After bye week, Wranglers begin regular season workouts

Published on February 6, 2004 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Austin Wranglers News Release


AUSTIN, Texas— After five days-off before the Austin Wranglers' Week One bye, players and coaches are gearing up for regular-season practices. Tomorrow at 3 p.m. at the Round Rock ISD Stadium, the Wranglers will begin preparation for their first opponent in this inaugural season, the Orlando Predators. The Wranglers first game can be heard all over the Austin area on Z102, 102.3 FM Friday, February 13, at 6:30 p.m.

AUSTIN WRANGLERS PRESENT THE 54TH ANNUAL BOY SCOUT PARADE

Join the Wranglers for the 54th Report to State and Scout Parade. Boy Scouts from Texas will march down Congress Avenue to the State Capitol Saturday, February 7, at 9:30 a.m. Austin Wranglers ownership and the Lady Wranglers will be on-hand to participate in the annual event.

INAUGURAL-SEASON HOME-OPENER

The Wranglers will make their debut in the Frank Erwin Center at 2 p.m., Sunday, February 22, when they host 2003 ArenaBowl-champion and National Southern Division-rival Tampa Bay Storm. The Storm will be the second-consecutive National Southern Division rival the Wranglers face.

AUSTIN WRANGLERS SINGLE-GAME AND SEASON TICKETS

The Austin Wranglers have released single-game tickets for the team's 2004 inaugural season. Tickets are available for as little as $8 through Texas Box Office by calling 477.6060, logging on to www.texasboxoffice.com, visiting the Frank Erwin Center's Red River box office Monday-Friday from 10 a.m.-6 p.m., or visiting any HEB grocery store.

Season tickets and group tickets are still available through the Wranglers ticket office by calling 233.7800. Fans that purchased season tickets prior to January 22, are scheduled to receive their tickets via express delivery by February 15. All fans that purchased a season ticket package after that date can pick their tickets up at the Erwin Center Red River box office with photo identification after February 10.

2004 AUSTIN WRANGLERS SCHEDULE

Week Date Opponent Time

1 BYE

2 Friday, February 13 @ Orlando Predators 6:30 p.m.

3 Sunday, February 22 TAMPA BAY STORM 2:00 p.m.

4 Friday, February 27 @ Colorado Crush 8:00 p.m.

5 Sunday, March 7 CAROLINA COBRAS 2:00 p.m.

6 Sunday, March 14 INDIANA FIREBIRDS 2:00 p.m.

7 Thursday, March 18 @ Detroit Fury 6:30 p.m.

8 Sunday, March 28 PHILADELPHIA SOUL 2:00 p.m.

9 Saturday, April 3 @ Los Angeles Avengers 9:30 p.m.

10 Sunday, April 11 GEORGIA FORCE 2:00 p.m.

11 Sunday, April 18 @ Tampa Bay Storm 2:00 p.m.

12 Sunday, April 25 NEW ORLEANS VOODOO 2:00 p.m.

13 Saturday, May 1 @ Grand Rapids Rampage 6:30 p.m.

14 Sunday, May 9 DALLAS DESPERADOS 2:00 p.m.

15 Sunday, May 16 ORLANDO PREDATORS 2:00 p.m.

16 Sunday, May 23 @ Georgia Force 2:00 p.m.

17 Sunday, May 30 @ New Orleans Voodoo 3:00 p.m.

GAMES IN ALL CAPS ARE HOME GAMES PLAYED

AT THE FRANK ERWIN CENTER

All game times and locations are subject to change

2004 AUSTIN WRANGLER COACHING STAFF

SKIP FOSTER

HEAD COACH

Skip Foster is making his AFL head coaching debut with the Austin Wranglers this season. Foster, deemed the second most winning coach in arenafootball2 history, will also act as the Wranglers offensive coordinator.

Prior to joining the Wranglers, Foster served as the head coach for the 2003 af2 Champion Tulsa Talons. Foster lead the team to a 13-3 regular season record while accumulating 3,995 yards in total offense, 3,679 yards passing and 316 yards rushing. This offensive effort also concluded with Tulsa outscoring their opponents 823-690 in regular season play. The Talons totaled 745 yards in offense and outscored their postseason opponents 179-130 on their way to winning the 2003 ArenaCup. During his three years with Tulsa, Foster made history when he led his team to the National Conference Central Division Championship for two straight seasons and won the ArenaCup in 2003. Foster was the only af2 coach to go undefeated at home over three consecutive regular seasons.

Foster compiled a record of 82-39-2 at Coffeyville Community College in Kansas before moving to the Talons. Foster played for six Conference Championships during his 12 seasons as the head coach of the Red Ravens. In 1990, Foster led Coffeyville to a National Championship and an undefeated season. He was selected as Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference Coach of the Year in both 1990 and 1991.

After serving as an assistant to his father, Dick Foster, for four seasons at Coffeyville, Skip took over the head coaching duties where Dick won a National Championship in 1983. They are the only father/son pair in the National Junior College Athletic Association to win a national championship at the same school. Skip played football for his father from 1979-1980 at Coffeyville.

A graduate of Missouri Western State College, Foster earned a Bachelor of Science in Education. Foster and his wife, Gay, have three children.

JEFF JARNIGAN

DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR

Jeff Jarnigan came to the Austin Wranglers with Head Coach Skip Foster from the af2 Tulsa Talons. During his three seasons instructing the defense in Tulsa, the Talons accumulated a 44-10 record and won the 2003 ArenaCup. The championship defense held their opponents to an average of 43.1 points per game and managed to maintain a +7 turnover margin throughout the regular season. The Tulsa defensive unit accumulated 25 sacks for a total of 132 yards in 2003. Prior to joining the Talons, Jarnigan served as head coach of the Indoor Football League's Minnesota Purple Rage in 2000. Jarnigan lead the expansion franchise to a .500 record, just missing a playoff berth.

Jarnigan spent the1996-99 seasons coaching the offensive line and special teams units for Carleton College in Northfield, Minn. He spent 1993-94 as the defensive line coach and Junior College recruiting coordinator for Morningside College in Sioux City, Iowa. Prior to joining the coaching ranks at Morningside, Jarnigan spent the1989-92 seasons at Bethel College as an assistant coach for the offensive and defensive lines.

Jarnigan began his coaching career as an offensive line coach at Fort Hays State University in Hays, Kansas. In his two seasons as FHSU, the offensive line surrendered less than 10 sacks each season.

Jarnigan played on the offensive line at Southwestern College in Winfield, Kansas. He and his wife, Elizabeth, have three children, Mary, Jack and Emily, and reside in Austin.

MICHAEL FOSTER

SECONDARY COACH, SPECIAL TEAMS, DIRECTOR OF PRO SCOUTING

Michael Foster joins the Austin Wranglers for his 28th year of coaching after serving four seasons at Southwest Missouri State University. In 2003, he took over the Bears' outside linebackers and after being named recruiting coordinator in 2002 and coaching the SMS defensive secondary for the first three years of his SMS tenure. Foster served as an assistant coach, special teams coordinator and recruiting coordinator at Tulsa from 1997-1999 under head coach David Rader.

In 1999, Foster focused on running backs and assisted with the defensive secondary in 1997 and 1998 seasons. From 1993 to 1996, Foster was an assistant coach on the staff of his cousin, Skip Foster, at Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College. Foster was defensive coordinator, secondary coach and recruiting coordinator his last two years and coached quarterbacks and wide receivers his first two years with the Red Ravens. Foster spent three years at Cal State-Fullerton as outside linebacker coach and special teams coordinator, his final year also included recruiting coordinator responsibilities. Foster was on the staff of Terry Noland at Central Missouri State from 1986 to 1989 as defensive coordinator, special teams coordinator and defensive secondary coach. CMSU won three MIAA championships during that time.

Foster's first college experience came in his first stint at Coffeyville, where he worked for his uncle, Dick Foster, from 1981 to 1985. Foster was linebackers and secondary coach. The Red Ravens won the 1983 national junior college championship. Foster began his coaching career as an assistant under Coach Paul Monteil at Archbishop O'Hara in Kansas City from 1977 to 1980. Foster was wide receivers, offensive line and secondary coach in 1977 and 1978, then switched to linebacker coach and defensive and special teams coordinator in 1979 and 1980. O'Hara won the Missouri class 3A state title in 1980.

Foster was a football and track letterman at Archbishop O'Hara and played football at the University of Kansas from 1973 to 1974. He graduated from Kansas in 1977 with a major in secondary education and has six hours toward his master's at Pittsburg State University. Foster and his wife, Peggy, have four children, Bill, Sean, Jeff and Jodie, and one grandchild from his son Bill and wife Kate, Haley Marie.

EDDIE VOWELL

FULLBACKS/LINEBACKERS

After a year off from coaching, Vowell will lead the Austin Wranglers fullback/linebackers in the team's inaugural performance. Previously, Vowell spent three seasons as assistant head coach with the Tampa Bay Storm and one season as an assistant with the Grand Rapids Rampage after a long career as a successful collegiate head coach.

Vowell spent 13 seasons as head coach of Texas A&M-Commerce (formerly East Texas State University) and coached several future Arena standouts, including Mike Trigg, Gary Compton, Bo Kelly, and Clint Dolezel. Vowell has coached a total of 18 players at the collegiate level that have gone on to star in the Arena Football League.

A two-time Lone Star Conference Coach of the Year, Vowell mentored 29 All Americans and led the Lions to the Division II playoffs four times. Under his guidance, the Lions were nationally ranked nine times in his 13 seasons. Vowell retired in November of 1998 after compiling a 73-72-1 record.

Vowell attended Southwestern Oklahoma State University where he lettered in

football and track. A strong athlete and student, he led the Bulldogs to conference championships in both sports while also making the Dean's List.

Vowell is married to wife Jan and they have one daughter, Robin, and three grandsons, Jarrett, Drew, and Ethan.

2004 AUSTIN WRANGLERS TRANSACTIONS

2/02/04: AUSTIN WRANGLERS placed DS Brent Browner and OL/DL Gladston Taylor on the injured reserve list. Waived QB Josh Blankenship, WR/LB Al Hunt, WR/DB Jerry McCloud and OL/DL Josh McMillan.

1/30/04: AUSTIN WRANGLERS announced FB/LB Corky Martin has left the squad. Waived FB/LB Johnnie Balous.

1/29/04: AUSTIN WRANGLERS waived OL/DL Jabari Issa, OL/DL Mike Jones, OL/DL John McLaughlin, WR/DB Antwone Savage, DS Rayna Stewart and WR/DB David Winbush.

1/28/04: AUSTIN WRANGLERS were awarded FB/LB Jeremy Beutler from waivers.

1/24/04: DALLAS DESPERADOS traded WR/DB Sirr Parker to the AUSTIN WRANGLERS for future considerations.

1/24/04:

AUSTIN WRANGLERS waived WR/LB Lee Jackson.

1/18/04:

AUSTIN WRANGLERS signed OL/DL Mike Jones. Waived OL/DL Alfio Randall-Veasey.

1/13/04:

AUSTIN WRANGLERS signed QB Josh Blankenship, OS Tacoma Fontaine and OL/DL Alfio Randall-Veasey.

1/12/04:

AUSTIN WRANGLERS signed WR/DB Jerry McCloud and OL/DL John McLaughlin. Placed OL/DL Corey Callens on the refused to report list. Placed DS Ahmad Brooks on the exempt list.

1/02/04:

AUSTIN WRANGLERS signed OS Jahine Arnold.

12/31/03:

AUSTIN WRANGLERS signed DS Rayna Stewart.

12/23/03:

AUSTIN WRANGLERS signed OL/DL Aaron Humphrey, DS DeRon Jenkins, FB/LB Dane Krager and WR/DB David Winbush.

12/01/03:

AUSTIN WRANGLERS signed DS Ahmad Brooks.

11/17/03:

AUSTIN WRANGLERS signed FB/LB Patrise Alexander.

11/11/03:

AUSTIN WRANGLERS signed OL/DL Jabari Issa and OL/DL Jamarr Ward.

11/06/03:

AUSTIN WRANGLERS signed FB/LB Corky Martin.

11/04/03:

AUSTIN WRANGLERS signed WR/DB Aleric Clark and WR/LB Al Hunt.

11/03/03:

AUSTIN WRANGLERS signed DS Brandon Daniels.

10/30/03:

AUSTIN WRANGLERS signed OL/DL Lucas Yarnell.

10/29/03:

AUSTIN WRANGLERS signed OL/DL Gladstone Taylor.

10/28/03:

AUSTIN WRANGLERS signed OS Antwone Savage.

10/27/03:

AUSTIN WRANGLERS signed DS Brent Browner, OL/DL Corey Callens and OL/DL Josh McMillan.

10/22/03:

AUSTIN WRANGLERS signed WR/LB Mitch Allner, FB/LB Johnnie Balous, OL/DL Tom Briggs, K Tony Dodson, WR/LB Darryl Hammond, QB John Kaleo and OL/DL Ramon Richardson.

10/20/03:

AUSTIN WRANGLERS signed OL/DL Eric Thomas.

10/15/03:

AUSTIN WRANGLERS named Skip Foster head coach/offensive coordinator.

10/15/03:

CHICAGO RUSH traded DS Cedric Walker to the AUSTIN WRANGLERS for DS Kareem Larrimore.

2004 Austin Wranglers

AT-A-GLANCE

33 Patrise Alexander FB/LB AFL: 2 Louisiana-Lafayette

Started professional football career as a rookie free agent with the NFL's Washington Redskins... After four seasons with the Redskins, participated in the XFL and began a successful career in the AFL... On offense, accumulated 102 yards receiving, 107 yards rushing... On defense, totaled 52.5 tackles, 48 solo, and three pass breakups during his AFL career.

19 Mitch Allner WR/LB AFL: Rookie Morningside (Iowa)

Began professional football career in af2 spending time with the Quad City Steamwheelers in 2000... Spent two seasons with the af2 Tulsa Talons... Named 2002 af2 Offensive Player of the Year... Led the league in touchdowns (45) and scored third-most points in af2 history (266)... Returned to the Talons and became the af2's all time leading scorer in 2003 en route to the ArenaCup.

88 Jahine Arnold OS-WR/LB AFL: 2 Fresno State

Started professional football career as the NFL's Pittsburgh Steelers fourth-round draft pick... Spent three seasons with Pittsburgh before being traded to the Green Bay Packers, but playing time was limited due to injury... Made AFL debut as a member of the Tampa Bay Storm and played with the Los Angles Avengers last season... Accumulated 298 yards receiving for 5 touchdowns on career.

44 Jeremy Beutler OL/DL AFL: 2 Ohio

After two years away from the indoor game, made a successful return to the Arena Football League last spring... Spent 2001 season with NFL Europe... Originally signed with the Carolina Cobras and spent the 2000 and 2001 seasons on the Reserve/Exempt list... Traded to the Dallas Desperados during the 2002 season where he remained through 2003... Has accumulated 21 yards rushing for 1 touchdown... On defense, totaled 14 tackles, 9 unassisted, during his AFL career.

70 Tony Bowick OL/DL AFL: 11 Tennessee-Chattanooga

Entering his 11th year of service in the AFL... Three-time AFL Lineman of the Year... Started professional football career with the NFL's Atlanta Falcons after being drafted in by the team in 1989... Spent time in the World League, as well before AFL debut in 1993 with the Charlotte Rage... Defensively has accumulated 110.5 total tackles, 70 solo, 28 passes defensed, 15.5 sacks for a total loss of 98 yards, 14 tackles for 32 yards lost, and one interception... On the offensive side, has registered 154 yards receiving for five touchdowns throughout his AFL career.

93 Tom Briggs OL/DL AFL: 8 West Virginia

Tough veteran lineman who began professional football career in 1993 with the Atlanta Falcons after being signed as a rookie free agent... Debuted in the AFL with the Anaheim Piranhas after spending two seasons with CFL teams... Named 2003 AFL Lineman of the Year after having a career season with the Dallas Desperados... Accumulated eight total touchdowns, six receiving on 111 yards... On defense, totaled 139.5 tackles, 117 unassisted, three interceptions, 10 forced fumbles and 35 pass breakups in his Arena Football career.

9 Aleric Clark WR/DB AFL: Rookie Texas A&M-Kingsville

Fast receiver with af2 championship experience...San Antonio native spent time with the Dallas Desperados and the Buffalo Destroyers... Proved to be a key to Coach Skip Foster's offense in the Tulsa Talons' march to the 2003 ArenaCup... Gained 28 yards rushing for three touchdowns and 311 receiving yards for five touchdowns... Defensively caught one interception and totaled 15 tackles, 11 solo, in his af2 career.

81 Shannon Culver OS AFL: 6 Oklahoma State

Will prove to be a big contributor on offense... Began professional football career with the AFL's Anaheim Piranhas in 1997...Moved to the Los Angeles Avengers for two seasons... Signed with the Dallas Desperados in 2002, played for two seasons... Amassed 204 receptions for 2,809 yards and 55 touchdowns in his career.

2 Brandon Daniels DS AFL: Rookie Oklahoma

Will focus solely on defense after playing on both sides of the ball in af2 and in college... As a member of the 2003 ArenaCup-champion Tulsa Talons, accumulated nine receptions for 111 yards and a touchdown on offense...Returned one field goal for 24 yards and two kickoffs for 43 yards... On defense, posted 43.5 total tackles, 37 solo, 10 passes defensed, and three interceptions for 47 return yards... Started at three different positions at Oklahoma—quarterback, wide receiver and safety.

1 Charlie Davidson WR/DB AFL: 9 Mississippi State

Veteran performer whose eight seasons in the AFL have included two Ironman awards, with Toronto and New England... Has accumulated 309 receptions for 4,061 yards and 76 touchdowns... Defensively, notched 277.5 tackles (234 solo), has hauled in 17 interceptions and recovered six fumbles.

10 Tony Dodson K AFL: Rookie Arkansas

Accurate left-footed kicker is the af2's career leading kick scorer with 310 points... Kicked five field goals of 50-plus yards in 2003 for the Tulsa Talons on their way to the AreanCup.... Made three of the longest field goals in af2 history with two 56-yarders and a 55-yarder.

80 Tacoma Fontaine OS-WR/DB AFL: Rookie Southwest Missouri State

Led the 2003 af2 ArenaCup-champion Tulsa Talons in receiving... Caught 93 passes for 1,229 yards and 30 touchdowns... Returned 15 missed field goals for 339 yards for one touchdown, and 33 kickoffs for 888 yards and two touchdowns... Also registered five tackles defensively.

7 Darryl Hammond WR/LB AFL: 13 Virginia

Most seasons of service than any other AFL player... Ninth on the AFL's all-time receiving-yards gained in a career with 7,355... Returned six interceptions for touchdowns in his career, tied for third-most all-time in the AFL... Second on AFL's all-time career tackles with 562.5...In 156 games played, has rushed for 181 yards on 55 carries with 13 touchdowns and caught 677 passes for 7,355 yards and another 101 touchdowns...Defensively has amassed 563 tackles with 470 of them solo... Has also had 29 interceptions, 54 pass break ups, and recovered 20 fumbles.

49 Aaron Humphrey DE/TE AFL: Rookie Texas

After stints in the NFL, including NFL Europe, the 1999 Longhorn MVP will try his hand at playing on both sides of the ball... Proven defensive end at Texas that currently ranks second on University of Texas all-time tackles for loss (50.5) and is eighth on the Longhorn career sack chart (24.5).

25 DeRon Jenkins DS AFL: Rookie Tennessee

Drafted by the NFL's Baltimore Ravens in 1996... Spent seven seasons in the NFL accumulating 50 starts in 93 games with Baltimore, San Diego Chargers, Tennessee Titans and Carolina Panthers...Was named to the All-SEC First Team and 3rd Team All-American in 1995 at Tennessee... Graduated in three and a half years with a degree in child psychology.

3 John Kaleo QB AFL: 10 Maryland

Quick, veteran quarterback signed as a free agent by the Wranglers...Sixth all-time in career pass attempts (3,060), completions (1,810), and total yards gained in a career (22,057)... Last season was his fifth season passing for 2,000+ yards... Now tied for third-most 2,000+ passing yard seasons in AFL history... Ranks ninth in the AFL in most yards gained in a season with 4,188 passing yards... Has completed 59.1 percent of his passes... Also totaled 386 touchdowns with 345 through the air and 41 on the ground.

40 Dane Krager FL/LB AFL: Rookie Angelo State

Signed from Wranglers open tryouts, spent time in training camp with the NFL's Seattle Seahawks in 2003... Allocated to NFL Europe's Rhein Fire by the Minnesota Vikings in 2002... Ranked first in Angelo State history with 31 career sacks... Set Angelo State single-season record with 15 sacks in 1999... Finished his college career ranked ninth on the school's career tackle list... Also threw the javelin for the Angelo State track team.

8 Sirr Parker WR/DB AFL: 1 Texas A&M

After stints with the NFL and CFL, Parker made his AFL debut with the Dallas Desperados last season...Former Aggie standout hopes to be able to showcase his speed and play making ability while getting accustomed to the fast paced action and two-sided nature of the AFL... Closed his collegiate career by leading the Aggies to the 1998 Big 12 title... Is focal point for Showtime original movie "They Call Me Sirr," chronicling his successful high school football career and his journey through the NFL and on to the CFL.

13 Bobby Pesavento QB AFL: 1 Colorado

As a backup quarterback for the Colorado Crush, saw action in four games...Completed 13 of 37 pass attempts for a total of 118 yards and two passing touchdowns with a completion percentage of 35.1... While at the University of Colorado, played in 15 games with eight starts leading the team to the 2001 Big 12 Championship in his senior campaign.

91 Ramon Richardson OL/DL AFL: 1 Oklahoma

Promoted to the AFL from the af2 Tulsa Talons... In two seasons with Tulsa, notched 47 tackles, 9.5 sacks and eight quarterback hurries... Recorded 19 unassisted and 31 assisted tackles during the 2000 National Champion campaign for the University of Oklahoma... Led team with 13 quarterback pressures and four sacks.

57 Eric Thomas OL/DL AFL: 3 Florida State

Signed by the NFL's Jacksonville Jaguars in 2001 and drafted to the NFL Europe's Frankfurt Galaxy...Spent time on the practice squad for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before being signed by the Tampa Bay Storm and turning into their true center. In 11 career games he has been in on three tackles, two solo, and has also broken up one pass.

5 Cedric Walker DS AFL: 9 Stephen F. Austin

Fourth on the AFL's all-time list of career tackles with 470... Spent 1994 and 1995 summers in training camp with the NFL's Chicago Bears before making a spectacular AFL debut in 1997 on the ArenaBowl-champion Arizona Rattlers...Playing in 88 games throughout his career he has accumulated 470 tackles, with 399 of them solo, and 15 for a loss... He has also been credited for 73 pass breakups to go along with his 22 interceptions.

99 Jamarr Ward OL/DL AFL: 2 Morningside (Iowa)

Spent two seasons in af2 with the Quad City Steamwheelers before moving into the AFL... Played 30 games over two seasons with the Las Vegas Gladiators...In his career he has been credited for nine tackles including five solo.

77 Lucas Yarnell OL/DL AFL: 7 Southwest Louisiana

Signed by the Wranglers as a free agent...Played on historically solid offensive lines throughout his career, including a sackless season for the O-line while with the San Jose SaberCats... Defensively, totaled 65 total tackles in his career, 49 solo, with 3.5 sacks for 12 yards.

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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from February 6, 2004


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