Monday, 22 June 2009 Zemaitis Signs With Rochester

Rochester, NY (June 22, 2009)- Former Tampa Bay Buccaneer and Rochester native Alan Zemaitis officially signed with the Rochester Raiders today. Zemaitis, a graduate of Spencerport High School (Rochester, NY) went on to be a 3 year starter at Penn State University as a defensive back before getting drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 2006 NFL Draft.

At Penn State, Zemaitis, a tri-captain, was a three-time All-Big Ten cornerback and was second team All-American in 2005. He was a semifinalist for the 2005 Jim Thorpe Award, given to the nation’s top defensive back. Zemaitis helped lead Penn State to an 11-1 record and a Big Ten championship in 2005. His three interceptions in the season finale at Michigan State helped seal a 31-22 victory that gave the Nittany Lions the title.

Despite a violent car accident in January of 2003 that left him with several head wounds, Zemaitis played in every Penn State game over his four years and started 34 of his last 35. He finished his career with 181 tackles, and broke the Big Ten and Penn State single-season records with 207 interception return yards in 2003.

He went on to play 2 seasons in Tampa Bay before getting released during the 2007 season. In 2008 he signed as a free agent with the Hamilton Tiger Cats of the CFL.

Zemaitis is excited to return home to Rochester and play in front of his family and friends and help the Raiders try to bring the first ever IFL Championship to Rochester.

The Raiders will take on the divisional leader the Maryland Maniacs this Saturday night at the Blue Cross Arena. With a win the Raiders will improve their chances of having a home game during the playoffs. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:35. At halftime the Raiders will be holding "The Toss for Hope" to benefit the Hunter's Hope Foundation. The foundation was established in 1997 by Pro Football Hall of Fame member and former Buffalo Bills quarterback Jim Kelly and his wife, Jill, after their infant son, Hunter, was diagnosed with Krabbe Disease.

Wednesday, 10 June 2009 Raiders to Honor US Army and Celebrate Fathers Day

ROCHESTER, N.Y.—The Rochester Raiders professional indoor football team, and member of the Indoor Football League (IFL), will be honoring the men and women of the United States military on June 20, 2009 as they celebrate Military Night. The Raiders will be squaring off against the Alaska Wild at the Blue Cross Arena at 7:35pm.

Raiders players will be wearing specially designed camouflage jerseys, each of which can be purchased during a silent auction that will be held during the game. At the end of the game, players will present the winners of the auction with their jersey and be available for autographs.

The Raiders will also be celebrating Fathers Day Saturday night by offering fathers a ½ priced ticket when they purchase a kids ticket at the Blue Cross Arena Box Office.

The Rochester Raiders are looking forward to coming home after a two game road trip in Alaska where they played the Fairbanks Grizzlies and the Alaska Wild. All Rochester Raiders home games can be seen at the Blue Cross Arena in Rochester, N.Y. For more information on Military night, Fathers day Celebration and the Rochester Raiders, call the Raiders at (585) 427-0020 X554.

Friday, 08 May 2009 Nguti Signs with Raiders ROCHESTER, N.Y.­- The Rochester Raiders Professional Indoor Football and member of the Indoor Football League (IFL), announce today that they have signed former University of Albany All American offensive lineman Raphael Nguti. The signing of Nguti, a native of Brighton, bolsters a roster of homegrown talent that includes several players from the Rochester area. The 6’7 330 pound Nguti has previously received interest from several NFL team including the Philadelphia Eagles, Oakland Raiders, Carolina Panthers, and the New York Giants for his versatility, size, and aggressiveness. Nguti was a two-year starter at the Univeristy of Albany and awarded all-Conference honors after his junior and senior seasons. Scouts credit the former Great Dane for being a king-sized blocker who displays great power at the point of attack and easily controls opponents in pass protection. Tuesday, 28 April 2009 ROCHESTER, N.Y. (April 28, 2009) – Yesterday the Rochester Raiders re-signed veteran standout wide receiver Maurice Jackson. Jackson, a Section V product that played at Marshall High School before moving on to play at Syracuse University will rejoin the Raiders for his 4th season. Jackson is the Raiders franchise leader in every receiving category and will join an already high-powered Raiders offense led by Quarterback Omar Baker and Wide Receivers Chris Carter and Rob Mager. Jackson has been sidelined thus far this season due to an injury sustained during the Raiders 2008 season.

“Moe is a phenomenal player,” commented Raiders co-owner Bob
Bartosiewicz. “We are excited to have him back and excited that he is
completely healthy, for a while it was up in the air if he would be able
to return this season but the doctors gave him the go ahead a couple of
weeks ago and we are looking forward to seeing number one back out there
on the field. I know all of our players are anxious to have Moe back out
there as well.”

The Raiders will travel to Maryland this weekend to play against
divisional rival the Maryland Maniacs. With a win the Raiders will move
up to second place in the Atlantic Division. The Raiders will then
return home on May 16 for another divisional game against the first
place River City Rage. Thursday, 16 April 2009 ROCHESTER, N.Y. (April 15, 2009) – This morning, the Rochester Raiders of the Indoor Football League (IFL) signed former Syracuse Orange Quarterback Perry Patterson. Patterson was a three-year starter at Syracuse between 2004 and 2006. Over that three-year span, Patterson threw for over 5,200 yards and 25 touchdowns. He also had seven rushing touchdowns. He most recently was in a back-up role to former Dallas Cowboys Quarterback, Quincy Carter, for the Abilene Ruff Riders of the IFL.

Rochester will travel to face the Muskegon Thunder this Friday, April
17, 2009. The Raiders previously beat the Thunder 71-3 at Blue Cross
Arena in Rochester on April 4, 2009. The game can be seen live on
http://www.b2tv.com. Friday, 12 March 2009

Take a look at our latest televison commercial!

Thursday, 05 February 2009

The Rochester Raiders and Radiometers will be on hand at the Sports Collectors Expo March 7 & 8 from 10am - 5pm signing autographs.

Arizona Cardinal Tim Hightower, Miami Dolphin Ted Ginn Jr, and Yankee Legend Tommy John will also be in attendance.

Diplomat Banquet Center
1956 Lyell Ave
March 7 & 8
10am-5pm
For more information visit www.thepurplepeopleeaters.com

Monday, 12 January 2009

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (January 12, 2009) — The Rochester Raiders of the Indoor Football League (IFL) have signed three top players, who come over to the IFL after the Arena Football League recently announced its suspension of operations. Yesterday Quarterback Matt Kohn (Orlando Predators), Wide Receivers Rob Mager (Chicago Rush), and Cesare Manning (Kansas City Brigade) all signed contracts in the Raiders offices in downtown Rochester.

"These are three tremendously talented football players," commented Raiders Owner Bob Barto, "They bring a lot of experience having previously played in the AFL to our team and our league. This is not only a great thing for the Rochester Raiders it is also a great thing for the IFL. I am very excited for this season to start and to be a part of the top league in the country."

All three players played at the collegiate level at the University of Indianapolis and currently hold numerous school records. Matt Kohn currently holds every school passing record for both a career and season. Kohn also holds the NCAA DII record for passing yards in a game with 645 yards. Kohn went on to play in the UIFL were he was named Player of the Year and First Team all UIFL in 2006 before moving on to play in the Arena Football League with the Nashville Kats and Orlando Predators in 2007 and 2008 respectively. Cesare Manning also holds many records at the University of Indianapolis as the all-time leading receiver in both receptions and yards in a season and career. Manning also tied for the Arena Football League 2 (AF2) record for the most touchdowns in one game with seven. After leaving the University of Indianapolis Rob Mager went on to play for the Louisville Fire (AF2) where he was named AF2 Player of the Year and selected AF2 All-Arena First Team in 2006. Mager also holds the AF2 record with most touchdowns in one season with 54. In 2007 Mager was selected as the Co-Rookie of the Year in the AFL while playing for the Chicago Rush.

Since the announcement that the AFL was suspending operations, players have been looking for other places to play and continue their careers. The Raiders and the rest of the IFL teams have been receiving many calls from former AFL players interested in playing in the newly formed IFL. Expect many announcements in the coming weeks of former AFL players signing with IFL teams. With the signing of these three players it proves that whether it is indoor or arena the IFL has become the top league in the country.

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (January 12, 2009)- The Rochester Raiders of the Indoor Football League (IFL) have resigned 6'6 330lbs offensive lineman Kenton Johnson. Johnson was a member of the Raiders 2007 Continental Indoor Football League Championship team before getting drafted by Team Michigan of the AAFL in 2008.

"Kenton is an extremely solid offensive lineman," commented Raiders Owner Bob Barto, "Having already played for us in 2007 he knows our system, our players, and our coaches, not to mention he solidifies our offensive line. Kenton’s size and blocking ability will give our backs and receivers plenty of time to make plays down the field, making us that more dangerous. We are very exciting about having him back this season."

Johnson played at the collegiate level for Georgia Tech and has spent time in NFL Training Camps as well as NFL Europe.