2005 NOVEMBER - 2006 FEB ARCHIVED NEWS
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Potter Bows Out at AFL2 Final Cuts
Monday, February 27 2006
Long time Patriot veteran Mike Potter bows out during final cuts this past week for the Arena
Football League 2's Green Bay Blizzard. Potter, who will enter his fourth season as a Patriot, spent a
week in Green Bay competing for a roster spot. He had a strong performance in camp and made it
to the final 20 invitational cut. "We are disappointed for Mike not being able to make the Blizzard
roster but we are happy to have him back in our trenches," said Vice-President and Director of
Operations Brad Lyon of the Patriots. "He has been a solid building block for us on the offensive
line since we signed him in our first season. The Blizzards loss is once again our gain." Potter
rejoined the Patriots February 21 following the tryout.
Art Sleight Named New Head Coach
Wednesday, February 22 2006
Coach Art Sleight is named the new Genesee County Patriot Head Coach. Coach Sleight comes to
the Patriots with over 25 years of coaching experience, including over a decade of Head coaching
experience. Most recently, Coach Sleight was the Head Coach of Rochester Hills Lutheran
Northwest High School and has coached at Pontiac Northern, Lake Orion, Rochester Adams, and
Warren De LaSalle. In addition, he spent 5 years as a Head Coach in the Minor Leagues with the
Pontiac Chargers and North Oakland Tigers during the mid 90s.
Retired from General Motors in 2002, Coach Sleight has been married for 26 years to his wife
Phyllis. They have one daughter, Brandi who is 21. He received his Masters Degree in Social Work
from Wayne State University in 1996.
Coach Sleight replaces William Donahue as Head Coach. Donahue went 3-6 in his one season as
Head Coach of the Patriots. Donahue spent two seasons on the Patriot staff, serving as the team's
offensive coordinator during 2004.
He looks to take over a program in the upswing. The Patriot defense featured 3 Minor League
Football News Regional All Americans in 2005. This defense held opponents to under 7 points per
game at home. The team also had a NAFL All Star and All-American Bowl selection on the
offensive side at WR, one of three athletes who participated in the NAFL All-Star game.
Gardner Selected to All American Bowl
Monday, February 20 2006
The lone offensive player selected to the NAFL All Star game from the Patriots was a little
disheartened when left off the Minor League Football News' Regional All American List. This was
not the case with the All American Bowl Committee as Keith Gardner was selected to the 2006 All
American bowl in Las Vegas, Nevada. The All American Bowl features many of the country's top
Minor League athletes in an all star like game format. The game will be held April 1, 2006 at 12:05
PM.
Pistons 6th Annual Sports Career Fair
Wednesday, February 8 2006
The Detroit Pistons will hold their 6th Annual Sports Career Fair at the Palace of Auburn Hills
Wednesday, February 8 at 1:00 PM. This year the Genesee County Patriots will join sports teams
from the NBA, NFL and other Professional Sports Leagues for the Job Fair.
Interested parties will be able to meet with representatives from these teams about job opportunities
in the Professional Sports world. Click Here to Learn more and Register for the Job Fair!
* Remember - Links to other websites will open as pop ups when clicked. Please enable pop ups on
your browser to get to the site.
THREE NAMED MLFN ALL MIDWEST
Saturday, January 14, 2006
The Minor League Football Leagues, the leading publication for news and information regarding
Minor League Football announced its Regional All-American Teams. The All-American teams are
selected from athletes on all Minor League levels, A/AA/AAA and from all leagues.
Three Patriots were named to the Midwest Region All-American team. Steve Gauger was named
2nd team Defensive Back, Brad Lyon was named 3rd team Defensive Line, and Trent Miller was
named Honorable Mention at Linebacker. Gauger had 7 INTS in 8 NAFL games, Lyon contributed
4 FR, 5 Sacks, and 19 Tackles, and Miller averaged 7.5 Tackles per game and had an INT.
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN:
1st Team - James O'Bannon, Detroit Metro Saints (MLFA)
1st Team - Peni Taitele, Indiana Mustangs (MCFL)
1st Team - Jesse Black, King's Comets (MCFL)
1st Team - Scott Stanton, Columbus Blackhawks (USFA)
2nd Team - Jon Horton, Waterford Warthogs (MLFA)
2nd Team - Tim Weeks, Cleveland Lions (MCFL)
2nd Team - Brian Cooper, Detroit Downriver Diesels (NAFL)
2nd Team - Jim Stewart, Michigan Admirals (NAFL)
3rd Team - Jay Vamvas, Macomb County Strength (MLFA)
3rd Team - Denny Brown, Hardin County Wolverines (OVFL)
3rd Team - Terrance Clark,Indiana Titans (MSFL)
3rd Team - Brad Lyon, Genesee County Patriots (NAFL)
LINEBACKERS:
1st Team - Chris Branham, Louisville Bulls (MCFL)
1st Team - Dave Settlemire, Lima Warriors (MLFA)
1st Team - Mike Kyler, Detroit Seminoles (MCFL)
2nd Team - Alto Polk, Detroit Seminoles (MCFL)
2nd Team - Justin Hopgood, Waterford Warthogs (MLFA)
2nd Team - Bobby Anderson, King's Comets (MCFL)
3rd Team - Scott Sergent, Southern Michigan Timberwolves (MCFL)
3rd Team - Greg Hamilton, Beaver County Warriors (USFA)
3rd Team - Brian Bate, Penn/Ohio Raiders (USFA)
Honorable Mention-Trent Miller, Genesee County Patriots (NAFL)
DEFENSIVE BACKS:
1st Team - James Worthy, Detroit Seminoles (MCFL)
1st Team - Corey Crumton, Hoosier Hurricanes (OVFL)
1st Team - Jerry Adams, Cleveland Lions (MCFL)
1st Team - Brent Huttis, Lima Warriors (MLFA)
2nd Team - James Brown, Detroit Seminoles (MCFL)
2nd Team - Charles Avant, Hoosier Hurricanes (OVFL)
2nd Team - Steve Gauger, Genesee County Patriots (NAFL)
2nd Team - Justin Sherrod, Grand Rapids Thunder (MLFA)
3rd Team - Andre Hollis, Fort Wayne Flyers (MLFA)
3rd Team - Glen White, Lima Warriors (MLFA)
3rd Team - Mike Karan, Columbus Blackhawks (USFA)
3rd Team - Derrin Ellis, Detroit Metro Saints (MLFA)
PATRIOTS TO BE TELEVISED IN 2006
Saturday, November 26, 2005
Comcast Cable will be featuring no less than three Patriot home games during the 2006 season.
The expected schedule will include one July and two August dates. The exclusive deal may also
include the addition of a playoff game as well. More details regarding the agreement will be
announced soon.
BIG FREE AGENT DAY FOR THE PATRIOTS
Sunday, November 20, 2005
Free agent signing kicks off with a bang as Sunday, November 20 adds several new faces to the
lineup. QB Tedd Klopf (SVSU, Olivet College), who led Montrose High School to a state title in
1998, highlights a list of additions which also includes two former Michigan Admiral offensive
linemen in Andrew Clark and Mark Heilborn. The two Admirals make it three offensive line free
agents acquired who played for other NAFL teams already this off season. The third is former
Rivertown Ram Jason Hill (6'3, 330) who was a stand out offensive lineman while playing Junior
College ball in California, he also played for Grand Rapids Community College.
Sunday, November 20 Signings
Alexander, Richard - DE - Clio
Brooks, Jason - OG
Clark, Andrew - OG - Flint - Michigan Admirals
Heilborn, Mark - DT - Brighton - Michigan Admirals
Klopf, Tedd - QB - Montrose - SVSU - Olivet College
Lanter, Craig - DB - Burton
Stone, Matt - LB - Mt. Morris
* Listed positions are based on previous playing experience, this does not necessarily reflect what
position the stated players will participate at.
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