North Jefferson News, Gardendale, AL

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July 1, 2009

Alabama Warriors beat Gulf Coast 24-6, but coach isn't happy

By Robert Carter
The North Jefferson News

For someone whose team just scored a decisive 24-6 victory over the Gulf Coast Pirates Saturday night, Alabama Warriors Coach Lee Ellison is not a happy camper.

“We just aren’t putting any effort into it,” Ellison said. “The defense played great and the offense played well enough, but we made an awful lot of turnovers and made a lot of mistakes. If we had been playing [Premier Football League champion] Panhandle again, we’d have our tails handed to us.”

Ellison’s issues with his team extend off the field, and reflect the problems that a minor-league football owner/coach must face, in an organization where players get no pay — just a chance to play the game they love, maybe with an opportunity to get into some level of professional football.

“We’ve got some primadonnas that just show up on Saturday night, and don’t want to practice,” Ellison said. “I only had 13 players show up for practice Monday night, and only five others called to say they wouldn’t make it.”

So Ellison is laying down the law. He called a mandatory practice for Thursday night, and posted the notice on the team’s Web site for all to see. Those who don’t show up, and haven’t called Ellison with a reason why, will be cut the next day.

“Anyone can put a mediocre 40-man roster on the field,” Ellison said. “If I have to go with a 20-man roster to get people that are dedicated to a championship team, I’ll do it.”

Despite the personnel problems, the Warriors easily handled the Biloxi, Mississippi-based Pirates to push their record to 2-1.

Darnell Blankenship opened the scoring for Alabama in the second quarter when he scampered for a 23-yard touchdown run.

D.J. Burroughs dashed for 47 yards and a Warrior score early in the second half.

Terrence Bruce gave the home team its most spectacular play when he intercepted a pass from the Pirates’ Marcello Woods, and ran it back 79 yards for a touchdown.

Justin Madison hit a 38-yard field goal and also made all three extra-point conversions.

Woods’ 2-yard touchdown run just before the game’s end was the only Pirate score.

The Warriors have a bye week on Saturday. They play the South Alabama Seminoles on July 11 Montgomery. Alabama thrashed the ‘Noles 49-0 two weeks ago.

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