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Another year, another season, another chance for the Renegades to win it all

By Stephanie McCombs
[email protected]
Staff Writer

The Rome Renegades When you think of the Rome Renegades, you think of the 2005 NIFL Atlantic Conference Champions. For their first season in action, the Renegades went all the way to the championship game, only to come up shorthanded.

With the first game of the new season approaching on Feb. 27 at Richmond, Va., the Renegades are taking their game up a notch and are entering into a new league, the American Indoor Football League.

There will be many changes made to the offense/defense. Scott Chandler, defensive coordinator for the Renegades, says, �It�s really by necessity rather than by choice. The new league has very specific rules. It is more like what you see on TV with the Georgia Force.�

Only six players are returning from last year. With a new group of players coming in, the Renegades hope to bring a higher level of talent to the table and bring home the championship trophy.

�Our upcoming goals for this season are to win the championship game,� Chandler stated.

Their first game against the Richmond Bandits may be a tough one. The Bandits were the champions of their league last year.

�We�ve got to open up against a team that won their championship. So, you know, we will definitely find out where we stand when we play them,� Chandler said.

Unlike standard American football, the indoor league has many different rules and regulations. There are four, 15-minute running clock quarters, with the clock only stopping with a minute left before halftime and a minute left before the end of the game.

There are no out-of-bounds, and games are played with eight players from each team on a 50-yard field. Plays only stop when contact is made on the dasher boards, and two guys are allowed to be in motion running towards the line.

The Renegades will play a total of 14 games this season: seven at home and seven away. All home games are played on Fridays at 7 p.m. at the Forum, except for the last game, which will be played on a Saturday.

Their first home game is March 24 at 7 p.m. against Florence.

Tickets are being sold Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. For more ticket information call 706-291-5281. Student tickets start at $5.

The Renegades are looking for volunteers for chain crew and ball boys. Applications are currently available for cheerleaders, too. For more information about the Renegades, call 706-378-7363 or visit their website at www.romerenegades.com or www.AIFL.com.