arenazone
09-01-2009, 03:52 PM
http://madisoncourier.com/main.asp?SectionID=18&SubSectionID=289&ArticleID=52660
Dietz set for first camp with UFL Redwoods
David Campbell
Courier Sportswriter
Like all Arena Football League players, Brett Dietz spent the last six months wondering if he was ever going to play football again. Fortunately for him, Dietz found the answer in the form of the United Football League.
Dietz, a 2004 graduate of Hanover College out of Northern Kentucky's Covington Catholic High School, recently signed with the California Redwoods of the fledgling United Football League and will report to training camp Sept. 9. He was drafted by the Redwoods last month in the league's inaugural draft.
The UFL is entering its first season of operation and to many around the country, the league is a mere curiosity. But with working agreements in place with the National Football League and games televised on the Versus network, Dietz is more than ready to get started.
"I'm excited. I'm more excited about this than I have for any other opportunity in my life," said Dietz. "The coaches all have extensive NFL experience and it's a league where you can get noticed. I can't wait to get started."
Dietz led NCAA Division III in total offense as a senior at Hanover and took the Panthers into the second round of the playoffs. After graduation, he bounced from league to league beginning in Finland and ending up in the AFL.
As starting quarterback for the Tampa Bay Storm for two seasons, Dietz thought he had found a longterm home in pro sports. He was quickly emerging as one of the league's top signal-callers and was becoming the face of the franchise after throwing for 2,374 yards and 47 touchdowns last season with the Storm.
That all ended earlier this year when the AFL shut down operations for the 2009 season. Then, last month, the AFL officially shuttered its operation for good.
For many AFL veterans, it was the end of the road. But Dietz received the call from the Redwoods and happily accepted.
"It feels good to be playing again," Dietz said. "With the AFL folding when you're on top of the league you can't help but feel a little cheated. I'm going to miss the AFL and I think there will always be a market for that brand of football but I'm ready to move on."
With California, Dietz walks into a situation that could set up perfectly for him. Unlike the other three UFL franchises, the Redwoods did not draft "big" names for the quarterback position. Instead, the team seems content to go with Dietz, former Kentucky quarterback Shane Boyd and Harvard's Liam O'Hagan.
Boyd figures to be the early favorite for the job but that's OK with Dietz. He has started out as a backup in both the AFL and afl2 and ended up earning Rookie of the Year honors in both leagues in back-to-back seasons.
"This league gives players another way to make a living," Dietz said. "But this league will also get looked at a lot more. There will be scouts at each game and there will always be the chance to move up to the NFL. It's an exciting opportunity."
Even as a student at Hanover, Dietz's stated goal has always been to play in the NFL. With the Redwoods, he will be surrounded by a coaching staff that he feels like can get him there.
Former Minnesota Vikings and Arizona Cardinals head coach Dennis Green is the Redwoods' head coach and former NFL player Mike Kruczek is the offensive coordinator. Both coaches have been known for their work with quarterbacks, whether Steve Young, Brett Favre and Daunte Culpepper in Green's case or Culpepper, Kurt Warner and Matt Ryan in Kruczek's case.
Dietz is familiar with the work of both coaches and knows that both will help improve his game dramatically.
"I grew up watching football on TV and seeing coach Green and coach Kruczek both on the sidelines," said Dietz, who was coached by Green at the UFL's tryout in Orlando in the spring. "I intend to soak up everything they say and try my best."
When the Redwoods open camp Sept. 9 they will share facilities with the Las Vegas Locomotives in Casa Grande, Ariz. Camp will last only two and a half weeks before the two teams will kick off the new league Oct. 8.
With such a short camp, Dietz isn't sure what to expect.
"We don't have a lot of time to get to know each other as a team or to impress the coaches," he said. "I'm not really sure how it will go, but I'll be ready."
With such a short season, Dietz plans on living in Arizona. His wife Dana Brock Dietz, who is also a former Hanover College athlete, will stay back home in St. Petersburg, Fla.
In the meantime, Dietz will take another step toward his dream of playing in the NFL.
"It's such an exciting opportunity," Dietz said. "We're going to be on Versus and there will be scouts from the NFL watching. It's an exciting time."
Dietz set for first camp with UFL Redwoods
David Campbell
Courier Sportswriter
Like all Arena Football League players, Brett Dietz spent the last six months wondering if he was ever going to play football again. Fortunately for him, Dietz found the answer in the form of the United Football League.
Dietz, a 2004 graduate of Hanover College out of Northern Kentucky's Covington Catholic High School, recently signed with the California Redwoods of the fledgling United Football League and will report to training camp Sept. 9. He was drafted by the Redwoods last month in the league's inaugural draft.
The UFL is entering its first season of operation and to many around the country, the league is a mere curiosity. But with working agreements in place with the National Football League and games televised on the Versus network, Dietz is more than ready to get started.
"I'm excited. I'm more excited about this than I have for any other opportunity in my life," said Dietz. "The coaches all have extensive NFL experience and it's a league where you can get noticed. I can't wait to get started."
Dietz led NCAA Division III in total offense as a senior at Hanover and took the Panthers into the second round of the playoffs. After graduation, he bounced from league to league beginning in Finland and ending up in the AFL.
As starting quarterback for the Tampa Bay Storm for two seasons, Dietz thought he had found a longterm home in pro sports. He was quickly emerging as one of the league's top signal-callers and was becoming the face of the franchise after throwing for 2,374 yards and 47 touchdowns last season with the Storm.
That all ended earlier this year when the AFL shut down operations for the 2009 season. Then, last month, the AFL officially shuttered its operation for good.
For many AFL veterans, it was the end of the road. But Dietz received the call from the Redwoods and happily accepted.
"It feels good to be playing again," Dietz said. "With the AFL folding when you're on top of the league you can't help but feel a little cheated. I'm going to miss the AFL and I think there will always be a market for that brand of football but I'm ready to move on."
With California, Dietz walks into a situation that could set up perfectly for him. Unlike the other three UFL franchises, the Redwoods did not draft "big" names for the quarterback position. Instead, the team seems content to go with Dietz, former Kentucky quarterback Shane Boyd and Harvard's Liam O'Hagan.
Boyd figures to be the early favorite for the job but that's OK with Dietz. He has started out as a backup in both the AFL and afl2 and ended up earning Rookie of the Year honors in both leagues in back-to-back seasons.
"This league gives players another way to make a living," Dietz said. "But this league will also get looked at a lot more. There will be scouts at each game and there will always be the chance to move up to the NFL. It's an exciting opportunity."
Even as a student at Hanover, Dietz's stated goal has always been to play in the NFL. With the Redwoods, he will be surrounded by a coaching staff that he feels like can get him there.
Former Minnesota Vikings and Arizona Cardinals head coach Dennis Green is the Redwoods' head coach and former NFL player Mike Kruczek is the offensive coordinator. Both coaches have been known for their work with quarterbacks, whether Steve Young, Brett Favre and Daunte Culpepper in Green's case or Culpepper, Kurt Warner and Matt Ryan in Kruczek's case.
Dietz is familiar with the work of both coaches and knows that both will help improve his game dramatically.
"I grew up watching football on TV and seeing coach Green and coach Kruczek both on the sidelines," said Dietz, who was coached by Green at the UFL's tryout in Orlando in the spring. "I intend to soak up everything they say and try my best."
When the Redwoods open camp Sept. 9 they will share facilities with the Las Vegas Locomotives in Casa Grande, Ariz. Camp will last only two and a half weeks before the two teams will kick off the new league Oct. 8.
With such a short camp, Dietz isn't sure what to expect.
"We don't have a lot of time to get to know each other as a team or to impress the coaches," he said. "I'm not really sure how it will go, but I'll be ready."
With such a short season, Dietz plans on living in Arizona. His wife Dana Brock Dietz, who is also a former Hanover College athlete, will stay back home in St. Petersburg, Fla.
In the meantime, Dietz will take another step toward his dream of playing in the NFL.
"It's such an exciting opportunity," Dietz said. "We're going to be on Versus and there will be scouts from the NFL watching. It's an exciting time."