DAYTON SHARKS
What: Indoor arena football.
Home field: Hara Arena.
Afilliation: Continental Indoor Football Association.
Remaining games:
Sat., vs. Detroit Thunder, 7:30 p.m.
Sun., Feb. 23: at Marion (Pa.) Blue Racers, 4 p.m.
Sun., March 9: Kentucky Xtreme, 4 p.m.
Sat., March 15: at NKY (Ky.) River Monsters, 7:30 p.m.
Sun., March 23: at Chicago Blitz, 3 p.m.
Sat., April 5: vs. Marion (Pa.) Blue Racers, 7:30 p.m.
Sat., April 19: vs. Bluegrass (Ky.) Warhorses, 7:30 p.m.
Sun., April 27: at Kentucky Xtreme, 4 p.m.
Sat., May 3: vs. NKY (Ky.) River Monsters, 7:30 p.m.
Playing arena football with the Dayton Sharks is a convenient way for guys to hang on to their sport of choice. But for some, taking their game to the next level is the ultimate goal.
“It’s a professional platform,” explained Sharks head coach Lavar Glover this week. “They get the hype, they get the crowd and guys love that. What I want to do is provide a realistic experience for them. If there is a possibility, with the connections that I’ve made, to be able to showcase that, they’re going to get their platform.”
Dayton will play the Detroit Thunder in its home opener at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Hara Arena. The Sharks (1-0) opened the season last weekend by beating the Bluegrass (Ky.) Warhorses 43-29 at Lexington.
The Sharks are members of the two-division, 10-team Continental Indoor Football League.
Glover, 35, will serve as the head coach and defensive coordinator. Derrick Shepard is the assistant head coach and will handle the offensive and defensive lines. Corwyn Thomas is the Sharks CEO.
Two key offensive players from last season’s debut Sharks team return: quarterback and Eaton High School graduate Tommy Jones and electrifying receiver Robert Redd (Wayne).
Like many CIFL players, Glover, a Jefferson grad, has played at various levels of pro and semipro football. Following a stellar career at the University of Cincinnati, he was drafted by the Steelers, played for the Bengals’ secondary and Broncos.
He had his greatest success with the Canadian Football League for six seasons, then played in the Arena Football League, the highest level of the indoor version of the sport.
Helping the Shark players stand out and move on to a higher level of football is Glover’s game now.
“If we’re making enough noise and scoring enough points, somebody is going to recognize you,” said Glover, also an assistant coach at Fairmont High School. “It helps when you’ve got a coach and GM who played with guys who are now coaches and in positions to make decisions.”
- Ten percent of ticket sales from Saturday's game and the players' game checks will be donated to the Mobley Family Fund. Four members of the family perished in a fire this winter at their Kettering residence.
A check will be presented to Shaun Mobley following the game.
- Tickets are $15. Anyone who shows a Walmart, Kroger, McDonald's or Dave & Busters receipt will be admitted for $10. The first 100 children younger than 12 will be admitted free.
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