Arizona Rattlers game notes
Published on February 1, 2005 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Arizona Rattlers News Release
The Stakes: The Rattlers begin their 14th season of Arena Football at America West Arena tonight, as they take on the Orlando Predators. Arizona is 1-0 for the first time since 2000, thanks to their 58-38 victory in Grand Rapids. The Predators are also 1-0 after holding off the Colorado Crush 39-36 in Orlando.
The Series: This will be the 14th meeting between these two storied clubs. Orlando holds a 7-6 edge in the series. The Rattlers won the last meeting 62-36 at AWA in 2003.
Who To Watch: Rattlers OS Siaha Burley had four TD grabs in the opening week win over Grand Rapids. Burley will be guarded by Defensive Player of the Year Kenny McEntyre.
Radio: All Rattler games are broadcast on KMVP 860 AM. Kent Derdivanis and Ron Wolfley will provide the commentary.
ARIZONA RATTLERS (1-0)
Date Opponent Time TV
1/28 @ Grand Rapids Win 58-38
2/3 ORLANDO 7:00 -
2/12 @ Georgia 5:00 FSNAZ
2/19 COLORADO 7:30 FSNAZ
2/27 @ New York 1:00 NBC
3/6 LOS ANGELES 6:00 -
3/13 @ Tampa Bay 10:00a NBC
3/19 LAS VEGAS 7:00 FSNAZ
3/28 @ Nashville 6:30 -
4/3 @ San Jose 6:00 FSNAZ
4/8 COLUMBUS 7:00 FSNAZ
4/22 AUSTIN 7:00 FSNAZ
4/30 @ Los Angeles 7:30 -
5/7 CHICAGO 7:00 FSNAZ
5/14 SAN JOSE 7:00 -
5/22 @ Las Vegas 12:00 NBC
ORLANDO PREDATORS (1-0)
Date Opponent Time TV
1/30 COLORADO Win 39-36
2/3 @ Arizona 7:00 -
2/11 TAMPA BAY 5:30 -
2/17 @ Dallas 6:30 -
2/25 @ Chicago 6:30 -
3/6 SAN JOSE 10:00a NBC
3/13 @ New Orleans 1:00 -
3/19 @ Georgia 11:00a -
3/25 AUSTIN 5:30 -
4/3 LOS ANGELES 9:00a NBC
4/9 @ Tampa Bay 4:30 -
4/15 NEW YORK 4:30 -
4/22 GEORGIA 4:30 -
5/1 @ Philadelphia 9:00a -
5/7 @ Austin 5:30 -
5/20 NEW ORLEANS 4:30 -
Head Coaches: Todd Shell is in his first season as Head Coach of the Rattlers. The 2003 AFL Coach of the Year has a regular season record of 47-36 (.566), with stints in San Jose and New York. Shell has won three division titles, including back-to-back Eastern Divisions with New York in 2003 and 2004. Shell was the team's original Defensive Coordinator, helping lead the team to the 1994 ArenaBowl Title.
Jay Gruden, the AFL Hall of Fame QB, is in his sixth season as Head Coach of the Predators. Gruden owns a career record of 54-30, and had won two AFL titles.
Last Meeting: The Rattlers and Predators last met up in April of 2003, with Arizona coming out on top 62-36. The Rattlers jumped on the Preds early, taking a 14-3 lead after one and never looking back. Sherdrick Bonner threw six touchdowns, including # 500 in his career, to lead Arizona to the victory,
Injury Update: The Rattlers placed QB Sherdrick Bonner on Injured Reserve this week with a bone bruise on his right leg. Bonner will have to sit out two weeks, and will be eligible to return for the Colorado game on February 19,
No Sed, No Hunkie: Thursday's game with Orlando will mark the first time since August 1, 1992, the first season of the franchise, that neither Sherdrick Bonner nor Hunkie Cooper will appear in a Rattlers game.
Next Week: Arizona will travel to Atlanta, Georgia for a meeting with the Force and former Arizona Defensive Coordinator Doug Plank. The February 12th game kicks off at 5:00 PM Arizona time on FSN Arizona.
Officials: Officials for today's game are: Perry Havener (Referee), Tom Laverty (Umpire), Kelly Saalfeld (Head Linesman), David Meslow (Line Judge), and Barry Anderson (Back Judge).
New Faces: The 2005 Rattlers welcome twelve new members to the squad: DS Maurice Taylor, K Chris Sailer, DS Terrance Joseph, WR/DB Evan Hlavacek, FB/LB Kerry Taylor, WR/LB Wilson Thomas, OL/DL Jerry Sharp, OL/DL Anthony Hutch, OL/DL Steve Mascorro, OL/DL John Frank, OL/DL Kelvin Ingram and OL/DL Nikia Adderson. Adderson and Sailer both were with the Rattlers in 2002 and 2003. Ingram spent 1999 through 2001 with Arizona, and part of last season.
Change of Heart: Rumors of Hunkie Cooper's retirement were greatly exaggerated. The AFL Legend was expected to announce his retirement at a press conference on Monday, January 24, but when Cooper reached the podium, he changed his mind. He will begin the season in IR with a bad quad muscle, but will still be an active part of the 2005 Rattlers.
Last Week: The Rattlers ended their opening day jinx, earning a victory for the first time since 2000. Sherdrick Bonner threw six touchdown passes to lead Arizona to a 58-38 victory over the Rampage in Grand Rapids. Siaha Burley was on the receiving end of four of the scores, while the Arizona defense forced two Rampage turnovers resulting in 14 Rattler points.
IR: Arizona has eight players on Injured Reserve. QB Sherdrick Bonner, WR/LB Hunkie Cooper, WR/LB Ryan Dennard, WR/DB Orshawante Bryant, QB Travis Cole, WR/DB Evan Hlavacek, FB/LB Phil Glover, and OL/DL Vince Amey. All seven are eligible to come off IR for the February 12 game at Georgia.
Former Preds: There are three Rattlers who have spent time in Orlando. Siaha Burley began his career with the Predators, playing there in 2001 and 2002. Jerry Sharp played for the Predators from 1995 to 1997. Sharp was traded following the 1997 season to Nashville, in exchange for then Kats Offensive Coordinator Jay Gruden being released from his contract to become Orlando Head Coach. Kelvin Ingram was in Orlando from 1997 until 1998, winning an ArenaBowl with the Predators in 1998.
Quick Hits: Arizona has won nine straight regular season games...The Rattlers had not won on Opening Day since 2000...Arizona is 9-4 all-time in Home Openers...This is the third time Orlando has been the opponent for the Home Opener.
Other Games This Week:
February 4
New Orleans VooDoo at Nashville Kats
Georgia Force at Los Angeles Avengers
February 5
Grand Rapids Rampage at Colorado Crush
Las Vegas Gladiators at San Jose SaberCats
February 6
Austin Wranglers at Tampa Bay Storm
Dallas Desperados at New York Dragons
Philadelphia Soul at Chicago Rush
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from February 1, 2005
- Sean Scott named AFL Ironman of the Week - Philadelphia Soul
- Stafford named AFL Offensive Player of the Week - Tampa Bay Storm
- Damon Mason named ADT Defensive Player of the Week - Orlando Predators
- Rattlers Place Sherdrick Bonner on IR - Arizona Rattlers
- NBC Presents Live Football/Poker vs. Super Bowl Pre-Game - AFL I
- A sellout, for openers - New York Dragons
- Las Vegas Gladiators game notes - Las Vegas Gladiators
- Kats Waive Buich, Activate Zimmerman - Nashville Kats
- Georgia Force game notes - Georgia Force
- New Orleans VooDoo game notes - New Orleans VooDoo
- Dallas Desperados game notes - Dallas Desperados
- Philadelphia's Sean Scott, Tampa Bay's Shane Stafford and Orlando's Damon Mason earn week one honors - AFL I
- Arizona Rattlers game notes - Arizona Rattlers
- Crush home opener moved from 1PM to noon kickoff - Colorado Crush
- Fan of the Year presented by Spalding begins today - AFL I
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
