LIFE IN THE MINOR LEAGUES

LIFE IN THE MINOR LEAGUES

San Bernardino,California-The California Raiders of the United Football Alliance League is one of the top teams in minor league/semi pro football. The Raiders lost their first game in three years last week when they were defeated by the Inglewood Blackhawks of the La Belle League, with a two year undefeated record in the National Football Events "National Championships" in Inglewood, California.

The Raiders Head Coach/Team Owner is Dwaine Radden, who runs a first class organization on and off the field. He makes his players work and play hard knowing they all have full time occupations and family commitments, and nobody complains because they know it pays off. Here's some information on a few of his players who have a dream of moving on to a higher level of football:

QB Robert Fuller was a outstanding high school quarterback in San Bernardino, California. He had one game in his career where he threw for 604 yards and 8 touchdowns. He signed to play for Utah State after graduation with a lot of expectations. However, the coaching staff that recruited him was all fired before he took the practice field, and the new staff decided to move him to linebacker, where he played behind Bobby Wagner, who now is a starter with the Seattle Seahawks. Robert decided to go back home and played for San Bernardino Junior College where he was moved to wide receiver. Several Division II schools recruted him as a quarterback, but his college dreams ended when he became a father of a little boy. He is now the quarterback for the California Raiders.

Wide Receiver Dwayne Cross played receiver for the Ontario(Calif) Warriors indoor pro team, which went 7-0 and out scored its opponents 502-154 before its domination led to the season being ended prematurely. A graduate of Lane College in Jackson,Ten., he's in his third season with the Raiders and is hoping to use them as a springboard.

Maurice Ross,30, a Cajon High School(San Diego) graduate,is a receiver for the Raiders. He had a tryout with the Miami Dolphins and knows he's now at  the end of his playing career. He's also the Raiders' receivers coach, eying that profession in his immediate future.

These stories are played out all over the United States by minor league/semi pro players with a dream. A dream very few ever accomplish. The love of the game is what realy keeps them playing.