ArenaCup MVP to run with the Yard Dawgz
March 2, 2004 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz News Release
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK â The Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz announce that the team has been assigned QB CRAIG STRICKLAND by the arenafootball2 league office.
Strickland (6-2, 210, Texas El Paso) is coming off one of the best seasons of his professional career. Last season, Strickland led the Tulsa Talons of the af2 to victory in the 2004 ArenaCup championship. He was awarded the ArenaCup Most Valuable Player for his spectacular performance completing 19-of-28 passes for 254 yards and five touchdowns and ran for two more scores in the championship game. Strickland posted remarkable overall numbers in 2003, passing for 3,717 yards with 83 touchdowns.
"Craig has had an outstanding professional career and has developed into one of the league's top quarterbacks," said Yard Dawgz Coach Gary Reasons. "His experience, confidence and winning attitude, as evidenced by leading Tulsa to 2003 af2 championship, will be a huge plus for us in Oklahoma City as we begin our new franchise."
A Midwest City native, Strickland was a 1994 all-state selection at Carl Albert High School where he led the Titans to the 1994 class 5-A State Championship title, posting 314 yards and three touchdowns. His performance earned him class 5-A State Championship Most Valuable Player honors. He finished his high school career setting record numbers across the board for Carl Albert with 1,969 passing yards and 23 touchdowns his senior year. Strickland finished the season being named Eastern OKC Player of the Year as well as District Player of the Year.
"I am very excited about playing in Oklahoma City this season for the Yard Dawgz," Strickland said. "I was born and raised here in Oklahoma City and I am thrilled to get a chance to play in my hometown."
After high school, Strickland had a brief stint with the Oklahoma State Cowboys. He went on to play for Butler County Community College where he earned JUCO All-America honors and Jayhawk Conference Back of the Year after posting 2,600 yards and 25 touchdowns for the Grizzlies his first season. Strickland finished his collegiate career at the University of Texas El Paso where he set a school record for 105 passes without an interception.
General Manager Ben Buckland is overjoyed to have Strickland take the snaps for the Dawgz and is impressed by his leadership on and off the field.
"Not only is he an incredible quarterback, but he has a history throughout his playing career of being a great leader in the locker room and in the community," Buckland said. "It will be a really great fit for Craig to move his young family back to his hometown."
Season tickets are still available, but they are going fast! For more information call 228-DAWG or visit our website at www.okcyarddawgz.com.
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