Tackling a dream

Christian Varner occasionally considers the possibility that he will never make an NFL roster — that his football career will end here, at Cole Field House, earning $250 a game in front of a few hundred fans for the Maryland Maniacs, a fledgling Indoor Football League franchise.

But only occasionally. To Varner, the former Terrapin football safety who played in all 48 of the Terps' games from 2004 to 2007, making it to the next level isn't just a goal. It's the sole reason he still plays.

It's why he practiced from midnight to 2:30 a.m. twice a week for the Maniacs last season while holding down a regular job as a personal trainer at a gym in Randallstown. It's why he tolerates a host of new teammates trying to learn the eccentricities of the eight-on-eight indoor game on the fly. It's why he agreed to share time at running back in the Maniacs' 46-45 loss on Saturday night with the team out of other options.

"I've surpassed this level of football," Varner said. "The motivation is to get to the next level, it's not about this. I don't plan on staying here."

Varner's proclamation seems arrogant, a stark deviation from the typical storyline, where a cast-off player competes for little pay simply because he loves the game.

Varner's intentions reveal a different sort of passion. Yes, Varner said, he's appreciative of his opportunity with the Maniacs. But his outlook shows the way he yearns to exercise that love: at the highest level against the best competition.

The Maniacs, who fell to 0-3 on the season with Saturday's loss to the visiting Green Bay Blizzard, are the vehicle Varner hopes to use to pursue that ambition. With the odds decidedly against him, Varner can't afford to doubt himself.

Saturday was the Maniacs' home opener and their first game at Cole Field House. Last year, the team played its home games at The Show Place Arena in Upper Marlboro. Owner Messay Hailemariam, a 1996 graduate of the university and former walk-on receiver and defensive back with the Terps, moved the team inside the Beltway with the hopes of building his brand.

In many ways, Varner's mission mirrors that of his franchise, now in its second year. This summer, Varner plans to attend as many workouts for as many different leagues — NFL, CFL and UFL included — as he can to try and catch somebody's attention, to try and "stick with someone."

The 24-year-old had a few memorable moments during his Terps' career, coming up with game-clinching interceptions against Navy in 2005 and Florida International in 2006. He earned the nickname "Bam-Bam" for his hard-hitting style and signed as an undrafted free agent rookie with the New York Jets after the 2008 draft.

Varner felt he had a shot to make the roster. Then he tore his groin in training camp. He's been fighting for recognition ever since.

"Sports are a platform for what's gonna happen in life," Hailemariam said. "I utilize the sport as a chance to get my own business and that's what I try to emphasize to [the players]: Use the sport as a commodity. Use yourself as a commodity to try and accomplish other goals in your life."

Behind the protective walls that bordered the 50-yard turf field at Cole Field House on Saturday, Varner did push-ups to stay loose when he wasn't in the game. He pointed out defensive assignments and the proper way to line up before snaps.

Varner rarely stopped moving or talking during the game, but in many instances, Varner's advice didn't help. The Maniacs were penalized early and often for procedure penalties, a factor in their fourth-quarter collapse. With full-time jobs, new players don't have the time to familiarize themselves with the nuanced differences between indoor and outdoor football. Mistakes are inevitable, according to Colin Nelson, Varner's teammate and a former walk-on with the Terps.

Varner remained focused. In the third quarter, he took a toss from quarterback Bryson Spinner and ran for a touchdown. With his team leading by six late in the fourth, Varner tracked down  a Green Bay kick returner to make a touchdown-saving tackle.

The Blizzard scored a few plays later to take the lead, and eventually the game. Varner, like some of his teammates, was frustrated at the result. But he was also cognizant of the bigger picture.

As his fiancée and one-year-old child greeted him on the field, Varner's future — or at least what he hopes his future will entail — was clear.

"I wish you could come with me to train," Varner said to a reporter with a smile. "You'd be like, ‘This guy's ready for the next level. He's definitely ready. Somebody sign this guy now.' I know I can play there."

akraut@umdbk.com