AFL coaches, players look back at Kurt Warner's start in Iowa
by John Hahn
Published on January 28, 2009 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Kurt Warner is doing nothing different today, than he did when he played in the Arena Football League.
If you speak with his former coach, other AFL coaches and players, you get a sense that the "poster boy" of the Arena League is doing the same things with the Super Bowl NFC entrant Arizona Cardinals, which he did with the Iowa Barnstormers from 1995 to 1997.
"He had such a quick delivery, and still does, with a lot of zip on the ball," said John Gregory, Warner's coach with the Des Moines, Iowa, franchise. "In Arena ball, you get a lot of pressure in such a small space, you have to get rid of the ball. That's why he's so good at raising up and throwing or using a three step drop."
All of the AFL coaches and players we spoke to agree on Gregory's assessment, but a former 30-year NFL scout told me he sees something else in the former University of Northern Iowa grad.
"I didn't realize what an intense competitor he was," said Don Deisch, who spent 25 years in the Minnesota Vikings organization and makes it known that Warner's favorite Cards' target, Larry Fitzgerald was a ball boy at one time in Minneapolis. "No question he's an athlete with the physical ability and can recognize the three dimensional aspects of the NFL game."
ALL APPRECIATE WHAT HE'S DONE FOR AFL
It hasn't been that long ago that Tim Marcum, the winningest AFL coach with seven ArenaBowl championships, and his Tampa Bay Storm played Iowa. "What Kurt does so well is taking a team on his shoulders and winning," Marcum said. "He did it with the Barnstormers, the Rams and now the Cardinals.
"We played against him in ArenaBowl X (1996) and we knocked him around pretty good," Marcum said of three sacks and three interceptions the Storm collected. "But he's a tough guy, just like our Jay Gruden, would stand in there and take it.
"He does some of the same things today. He's not quick but he's a dodging kind of quarterback and moves around nicely," said the 19-year AFL head coach. "He has a clock in his head and also is patient about his surroundings."
So you've heard the "rags to riches" story of Warner stocking Hy-Vee grocery shelves in his hometown of Cedar Rapids and that he was in camp with three different NFL teams and was released before you could say "Boo!" That he didn't start at Northern Iowa until his senior year because another QB was ahead of him in the three previous seasons and that he finally got a shot with the AFL team in Des Moines. That he led the St. Louis Rams to two Super Bowl appearances in 1999 and 2001, gaining an MVP honor in the first win and was NFL MVP twice.
Sunday, he has a chance to solidify his opportunity to be inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame five years after his retirement, with a win over the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XLIII.
What are some of the other aspects of this talented man in a âgoody two shoes' story that defies a Hollywood script?
Not only has Kurt been an inspiration, he's been a leader with character and honor. These intangibles, combined with his athleticism, lent itself to positive comments from his teammates.
LEADERSHIP, OTHER INTANGIBLES KEY HIS SUCCESS
Former AFL head coach Don Frease with the Memphis Pharaohs (1995-96) and the Portland Forest Dragons in 1997 recently said, "Warner is the type of guy you like to follow and that comes from his performances."
Don's teams lost three of four to Iowa in those years, but despite beating Warner in 1995 on a field goal in overtime (57-54) in Des Moines, it was the following year that the Cedar Rapids native showed his grit and determination.
The game was at the Pyramid in Memphis and it was so bad - for an Arena game - it is a wonder why anyone stayed until the end. Memphis' Jeff Russell put a hit on Warner in the first quarter that literally knocked him out of the game. Little known backup Brad Lebo came in and threw for 225 yards and three touchdowns.
With Memphis leading, 25-21, in the fourth quarter, Warner miraculously came in for the final drive of the game. The tender timer read six seconds remaining and Warner had one play. He took the ball scrambled to his right, the buzzer sounded, but the play wasn't over and Warner saw the 6-foot-5 Chad Spencer in the end zone. Spencer laid out, reached back, slapped the ball into his hand, game over.
"The biggest factor is his timing and anticipation with receivers," Frease said. "Most quarterbacks at any professional level have a strong enough arm, but its accuracy early and on time. He's best between the hashes, especially on timing routes."
San Jose may be one of the few teams who had a winning-series record against Warner and the Barnstormers in those three seasons ('95-'97). In fact, Gregory's teams were 30-10 in the regular season and 35-13 when including the playoffs and ArenaBowls. Iowa went to two ArenaBowls. The first in 1996 in their own Veterans Memorial Auditorium, losing to Tampa Bay, 42-38, as Kurt threw three interceptions and was sacked three times. In 1997, Iowa traveled to Phoenix and lost the championship, 55-33, to the Arizona Rattlers.
Gregory explained that Kurt was recommended to the Iowa franchise by University of Northern Iowa head coach Terry Allen. "He called and said, âI think I have a player you might be interested in.'" Gregory noted. "After seeing a film of him against Western Illinois we were convinced he would be an AFL prospect."
Obviously, people have noticed he went to wearing gloves following a thumb injury. "I think he is better with the gloves in dry and hot weather than in rain or snow," Gregory said. "He's just more effective when its dry and he's on target all the time." Forecasts indicate the weather being in the mid to high 60s for Sunday, Feb. 1, with only about a 10% chance of moisture. It could be cloudy but otherwise dry and clear according to the Tampa weather station.
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from January 28, 2009
- AFL coaches, players look back at Kurt Warner's start in Iowa - OSC Original by John Hahn
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer(s), and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
