After a three-week camp, the Columbus Destroyers are ready to kick off their inaugural season. The final roster is in place, and the season starts in Indiana against the Firebirds Saturday.

“I’m tired of going against my teammates,” wide receiver/defensive back Tony Locke said. “I’m ready for some fresh competition. It’s time to put on display how good we are.”

Locke was the only former Ohio State Buckeye to make the Destroyers final roster. Locke was mostly a special teams player for OSU from 1998-2000.

Locke wasn’t the only Destroyer tired of camp.

“We are tired of beating each other up,” wide receiver/linebacker Cornelius White said. “We want to hit someone else and most importantly, come home with a victory before our first home-opener.”

Quarterback John Rayborn agrees with Locke and White.

“It was a long camp,” Rayborn said. “You learn as much as you can to get you to the game, but camp isn’t fun. The fun part is playing.”

The Destroyers will be playing their first season in Columbus. The franchise was in Buffalo last season and struggled to a 5-11 record. The players remain optimistic for a quick turn around, but the rest of the league doesn’t see the Destroyers as a threat.

“A lot of teams don’t think we are going to be good, but we are going to be great,” offensive specialist Jamaine Blalock said. “Coach (Earle) Bruce and his staff have put together a team that is going to surprise a lot of folks.”

Locke thinks the Destroyers have the right personnel to be a winning team.

“We have strong veterans leading the rookies right along, a great front office and a great coaching staff,” Locke said. “We are coming along real well.”

The players might be optimistic about a quick turnaround from last year, but Bruce is more realistic. Bruce recognizes it will be tough to make the playoffs but said there is always hope. He said if it were a 12-team playoff rather than an eight-team playoff, there would be a chance.

“You always have hope,” Bruce said. “If we win all our home games and half our away games, then we have something.”

Bruce might think the playoffs are unrealistic, but that doesn’t stop his players from thinking big.

“I always think big,” White said. “So of course I’m going to say we are going to the playoffs.”

Blalock also thinks big but remains focused on this week’s game.

“The ultimate goal is to win the Arena Bowl,” Blalock said. “But, right now the main focus is week one – Indiana. We’re looking forward to going up there and doing what we (have) to do – bringing it back to Columbus 1-0.”

Along with being optimistic for the upcoming season, the players and team management are excited to be playing in front of tremendous fan support. Ten thousand season ticket packages have been sold, and a limited number of tickets remain for the home opener.

“We are very excited about the way the community has responded to us,” team president Dave Whinham said.

The players feel the same way.

“This town is rich in football,” offensive/defensive lineman Tony Plantin said. “I am glad to be a part of it.”

Blalock agrees with his teammate.

“I don’t want to look past week one, but I am very excited to come play in front of these fans,” Blalock said. “We haven’t played one down of football, but (the fans) treat us like we won a championship. It’s the greatest hospitality I have ever been involved with.”

The Destroyers will return to Columbus to play their home opener Feb. 13 against the Carolina Cobras at Nationwide Arena.