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Vermont’s New Arena Football Team To Kick off Its Inaugural Game

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Tuesday January 31, 2017

By Cookie Steponaitis

Professional Arena football is making its presence known in Vermont in a big way. The Vermont Bucks football team will begin its first season with its inaugural game on St. Patrick’s Day, Friday March 17th at the Gutterson Field House in Burlington. The Vermont Bucks will be playing seven regular home games during the season and hosting one scheduled playoff game in early June and plan to win it all and bring Professional Arena football to a high level in the state and region.
Heading the program is Vermont Bucks football president Tim Viens, Sr. who also heads up the New Hampshire Brigade and the Boston Blaze Arena Team.  Tim Viens Jr, principal owner of the teams, is excited to share the program, coaching staff and players with everyone.  Tim Viens, Jr is an entrepreneur and NASCAR driver. Both Viens grew up in South Hero, played football for South Burlington and Viens, Jr played in college. “There has never been a better time than right now,” shared Bucks president Viens, Sr. “As Vermont grows, so should our opportunities for fun and exciting things to enjoy. We’re becoming a diverse community that should seek ways to find common interest. Arena football is just plain fun for everyone.” The Vermont Bucks coaching staff headed up by Head Coach and Director of Football Operations Coach Ervin Bryson who is looking to provide opportunities to young men who have not given up the dream of moving up to the next level. Bryson brings a wealth of experience to the team, played in the NFL and Arena football and was awarded Coach of the Year and General Manager of the Year. Viens, Jr played college football for Coach Bryson in Florida. Alongside Bryson are Defensive Coordinator Monteray Evans, Quarterback Coach Scott Aguglia, Defensive Line Coach Joshua Young and Offensive Line Coach Michael Viens.
Viens, Sr explained for those who may not understand the similarities of Arena football and football, that, “a lot of people really don’t understand that Arena Football is essentially the same game. It’s played indoors and on a smaller field by eight players instead of eleven. There are a few differences like having no punting and being able to have two receivers running toward the line of scrimmage, prior to the ball being snapped. Subsequently it becomes a very fast, exciting game with a lot of scoring. But it’s not just the game, arena football is an event. It really sets up for the fans enjoyment with nonstop giveaways, the dance team using cannons to shoot t-shirts into the crowd, pregame introductions and great music being played. Plan on having fun because Arena football is all about you the fan.” The current roster consists of twenty-one signed players who are arriving at the end of February for camp and the fans can expect many of them to be NFL players who have recently been released bringing football to a high level of skill and excitement.
Football fans or even those just plain curious should check out the Vermont Bucks website at Vermontbucks.com and be ready for the Friday, March 17th home game at Gutterson Field House in Burlington. The excitement will be electric as well as the action on the field, the giveaways and the great dance team that has been formed to support the team. “We all have our own stories about where we fell in love with football,” shared Tim Viens, Sr. “For me it was seeing my first game on our Admiral black and white television in the early sixties. I was a Cowboy fan at first because I liked they always wore the white jerseys. It was growing up with the excitement in Tony Adams voice when he gave his sportscast. Football means a great deal to me.” Rooted in the sport and in the Vermont community, two generations of Viens and the whole team go by the slogan ‘Proudly Building Community, Friends, Fans & Business’ and are looking forward to becoming a Vermont tradition of their own. The Vermont Bucks want to let the Valley Voice readers know that they will do whatever they can to support your youth organizations, sports teams and any of the area charitable endeavors and resources including their coaches, players, dance team and mascot.

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