Sports: Tuesday, February 04, 2003
Austin picked to lead Hawks

The Eastside Hawks, a Kirkland-based semi-professional football team owned and operated by former Seahawks lineman Sam Adams, have hired Kenny Austin as head coach.

Austin spent the past nine seasons with the Puget Sound Jets, during which time the team won seven Northwest Football League championships. He is a member of the Semi-Pro Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, and twice has been voted the NWFL Coach of the Year (1996 and 2000).

Sports: Sunday, December 15, 2002
Jets win semipro national crown

By Chad Brockhoff
Special to The Seattle Times

SARASOTA, Fla. — Puget Sound Jets Coach Ken Austin cleared a spot during the trophy presentation at Ihrig Field after his team defeated the St. Petersburg Sharks 29-15 last night to win the American Football Association national semipro championship.

That spot was where the Jets' late owner, William "Mac" McIntosh, would have stood.

McIntosh died last month after suffering a heart attack while flying home from Las Vegas. He was 59.

"We made ourselves proud, the McIntosh family proud, and I hope we made the Northwest Football League proud," said Austin.

Cornerback Terrance Ivory, who was named the game's Most Valuable Player, intercepted two passes and had an 83-yard kickoff return to open the second half to give the Jets a 15-0 lead.

"The plane ride over here everybody knew, but nobody spoke about it, because the McIntosh family was on the plane," Ivory said. "Everybody knew who it was for and why we had to finish it this way. We had to."

Jakoba Square, a former eight-man football star at Crescent and Offensive Player of the Game, finished with three receptions, two for touchdowns, worth 124 yards. Quarterback Lance Westendorf connected with Square for a 75-yard touchdown to ice the game with 3:27 left.

"Actually, I saw the safety was cheating over on our other receiver," Square said.

The Sharks scored with 10:19 left in the third quarter when Charles McKinnon capped a seven-play, 55-yard drive with an 12-yard touchdown run.

But the Jets answered about four minutes later to make it 22-7. Wade Sparks found Romaine Smith in the end zone for a 36-yard touchdown pass.

Westendorf was 11-for-16 passing for 211 yards and two touchdowns. Sparks completed 3 of 5 passes for 53 yards.

The Sharks scored with 2:19 left in the period when former North Carolina quarterback Oscar Davenport and Bobby Mitchell hooked up for a 71-yard touchdown pass. The Sharks got another chance on the extra point thanks to a pass-interference penalty, and Sessions Byrd's run made it 22-15.

Davenport was 6 for 22 for 135 yards and had four of his passes intercepted. Milton Myers' interception at the goal line with 3:43 left in the game set up Square's late TD reception.

"It feels great," said Austin. "Coming down not knowing anything about the other team. (The Sharks) knew a lot about us, but our guys rose to the occasion."

Toure Butler, a former Washington Huskies cornerback, was named the Defensive Player of the Game. He intercepted a Davenport pass at the Jets' 9-yard line with 8:40 left in the game.

The Jets (13-0) are the fourth Western Division team and the first Washington team to win the semipro national title.

Sports: Friday, December 13, 2002
Football
Looking back on Mr. Mac's winning legacy

By Jayda Evans
Seattle Times staff reporter

SEATAC — He was just one of the band of characters. Surrounded by attorneys, teachers and a magician, William "Mac" McIntosh Jr. was a professional football thrill seeker who saw owning a semipro team as a way to cozy up to the action.

He was the one riding around in a golf cart at games, with his team's Puget Sound Jets logo emblazoned on the back. He cheered so loud, officials threaten to flag the home crowd. He cared so deeply, he sent his players and coaches care packages filled with Jets shirts and shoes one week, and key chains and coffee mugs the next.

Mr. Mac, as everyone called him, was the driving force behind the Jets playing for the Super Bowl of semipro football, the American Football Association championship game tomorrow in Sarasota, Fla.

Only he died before he could see his team reach its dream. While flying home from Las Vegas with his wife and son last month, McIntosh suffered an apparent heart attack in midair. He was 59.

Before his death, McIntosh planned on paying for the Jets' travel and hotel stay in Florida. It was the only way his team, some who held daytime jobs as police officers and counselors, could afford to attend.

"He was the guy that really wanted to go out after this," Jets Coach Ken Austin said. "When he died, we thought all was lost."

McIntosh was a seasoned entrepreneur, president and chief executive officer of the Kirkland Chrysler-Jeep dealership. After he died, his family took over the Jets. They sent letters requesting sponsorship on McIntosh's behalf, giving the trip to Florida new life and meaning.

"We are going to live out his legacy," said Austin of McIntosh, who took over ownership of the team in 2000. "This was his baby, and we are playing this game for him.

"I don't have any doubts, but losing this game would be devastating because he was so special. Winning it ... I would have to find a private corner somewhere because I know it would be a very emotional moment."

The Jets will play the undefeated St. Petersburg (Fla.) Sharks in the title game. But aside from both teams arriving without a loss, a requirement to play in the game, the matchup is slightly lopsided. The Sharks (12-0) have video, roster and scouting reports on the Jets. Puget Sound could barely tell you what color uniforms the Sharks wear, let alone what offense they run.

"We're going in there completely blind," fourth-year quarterback Lance Westendorf said. "We're expecting them to be fast, being a Florida team, but that's about it.

"I like it that way. It's a new experience not knowing what's going on."

In its 22-year history, only three Western Division teams have won the AFA Championship, two were from California, the other from Texas.

On Austin's roster is a handful of former college stars such as Washington alums Toure Butler, a cornerback who joined the team last week after playing in Canada, kicker Sean O'Laughlin, tight end Bryan Pittman and receiver Brian McIntosh, Mr. Mac's eldest son. There's also former Oakland Raider Cory Walker.

"I'm just here to help out any way possible," said Butler, who most likely will play on special teams tomorrow.

The most vocal leader on the field is outside linebacker Dion Alexander, the team captain. Like many on the team, Alexander had an opportunity to play in the NFL, but he ruptured a ligament in his left knee at a league combine. Two years passed before he played football again.

Kind of like the way Mr. Mac made the team feel big-time even without fancy stadiums, private planes and six-figure contracts. According to Austin, McIntosh's wife of 27 years, Helen, and their five children will play a part in seeing that the team continues.

"I was told by the family that the future of the team would be fine," said Austin, who previously paid the team's expenses out-of-pocket. "It'll just be Ms. Mac now."

Sports: Sunday, September 16, 2001
Semipro football
Multnomah ends Puget Sound's streak

By Steve Turcotte
Special to The Seattle Times

AUBURN — Derek Johnson's 25-yard pass to Josh Branch in overtime gave Multnomah County a 20-14 victory over the Puget Sound Jets in the Northwest Football League semipro championship at Auburn Memorial Stadium.

After Puget Sound quarterback Lance Westendorf was intercepted to kill the Jets' drive in the first overtime, Multnomah County of Portland took over. On second down, Johnson found Branch behind the Puget Sound secondary. Branch made the catch, fell into the end zone and Multnomah County had its upset. It was Branch's only catch of the game.

The Jets had gone 12-0 through the regular season, won their first three games by a combined 160-7 and beat Multnomah County 23-14 earlier in the season.

The Jets also had won seven of the previous Northwest Football League championships and were the defending national champions, riding a 38-game win streak.

But Multnomah County (10-2) overcame that.

Johnson was 13 of 38 for 274 yards and three touchdowns as the Bucs took the lead early in the game then came from behind in the second half to tie Puget Sound and send the game into overtime before winning and earning the semipro upset.

The Jets were their own worst enemy.

Westendorf was sacked five times, the Jets were flagged for 10 penalties, had three passes intercepted, lost a fumble and gave up a 14-7 lead in the final quarter. It was not exactly part of the Jets' game plan under Coach Ken Austin, who was hoping to win his 106th straight semipro football game.

The Jets were forced to come from behind against Multnomah County early in the game.

The Bucs led 7-0 when Santae Wong got behind the Puget Sound secondary and grabbed a 50-yard touchdown pass from Johnson.

Westendorf hooked up with Calvin Simpkins for a 7-yard touchdown pass on the first play of the second quarter, but the extra-point attempt was no good, and the Jets trailed 7-6.

Puget Sound finally got its first lead when Westendorf scored on a 3-yard run on the final play of the third quarter. The two-point conversion gave the Jets a 14-7 lead.

But Multnomah County didn't quit, tying the score three minutes later when Wong caught his second touchdown pass of the game, a 13-yarder from Johnson.

Johnson was erratic but found Wong six times for 140 yards and two touchdowns.

Westendorf completed 11 of 27 passes for 182 yards, but many of his attempts came as he tried to run out of trouble.

Sports: Friday, January 26, 2001
First the nation, next the world for Jets semi-pro football team

By Jayda Evans
Seattle Times staff reporter

The Puget Sound Jets have won a national title; now they might be after a world championship.

The scene was set Sunday when the Jets defeated the Buffalo Gladiators, 23-19, for the National Football Alliance's national championship.

After the game, a soulful rhythm started and the visiting players' eyes began to well up.

"Groovy, groovy, groovy," the Jets sang like a church hymn. "... You might be able to beat everybody, but you can't beat us."

"Oh, it was wonderful," Jet Coach Ken Austin remembers of the postgame celebration.

The Jets completed their season 16-0 - which meant a lot of groovy singing after games.

Now there is talk of the team traveling to Japan for what would be called the World Bowl. Japan and Germany have semi-pro teams. A Japanese team traveled to Oregon last season, and won a game there.

This was the Jets' sixth championship since 1993, but first true national title. Before this season, teams that had the finances to travel for national championship playoffs did, leaving the non-profit Jets and other financially struggling teams out of the picture.

This season a sponsor helped teams travel and the Jets participated in a 64-team playoff for the title. The NFA championship game was played before 500 rain-soaked fans in Vancouver, Wash.

The Jets came back from a 13-7 deficit at halftime. Leading 20-19 in the fourth quarter, Jet quarterback Lance Westendorf marched his team 85 yards for the game-clinching field goal. Former Washington Husky Sean O'Laughlin made the 28-yard kick.

The Jets also captured the Northwest Football league title, the AAA spring and summer national championship and the NFA Western Region title.

Note

** Both Austin and Jets defensive coordinator Eddie McMillan said they were approached about coaching the new Arena League's Washington State Shockwave, which will play at the Yakima Sun Dome this year. Both are contemplating the opportunity. "It would be hard to leave my boys," Austin said.

Sports: Wednesday, November 01, 2000
Northwest

The Puget Sound Jets will play the Utah Rhino Raiders at 7 p.m. Saturday at Auburn Memorial Stadium for the National Football Alliance's Western Region semipro championship. The Jets, 13-0 and the NFA's top-ranked team, advanced to the region's title game with a 50-28 victory last weekend over the Washington Cougars. Utah, also 13-0, eliminated Snake River of Idaho, 43-6.

Sports: Thursday, September 14, 2000
Jets to play for title

The Puget Sound Jets will play for the championship of the Northwest Football League at 7 p.m. Saturday at Auburn Memorial Stadium.

The semipro team beat the Oregon Thunderbolts 17-13 last week. This weekend, the Jets will play the Multnomah Bucs.

The Jets are 11-0; Multnomah is 9-2. The teams met during the regular season, and the Jets won 27-0.

`They do this for the love of the game,' it's said of the semipro Puget Sound Jets, who put their 8-0 football record on the line against Portland tonight in Auburn. For some, this team is their last thread of pro-football hope.

SEATAC - The sun is starting to slant behind the hillside that buffers Tyee High School. And Ken Austin, NFL-certified player agent by trade and rescuer of wandering football souls by calling, is running out of time.

His Puget Sound Jets, the No. 2-ranked semipro team in the nation, have just this practice and another before putting their 8-0 Northwest Football League record on the line against the Oregon Thunderbolts. Today's 6 p.m. game is at Auburn Memorial Stadium.

In a larger sense, the sun is setting steadily on the potential pro-football careers of some of the Jets. Austin, owner and head coach, has a team that's closing in on a sixth league championship since starting out as the Federal Way Jets in 1990, but he scrambles constantly to find paying football jobs for those players who want them.

Running back DeShaun Fauntleroy, lineman Leland Johnson and cornerback Joe Lewis, all current Jets, have played in the Indoor Professional Football League. Defensive lineman Mikal Bailey played in the Arena League. Linebacker Ryan Skinner, who played for the Jets last year, graduated to the CFL's Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

Sherriden May, a Spanaway Lake High graduate, played in the NFL with the New York Jets before playing last season with the Puget Sound Jets.

These Jets, ages 21-37, play for free. The bruises and morning-after aches feel the same as in pro football. The thrill of winning is equally euphoric. Any abuse they take is their donation to a sport and a team they love.

"Their commitment is incredible," Jet defensive coordinator Stan Wrubluski said. "They get beat up out there. And when we hit people, they get thumped. They do this for the love of the game, and sometimes it's hard to let that feeling die."

The Jets converge on the grass field after eight-hour work days at the construction site, car dealership, insurance company, business office, mail room and jail. They're an array of sizes, from lineman Ron Livingston at 6 feet 8, 310 pounds, to wide receivers Art Ballard and Rico Brown at 5-6, 180.

Not every player makes every workout.

Linebacker Shannon McKenzie and strong safety Terrell Walker won't show at this one - they fly in from Alaska every weekend at their own expense, but they're physically fit and experienced enough to slide into the lineup seamlessly.

So the Jets, with nicknames of Sugar Bear, Papa Smurf and Bumpy, are a crazy-quilt of backgrounds, talents and aspirations. But the common thread is their focus on winning. Said outside linebacker Dion Alexander, "Nobody wants to do it for free and lose."

The Jets' victories include 55-6, 27-0, 76-6 and 48-0 blowouts. So far, they've outscored opponents 336 to 63. That's an average of 42 points a game.

But assistant coach Eddie McMillan, like Austin, concentrates more on "making them productive in society and helping them get across life's hurdles."

McMillan, one of the original Seahawks who also played for the Los Angeles Rams and Buffalo Bills, knows what gets the NFL's attention and that some of the Puget Sound Jets have those tools and some don't.

"In football, you have all races, creeds, types of people," McMillan said. "Same as in the rest of life. Sometimes you might not like some of your teammates or the referee's decisions. But you have to have discipline and be a team player. Football is a good foundation for learning those things."

McMillan and Austin use the same approach. Under Austin, the Jets win, one way or another.

"I'm building young men, building character," he said. "If they turn out to become football players, that's great. But I'm teaching them about the values of life through football."

Austin grew up with strict rules at home. Years ago, his Marine-drill-instructor, growling, epithet-laced orders sure to scare any recruit, caught Austin smiling. Explained Private Austin, "Sir, after being around my mother, this is noooo problem. This is easy."

Mama Austin might have predicted Ken would be inducted, as he was June 24, into the Minor League Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, for his coaching accomplishments. She didn't warn him, though, that he'd have so many financial and personal responsibilities in giving back to the game he has loved since his boyhood in Louisiana.

With limited sponsorship, Austin pays from his personal bank account the $1,040 cost for staging each home game. He depends on donations and the gate, not an optimistic picture when tickets are just $7 for adults and $5 for students, with children 12 and under admitted free. He doesn't make money on concessions; the Auburn Little League operates the stand for its own profit.

While he would love to have increased sponsorship investment, fundraising isn't his main message. It's quality football.

"We're not a bunch of beer-bellied guys getting together on the weekends to bump heads," Austin said. "We're guys you can identify with."

Like Manuia Sami Alo. He drives a forklift and works the chain at a lumber mill in Fife. The 23-year-old spent his formative years in American Samoa but played for a Clover Park High football team that barely won a game during his tenure as a two-way tackle. Still, he dreams of playing college ball.

He came close. His parents sacrificed much of their life savings to enroll him at Walla Walla Community College because the school assured he'd get a football scholarship once he joined the team. The program was eliminated before the 1998 season.

A helmet-to-knee injury a couple seasons ago derailed this man Austin calls D-Train. The doctor told him football was over, that he'd be lucky if he even walked again. But Alo's dream still smoldered deep inside his 6-6, 320-pound frame, and Austin fanned it to life.

"If it wasn't for him, I'd probably be bigger than I am and completely out of shape," Alo said. "He takes me places and I trust him. If you have a good heart, I don't think anyone can stop you but yourself."

The Jets are made up of men like Alexander. Austin swears the two-time All-American from Eastern Washington, who attracted attention from Dallas Cowboy and Kansas City Chief scouts before a knee injury, could be a linebacker for the Seahawks. But Alexander, 25, a former assistant coach at Kennedy High, said he would rather keep his machine-operator's job at a hardware store, continue counseling teens for the city of Kent and watch his two daughters grow up.

Men like Lewis. He played basketball at Seattle University and football at Kansas Wesleyan. Now, at 26, he juggles his second Jet season and his accounting job.

"It's a flame that you've always had inside you, something you were born with," he said of his desire to play. "But I know there's life after football."

Men like Corey Sampson. He's more than Corey Dillon's former quarterback at Franklin High. He went on to become sixth in the nation in interceptions while playing for Northeast Louisiana.

Like former Huskies Sean O'Laughlin (kicker), Omar Frost (cornerback) and Bryan Pittman (tight end) and former Washington State lineman Von Jackson.

Like Damon Dickey, who played for UW Coach Rick Neuheisel at Colorado. The cornerback lost his scholarship after an off-field incident but would like another chance, and has the speed and skills to earn it.

Once, at Fort Dent, Austin couldn't prevent darkness from setting in. But he refused to let it halt practice. He directed the players to line up their cars, door to door, on the sideline and turn on their headlights. And the work went on. Until the Jets understood Austin's Xs and Os.

"Sometimes it's like that prayer meeting that goes on and on, after you've already said `Amen' at least five times," Austin said. "It's like they say in the Marines: `You will not die until I say you can die!' "

And the Puget Sound Jets can't let up now. Not with the Oregon Thunderbolts eager to come into town and leave Austin with the Jets' first defeat in addition to the usual $1,040 tab.

A chorus of rumbling dog barks sets the cadence. Then these men - somehow still energized after sprinting, stretching, squatting, sweating - broke into song:

"We . . . are . . . the . . . Jets!"

Just those four words. Over and over.

The refrain swells from down in the Tyee High School bowl to the houses that keep watch from the hillside above. And in the rhythm, you can hear the echoes of Austin and the hearts of these players.

------------------------

Hut, hut, hike

The Northwest Football League was formed in 1971. A total of 46 teams have played in the league. There are currently 12 teams in the league, although the West Sound Orcas did not play a league schedule this season.

League web site: www.nwfootball.net

Sports: Friday, August 09, 1996
Northwest

Seattle Times Staff: Times News Services

The Northwest Harvest Bowl semipro football game between the Puget Sound Jets and Federal Way 49ers is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. tomorrow at Edmonds Stadium. Proceeds from ticket sales will be donated to Northwest Harvest.

Sports: Thursday, July 06, 1995
Puget Sound Jets open season

The Northwest Football League opener between the Longview Cavaliers and the Puget Sound Jets will be Saturday at Lake Washington High School. Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m. Proceeds will benefit local food banks.

The game was originally scheduled to be played in Longview but was moved due to last-minute complications.

The Jets are two-time defending league champions. They are coached by five former Seahawks: Rich Harris, Kerry Justin, Paul Johns, Steve Myers and John A. Williams.

Sports: Wednesday, May 03, 1995
Jets Schedule Semipro Tryouts

The Puget Sound Jets semipro team, defending champion of the North West Football League, will hold tryouts for players.

The tryout is Saturday from 2 to 4 p.m. at Edmonds Stadium, 212th S.W. and 76th Ave. W.

Players should bring shoes for the artifical turf at Edmonds Stadium.

For information, contact the Jets' office at 775-4200.

Seattle Times Staff

The first- and second-place teams in the North West Football League will meet at 7:30 p.m. tomorrow at Edmonds Stadium, with proceeds to be donated to local food banks.

The Puget Sound Jets (9-1) face the Pierce County Bengals (9-2) in the annual Harvest Bowl. The winner of the semipro game will secure home-field advantage for the league playoffs.

Sports: Wednesday, August 17, 1994
Storm fizzles out

The Longview/Kelso Cavaliers beat the Northwest Storm 28-22 in a North West Football League semipro game last Saturday night at Shoreline Stadium.

Defensive back Denetricks Williams scored a touchdown on a 78-yard kickoff return in the third quarter and later intercepted a pass in the Storm end zone.

The other Storm touchdowns were on an 18-yard fumble recovery by Justin Cloutier and a 68-yard pass from Mike McMahan to Corey Hawkins. The Storm (0-4) will play at the Sky Valley Vikings Saturday at Sultan Middle School, with the kickoff at 7:30 p.m.

Meanwhile, the Edmonds-based Puget Sound Jets (4-0), one of two

remaining unbeaten teams in the league, will play the Pierce County Bengals (4-1) Saturday night at Sparks Stadium in Puyallup.

Seattle Times Staff

For years, the Snohomish County Blue Knights and Federal Way Jets semipro football teams were enemies on the field.

Now they're partners.

A merger between the Blue Knights and Jets has formed a new team in the Northwest Football League: The Puget Sound Jets.

The team will play its home games at Edmonds Stadium and keep its business offices in the Blue Knights' headquarters in Edmonds. The teams colors will be the green, white and gold of the old Federal Way Jets.

Federal Way has won the league championship the past two seasons, but had troubles financially and in the front office. The Blue Knights, 4-6 last season, always have been strong in the front office.

The merger made sense, executive director John Fahnestock said.

"It brings together the best talent," said Fahnestock, who oversaw the football operations for the Blue Knights the past 10 seasons. "It gives us a team of immense proportions never seen before."

The team will have a fan base from Snohomish County to Renton and Federal Way, Fahnestock said.

Ken Austin, head coach in Federal Way, will be in charge on the field for the Puget Sound squad. Two former Seattle Seahawks, Richard Harris (defensive head coach) and Kerry Justin (defensive backs), will be on the coaching staff.

Fahnestock said the former Blue Knights' biggest contribution will be in public relations and marketing.

A portion from ticket sales is donated to local food banks. The Blue Knights have donated $30,000 in the past five years, Fahnestock said.

"We haven't really changed," Fahnestock said. "All we've done is change our name and added some neighbors."

The Jets will hold a tryout camp Saturday at 11 a.m. at Shoreline Stadium. Players age 18 and up can try out for one of the Jets' 55 roster spots. For information, call the Jets at 775-4200.

The NWFL regular season runs July 16 to Oct. 15.

Sports: Friday, October 08, 1993
He's Still Dreaming Of NFL -- Delgardo, Only 5-6, Still Wants Another Shot At The Big Time

Sandy Ringer

Curtis Delgardo lives with an ocean of talent bottled up in a pint-sized body.

If someone doesn't give him the opportunity to uncap it soon, Delgardo might fade away with a slow fizz.

Two weeks shy of his 27th birthday, Delgardo realizes it's make-or-break time with his sporadic football career. He has had a tryout with the San Diego Chargers, a stint in the World Football League and, most recently, a season with the Canadian Football League at Saskatchewan.

He currently is playing semipro football with the unbeaten Federal Way Jets (11-0), who play the Portland Thunderbolts (9-2) tomorrow for the Northwest Football Alliance championship at Federal Way Stadium at 7:30 p.m.

"I have to make a living," Delgardo said.

Delgardo, just 5 feet 6 and 175 pounds, leads the Jets in all-purpose yardage with more than 1,000 yards in seven games. He missed the first three weeks while holding out for a professional team to come calling, and he also missed one playoff game with a sore back. Kenny Austin, owner of the Jets, had followed Delgardo's career from Renton High School to Portland State University and enticed him to play for the Jets this season after other opportunities failed to pan out.

"Calgary (of the Canadian Football League) was supposed to bring me up, and I told Kenny I wasn't going to come out (for the Jets) because I wasn't going to take any chances," Delgardo said. "I waited so long, finally I said, forget it, I'm going to play."

Playing football has been Delgardo's passion since his junior year in high school, when he fled a turbulent career at Cleveland and found stardom at Renton. He led the North Puget Sound League in scoring as a senior with 94 points and ultimately earned a scholarship from Portland State University. There, he set numerous yardage records, including most rushing yards in a game (225), season (1,408) and career (4,178).

From PSU, Delgardo was kicked around from the NFL (San Diego) to the World Football League (New Jersey) to the CFL (Saskatchewan). Delgardo feels his lack of size has a lot to do with his lack of opportunities, and so does Austin.

"Once he has the opportunity, they'll see his speed, his elusiveness, and his overall athletic ability will overpower the fact that he's a small guy," Austin said. "There are small backs in the NFL right now, and Curtis can do all the things a good back should be able to do."

Delgardo prides himself on playing big, despite his size.

"It (success) has to do with your heart and the ability you have," he said. "God gave me ability to play football, and I love it."

But Delgardo's lack of size has limited his opportunties.

"If I was even 5 foot 8, I wouldn't have any problems at all," he said. "You don't see too many backs 5-6 playing every down. But, pound for pound, I'm usually the strongest guy on the team."

Delgardo still has a strong desire to play professional football, but he also realizes that, with a new wife, he needs to be financially secure. He is close to completing his degree in physical education and is interested in becoming a counselor for high-risk youth.

Delgardo likes to live what he preaches, which is one reason why he hopes to continue to pursue a professional football career. He began talking to at-risk youths while at Portland State, and doesn't take his own messages lightly. Consequently, Delgardo won't give up his NFL quest easily.

"I talk a lot to younger kids about not giving up on their dreams, and I don't want to give up on my dream," he said. "I try to be an example. I'm not going to give up, but you also have to be realistic, and you have to have alternate goals."

If Delgardo isn't given the opportunity to play in the NFL, don't expect to see him back in a Jets uniform next summer. Playing semipro football has given him a chance to stay in shape, Delgardo said, but hasn't satisfied his appetite.

"I'd rather walk away and leave it alone for good than be at the table and not be able to eat," he said.

Sports: Friday, June 14, 1991
Federal Way Jets Refuel -- Semi Pro Football Team Gets Infusion Of Talent For '91

John Anderson

Some have size, others speed. A few have major colleges on their resumes, and one even has professional experience. Nearly all have dreams of getting the Big Break at the pro level.

Meet the Federal Way Jets, who open their second semipro football season next month with high hopes for a complete turnaround from last year's losing record.

The club, a member of the six-team Northwest Football League, has bolstered its roster with numerous ex-college players and a former Canadian Football League defensive standout.

"We expect to be very good this year," said General Manager Joyce Nolan.

Coach-owner Ken Austin is more cautious but nonetheless optimistic.

"The team we have is definitely better than last year (when the Jets were 1-7)," he said. "We have a lot more talent and experience on both sides of the ball. The majority of our players last year had only high-school experience."

The Jets, who practice at Sacajawea Junior High School in Federal Way, open their 10-game regular season July 20 in Oregon against the Eugene Blast. Their home opener, versus the Snohomish-King County Blue Knights, is scheduled for July 27.

Other teams in the NWFL are the defending league champion Pierce County Bengals of Puyallup, the Eastside Panthers of Bellevue, and the Portland Thunderbolts.

"Some of these guys on this team may get a chance to win college scholarships or play pro ball," said Nolan.

And Austin, a tight end and linebacker for the CFL's British Columbia Lions in the late 1970s and 1980, said: "There's some of these guys I'd like to get into the World Football League (the World League of American Football)."

One of them is Jeff Hash, an NAIA All-American in 1988 and 1989, when he led Central Washington University to a third-place finish in the NAIA playoffs. At 6 feet 6 and 320 pounds, Hash will anchor the offensive line. He'll get help from 6-5 Chad Kearney, a Mount Rainier High graduate.

The quarterback they'll protect will be either Craig McConnell, an Auburn High School graduate, or Dwayne Brown, who played at Arkansas State from 1985 to 1988.

McConnell (6-1, 190) was the South Puget Sound League passing leader in 1986. He was a defensive back at Spokane Falls Community College and for the Jets last season.

Brown was an NCAA Division 1-AA All-American as a wishbone-formation quarterback at Arkansas State. A stocky 5 feet 10, 205 pounds, he played a year of football in Italy, then called signals for the now-defunct Seattle Express.

Leading candidates at running back in Austin's pro-set, I-formation offense are Greg Dial (6-3, 230), who averaged more than five yards per carry at the University of Idaho in 1985 and 1986, and Richard Harris (6-0, 193), who played at Illinois from 1982 to 1984.

The defense will be anchored by linebacker Joe Jackson, scheduled to join the team soon. Jackson was runner-up as CFL rookie of the year in 1986.

Bob DeSoto (6-1, 275) will be at one defensive tackle. DeSoto, 27, was a four-year starter at Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo. Defensive end Barry Wing played four years at Western Washington University, and last year was an assistant coach for the Vikings. Defensive tackle Gary Oswald (6-7, 290) is an Evergreen High alumnus with five years of semipro experience.

Outside linebacker Darryl Muhammad (6-0, 220) was a teammate of Brown's at Arkansas State when the team placed second nationally in Division 1-AA. Cornerback Mark Whitsett (6-0, 215) was an all-city high-school player in Denver and subsequently played semipro ball in Richmond, Va. Cornerback Ron Johnson (5-8, 197), a Lakes of Tacoma grad, is a former Washington State redshirt.

Strong safety Pete Shirley (5-10, 185) is a 1984 graduate of Kentwood High School. He was one of the NWFL leaders with 10 interceptions a year ago; he also returned punts and kickoffs. Shirley has four years of semipro experience.

The Jets launched their 1991 campaign in April with a series of Saturday tryouts. Practices began in May.

About 20 of the 60-odd players are returnees from last year's roster.

"Despite our record, we were very competitive last year," Nolan said. "But we used three different quarterbacks and lacked offensive consistency.

"Everybody figured out our offense pretty quick last year. They're going to have a tougher time this year."

All home games will be at 7:30 p.m. Saturdays at Federal Way Memorial Field. Tickets are $5 for adults, free for children 10 and under. Season tickets are $20, with revenues paying for team travel, equipment and field maintenance charges.

FEDERAL WAY JETS

-- Coach/Owner: Ken Austin -- League: Six-team Northwest Football League. Other teams are Pierce County Bengals (Puyallup), Snohomish-King County Blue Knights (Edmonds), Eastside Panthers (Bellevue), Portland (Ore.) Thunderbolts, Eugene (Ore.) Blast. -- Openers: Season opener July 20 at Eugene, Ore.; Home opener July 27 vs. Snohomish-King County. -- Home-game data: All home games will be 7:30 p.m. Saturdays at Federal Way Stadium. Tickets are $5 for adults, free for children 10 and under. Season tickets are $20, with income going to pay for team travel, equipment and field maintenance charges.