Indoor football planned for Hampden

For some, the dream of playing pro sports never dies. Others become content playing local levels of their sport.

Former University of Maine defensive lineman Adrian Stone is attempting to provide an outlet for both with the formation of the Maine Indoor Football League.

“For the first year we hope to run with five teams. We’re going to play at the Maine Sports Complex [in Hampden],” the Bucksport native said.

Two teams have applied for the league thus far. Stone said each team would carry an 18-man active roster with two players in reserve. The franchise fee for each team is $1,500.

“We’ve also had 32 players apply through our Web site,” Stone said.

He expects the league’s operating costs to run approximately $7,500 for the first season. That would include field rental, officials, trainers, and jerseys. Players must buy their own equipment.

A 10-game regular season schedule is planned along with a championship game. The season will begin in July and run into October.

Stone said that the teams would play modified Arena Football League rules. He said because of the dome, the netting that normally serves to “catch” the ball on kickoffs could not be used.

“Obviously we can’t play rebounds off the net. So, we’re changing a few rules,” Stone said.

After playing high school football at Bucksport, Stone played two years at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Conn., before transferring to Maine.

He has played semi-pro football with the Brewer Hurricanes, Maine Pride, and Central Maine Storm since completing his college career in 1995.

“Most of our guys are looking to play pro ball. Most would end up at arena2. This gives them a chance to get some experience,” Stone said.

Stone can be reached at 223-5834 or at maineifl2002@aol.com. The league also has a Web site at www.leaguelineup.com/mifl.

Morrison rolls a 201

Shawn Morrison has been in a bit of a rut lately. So much so that the reigning candlepin bowling individual world champion is not even ranked in the top four in the state heading into the start of the state championship this weekend.

But the 21-year-old Morrison came out of that rut in a big way last week while bowling in the Bangor-Brewer Lanes’ Thursday Night Mixed League. Morrison tossed a 201, his first 200 game. He finished with a three-string total of 462 (116-201-145).

“It was nerve-wracking. but it came at the right time with the state championships coming up. I’ve been in a slump the last couple of months and this was a real confidence booster,” Morrison said.

Morrison’s recent off form has resulted in the 2000 Maine state champ having to work his way through the ranks if the Bangor resident has any hopes of winning his second state title this year.

With the top four seeds drawing byes through the first two rounds of the competition at BangorBrewer Lanes, Morrison could find himself playing third-seeded Chip Carson of Bangor in the quarterfinals, should Morrison win his first two matches. It was Carson who Morrison defeated for the World Championship last November in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

“That would be a hard match,” Morrison said.

Morrison is also a member of the defending world team champion Maine Heat team.

The other seeds in the men’s bracket include top-seeded Al Joy of Saco, second seed Jim Singleton of Auburn, and fourth seed Scott Sirois of Skowhegan.

Kelly Ames of Gardiner is the top-seeded player in the women’s bracket. Karen Matero of Saco is second, Judy Bowdoin of Pittsfield is third, and Mona Lemar of Gardiner is fourth.

Competition begins Saturday with the semifinals taking place on April 21 and the championship round following one week later on April 28.

Don Perryman can be reached at 990-8045, 1-800-310-8600 or dperryman@bangordailynews.net