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af2 Alumni To Impact AFL Conference Championships

July 13, 2007 - arenafootball2 (af2) News Release


CHICAGO - The Arena Football League (AFL) playoffs continue this week with the Conference Championships. Four teams will go head-to-head but only two will earn a trip to New Orleans, La. for ArenaBowl XXI. These two games, to be televised live on ESPN on Saturday, July 14, will provide a national showcase for a number of notable arenafootball2 (af2) alumni.

COLUMBUS DESTROYERS (9-9) at GEORGIA FORCE (15-2)

Saturday, July 14, 2007 - 1:00 PM EST (TV: ESPN)

When the Destroyers face the Force on Saturday, they will take the field with five players and two coaches with experience in the af2. After an injury forced him to miss a number of games this season, WR/DB B.J. BARRE came back with a purpose, proving himself as one of the Destroyers leading defensive backs. In his second season with Columbus, Barre recorded 51 tackles, as well as 22 receptions for 291 yards and seven touchdowns on the offensive side. Before joining the Destroyers, Barre spent two seasons in the af2 (Tulsa Talons - 2004, Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz - 2005). In the 2005 season, Barre was second on the Yard Dawgz in tackles with 35.5, recorded 48 receptions for 617 yards and 15 touchdowns, and led the team in interceptions (5) and pass breakups (13). Columbus also boasts two former af2 head coaches turned team assistants in SKIP FOSTER (HC Tulsa 2001-03) and KEN MATOUS (HC Tulsa 2004).

Georgia is strengthened by a roster featuring five players with af2 backgrounds. QB CHRIS GREISEN is currently in his first season with the Force. Greisen, who played for the af2's Green Bay Blizzard in 2004, set a new AFL single-season record with 117 touchdown passes this season. His special year helped the Force claim the Southern Division title with a franchise-best 14 wins. Greisen also threw for 4,851 yards and led the League in completion percentage (74.0) and passer rating (132.0). After his af2 campaign with Green Bay in 2004, Greisen spent two years with the Dallas Desperados where he served as the backup to CLINT DOLEZEL before breaking out in his first season as a full-time starter with Georgia.

A full list of the 10 players that will impact this week's American Conference Championship game between Columbus and Georgia is located below:

Columbus

B.J. Barre - Tulsa 2004, Okla. City 2005

Howard Duncan - Okla. City 2005

Brad Greetis - San Diego 2002-2005

Peter Martinez - Richmond 2003, Okla. City 2004

Will Rabatin - Louisville 2005

Georgia

Troy Bergeron - Columbus 2004

David Crocker - Green Bay 2005-06

Chris Greisen - Green Bay 2004

James MacPherson - Green Bay 2006

Carlos Martinez - Fresno 2002

CHICAGO RUSH (9-8) at SAN JOSE SABERCATS (14-3)

Saturday, July 14, 2007 - 4:00 PM EST (TV: ESPN)

Chicago will utilize nine players with af2 pedigree. WR BOBBY SIPPIO spent a season with the af2's Greensboro Prowlers in 2003 before earning his AFL promotion. Sippio was the Prowlers' leading receiver and leading tackler, catching 57 passes for 1,009 yards and 27 touchdowns, while recording 66.0 tackles, five interceptions, and 14 pass breakups in 13 games. After being named the af2 Ironman of the Year, Sippio spent his rookie year in the AFL with Dallas, finishing the season second in the league in yards per catch (16.2) and seventh in scoring with 33 touchdowns and 200 points. The Rush have had the benefit of Sippio's offensive expertise for two seasons after picking up the playmaker from Tampa Bay. Sippio had an immediate impact on the Rush offense, recording 93 catches for 1,320 yards and 35 touchdowns in 2006, all career-highs. Sippio enjoyed his finest season in 2007. The Western Kentucky alum led the League in scoring with 318 points and became just the fourth player in AFL history to record 50 touchdowns in a season (53). Chicago assistant coaches Brian Schwartze and Tony Bowick also have af2 experience on their resumes. Schwartze spent two seasons with Quad City as an assistant head coach, while Bowick worked with the Albany Conquest as an offensive line coach in 2006.

San Jose will take the field on Saturday with six players and three coaches with history in the af2. DB MARQUIS FLOYD has helped the SaberCats to 14 wins this season, accumulating 56.0 total tackles, six interceptions and 16 pass breakups. Floyd spent two seasons in the af2 (Tennessee Valley - 2004, Rio Grande Valley - 2005), earning First-Team All-af2 honors in 2005 before joining the AFL. He was also named the af2 Ironman of the Year in 2005. That season, the West Georgia alum recorded a team-best 1,452 yards receiving and 29 TDs with 23 rushing yards and four scores on 20 carries. Floyd also registered 47.0 tackles and a team-high nine interceptions on defense. His coach for both af2 seasons was current San Jose Defensive Coordinator KEVIN GUY. Guy began his career in the af2 as well, earning the most coaching victories in the league as Head Coach of the Vipers (2002-04) and Rio Grande Valley Dorados (2005). Special Teams/Defensive Line coach JEFF JARNIGAN (Oklahoma City 2005-06) and Director of Player Personnel/Offensive Line coach DAVE WITTHUN (Pensacola 2000-01) also claim af2 ties.

A full list of the 15 players that will impact this week's National Conference Championship game between Chicago and San Jose is located below:

Chicago

Robert Boss - Green Bay 2006

E.J. Burt - Cape Fear 2003

Matt D'Orazio - Rochester 2002, Mohegan 2003

Rob Mager - Louisville 2005-06

Nick Myers - Louisville 2004-05, Manchester 2005

Joe Peters - Peoria 2004, Green Bay 2005

Dennison Robinson - Quad City 2000

James Sadler - Tulsa 2005-06

Bobby Sippio - Greensboro 2003 San Jose

Marquis Floyd - Tenn. Valley 2004, Rio Gra. Valley 2005

Julius Gant - Rio Grande Valley 2005

A.J. Haglund - Oklahoma City 2005-06

Steve Watson - Arkansas 2005-06

Craig Whelihan - San Diego 2002

Matt Kinsinger - Augusta 2000

About af2

In Week 16 of its eighth season with 30 member teams, af2 serves as a vehicle to bring Arena Football to small-to-midsize cities and as a developmental league with an unmatched history of sending players, coaches and officials to major professional football leagues each year. af2 operates under the same Mission Statement and Fans' Bill of Rights as the Arena Football League, which is currently in its 21st season. Log on to www.af2.com for more information.

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