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af2's Developmental Design Continues To Strengthen AFL

February 28, 2008 - arenafootball2 (af2) News Release


CHICAGO - With opening weekend of the Arena Football League's 22nd season beginning this Friday, February 29, an all-time, league-best 162 former af2 players have made the final roster or practice squad for an AFL team. In addition, 29 former af2 coaches are currently serving on the sidelines for AFL teams, the af2 League office announced today.

"These numbers are impressive," af2 President Jerry Kurz said. "They provide further proof that the af2 is the premier developmental football league in the country. Our record of development is unmatched and continues to grow stronger each season."

To date, nearly 33 percent of the players currently in the AFL have played in af2. The complete roster of af2 players now on an AFL team is listed at the end of this release.

One AFL player with af2 experience looking to break out in 2008 is New Orleans VooDoo QB STEVE BELLISARI. After beginning last season as a backup in New Orleans, Bellisari was pressed into action earlier than expected due to an injury to starter ANDY KELLY. The rookie from Ohio State made the most of his opportunity, proving to be one of the team's top overall performers in 2007. Appearing in all 16 games with five starts, Bellisari completed 193-of-307 passes for 2,287 yards with 47 touchdowns with just 12 interceptions. Bellisari also ranked second on the club in rushing with 30 carries for 54 yards with a team-high seven touchdowns. After getting a taste of what Bellisari could do last year, New Orleans fans and coaches are looking forward to Bellisari's performance to be even more dynamic now as the VooDoo's main man under center. Prior to earning his AFL opportunity, Bellisari honed his skills in the af2 with the Manchester Wolves in 2006. That year he led the Wolves to a postseason berth thanks to a 5-1 record as a starter, finishing the regular season with 984 yards passing and 25 touchdowns. Bellisari looks to follow the lead shown by former af2 signal callers like Georgia's CHRIS GREISEN, Orlando's SHANE STAFFORD and Tampa Bay's BRETT DIETZ who have become stars at the AFL level.

Of the 29 coaches currently in the AFL with af2 experience, 14 are former af2 head coaches, five serve as current AFL head coaches, two coached in af2 during the 2007 season and two are former af2 players. The complete list is detailed at the end of this release. One former af2 head coach getting his first true taste of head coaching experience at the AFL level this season is KEVIN GUY, who will guide the Arizona Rattlers. Guy joined the Rattlers after spending two seasons with the San Jose SaberCats as their Defensive Coordinator. Guy helped lead the team to two consecutive Western Division Championships and an ArenaBowl XXI title in 2007. Prior to joining San Jose, Guy served as a head coach in the af2 for four seasons where he finished with the most coaching victories in the history of the league. Guy amassed 52 career wins, a Sportexe Coach of the Year honor and compiled a .732 winning percentage while leading the Tennessee Valley Vipers (2002-04) and Rio Grande Valley Dorados (2005). In 2005, Guy guided the Dorados to a 10-6 regular season record and a trip to the league's National Conference Championship game. He currently ranks fourth overall on the all-time af2 coaching wins list behind Wilkes-Barre/Scranton's RICH INGOLD (60), Arkansas' CHRIS SIEGFRIED (57) and Austin's BEN BENNETT (56). Guy began his Arena Football coaching experience in 2000 after a four-year playing career. He started the 2000 campaign as the Defensive Coordinator with the New Jersey Red Dogs before, at only 26 years of age, being elevated to Interim Head Coach for the remaining four games of the season.



arenafootball2 Stories from February 28, 2008


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