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Cork Bowl 17
Tomlinson to Miss Cork Bowl 17 Amid Controversy
September 1 - While the teams have yet to be announced, the news surrounding one player's availability is official. On the same day the league announced this year's game will be played on Saturday, November 17, the league also announced that Ryan Tomlinson will not be playing in it. "The league has learned of some very unfortunate circumstances surrounding Mr. Tomlinson, and due to his relocation, he will not be at this year's game," remarked an obviously frustrated Commissioner Patrick Cork.
While most people were celebrating Labor Day weekend, Cork Bowl executives were dealing with the latest controversy surrounding the popular Tomlinson. Tomlinson is under federal investigation for financing, gambling on and participating in ferret fighting in the Collinsville, Illinois area. "Although it's not as mainstream as dog fighting, it's a very serious crime and we are trying to gather as much information as possible, but Mr. Tomlinson is not cooperating at this time," read a statement from the FBI sent to the Cork Bowl offices. Tomlinson has reportedly fled to the Gainesville, Florida area although his exact whereabouts are unknown. "I have spoken with him in the past few weeks, but all I know is that he is living in an apartment that has a pool," added Commissioner Cork. "That really narrows it down."
While rumors have swirled in the past about Tomlinson's off-field activities, none of his former teammates expected he was involved in felony crimes. "We all knew he had his hands in something that wasn't quite up to snuff, but I don't think anyone saw this coming," stated veteran Willy Truitt. "Stealing from the blind, scamming old ladies - that sort of stuff wouldn't have surprised me, but ferret fighting? I'm shocked."
Tomlinson has been suspended indefinitely as the investigation continues. "It would be presumptuous for me to tell you how long he will be suspended," added Cork. "Until we have all the facts the only thing I can tell you is he won't be playing in Cork Bowl 17." With Tomlinson's departure, one roster spot has opened up and several reports have mentioned Josh Williamson's name as a replacement. Williamson has not played since moving to Virginia following Cork Bowl 13.
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Patrick Cork Accused of Filming Offensive Play-Calling
September 18 - One of Cork Bowl's most storied careers has drawn questions in recent weeks as Patrick Cork has been accused of filming offensive plays being called by opponents over the past few years. "The so-called evidence that has been sent to the league is shaky at best," responded Cork. "From what I have seen it's a grainy copy of a Pop Warner game with some close-ups of Cork Bowl players' faces spliced in. Somebody also forgot to take the "Tomlinson Productions" sticker off the tape too."
The accusations began when some past opponents were analyzing game films from the last three years. "You see him jumping on routes and making plays he hasn't made for years," commented Willy Truitt. "The more you watch the plays, the more you wonder how he knew what we were going to do."
The two years in question are Cork Bowls 14 and 16 in which Cork picked off a combined 3 passes on defense. Cork had intercepted only two passes over the previous six seasons. "He's obviously lost a step, yet he was able to get a perfect read on a pass and intercept it. It was a little suspicious," added Robert Trimble. The questions had more merit considering the implementation of a substitute for each team around the same time of Cork's defensive resurgence. "If you don't think they brought in Brian Garrard in Cork Bowl 14 for reasons other than his football skills, you're crazy," added Willy. "We knew something fishy was going on with that roster move."
"It's no coincidence that the only game in the past three years where he wasn't picking off passes was the year it snowed in Cork Bowl 15," added Brooks Wilson. "You have to wonder if he ran into some technical problems with the nasty weather."
"Basically I think guys are reaching for reasons why I'm still making plays despite being in the league for 16 years," added Cork. "I don't know what would motivate someone to make these allegations, but I feel bad for them. Obviously they aren't confident enough in their own abilities and have to make excuses for why they can't win. It's disappointing to say the least."
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Steroids Bust May Include Cork Bowl Players
September 29 - The recent steroids sting "Operation Raw Deal" may have included some Cork Bowl stars according to a recent report. Although none of the 124 arrests made had direct involvement with the league, several names have surfaced after an abbreviated list of shipment histories was leaked. The most intriguing name on the list was an obvious codename with possible Cork Bowl ties: "The Colonel". "Let's see here "The Colonel" was in the league for a few years, goes to China and then comes back and wins the first Cork Bowl of his career," commented an anonymous investigator. "We all know the focus of this operation was on the Chinese manufacturers and suppliers and it's not a stretch to think this individual was involved."
Other names that surfaced were those of Greg Howard, Jake Hoalt, Robert Trimble and Brian Garrard. "First we have rumors that Garrard was involved in leaking filmed play-calling signals and now people say he's involved in an illegal drug ring," smirked Commissioner Patrick Cork. "Next thing you know he is going to be blamed for the Kennedy assassination."
"Anyone that has seen the changes in physique of Hoalt and Howard over the years is not surprised," said an unnamed Cork Bowl veteran. "And then Trimble shows up last year and has put on a ton of weight and muscle and the rumors started. He has been spending a lot of time with Greg recently 'training for triathlons' - whatever that means."
"It's just another example of trying to keep me down," added Howard. "I started out in this league as a 4'8, 100 pound young kid just trying to make a name for myself. I worked my tail off to get to where I am today. Just because my head has doubled in size since my first game doesn't mean I was on HGH. I was only 14 when I started. Some people just can't come to terms with me being a dominant force in the league. It's really sad."
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Steroids Bust May Include Cork Bowl Players
October 6 - A huge shift in rosters was released on Saturday for the upcoming Cork Bowl 17. Three of Cork Bowl's finest will not be participating in this year's game. 13-year veteran Reggie Truitt and 12-year veteran Willy Truitt will miss Cork Bowl for the first time since Cork Bowl 5 in 1995 and 10-year vet Ryan Tomlinson is missing his first Cork Bowl since he made his debut in Cork Bowl 6. "It's devastating," commented Commissioner Patrick Cork. "There's no other word to describe it. It's hard enough to deal with the loss of one superstar, but to lose three in the same season is impossible to deal with. It's going to be different to say the least. We all know Cork Bowl can survive without Tomlinson - he's basically not played in the past seven years - but to lose Reggie and Willy in the same year is a nightmare I never thought I'd have to live through. I hope the fans still support us without these stars playing and I'm sure they will."
Reggie Truitt will miss this year's game after a disc injury in his back suffered earlier this summer. Willy is locked up in a frustrating housing situation that has dragged out for over a month. ""It's a sad day for me to announce I won't be back for Cork Bowl 17 because of an impeding home purchase and subsequent move," released Willy Truitt in a written statement. "This decision did not come easily and will be something that will bother me for the next 12 months." As for Tomlinson, a late summer move to Florida will not allow him to participate in this year's game.
As for this year's teams, a couple experienced players will be back on the field after some time off and the first rookie in several years will be making his debut. Tony Cork will return to the field to quarterback and Josh Williamson is set to play his first game since Cork Bowl 13. Evan Woodard continues the long line of former cameramen to end up on the field following in the footsteps of Justin Massey and Jake Hoalt.
Tony Cork will have both sons at his disposal as Chris and Patrick will lead a core of veteran pass catchers. They will be joined by Brooks Wilson, Robert Trimble and Williamson. "We have a lot of experience on our roster with almost 500 combined receptions from our five receivers," remarked Tony Cork. "The only question is when does experience turn into just being old. Our concern is how our guys will perform late in the game. If we can get a lead and hang on late we'll be OK, but we can't afford to fall behind." Steve Sanders will return to the quarterback position after returning to receiver in last year's game. A balky knee will likely keep Sanders off the field most of the game on defense meaning both teams will likely be dealing with an all-time quarterback. Sanders will have a somewhat young squad led by Jeff Henney and Greg Howard. Henney and Howard have been two of the most dominating players in the league over the past 5 years and could cause some major matchup problems. Joining them is last year's MVP Kevin Ryan, Jake Hoalt and the rookie Woodard. "I don't know how deep our receiving corps is, but you can't complain when you have Greg and Jeff to throw to," remarked Sanders. "We saw what Kevin could do last year when given the opportunity and we'll need Jake and Evan to step up and make some plays."
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Willy Truitt Not Calling it Quits
October 11 - While brother Reggie's back injury may end one of Cork Bowls most storied careers, Willy Truitt claims his absence in Cork Bowl 17 is not a sign of early retirement for him. "In no way should this be read as waning support of my
future in the Cork Bowl franchise," said Truitt. "I'll be back in some capacity, hopefully as QB in 2008."
Truitt's absence is due to a hang-up with his purchasing of a house that has been delayed. When he came to the realization that he wasn't going to make it to Cork Bowl 17, Truitt was distrought. "Every year I mark my calendar with the Cork Bowl date. It is a Truitt family tradition right along with birthday celebrations, Independence Day cookouts, and the Indy 500. A piece of me will be incomplete as I close the book on 2007 over the holidays. Over the years all of us have had to make some tough choices. I think back to my first game in Cork Bowl 2 when I had the chance to play because Chad Veenstra
chose Kelly Kapowski over Cork Bowl. So, maybe my absence in '07 will pave the way for another player who will lead Cork Bowl into the next generation."
Truitt is the all-time leader in all passing categories including 368 completions and 135 touchdowns. He was coming off the best game of his career in Cork Bowl 16 when he was 60-for-86 with a career-high 17 touchdowns. "We'll be without the greatest quarterback this game has ever seen," said Commissioner Patrick Cork. "Obviously he is still at the peak of his career after last year's performance. He's one of the only irreplaceable players this game has. However, all indications are this is a one-year hiatus and he'll be back. I hope so, because we need Willy Truitt."
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Evan Woodard Ready for Debut
October 21 - After three years behind the camera, Evan Woodard is continuing the tradition of former cameramen moving onto the field. Justin Massey and Jake Hoalt led the way, and now Woodard is preparing to write a new chapter to the story. "I've heard about Massey's performance and I've seen what Jake has done to establish himself," said Woodard. "I'm hoping I can land somewhere in between. I've seen how the game is played from a bird's eye view the past three years and that will definitely help me as I prepare for game day."
Woodard will be joining a veteran-laden team of Steve Sanders, Greg Howard, Jeff Henney, Kevin Ryan and Jake Hoalt. "It's really going to help having those guys around me," added Woodard. "When you get your shot, you always want to be surrounded by experienced players that will help you along the way. Although I've already been told that I'll probably be matched up against Chris Cork, so I really don't need any help there. I've seen Chris decline drastically over the past three years, and he really wasn't that good to begin with."
"I think Evan is going to have his eyes opened to what this game is really about," replied Chris Cork. "It's easy to watch from the booth and think you can do better, but once you strap on the cleats and step onto the field it's a whole different ballgame. I think he's in for a rude awakening."
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Steve Sanders Looks to Erase Painful Quarterback Memories
October 26 - 41-for-74 with 14 touchdowns looks like a good performance, but the one glaring stat missing from those numbers is 6 interceptions. The last time Steve Sanders played quarterback, he was haunted by turnovers. This time he hopes things are different. "That was a long time ago," said Sanders speaking of his Cork Bowl 11 performance. "And the game has completely changed since then. Plus the two people most responsible for those interceptions are on my team (Jeff Henney and Greg Howard)."
Indeed the game has changed since Cork Bowl 11. At that time, teams were utilizing multiple blitz packages, and with the field a muddy mess that year, Sanders was a sitting duck. Now, there is no pass rush to worry about. "They were rushing two guys almost every play so there was no time to make the throws I needed to," added Sanders. "I couldn't scramble because the field was too muddy so I either had to force quick throws or put my head down and run." Sanders was bruised and battered that day by constant blitzing - mostly from Greg Howard and Jeff Henney. Henney was the beneficiary of the pressure finishing the game with 3 interceptions - returning all three for touchdowns. Now, Henney and Howard will be Sanders' top targets. "If you look at the tape of the game it was one of the most amazing individual performances this game has ever seen," responded Henney. "The fact that he kept their team in the game with the pressure he was under was remarkable. He made some phenomenal throws under pressure and actually had more touchdown passes than our quarterback that year. With no rush to deal with, there's a chance we could see some history made this year thanks to his right arm."
The health of Sanders is in question as he suffered a hyperextended knee late in the summer. "It's tender and I can't put a lot of pressure on it, but I'll be fine," added Sanders. "I don't have to worry about moving out of the pocket or playing defense so all I have to do is focus on making good throws." Former teammate Patrick Cork expects a great performance from Sanders. "I know what he's capable of and he has a cannon for an arm," remarked Cork. "We are going to have score on offense because with him under center they will definitely put points on the board. I don't expect us to pick off 6 passes this year, however it has been six years since he's thrown a pass at Corklestick so there could be some jitters. Just like a star pitcher in baseball, we may need to get to him early because once he settles in we could have our hands full."
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Fights Continue at Quokkas Practices
November 2 - Fights and heated arguments during football practices are nothing new, but the cause of recent skirmishes in Quokkas camp have left some insiders concerned. "It's the same thing every day I've been there," shared an unnamed scout. "They get into fights over who gets to sit out the next play, the next series...you name it, if there is something in practice that requires someone to sit out, you can bet there will be a fight over who it will be."
Quokka players have downplayed the incidents. "Look, we're all veterans here," added Chris Cork. "We've all had long careers and proven ourselves and we would each like to get a little extra rest. I don't see the big deal." Some within the organization are concerned that the fighting and arguing could carry over into the quickly approaching game. "What happens if we are faced with a big 3rd and 10 situation and three guys all walk toward the sideline?" questioned the only physically fit player on the team Robert Trimble. "Are we going to have guys fighting over who gets to sit out that play while Coach is busy trying to call a play in the huddle? Obviously I'm a little concerned, but these guys have played a lot more games than I have so you have to believe they know what they're doing."
Quarterback Tony Cork has also shown some frustration. "It's basically the same thing every day," added the old QB. "Chris, Patrick, Wilson and Williamson are faking injuries, saying they need a water break - anything they can do get out of running another series. It's pathetic really." The two biggest concerns have been Chris Cork and Williamson. "Those two are amazing," added another media representative. "They actually used more energy in practice last week fighting over who should sit out than they would have used had they just run another play. I don't see how this doesn't carry over into the game." Patrick Cork echoed Chris's thoughts that the fighting should not be a concern. "We all need to be fresh on November 17, so we all want as much rest as possible over this final month. We'll all be ready to go when the game starts. Not all of us have time to exercise like Trimble. If we started conditioning now we'd be too sore to play so the only other option is extra rest."
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Wilson's Effectiveness Questioned
November 5 - The resurgence of Brooks Wilson since his return in Cork Bowl 13 has exceeded most expectations, but how effective will he be this year? Wilson has long been known for his over-competitive nature and alleged cheapshotting, and those characteristics may be missing this year. For the first time in his career, Wilson will be teammates with both Chris and Patrick Cork - his long-time arch-rivals. Wilson has been on Chris's team just once (last year in Cork Bowl 16) and has never been teammates with Patrick. "He has prided himself on ticking off the Cork brothers," observed former Cork Bowl great Brian Garrard. "With those two on his team, I don't see how he'll be effective."
Wilson's antagonistic antics have led to many scuffles over the years, most of which have started with a word or a hit on Chris or Patrick. The Corks, however, feel teaming with Wilson will be a match made in heaven. "Let's face it," said Patrick. "He's cheap-shotted me and Chris hundreds of times over the years. Just because we are on his team doesn't mean he's going to stop. He'll find someone on the other side to frustrate. You can count on that. Who that will be is yet to be determined."
The most likely candidates appear to be Greg Howard and Jeff Henney - who both will be heavily involved in the offensive scheme for the Flemish Giants. But Wilson isn't tipping his hand. "Why would I share that information?" questioned Wilson. "I'll have to see how the game plays out and use my skills however they are needed. I'm an equal opportunity player - nobody is safe." Wilson is hoping that teaming up with the Corks will change his luck. He is just 1-3 since his return despite averaging over 17 receptions per year. "He's been one of the top receivers in the game since his return, but he hasn't had that edge to get wins," added Chris Cork. "That edge is likely having the 3 Corks on his side. I just hope he doesn't forget we're on the same team and come after one of us during the game."
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Eric Dean Excited to be Back in the Booth
November 8 - In a year that will be remembered for a number of Cork Bowl players that were absent, one of the all-time greats of the game is returning. Eric Dean, the first announcer in Cork Bowl history, will be back for his 4th game in the booth. "Obviously whenever you get an opportunity to call a game of this magnitude, it's special," commented Dean. "It's been a few years, and from what I understand there have some major changes, but the spirit of this game hasn't changed one bit."
Dean was an integral part of bringing Cork Bowl into the mainstream. Dean made his debut at Cork Bowl 5 in the first complete broadcast of a game. He also helped host the first ever pregame show that year. "It was just a game until 1995," added Commissioner Patrick Cork. "The broadcast, the pregame show - it turned into what it is today and Deano was a huge part of that. Without his contributions, there's no doubt we would be where we are today."
Dean braved sub-freezing temperatures and several inches of snow that year in a blowout win for the Wombats. He returned for Cork Bowl 12 (another blowout) and his last appearance was Cork Bowl 13. "I've only been a part of one close game and that was Cork Bowl 13," added Dean. "But it looks like this year's contest could be a great one. I'm really looking forward to getting back behind the mic."
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Craig Beals to Join Dean in Booth
November 16th - Just one day before Cork Bowl 17, the league has signed Craig Beals to a one-year contract to join Eric Dean in the booth. "He's never been to a game, he's never seen highlights of a game and frankly, he's probably never read anything about it," commented Commissioner Patrick Cork. "But the league is still excited to have him on board."
Beals, who teaches and coaches volleyball with color commentator Eric Dean, is looking forward to experiencing Cork Bowl for the first time. "Eric and I have a good working relationship being fellow teachers and coaching together," beemed Beals. "I'm just going to follow his lead and do whatever I can to help him do his job. Obviously this is one of the biggest football games of the year and I can't wait to get my feet wet." Details of the contract were not released.
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