Paul Shoemaker left the BYU football program last month partly because he didn't think he'd see playing time in a Cougar uniform next fall. But the frustrated quarterback could wind up slinging passes in Utah Valley after all.
Utah Catzz, members of the Professional Indoor Football League, have announced they have signed Shoemaker to a contract. With his ties to BYU, the fledgling franchise is counting on the ex-Cougar to be a draw at the box office. The Catzz will play their home games at Utah Valley State College's McKay Events Center in Orem when the league debuts this spring.Other quarterbacks on the Catzz roster include Roger Cook, formerly of Weber State; Kirk Johnson, formerly of Utah State; and Lee Leslie, formerly of Southern Utah and current head coach at Hillcrest High School.
Shoemaker started three games last season for BYU, completing 22 of 50 passes with one interception and one touchdown pass. In January, the Longmont, Colo., native decided to forgo his senior season at BYU, aware that he would be buried on the depth chart behind Feterik and Drew Miller. A finance major, Shoemaker is scheduled to graduate this summer.
The Catzz will hold a final open tryout Saturday at the Sports Dome in West Jordan and will start training camp March 1. They take on the Tucson Mirage in a preseason game in Orem on March 21.