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Norfolk Nighthawks News & Notes

April 1, 2002 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Norfolk Nighthawks News Release


QUICK FACTS:
Norfolk Nighthawks (0-0)
Vs. Cape Fear Wildcats (0-0)
Date: Saturday, April 6
Kickoff: 7:10pm
Site: Norfolk Scope Arena (8,965)
National Anthem: Erin Riddle
Coin Toss: Tommy and Rumble (WNOR FM99)
Officials:Name (Referee), Name (Umpire), Name (Head Linesman), Name (Line Judge), Name (Back Judge)
Radio: WTJZ AM 1270 Andy Mashaw (Play-by-Play)
Series Record: First Meeting
Last Meeting: N/A
Streaks: Norfolk (Won 2)
Coaches: NOR: Tony Missick (1 stYear), CFW: Chris Seigfreid (1st Year)

THE STAKES: For the first time in three seasons the Nighthawks open up an af2 season at home. The Nighthawks are (0-2) in season openers and (1-1) in home openers over the first two years. The Nighthawks need a win to keep pace with division champions Richmond (1-0). The Speed defeated Roanoke (0-1) 50-21 in week one. With the newly adopted af2 playoff format, and the top two teams from each division making it in, Norfolk cannot afford to fall behind Richmond in 2002.

THE SERIES: First Meeting

THE IFs:
If NORFOLK defeats CAPE FEAR, it would …
· Give NORFOLK 1-0 series record with Cape Fear
· Give NORFOLK 1-0 home record in 2002
· Give Tony Missick a 1-0 record as a head coach
· Give NORFOLK 3 straight wins (including 2001)
· Give NORFOLK 1-0 record for first time
· Give NORFOLK 15 wins in 18 career home games

HEAD COACHES: Tony Missick was named the Nighthawks head coach on November 5, 2001. Missick held the position of defensive coordinator for the team in 2001 and led them to #4 in total defense in af2. Prior to coming to the Nighthawks, Missick held coaching positions with the Richmond Speed (2000), Virginia Union University and University of Kentucky. Missick played three years in the Arena Football League after spending the 1993 season with the Philadelphia Eagles.

Chris Seigfreid becomes the first af2 player to make the jump to head coach. Seigfreid played wide receiver/defensive back for the Augusta Stallions in 2000 and was the offensive coordinator for the Macon Knights in 2001. Macon was the only expansion team to make the af2 playoffs last season and had the 7th ranked offense in the league.

LAST SERIES MEETING: First Ever Meeting

SERIES NOTABLES: N/A

FAMILIAR FACES: Nighthawks QB Will Burch played for Cape Fear coach Chris Seigfreid while in Macon in 2001…Cape Fear FB/LB Charles Gunnings played in six games for the Nighthawks in 2000, totaling seven tackles, one INT, and 28 yards rushing.

THIS WEEK’S QUOTES:

Head Coach Tony Missick, on his first game as a head coach: “It’s very exciting for me. These guys have prepared for three weeks and it all comes down to this. I will have as many butterflies as most of these guys, but it will all go away after the opening kickoff. Then it’s time to make it all pay off.”

QB Will Burch, on facing his old coach: “It will be fun to shake his hand before the game and wish him luck. After that I just want him to have a tough time scoring against our defense and give him his first loss as a head coach.”

MILESTONES:

· QB Will Burch needs five TD passes to give him 100 for his af2 career. He has 5,129 passing yards in two seasons.

· WR/LB Jay Clarke needs 11 tackles to move to #1 all-time in Nighthawks team history. He has amassed 77 tackles in less than two seasons.

· DS Desmond Washington needs 12 tackles to become #1 in Nighthawks history. He led the team with 76 tackles in 2000. He also needs just six tackles to give him 100 for his af2 career (18 with Roanoke in 2001). Offensively, Washington needs only 28 yards to give him 1,500 career all-purpose yards.

· OL/DL Abdul-Aziz Shabazz-Wiggins returns from 2001 needing 4.5 sacks to gain the #1 spot in team history. Silas Demary (AFL Carolina Cobras) leads with 12.0, Wiggins had 7.5 last season. DROPBACK: No game last week

FORWARD MOTION: After this week’s home opener against Cape Fear, the Nighthawks will play their next two games on the road at Mohegan (4/12) and Richmond (4/27). The have a bye week sandwiched in between the two games and return home on May 4th to play Mohegan again. Four out of their first six games are against 2002 expansion teams, but four out of six are also on the road. Entering the 2002 season, Norfolk is 4-12 on the road and 14-3 at home. Early road success will benefit a schedule featuring three straight home games in June. The Nighthawks will look to prevent another 0-4 start in hopes of claiming the Atlantic Division crown.

TEAM NOTES/TRENDS:

With “Will”, There’s a Way: QB Will Burch came to the Nighthawks in 2002 with two years of af2 experience. With the Nighthawks having one of the top defenses over the past two seasons, Burch will hopefully add a potent offensive component the Nighthawks need to make it back to the af2 playoffs.

More OL, than DL: After finishing the 2001 season allowing 50 sacks (26th in af2) against their offense, the Nighthawks coaches recruited more offensive-type linemen going into the 2002 season. The Nighthawks finished fourth in af2 in sacks in 2001 (47), but struggled to protect the QB in critical situations, leading to an inefficient offensive season.

PLAYERS/MATCHUPS TO WATCH:

Nighthawks OS Gary Briggs: Briggs played for the Nighthawks in 2001 and shared time with Anthony Stringfield at the OS position. Now, in 2002, Briggs should have a breakout year with the position being his from the start. Briggs helped the Nighthawks set several offensive records against Richmond last season when he caught 8 passes for 133 yards and three touchdowns. The Nighthawks defeated the Speed 71-47, the highest offensive output in team history.

Nightahwks OL vs. Cape Fear DL: Citing the importance of solid offensive linemen during the off-season, this will be the first look at how the line of Norfolk will play in their first game. Veterans Kenny McDaniel and Abdul Shabazz-Wiggins will anchor a crew looking to provide ample protection for the QB.

KEY DATES IN TEAM/LEAGUE HISTORY:

April 8, 2000 – Norfolk plays the Tennessee Valley Vipers at Huntsville, AL in their first ever game. The Nighthawks lost 47-15.

April 7, 2001 – Nighthawks lose first ever game at the Norfolk Scope, 32-23 to the Pensacola Barracudas. Prior to that game, the Nighthawks were 9-0 at home.

BUILT FORD TOUGH AWARD (selected by coaches)

The Built Ford Tough Award is a national recognition award given after every game to the player or players on each team best demonstrating determination and toughness in that game. The award honors the players who made a game-saving tackle or score-saving tackle, threw a key block on the big play or exhibited physical sacrifice or consistent tough blocking and tackling on both sides of the ball. The honored players receive a helmet sticker that recognizes the Built Ford Tough Player of the Game.

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