Copeland ready for Titans debut

CEDAR RAPIDS - When the Cedar Rapids Titans traded for quarterback Willie Copeland last month, it seemed like too much of a good thing.

After all, Sam Durley was having a strong first half of the season under center for a Titans team in the thick of the Indoor Football League playoff hunt.

But with Sunday's news that Durley was offered an Arena Football League contract, the trade looks more strategic than fortuitous by Coach Mark Stoute.

'I'm just trying to just continue the winning atmosphere here,” said Copeland, who starts at quarterback for Cedar Rapids (6-3) Saturday against the Wichita Falls Nighthawks (3-5) at the U.S. Cellular Center. 'Everybody comes out here and works hard and it made it simple for me to come in there. Durley did an exceptional job to this point. … so it just gives me an opportunity to step in and control the reins.”

A member of the Cedar Rapids Titans during their 2012 expansion season, Copeland was named league MVP in 2014 after throwing 56 touchdowns for the Colorado Ice.

The 6-foot-3, 225-pound lefty was limited to two games this season with a foot and ankle injury. Once healed, he requested his release from Colorado when he felt they were moving on without him.

Since he was on the 'Refused to Report” list when traded, league rules required him to sit out three games.

'Coach Stoute's been working with me for the past couple of weeks,” said Copeland, who was with Stoute in Green Bay in 2011. 'I just had to remember some things. But besides that, everything is going good. I can't wait to play. It's been way too long.”

Saturday will be Cedar Rapids' second game in a row against Wichita Falls. The Titans won, 63-40, last Saturday in Texas.

SPECIAL DAY FOR PRAY

Cedar Rapids receiver Bryan Pray made sure this Mother's Day would be unforgettable.

He and his wife, Theresa, flew mom Lisa Pray from Tampa, Fla., to see him play football for the first time.

'She's never seen me play football before and I'm 30 years old,” Bryan said. 'So now she gets the opportunity. There's nothing better than to have her watch me play on a Mother's Day weekend that we can spend together.”

Bryan lived with his grandmother in Oklahoma City, Okla., after Lisa moved to Florida to further her career and schooling.

Two weeks ago, Bryan and Theresa surprised Lisa with the plane ticket. She'll watch from the stands as Bryan and the Titans face Wichita Falls Saturday at 7:05 p.m.

'It's a kid's game,” Bryan said. 'Every game I go into I have butterflies. That's probably going to be a little higher until I get the first catch or the first play and see where she's at. I'm going to be ready. It's going to be a fun night.”

l Comments: douglas.miles@thegazette.com