Tyrone Gilliard has decided to give football another try.

An impact player is defined as someone who can make an immediate and definite impact on a team. For the 2006 Bluefield Barons, Tyrone Gilliard could be such a player.

“He makes us a lot better at defensive back,” said Barons head coach Bill Dudley. “We have some good ones, but that was probably the weakest part of our defense.”

That defense dominated the Alliance Football League in 2005. In the meantime, Gilliard was taking a one-year hiatus from football. However he continued to train and eventually chose to return to the game.

Gilliard’s pedigree is just as impressive as that of his new defense. Gilliard was an all-state running back for Princeton High School and was a three-year starter at the University of Pittsburgh, including his final game, 35-7 loss to Utah in the 2004 Fiesta Bowl.

“What made me come out here was me wanting to go back and play ball,” Gilliard said. “After I was done and I was out for a year, I decided I had enough already and I wanted to play.”
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“One of my teammatesm — who was out for two years — he went to NFL Europe this past spring,” Gilliard explained. “He said I needed to go, so I came here to get in shape and get ready for NFL Europe in the spring.”

Bluefield is actually Gilliard’s second stop this year. In January, he tried out and made an Arena Football 2 team. However, Gilliard much prefers the outdoor game to the indoor game.

“I did play Arena in January,” Gilliard said. “I just didn’t like it. The rules, the short field so closed in, it wasn’t a good feeling for me not to mention that I hurt my foot first day on the Astroturf.

“Just being out here where it’s grass, a hundred yard field, it’s comfortable for me.”
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“I’ve got an education. I’ve got years to make money,” Gilliard philosophically noted. “I’m young. You only get so many chances to play ball.”

No, I never heard of the Bluefield Barons, let alone the Alliance Football League either. Not surprising since it is semi-pro. Good luck to Tyrone Gilliard for taking a shot at playing football a little longer.

Now here’s the part I’m really confused about. Bluefield, WV is no where near NYC. The Barons play in (a nice) high school stadium. Yet there is an announcement on their site that the Barons will have their games streamed live on the internet in a deal with ESPN 1050? Is there another ESPN 1050 I don’t know about?