AFL Names Ironman of the Year
June 4, 2003 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I) News Release
NEW YORK â Arizona Rattlers WR/DB RANDY GATEWOOD (6-0, 185, UNLV) was selected the 2003 Ironman of the Year as voted by the 16 head coaches of the Arena Football League and by one vote of the AFL fans. Gatewood, who was named to the All-Arena First Team and All-Ironman team last week, earned the first individual postseason honor of his career.
Gatewood and the No. 6 Rattlers (12-6) will travel to HP Pavilion at San Jose to play No. 1 San Jose SaberCats (13-4) this Sunday at 5:30 p.m. ET on NBC in a re-match of ArenaBowl XVI.
In his eighth season, the former Running Rebel tallied 69 receptions for 779 yards, 32 touchdowns and scored 198 points. Gatewood added nine interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown, 40.0 total tackles, 2.0 tackles for loss, seven pass breakups and a fumble recovery.
Other players receiving votes included: Arizona's HUNKIE COOPER, Dallas' WILL PETTIS, Georgia's DARRYL HAMMOND, Indiana's EVAN HLAVACEK, Los Angeles' GREG HOPKINS, San Jose's BARRY WAGNER and Tampa Bay's LAWRENCE SAMUELS.
Following is the complete list of the 2003 Ironman of the Year voting and All-time award winners:
2003 IRONMAN OF THE YEAR VOTING
PLAYER, TEAM VOTES
*RANDY GATEWOOD, ARIZONA RATTLERS 6
Greg Hopkins, Los Angeles Avengers 3
Hunkie Cooper, Arizona Rattlers 2
Lawrence Samuels, Tampa Bay Storm 2
Barry Wagner, San Jose SaberCats 1
Evan Hlavacek, Indiana Firebirds 1
Darryl Hammond, Georgia Force 1
**Will Pettis, Dallas Desperados 1
* Includes fan vote conducted on arenafootball.com
** Rookie season
ALL-TIME IRONMAN OF THE YEAR WINNERS
SEASON PLAYER, TEAM
2003 RANDY GATEWOOD, ARIZONA RATTLERS
2002 Greg Hopkins, Los Angeles Avengers
2001 Dameon Porter, Chicago Rush
2000 Hunkie Cooper, Arizona Rattlers
1999 Hunkie Cooper, Arizona Rattlers
1998 Chad Dukes, Albany Firebirds
1997 Barry Wagner, Orlando Predators
1996 Barry Wagner, Orlando Predators
1995 Barry Wagner, Orlando Predators
1994 Barry Wagner, Orlando Predators
1993 Barry Wagner, Orlando Predators
1992 *Barry Wagner, Orlando Predators
1991 *Milton Barney, New Orleans Night
1990 Thomas Monroe, Pittsburgh Gladiators
1989 Carl Aikens, Chicago Bruisers
1988 Dwayne Dixon, Detroit Drive
1987 *Billy Stone, Chicago Bruisers
* Rookie season
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