After tough start, these 'Birds learned to fly

May 27, 2004 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Albany/Indiana Firebirds News Release


INDIANAPOLIS – If someone had told you following the Indiana Firebirds' 50-38 loss to the Orlando Predators, their fifth in a row, that the team would finish 8-8 and nearly miss the 2004 AFL playoffs, you probably would have thought they were a little crazy. With the help of some outstanding individual performances and the guidance of a former AFL defensive back, these birds learned to spread their wings and earn the respect of every team in the league before all was done.

Mike Wilpolt, who spent the past four years as the Firebirds' defensive coordinator, was named head coach, after first year GM John Kolner relieved Steve DeBerg of his head coaching duties. DeBerg, a 17-year NFL quarterback, got Indiana off to a winless (0-5) start, including a season-opening loss to expansion Columbus (6-9) in front of 14,007 fans at Conseco Fieldhouse. It was a franchise record for single-game attendance. Conversely, all Wilpolt did was begin his head coaching career by getting off to the best start in franchise history (6-0) and leading the ‘Birds back into playoff contention.

"Mike and his staff did an excellent job of turning our season around after such a bad start", commented Kolner. "I think the players and coaches have earned a lot of respect around the league by never giving up and fighting all the way to the last week of the season. There are not many teams or coaches who could have accomplished what we did this season and they should all be proud."

It was week three, in Detroit, when arena football fans got their first glimpse of one of the most exciting players ever to play the game. DeBerg had inserted a rookie quarterback, fresh off the injured reserve list, looking for a spark to the team's stagnant offense. Adrian McPherson made his AFL debut and in three plays had already accounted for 40 rushing yards and a touchdown. It was the first of 15 straight games that McPherson would lead Indiana. McPherson is a top candidate for the AFL Rookie of the Year award as he finished his first professional season throwing for 3,297 yards and 61 touchdowns against just five interceptions. McPherson also kept defenses guessing by ranking 3rd in the AFL with 259 rushing yards and 19 touchdowns.

McPherson wasn't the only rookie to have an impact during the Indiana turnaround. When highly-touted free-agent receiver, and 6-year AFL veteran, Mike Horacek went down in Austin with a strained knee ligament, youngster Anthony Hines answered the call. Hines, who spent the past two years in arenafootball2, finished the season as the Firebirds' leader in receptions (77), receiving yards (1,060) and receiving touchdowns (20). On April 3rd in Colorado, Hines recorded the fifth best performance in the league this season when he hauled in 13 passes for 196 yards and three touchdowns. Hines and McPherson formed a captivating duo for the Hoosier-nation to root for and both are under contract for another year with the Firebirds.

"When you lose your number one off-season acquisition, and starting offensive specialist, in the sixth game of the season you tend to worry a little bit", said Wilpolt. "We were fortunate to have Anthony step up for us. Adrian had plenty of weapons to use this season, but he and Hines got into a bit of a rhythm about halfway through the season which helped them both be successful in their first season."

Several free agents and rookies made an impact up front in 2004. Longtime Firebirds, Chris Snyder and Ricky Hall, were joined by three-year veteran Chris Janek, NFL Europe standout Mike Sutton, and rookies Hans Olsen, Anthony Herron and Jonathan Brown, to give Indiana a solid pass rush and ample time for fleet-footed McPherson to make some dazzling plays offensively. Sutton led the team in sacks (3.0) and quarterback pressures (9). Hall enjoyed his most productive season, setting career-highs in total tackles (21.5), tackles for loss (3.0) and sacks (2.5).

The Firebirds were undefeated in overtime games this season (2-0), beating division-rivals Colorado and Detroit. Reigning AFL Kicker of the Year, Clay Rush, drilled a 20-yarder to top the Crush, 45-42, in Denver. It was the first game for the Firebirds against former head coach Mike Dailey, and saw Wilpolt return to his home state to take out his old boss in a memorable showdown. Rush was already coming off a game-winning kick to beat Grand Rapids and had nailed 57 and 59-yard field goals in games prior. Rush leads the AFL in touchbacks (47) entering the final week of action.

Many players had standout performances in 2004 for Indiana. McPherson shattered every rookie passing record in franchise history and tied team marks for rushing attempts in a season (65) and in a game (11). He's already 5th in the team record books in career passing attempts (397), completions (237) and yards (3,297) and 4th in touchdowns (61) and completion percentage (59.7%). McPherson recorded the two highest single-game rushing totals in the league this season, both against the Detroit Fury (64 yards on May, 7 and 55 yards on February 23), and had the most attempts in a game (11) on February 29, versus Chicago.

Other individual franchise records set in 2004 were Rush's 59-yard field goal in the team's first win at Austin, Brett Bech's five forced fumbles, and Leroy Thompson tied Fred Gayles 1996 record for fumble recoveries (5) in a single season. Team records were set for consecutive wins (6) in one season, rushing attempts (187), and rushing yards (607). This season also marked the first time that any Firebirds team has had three 100-yard rushers in the same season.

"There were some very special moments over the course of the season, both for me and for the players", noted the AFL Coach of the Year candidate, Wilpolt. "I am very proud of the way our guys stuck in through everything that happened. Nobody ever panicked here. Even when we were 0-5 and the horizon seemed very gloomy, our leaders kept the team together. We had several guys who had never even played this game before come right in and contribute. That speaks to our coaches and veterans for getting them acclimated to the game in time for us to make a run".

As the off-season approaches, management will work on solidifying the coaching staff, re-signing the Firebirds' free agents, while looking for any missing pieces to the 2005 championship puzzle from around the rest of the league. Key players that are not under contract for next season include captains Snyder, Evan Hlavacek, Brett Bech and Leroy Thompson along with Rush, Hall and defensive specialist Anthony Derricks. While the team feels like they were cheated out of their 2004 season by the slow start, they know that this team has the components to make a run at the ArenaBowl in 2005.

"There are many big contributors to the Firebirds success that we need to get under contract for next season and beyond", stated Kolner. "As an organization, we are heading in the right direction and I think our coaches and free agents see that and they will want to be a part of the Firebirds team in the future."



Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from May 27, 2004


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