Ryan Vena
Encyclopedia
Ryan Vena is an American Arena Football quarterback who currently a free agent
. Vena attended Colgate University
in Hamilton, New York and graduated in 2000. Vena started his career in arena football
in 2002.He currently has over 500 career touchdowns as of Friday April 23, 2010 reported on NFL network .His best years were with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers. With the AFL moving to an 18 game schedule, Vena was added to the Philadelphia Soul roster to back up starting quarterback Justin Allgood.
The holder of 13 Colgate records in total offense and passing, he led Colgate to three straight appearances in the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs, and four straight winning seasons.
In 2011, Ryan was named to the 25th Anniversary All-Patriot League Team as the only Quarterback selected. And in 2008, Ryan was added to Colgate's Hall of Fame.
http://graphics.fansonly.com/photos/schools/patr/sports/m-footbl/auto_action/a-CURyanVena00.jpg
in 2004. Vena was the Destroyers primary quarterback, throwing 3,081 passes, 57 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions, but Columbus finished the season 6-10. In 2005, he returned to the Destroyers, but lost his starting position to Matt D'Orazio
.
, playing for the Albany Conquest
.
Vena had his most success playing for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers
from 2007 to 2009. During that time, the Pioneers played in ArenaCup VIII
and ArenaCup X
, but lost both times. During the regular season, the Pioneers went 41-7. In 2007, Vena was named MVP of the ArenaCup even though he lost.
. When the Arena Football League
returned in 2010, Vena was a member of the Iowa Barnstormers
. The Barnstormers began the year with Brian Villanueva. But in the first game of the year against the Chicago Rush
, Villanueva threw three interceptions without a touchdown, and Vena came in as a replacement. He started the rest of the season, throwing 3,924 yards, 78 touchdowns, and 23 interceptions.
In 2011, Vena moved to the Philadelphia Soul
and once again began the year as the backup behind Justin Allgood. But after the Soul started the year 1-3, Vena replaced Allgood as the team's starter.
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
. Vena attended Colgate University
Colgate University
Colgate University is a private liberal arts college in Hamilton, New York, USA. The school was founded in 1819 as a Baptist seminary and later became non-denominational. It is named for the Colgate family who greatly contributed to the university's endowment in the 19th century.Colgate has 52...
in Hamilton, New York and graduated in 2000. Vena started his career in arena football
Arena football
Arena football is a variety of gridiron football played by the Arena Football League . It is a proprietary game, the rights to which are owned by Gridiron Enterprises, and is played indoors on a smaller field than American or Canadian outdoor football, resulting in a faster and higher-scoring game....
in 2002.He currently has over 500 career touchdowns as of Friday April 23, 2010 reported on NFL network .His best years were with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers. With the AFL moving to an 18 game schedule, Vena was added to the Philadelphia Soul roster to back up starting quarterback Justin Allgood.
Career
Ryan finished his career as the Colgate and Patriot League's all-time leader in total offense with 9,435 yards. He was the first Patriot League quarterback to pass for over 7,000 yards and rush for over 2,000.The holder of 13 Colgate records in total offense and passing, he led Colgate to three straight appearances in the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs, and four straight winning seasons.
In 2011, Ryan was named to the 25th Anniversary All-Patriot League Team as the only Quarterback selected. And in 2008, Ryan was added to Colgate's Hall of Fame.
http://graphics.fansonly.com/photos/schools/patr/sports/m-footbl/auto_action/a-CURyanVena00.jpg
Arena Football League 2004-05
Vena began his AFL career with the Columbus DestroyersColumbus Destroyers
The Columbus Destroyers were an Arena Football League team based in Columbus, Ohio. The team was founded in as the Buffalo Destroyers, based in Buffalo, New York, and relocated to Columbus in . They folded along with the original incarnation of the AFL following the 2008 season, after a total of...
in 2004. Vena was the Destroyers primary quarterback, throwing 3,081 passes, 57 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions, but Columbus finished the season 6-10. In 2005, he returned to the Destroyers, but lost his starting position to Matt D'Orazio
Matt D'Orazio
Matthew Louis D’Orazio is a professional American football quarterback Free Agent. He played college football at Otterbein College....
.
af2
After the 2005 season, Vena moved to the af2Af2
AF2 was the name of the Arena Football League's developmental league; it was founded in 1999 and played its first season in 2000. Like parent AFL, the AF2 played using the same arena football rules and style of play. League seasons ran from April through July with the postseason and ArenaCup...
, playing for the Albany Conquest
Albany Conquest
The Albany Firebirds are a professional arena football team of the af2 based in Albany, New York. Albany was granted an expansion team in 2002 and began play as the Albany Conquest. The Firebirds play their home games at the Times Union Center...
.
Vena had his most success playing for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers
The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers were a minor league arena football team that played in the AF2. The team was part of the East Division in the American conference. The Pioneers were an expansion team for the league's 2002 season, and were the runner-ups in ArenaCup VIII and ArenaCup X.-2001:The...
from 2007 to 2009. During that time, the Pioneers played in ArenaCup VIII
ArenaCup VIII
ArenaCup VIII was the 2007 edition of the af2's championship game, in which the National Conference Champions Tulsa Talons defeated the American Conference Champions Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers in Bossier City, Louisiana by a score of 73-66....
and ArenaCup X
ArenaCup X
ArenaCup X was the tenth and final edition of arenafootball2's championship game in which the National Conference Champions Spokane Shock defeated the American Conference Champions Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers, 74-27. The game was held on Saturday, August 22, 2009...
, but lost both times. During the regular season, the Pioneers went 41-7. In 2007, Vena was named MVP of the ArenaCup even though he lost.
AFL 2010-present
From 2006 to 2009, Vena played in the af2Af2
AF2 was the name of the Arena Football League's developmental league; it was founded in 1999 and played its first season in 2000. Like parent AFL, the AF2 played using the same arena football rules and style of play. League seasons ran from April through July with the postseason and ArenaCup...
. When the Arena Football League
Arena Football League
The Arena Football League is the highest level of professional indoor American football in the United States. It is currently the second longest running professional football league in the United States, after the National Football League. It was founded in 1987 by Jim Foster...
returned in 2010, Vena was a member of the Iowa Barnstormers
Iowa Barnstormers
The Iowa Barnstormers are an arena football team based in Des Moines, Iowa. They are currently members of the Arena Football League , which they joined in 2010 following the organization's restructuring...
. The Barnstormers began the year with Brian Villanueva. But in the first game of the year against the Chicago Rush
Chicago Rush
The Chicago Rush is an arena football team based in Rosemont, Illinois. It is a member of the Central Division of the National Conference of the Arena Football League. The team was founded in 2001 and is co-owned by Mike Ditka, the Hall of Fame player and coach.The Rush have qualified for the...
, Villanueva threw three interceptions without a touchdown, and Vena came in as a replacement. He started the rest of the season, throwing 3,924 yards, 78 touchdowns, and 23 interceptions.
In 2011, Vena moved to the Philadelphia Soul
Philadelphia Soul
The Philadelphia Soul are an Arena Football League team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They began play in as an expansion team. The team plays in the Eastern Division of the American Conference. They won their first ArenaBowl in 2008, defeating the San Jose SaberCats 59–56 in ArenaBowl XXII...
and once again began the year as the backup behind Justin Allgood. But after the Soul started the year 1-3, Vena replaced Allgood as the team's starter.