which could work against them for teams that are capable of pounding it directly at them. The linebacking corp is also familiar and solid. David Craig (played semi-pro football formerly in Georgia) joins John Garcia (converted from d-end) and impact linebacker, Keon Pinckney, the defenses emotional leader. According to Thurber, Reid Merriweather is the “best corner in the league” and he will be joined by ex-Great Falls Ranger great, James Cantrell at the weak safety position. Brad Thurber will share strong safety time with Chris Schindling and the other corner position is under competition with returning starter, Darius Harper, Jared Johnson and Jacob Dann. I guess I will have to see how well this unit can handle a premier running back to really give them top grades. Fortunately, the Montana division opponents aren’t exactly teeming with marquee running backs. This unit will be strong again, but I’m not sure they improved enough to keep up with the field. Projected Defensive Ranking: 15^th.

INTANGIBLES/COACHING:

I think that head coach Mike Morgan is just the right football mind and motivator to get the most out of this team and find ways to keep them competing. I think this team is good enough to keep them ahead of Glacier in the Montana division, but I am not 100% sure they will be able to defeat the Knights in Glacier. Certainly, however, the Gladiators do prove to be a formidable opponent at home and has as much chance to go 5-1 in their division as 1-5. Much depends upon the level of play that comes from the competing skills. If some stars can emerge from that group and the offense line performs up to expectations, the defense will be set to take advantage of their aggressive style and make teams pay. For now, however, they will have to prove that the new breed of Gladiator has what it takes to emerge as “go to” stars in the 2005 RMFL.

OVERALL RANKING: 15^th