[ ARENA FOOTBALL ]
Islanders give Miller
a chanceMike Miller shakes off back surgery
and keeps fighting for a spot in the lineup
for arena team
For two years, Mike Miller prepared for an opportunity he wasn't sure would ever come.
A once-bright football future dimmed following an injury in junior college and Miller found himself out of the sport. But he remained in shape, keeping open the prospect of one day returning to the field.
Eventually a conversation with a friend led to a phone call to a coach. The call led to a tryout and the tryout resulted in a roster spot with the arenafootball2 Hawaiian Islanders this season.
"You never know when opportunity is going to come," Miller said. "A lot of guys are like, 'Nothing's looking right for me right now, so let me just sit back.' Then all of a sudden when you're not doing the right thing you get that call. Sometimes opportunity comes only once in a lifetime and you always want to be ready."
The 24-year-old, who last played organized ball in 2001 at Glendale Community College in Arizona, has resumed his football career far from his New York home and helped the Islanders to a 2-1 start entering tomorrow's game with the Bakersfield Blitz (2-1) at Blaisdell Arena.
"He just wanted a chance to see if he could play," Islanders coach Cal Lee said. "That's all we can do, is offer these guys an opportunity to follow their dreams, and he's been doing real well for us."
Miller started the opener against Central Valley at offensive specialist and caught a touchdown pass, but was left at home for the Islanders' game at Louisville. He was a late addition to the lineup last week and responded by leading a balanced Hawaii passing attack with four catches for 59 yards and two touchdowns in Hawaii's 63-60 win over Bossier-Shreveport.
Miller's snag of a 12-yard scoring pass from quarterback Darnell Arceneaux with 2:21 left in the game gave the Islanders the lead for good in the shootout with the Battle Wings.
Despite his productive performance, Miller remains in a weekly battle for a spot on the 19-man lineup.
Randyn Akiona came off the short-term injured-reserve list last week and Gabe Amey is eligible to return next week, depending on how his injured knee responds. Both Akiona and Amey have previous arena league experience, while Miller continues to learn the nuances of the indoor game.
"The guys at OS are veterans, I'm the only guy who's a rookie," Miller said. "I come out every day not worrying about anybody else, just worrying about myself, about running the right plays and mentally getting myself ready before practice.
"It's very competitive, and that's a great thing. That's making every one of us better."
Miller had expectations of playing at a Division-I college program following a successful freshman season when he helped Glendale to a junior-college national championship in 2000. A bulging disk in his back required offseason surgery and he struggled as a sophomore.
"It was a tough transition," Miller said. "To get back on the field after an injury, there's just so much stuff running through your mind. 'Am I going to be able to be the player I used to be? Am I going to be able to take the hits?' Physically I knew I could, but mentally is the hump you have to get over."
As his production fell off his second season, so did his Division I options.
But he continued to work out and heard of the Islanders from former Hawaii receiver Mike Funaro, a childhood friend. Funaro gave Miller the contact numbers for the Islanders coaches and Miller followed through with a request to try out with the squad.
An injury kept Funaro from returning to the Islanders this season, but Miller made the trip to Honolulu and impressed the coaches enough to earn a roster spot.
Lee said Miller must still learn to run better routes to create separation from defensive backs, but said his athleticism and effort has worked in his favor.
"He has some speed, some quickness and he has good hands," Lee said. "He still has a long way to go, but he's trying and getting better."
Miller has aspirations of playing at the sport's higher levels, but for now, he's relishing the chance to simply suit up for practice every day.
"I just appreciate them giving me an opportunity to come out here and compete," he said. "For them to give me an opportunity not knowing me or my background, I think that says a lot about the people out here, that they're willing to give opportunities to people who are willing to work hard."