DC Conspiracy Football

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Conspiracy return home this Sunday to face the 2-1 Baltimore Breakers following an 0-2 road trip that left the team with a 1-2 record and mixed emotions.  On the road against Cincinnati and Tampa Bay, D.C. proved that they have what it takes to hang with some of the best in the league.  However, being unable to pull out wins in either of those games left a bitter taste in their mouths, and the game this Sunday takes an unexpected level of importance.

"Those were a couple tough games," RB/LB Alex Anderson, Jr. said referencing the last two weeks. "I've had fans say how we shoulda won at least one of those games and I agree.  They're great teams but I still think we missed out on a good chance to get some tough wins under our belt.  But we're all busting our [expletive] in practice, and we want to put on a good show for our fans this week."

During a press conference Lenny Antietam, D.C.'s Head Coach, echoed the sentiment.  "We have some guys who need to step up, but as a team I continue to see improvement which is a good sign.  This Sunday is a statement game in our minds, 2-2 is a much better spot to be in than 1-3.  I'm sure come Sunday our fans will be ready and I promise we will be as well."

This game will be taking place Sunday at the Verizon Center in the Nation's Capitol.  Tickets are still on sale but running short so be sure to purchase your tickets fast.  If you can't make it to the game you can listen to the game over the radio on SportsTalk 890 AM, or by ordering the game on Comcast OnDemand.  You can purchase tickets on the Verizon Center and Conspiracy websites, via your local Ticketstar location, at the Verizon Center Ticket Office, or by calling 1-888-CNSPIRE.

CINCINNATI, OH - The Conspiracy went into their first game on the road against the Cincinnati Swarm with a new found confidence, and a desire to prove their legitimacy as a team not to be looked past.  For the first three quarters the game was looking much like their Week 1 victory; D.C. had managed to slow down the opposing offense and kept the game at their pace with a slow-but-steady ball control offense. 

Sadly for Conspiracy Theorists everywhere, as D.C. fans tend to call themselves, in the 4th Quarter the Swarm showed why they have one of the more feared offenses in the OIFL as their passing game caught fire and they scored two points more in that quarter than in the whole rest of the game. When asked after the game about the lapse in defense, Head Coach Lenny Antietam was not pleased, however he also managed to keep the bigger picture in mind.

"Well you can imagine I hated to see our defense falter so strongly after putting in such a great effort for most of the game.  But the Swarm have a very strong passing offense so if you give them a chance they're gonna burn you, and we're still a new team getting used to each other and mistakes sadly are going to happen.  We just have to learn from them and continue to improve.  Obviously we did quite a bit of things wrong, however we also did many things right and I think we showed that we aren't a team to be overlooked."

During a post-game interview QB Jesse Glass, who had his best game of the early season completing 16 of 28 passes for 159 yards and 4 TD's, basically echoed the positive outlook about the team's progress. "Tonight's loss is a heart-breaker, no doubt, but overall we played a decent game that coulda been great if not for some mistakes towards the end.  But we have another road trip ahead to Tampa next week so we just gotta to learn from our mistakes and continue to gel as a team...and do better against them."

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Conspiracy fans packed the Verizon Center last Sunday for their first ever game in the OIFL.  Despite being heavy underdogs the game was widely anticipated throughout the Nation's Capitol, and the Conspiracy rose to the occasion and gave an exciting performance that few expected by defeating the New Orleans Storm 35-32 in double overtime in front of a sold-out crowd of 18,000.

Hoping to slow down New Orleans' strong passing game the Conspiracy relied heavily on a ball-control game plan, which helped to eat up the clock and slowly move down the field.  D.C. ran the ball a total of 37 times, most of that handled by RB/LB Alex Anderson, Jr. who gained 129 yards and 3 touchdowns on 25 carries.  QB Jesse Glass put in a decent effort supporting him with 97 yards and 1 TD completing 10/18 passes with no turnovers.  The defense also did a good job against the New Orleans offense, holding them to 1 passing touchdown and a completion percentage below 50%.

"We played a great game out here today!" yelled Head Coach Lenny Antietam at the start of a post-game interview. "It wasn't a perfect game and we still have plenty to work on, but those guys played their hearts out tonight and I don't want to take anything away from them.  This crowd was absolutely incredible and Alex really set the example for them tonight.  New Orleans is an excellent team and I'm definately proud of my guys for pulling out a very hard-fought win today."

D.C. fans are hoping for similar results when the Conspiracy hit the road this week to face the Cincinatti Swarm, another team known for their strong offense. Following that game they play again on the road before returning to "The Bunker" in Week 4.  Tickets for that game are still available and can be purchased online at the Verizon Center or Conspiracy websites, stopping by the Verizon Center ticket office, or by calling 1-888-CNSPIRE.  Until then you can keep up with the Conspiracy along with all the other Conspiracy Theorists out there by tuning into SportsTalk 980 AM, or by ordering the games on Comcast OnDemand.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Last year the D.C. Conspiracy hosted it's first ever Roswell Rescue Treasure Hunt event, which saw fans of the Conspiracy scouring the city looking for clues to the location of their mascot Roswell, with prizes going to the fastest hunters and events organized for everyone involved and even fans not in the event.  The Hunt was a resounding success with hundreds of people turning out to search for Roswell and support their new team.  Come August 23rd, the Hunt is back on.

Like last April, the Treasure Hunt itself will be exclusive to 2009 Season Ticket holders as a bonus for their continued Support of the Conspiracy.  As a thank you to last season's Season Ticket holders, they will be allowed to compete as well even if they have not renewed their tickets for this next season.  Fans will have up until the morning of the Hunt to register, and starting today any fans who purchase season tickets will be able to be immediately entered into the Hunt if they so choose.  Registration forms have been sent in the mail today to all currently eligible participants and either be returned in the mail in the pre-paid envelope or dropped in person at the Verizon Center ticket office.

All participants will be given a Conspiracy T-Shirt courtesy of clothing provider AB Novelties, who will be returning as a sponsor of the event, and a $10 gift card to Dominos Pizza who is also co-sponsoring the event this year along with the Verizon Center. Before and After the event prizes will be given away, and also Conspiracy Players and the Conspirettes Dance Team will there to meet and sign autographs for the fans.  The first fan to find Roswell will be given a voucher that can be used for either free playoff game tickets, or will be good for half off the price of season tickets for the 2010 Season.  Everyone who finds Roswell in the alloted time will also get passes for free parking at the Verizon Center for all Verizon Center events over the next 12 months.

The 2nd Annual Roswell Rescue Treasure Hunt will start at 10 AM on August 23rd at the Verizon Center parking lot.  The parking lot will be open at 9 AM, and on-site registration will be available until 9:45.  Participants will have until 5 PM to locate Roswell somewhere in the D.C. Area.  Also like last year, the Conspiracy will also permit tailgating in the parking lot for those waiting for people to return from the Hunt or who just want to enjoy the days activities.  Following the Hunt, at 6 PM the Verizon Center will host the Blue-Green Game, an intrasquad scrimmage with the team being divided into two rosters.  Then at 8, they will have a projection screen set up in the parking lot to play host to the Conspiracy Double Feature.  The first movie to be played will be V For Vendetta, and it will be followed by a special showing of Angels & Demons.  The drive-in style double feature will be free to the participants of the Treasure Hunt, and $10 per car for the general public.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - As the Conspiracy get ready to make their OIFL debut, they are dealing with a situation common to expansion teams in nearly all major sports leagues; players who had supporting roles on their previous teams are now getting the chance to show what they can do as a top player on the team.  Luckily for the Conspiracy, some of these players are making an excellent transition to their new roles.

So far over camp, several players have made excellent strides towards improving their game. One major player who's improved has been starting QB Jesse Glass, who performed well in the system at Omaha which relied heavily on the running game.  He is expected to throw the ball more for the Conspiracy and he has responded well, with a noted improvement in his already strong passing arm to help compliment his throwing accuracy. 

Two of the biggest improvements have been seen in WR/DB Herb Jackson and DS Eric Spadafore, who both are expected to fill starting roles for the Conspiracy and be much larger factors in the game than in the past.  "When we signed Jackson we knew that he was a young, hungry man with all the potential to be a star for this team," boasted Head Coach Lenny Antietam, "I am glad to see that he is tapping into that potential more and more, especially on the defensive side of the ball.  Eric [Spadafore] is another guy who has had tons of talent, but when he was playing both ways he just couldn't devote the time needed in any one area to gain a noticable improvement.  Now that he can focus solely on his defensive game, we are seeing that he is a very capable player in that spot and will be a major asset for us."

The coaches are also pleased with the development of rookie OL/DL Tremaine Mack, who has been working alot with fellow linemen Rolando Cabreda and Daniel Beard and has shown a strong improvement on both sides of the ball, and really improved on his pass rushing and should be ready to make a solid contribution for a deep Conspiracy line.

Mack, Spadafore, Jackson, Glass, and the other members of the Conspiracy will put on their first public display on August 23rd during the Blue-Green Game, then have a week before their first test against the Eugene Knights in the Conspiracy's own Manifest Destiny Classic.  Tickets for the scrimmage and tournament are available by calling 1-888-CNSPIRE, or stopping at either the Verizon Center Ticket Office, or the Conspiracy website.  You can also get tickets by contacting your local TicketMaster location.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Last Sunday, the D.C. Conspiracy began the process of preparing for their debut season in the OIFL when the roster officially reported for and began training camp.  That season will officially begin for the Conspiracy on August 23rd, when they will host the first Blue-Green Game intrasquad scrimmage.  The game will be held in the Verizon Center and be open for fan attendance as the culmination for the upcoming annual Conspiracy Treasure Hunt.  Following the game there will be an on-field postgame tailgate party with players who will be available to interact with and sign autographs for Conspiracy fans.  Preparing to start a season in a new league is nothing new to the Conspiracy, though all signs point to that being an ending trip; this will be the Conspiracy's third straight year debuting in a new league following one season in the IIFL and OIF2 each respectively.

"It blows my mind to think about how much this team has grown over the past couple years," commented Owner Adam Beyer on the switching of leagues the team has gone through.  "Just a couple seasons ago, we were a brand new team preparing to start in a new, fairly small minor indoor league, and now here we are preparing to take to the field in one of the strongest, top leagues in our sport.  We've learned alot the past couple years, and hope we'll be able to apply it successfully here in the OIFL.  We have a lot of great talent taking the field for us this season, and it's been amazing to watch this team evolve and come together from day to day."

Following the Blue-Green Game, the Conspiracy will have one week to prepare for the 2009 Manifest Destiny Classic, which they are hosting in the Verizon Center and will include the Conspiracy's first round opponent Eugene Knights along with the Cedar Valley Phantoms and the San Diego Sailors.  All of the teams are call-ups from the OIF2, in accordance with the Classic's eligibility rules that a team cannot have played more than one season in the OIFL at it's current location.  Tickets are available for the Blue-Green Game and the MDC at your local Ticketmaster location, the Verizon Center Ticket Office, the D.C. Conspiracy website, or by calling 1-888-CNSPIRE.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Following the departure of the Lincoln Lightning from the OIFL, the league elected to hold a dispersal draft to give the rest of the league a chance to add the Lightning's former talents to their organizations.  The league office gave the earliest picks to the expansion teams for 2009, one of which being the Conspiracy, who got the 4th overall pick in the draft. 

With a board still mostly wide open, the Conspiracy selected OL/DL Daniel Beard, a player entering his 2nd year in the league who had 8 sacks for the Lightning last season.  Beard comes to the Conspiracy with two years remaining of a three year contract, and at $90,000 plus incentives could be considered a great value compared to the salaries that players received during the last FAFFA Season.

"While it is a shame to see the league lose a team, especially a team as successful in the past as the Lightning, we couldn't be happier about getting a great talent such as Daniel [Beard]."  Owner Adam Beyer said in an interview following the draft choice, "His addition gives us a starting line that I feel can hold their own with nearly anybody, and can provide the protection Jesse [Glass] and Alex [Anderson, Jr.] will need to make plays for us.  When you also throw in his young age, with just one year in the league, and his high work ethic and natural leadership skills, you can conclude that Danny will be a guy that will only continue to improve and anchor our line for years to come."

Joining the league in lieu of Lincoln's departure will be the Philidelphia Colonials, who in addition to the the dispersal draft are also undergoing an expansion draft.  As per league rules the D.C. Conspiracy have designated several players as Unprotected, but as of yet none of them have been picked by Philadelphia.  When asked about the prospects of their former OIF2 East Division opponent joining the league and possibly taking D.C. players in the Expansion Draft, Beyer has this to say; "while as I stated before, it's always sad to see a team leave, the OIFL is gaining a good organization in our old OIF2 foe Philadelphia.  Should they decide to pick any of our players in the expansion draft we wish them the best of luck there."

OTHER NEWS

The Conspiracy are close to finishing up their Pacific Conspiracy Tour which launched earlier this summer to spread the OIFL game to a worldwide audience.  The tour consisted of stops in Hawaii and Guam and is in the middle of a several weeks long tour of Japan.  So far the tour has been considered a major success.  The lowest turn out for players participating in the camp was 58 in the stop at the University of Guam in Magilao, and the stop in Tokyo saw the highest number of players with 247.  The total as of this weekend is 768 players over 5 stops, with one remaining in Osaka.

It can also be confirmed that an all-star team will be put together with the help of the JAFA to play against the GMU Patriots, the winners of the first Collegiate OIFL-Rules game hosted by the Conspiracy last Fall.  The game will be billed as the first World Amateur Indoor Football Championship game, although an official name for the contest is still being debated.  It is set to take place August 29th, at the Verizon Center.

More confirmed details are soon to be announced but it is expected that the 2nd Annual Conspiracy Treasure Hunt will also be occuring around the time of the game, possibly on that same August 29th date.  The event was considered a major success last year and will for sure be returning.  This year's Treasure Hunt can be expected to be just as large of an event as last year's, which saw Conspiracy fans searching for clues all over the Nation's Capitol.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Over the past week it has been announced that a couple OIFL teams will be holding tours overseas to expand international interest in the OIFL and American Football as a whole, and the D.C. Conspiracy are pleased to announce that they also will be undertaking such an endeavour.  Over the past weeks the Conspiracy have been negotiating with the Japan American Football Association about a joint venture, and today an agreement has been finalized. 

Members of the Conspiracy will be heading to Japan in June and tour the country and hold camps in conjunction with the coaching staffs of various collegiate American Football teams at those teams' practice facilities.  Each stop on the tour will consist of a two-day camp on Friday and Saturday, followed by a Sunday Scrimmage and a meet-and-greet with the public. In addition to the stops at Japanese cities, they have also arranged tour stops in Hawaii and Guam.  Any prices to participate will be determined locally by the tour host, although the Conspiracy intend to keep any costs to a minimum to allow as many people to join in as possible.

This is the full list of stops on the Pacific Conspiracy Tour;

June 12-14 - University of Hawaii - Honolulu, Hawaii, United States

June 19-21 - University of Guam - Mangilao, Guam, United States

June 26-28 - Hosei University - Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan

July 3-5 - Ritsumeikan University - Kyoto, Kyoto, Japan

July 10-12 - Kwansei Gakuin University - Nishinomiya, Hyôgo, Japan

July 17-19 - Kansai University - Suita, Osaka, Japan

Although negotiations are still on-going, the Conspiracy are hoping to arrange for an All-Japan team to be formed out of the best players of the Japanese camps, who would be able to continue training to compete August 28th against the club football team from George Mason University, who won the first college-level OIFL Rules football game ever held last Fall, in a World Amateur Championship game.  The key to this game taking place hinges on the prospects for sponsors to help cover the costs involved, and to what extent the JAFA would help in the cost of such a plan.  The GMU Patriots have agreed in principal to the game and are reserving the date on their schedule open.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Last Sunday concluded the D.C. Conspiracy's first foray into the exciting process known as the OIFL's Free Agency Free-For-All, and they concluded the final round of the FAFFA on a solid note.  The Conspiracy brought in several new talents, and a face very familiar to fans of the Conspiracy last year during their OIF2 run.

D.C. further solidified their depth at the Quarterback position with the signing of veteran Quarterback Brendan Pendergrass.  The signing of Pendergrass, a seven year veteran, raises questions about where Jacob Strong, a holdover from last year's squad where he was the starting QB, will fit into the picture.  QB Vince White is near guarenteed a roster spot since he will be serving a dual role as backup QB and Quarterback Coach.

The Conspiracy also added depth to their line with the additions of James Benton and Sherman Driggers.  Benton, also a 7-year pro, and Driggers, a 2-year pro, will help further solidify a unit that recently was bolstered by draft pick Tremaine Mack.  Training Camp is likely to be very important for the Conspiracy line, as all the players appear to have similar skill levels and will get a chance to earn significant playing time.

Fans of last year's squad will certainly remember D.C. first signing of the round at WR/DB; Anthony Satterfield.  Satterfield, a fan favorite who last year played for D.C. in OIF2 on a loan from the San Francisco Thundersharks, returns full-time to the team where last year he became an OIF2 All-Star, and was the team's Ironman of the Year and player of the year as voted by the Conspiracy fanbase.

Also signed to the team is Eric Spadafore, another former Thundershark who has two years of experience.  Sources in the team indicate that given the depth of the roster at the Wide Receiver/Defensive Back position, and Spadafore's preference for, and better past performances at playing defense, that he will likely figure more into the picture at Defensive Specialist and that depending on how the draft goes a position change may be possible. Defensive Specialist is also a crowded field, however people in the team rate him as being more likely to heavily contribute there than at WR/DB where his counterparts have shown greater skill.  This is especially true on the offensive side of the ball.

Now that FAFFA has come and gone, D.C. will turn it's attention fully to the OIFL Draft, where they currently are waiting until their 4th round pick.  The team will also be able to sign players off waivers, but our sources in the front office are saying that unless someone exceptional pops up on the waiver wire D.C. will wait until following the draft to begin examining the remaining free agent pool for talent.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Things were starting to get boring in the D.C. War Room, as the Conspiracy had to wait until the second round to make their first ever draft pick in the OIFL, but on Saturday things picked up as their pick came up that evening.  D.C. had plenty of time to watch the other teams' picks and study the trends of the draft, and when the time came D.C. knew just who they wanted to get with the pick and were able to get him.  So when the Conspiracy went up to the podium they happily announced the drafting of OL/DL Tremaine Mack from Virginia Tech University.

Mack, a stand out player who played primarily on the Offensive Line but also saw playing time on the defensive side of the ball, will help solidify the Conspiracy line.  Along with a good balanced game that will allow him to compete on both sides of the ball he brings some needed athleticism and speed to the line.  He also has the intangibles; he was one of the Hokies' team captains during his Junior and Senior seasons and was well regarded for the leadership he showed late in the season and in the bowl game.

OTHER NEWS

The Conspiracy recently aquired QB Vince White from the Miami Maulers in exchange for OL/DL Cleveland Dickens.  White, an 8th year player from the University of Miami, brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the Conspiracy.  He was a member of the original Maulers that won the 2002 OIFLCup.  That will come to good use as he will not only backup QB Jesse Glass, but will also serve as the team's QB Coach.  Dickens was a holdover from the Conspiracy's 2008 OIF2 roster.  His numbers last season were not that impressive, but he is regarded as having pretty good potential, and D.C. wishes him the best of luck with division rival Miami.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The D.C. Conspiracy have reached an agreement with the Miami Maulers to make their Week 5 game in Miami a 2002 Throwback game.  The Miami Maulers will be wearing uniforms that were worn by the 2002 Maulers team, and the Conspiracy will for one game be playing in the uniforms of the Washington Attack.  The Attack played in Washington, D.C. from 2002-2005

Both teams have agreed to auction off the game jerseys and donate the money to a charity of their choice.  The Conspiracy intend to use the money raised to start the Conspiracy Education Scholarship Fund, which will be a post-secondary scholarship for college students.  Requirements will be a GPA over 2.7, and proof of attendance of a D.C. Conspiracy home game.  This can be done by including the ticket stub or receipt from a ticket purchase in the application.

Owner Adam Beyer seemed pleased with this developement; "When Burmy (Maulers Owner) approached me regarding the idea of a throwback game, and the idea of auctioning off the jerseys for charity came about I was very excited.  It's a great way to not only educate our fans of the history of OIFL football in out community, but it will also provide us a way to give back and help our fans get a chance to contribute to making a better future for us all.  Especially in these tougher economic times, these scholarships could make the difference between a kid staying in school or dropping out."

The Maulers intend to auction their jerseys off following the game, while D.C. plans to return to D.C. and auction off their jerseys following the Week 7 game against the Buffalo Wings in the Verizon Center.  The Conspiracy has also said Attack throwback replica jerseys will be sold along with the regular Conspiracy jerseys in concession stands for the rest of the season following the game at Miami.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Valentine's Day is fast approaching, and the D.C. Conspiracy have decided to provide a place for couples and singles alike to go and enjoy the company of both each other and all their fellow Conspiracy fans.  The Conspiracy will be hosting the D.C. Conspiracy Valentine's Dance on the evening of Valentine's Day on Saturday, February 14th.  The party will start at 8 PM and is guaranteed to be the biggest party in town, as it is being held inside the Conspiracy's home; The Verizon Center.

Replacing the turf familiar to fan's of the Conspiracy will be a wooden dance floor.  Tables and seats will be lined along the walls, and giant screens will be placed in both endzones to add to the atmosphere to be provided by the arena's lighting and sound systems which will be wired into a large DJ booth that will be located on the floor's center directly below the scoreboard.  The music selection has said to be a collection of both romantic slow-dance songs to fit the evening, along with popular club music to keep the energy up.

The Concession stands will be opened to provide snacks and drinks, and the largest couple meeting rooms in the arena will be used as a seperate dance area for people who wish to stick with more traditional Valentine's music.  Some of the club seat areas will also be provided to use for people to sit down to a full service meal, with food that will be catered to the arena thanks to some of the Conspiracy's various sponsors.

Not only will the Conspiracy be providing a place to take your date on the year's most romantic holiday, they will be providing dates as well.  A silent phone-in auction will start tomorrow where people can place bids on all members of the Conspiracy roster, and the Conspirettes Dance Team.  Everyone on the roster who is not in a committed relationship has agreed to participate.  The winning bidders will meet their date at the arena, and enjoy a meal in the club seating area and spend the evening at the party with the person they bid on.  To place a bid, starting tomorrow you can call 1-888-CNSPIRE, extension 214.  There will be a $5 parking charge and $15 cover to enter the arena, and the party will last until Midnight.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - When Owner/GM Adam Beyer sat down with his coaching staff following the official announcement of their promotion to the OIFL and asked them what they thought would help them be able to transition the team to the OIFL level, they stated that additional coaches would be very helpful to make the team better.  Obviously, Beyer listened to what they had to say.  After some extensive searching D.C. confirmed the signings of four additional coaches to the staff.

The most significant position that was filled was that of Offensive Coordinator, which will be manned by Aaron Garcia.  Garcia is a record setting Quarterback from the New York Dragons franchise of the currently-suspended AFL. Garcia won't be the only player from that league to turn to coaching as he will be joined the Conspiracy's new Linemen and Runningback/Linebackers Coaches; Former Chicago Rush players James Baron and Bob McMillen.  Both of whom are veterans of the league who have had multiple All-Arena seasons.  The AFL wasn't the only league the Conspiracy looked to when searching for a great former players who want a shot at coaching.  At Defensive Backs Coach, the Conspiracy have brought in the former Redskins Hall-of-Famer Darrell Green.

Beyer commented that they are still searching for a Wide Receivers Coach.  They have numerous candidates for the job who have experience in either the NFL or AFL, but have yet to finish the interview process.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The D.C. Conspiracy have told their fans that they intend to do their best to continue their franchise's success as they enter their 3rd league in 3 seasons, and in that effort the Conspiracy have announced a trade with the Detroit Gladiators to bring in additional new talents to the team for next season.  Owner/GM Adam Beyer was on hand along with Head Coach Lenny Antietam to introduce the newest players to the Conspiracy fanbase; RB/DB Joe Lyons, WR/DB Ty Boo, and OL/DL T.J. Duckett.

In return for the three new aquisitions, the Conspiracy are sending their Compensatory 4th and 5th round picks, along with Corpus Christi's 5th round pick that they aquired in an earlier off-season trade.  When commenting on the trade Beyer was pleased with what he got for the picks; "Lyons is a good young player who will help to solidify our backfield going into free agency and the draft.  Boo and Duckett are both proven experienced players who can add skills and experience to our young team."

All of them will get increased chances to have an impact on the young Conspiracy as opposed to the established and successful Gladiator squad.  Lyons played a small role in Detroit's offense as a rookie last season, gaining 53 yards on 17 carries and scoring one touchdown.  Boo had 4 catches for 34 yards and a touchdown, along with an interception, fumble recovery and two PBU's and Duckett had two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.

"I can't wait to get going with things here," commented Lyons following his introduction and the presentation of his #28 jersey, "I had a great first year in Detroit; I learned a lot and we had some good success here nearly making it to the Cup game, but now I'm excited to possibly become a major part of something new and special here in the Nation's Capitol."  Those sentiments were echoed by the other new players.  "I'm looking forward to restarting my career here.  It's a chance to possibly get out on the field more, and serve in a real leadership role to some of the younger talented guys on this roster." stated Duckett, who will be keeping his old #68 with the Conspiracy.  Unlike Duckett and Lyons, Boo will be receiving a new number from the Conspiracy.  Boo wore #2 for the Gladiators, but WR/DB Todd King has that number and Boo elected to change his jersey number rather than barter it from King.  Boo chose #7 in honor of him having joined D.C. following 7 years in the OIFL.

Duckett's contract with the Gladiators had expired, but the Conspiracy gained the rights to negotiate a new contract with him.  Should they not be able to make a deal with him before the deadline, Beyer commented that he would be tagged as a Restricted Free Agent, so that they would get a pick back for him in the event another team signs him and D.C. decides not to match the offer.

All of this is pending approval by the OIFL Office, but it is expected that that will occur

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The D.C. Conspiracy made their first transaction since moving up to the OIFL, and it's one they hope will help quickly establish them as a team to not be overlooked.  In exchange for their Comnpensatory picks in the 2nd and 3rd Rounds of the 2009 OIFL Entry Draft, the Conspiracy aquired QB Jesse Glass from the Omaha Xplosion.  Glass, a 3rd year pro, was a starter for the Xplosion last season who put up good numbers considering the team was a primarily running offense.  The Conspiracy hope he will be an excellent fit for their more balanced, passing oriented offense.

"I'm definately looking forward to being a part of something special here in D.C.", stated Glass after putting on his blue number 4 Conspiracy jersey.  "I mean things were good with my old team, but they decided they wanted to go in another direction that fit better in their offense.  I never complained, but none the less they knew I would have liked to air it out more, and they made a point to find me a good home.  I don't hold any ill will towards Omaha, but I look forward to making this my home now and helping to build a great OIFL franchise."

Glass's contract was up following the 2008 season.  The Conspiracy now have a club option to extend his contract one year for $100,000/week or he will become a Restricted Free Agent.  Sources within the front office are saying that D.C. plans to not exercise the one year option, and are hoping to resign him to a long-term contract.  This leaves the team fairly well set now at quarterback, as Glass joins 2008 starting QB Jacob Strong on the roster.  Strong has OIFL experience, however logic dictates the first chance at the starting spot will go to the younger, more accurate, and more athletic Glass.  When asked about his feelings regarding the move, Strong said that he will do his best in camp and will accept whatever role that nets him on the team; backup or starter.

2008 backup Ellery Dowell is possibly going to be odd man out, should D.C. elect to only carry two QB's on the roster as opposed to the 3 they did last year.  Part of the reasoning behind that decision however was that D.C. wanted to have 2 of their own players, with one of last year's quarterbacks being on loan from the Miami Maulers.  When asked about that Owner/GM Adam Beyer stated that a decision has yet to be made on the matter, and it will most likely come down to what other talents the Conspiracy aquire throughout the offseason.  He also stated when asked about other possible off-season moves, that the Conspiracy will be looking to expand the coaching staff to accomodate the increased demands of the OIFL.  High on the list will be hiring an Offensive Coordinator, though some position coaches are also possibilities to added.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In an effort to raise awareness of the OIFL along with the promotion of the D.C. Conspiracy to the higher level league, the Conspiracy are proud to announce the formation of the 2009 Manifest Destiny Classic.

The Conspiracy would be participating in the tournament, along with three other teams.  The Conspiracy have announced an open invitation to other teams.  Currently, the qualifier for being allowed in the tournament will be to be a franchise that has been in the OIFL in it's current location for no more than one full OIFL season.  So all teams who played their first year in their current city in 2008, along with teams moving for the 2009 season and promoted teams that played in the OIF2, will be eligible to play in the tournament.  No firm date has yet been set, as it will depend on how long it takes for the tournament to have four teams agreeing to participate.

Haven't found what you're looking for?  Take a look at our news archives!

http://www.freewebs.com/dcconspiracy/newsarchive.htm

Need to look up information on the last draft?

http://www.freewebs.com/dcconspiracy/2008draftreview.htm

Want to look at old issues of The Conspiracy Declassified? Check them all out here!

http://www.freewebs.com/dcconspiracy/conspiracydeclassified.htm