Former Wittenberg Football Standouts Sign With Professional Indoor Team

Tristan Murray

Tim Funke

Springfield, Ohio — As it turns out, former Wittenberg University football standouts Tim Funke, class of 2007 from Indianapolis, Ind., and Tristan Murray, class of 2006 from New Carlisle, Ohio, are not done with their football careers.

Stars of the 2006 Tiger gridiron squad that won a North Coast Athletic Conference title, Funke and Murray recently signed with the Miami Valley Silverbacks, a professional team based in Troy, Ohio, that is affiliated with the Continental Indoor Football League.

Funke was a four-year letterwinner and two-year starter at center for the Tigers. After garnering second-team All-North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) honors in 2005, Funke claimed first-team All-NCAC, second-team All-North Region and honorable mention All-America honors in 2006.

Funke, who is scheduled to graduate from Wittenberg in May 2007 with a degree in physics, is thrilled about the opportunity to play football after college.

"Not many people have the opportunity to get paid to play football and do something they really enjoy," said Funke, who was part of a Tiger football senior class that posted a four-year record of 27-14.

Murray was a three-year starter for the Tigers at the tailback position after transferring to Wittenberg from Brown University in 2003. In 2006, Murray set a school record with nine straight 100-yard rushing games - breaking the marks for consecutive 100-yard games and 100-yard games in a season - and he topped the NCAC in rushing yards and points per game for a second straight season. His 1,517 rushing yards was the third-highest total in school history.

Murray, who earned his degree in management in 2006, ranks No. 2 in Wittenberg history in career rushing yards and career points.

The Silverbacks' 2007 season began March 24 with a 54-7 loss to defending league champion Port Huron (Mich.), and it continues Friday, March 30, with a home game at Hobart Arena in Troy against the Chicago Slaughter. The season runs through June before a four-week playoff to determine the league champion.

Funke and Murray signed their one-season contracts March 19 and March 15 respectively. Both saw extensive playing time in the Silverbacks' season opener, which is no surprise to Wittenberg Head Coach Joe Fincham.

"We are happy that Tristan and Tim have the chance to play in this league," said Fincham, who has a 100-23 record in 11 years at Wittenberg and has led the Tigers to five NCAC titles, including the crown captured in 2006. "They were both very good players for us in their time here. I'm sure they will do a fine job representing their new team, as well as our program."

By: Ryan Maurer and Courtney Burchett '07

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