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Austin Wranglers game notes

February 11, 2004 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Austin Wranglers News Release


AUSTIN WRANGLERS (0-0) at ORLANDO PREDATORS (0-1) INAUGRUAL GAME

6:30 p.m. (Central) FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2004, TD WATERHOUSE CENTRE

Wranglers Television

The Austin Wranglers inaugural performance will be televised live in Austin on Time Warner Cable Channel 77. All the action will begin at 6:30 p.m.

with News8Austin sports anchor Jeff Power calling the action. The game will then be available on Central Texas On-Demand Channel 1301, Monday, free to Time Warner Cable Digital subscribers.

Wranglers Radio

All Austin Wranglers football games can be heard on Z102, 102.3 FM. With veteran sports radio announcer Bill Schoening calling the playby- play and Wranglers assistant general manager and NFL veteran Glyn Milburn handling the color announcing. Head Coach Skip Foster will analyze all the action on The Zone 1300 AM with Bucky Godbolt every Monday night, 7-8 p.m.

HEAD COACHES

Skip Foster

Austin Wranglers

Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator

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.

Jay Gruden

Orlando Predators

Head Coach/Director of Football Operations

One of the most successful players and head coaches in AFL history, Jay Gruden returns for his second stint with the Orlando Predators as Head Coach and Director of Football Operations. Gruden returned to the post last summer, after the tragic death of Fran Papasedero in a June 19, 2003 automobile accident.

He began his AFL career in 1991 as quarterback of the Tampa Bay Storm. Over the next six seasons, Gruden led the Storm to a 9-1 record and MVP honors. Gruden left the playing field after the 1996 season, signing a three-year contract to become offensive coordinator of the expansion Nashville Kats.

During his first season in that capacity, Nashville won an expansion-record 10 games. Gruden was credited with developing Andy Kelly into one of the top quarterbacks in the League. With the untimely death of his close friend Papasedero, Gruden reluctantly agreed to assume the head coaching duties of the Predators three weeks after the season ended. For his professional career, Gruden has posted some incredible numbers. As a head coach, he owns a 43-23 record and has won a pair of titles. He ranks in the top 10 in career passing stats with more than 20,000 yards, close to 400 touchdowns and four AFL titles. A two-time All-Arena selection and one-time League MVP, Gruden won 15 of 19 post-season starts. He was 84-25 (.770) as a starting quarterback and 10-5 (.667) as an assistant coach. Counting his 43-23 (.651) record as the head coach with the Predators, Gruden takes an all-time AFL record of 137-53 (.721) into the 2004 season. He was the first person in AFL history to win an AFL title as both a player and a coach. During the 2002-03 season, Gruden became the only active player to was a member of the AFL Hall of Fame.

PREDATORS TO WATCH

QB JOE HAMILTON—This former Georgia Tech standout is in his rookie season with the AFL. Finishing second in Heisman Trophy balloting in 1999, Hamilton was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2000. He spent time as their emergency quarterback in 2000 and 2001. He was allocated to the NFL Europe's Frankfurt Galaxy before being placed on injured reserve for the entire 2002 season. In his first AFL starting performance he completed 23 of 40 passes for 270 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions leading his offense a forth place ranking in Week One.

WR/LB CORY FLEMING—The 1997 AFL Rookie of the Year is in his eighth AFL season out of Tennessee. Fleming ranks in the top 15 active AFL players in receptions, reception yards and touchdowns. He has scored at least 100 points in six of his previous seven seasons and had a very successful 2003 season posting 96 receptions for 1,226 yards and 28 touchdowns. He ranked number one in receptions for the first week of the AFL season with 13 receptions for 151 yards and three touchdowns.

DS KENNY MCENTYRE—Orlando looks for a promising year from McEntyre in his seventh season out of Kansas State. This back-to-back Defensive Player of the Year (2000 and 2001) and four time First Team All-Arena Player (2000- 2003) helped lead the Predators to a third ranked total defense in Week One of play. He is tied for first in the AFL for most interception returns for touchdowns with nine. In 2003 he posted 83 solo tackles, 13 assists and 10 interceptions.

WRANGLERS TO WATCH

QB JOHN KALEO— After an impressive season with Tampa Bay in 2003 where he broke the season record for pass completions on season with 316, the Wranglers are hoping for an exciting year from Kaleo. In his eleventh year with the AFL Kaleo is only 148 passes away from nabbing the fifth place slot for All-Time Most Passes Completed in a career, as he currently resides at number six. In addition, he only lacks 95 pass attempts from becoming number five alltime for Most Pass Attempts Career.

WR/LB DARRYL HAMMOND— This fourteenyear veteran has acquired the most seasons of service than any other AFL player. In 2003 Hammond led the Georgia Force in receptions, making 88 catches for 969 yards. With only 44 catches to go, Hammond could see himself leaping from fifth to fourth place for the All-Time Most Pass Receptions in a career this 2004 season. In 2003, he returned his sixth interception for a touchdown in his career and tied for third-most in the AFL. In his two previous seasons he was named to the all-time All- Ironman Team for the Georgia Force (2002) and the Nashville Kats (2001).

OL/DL TOM BRIGGS— As an AFL veteran, Briggs is currently in his ninth season and the Wranglers are expecting big things from him. He finished the 2003 season with the Dallas Desperados as Lineman of the Year for the second time, accumulating 41 tackles and 10.5 sacks. Briggs is currently ranked as sixth in the AFL for All-Time Most Career Sacks, and is only one sack away from jumping to number five.

WRANGLERS-PREDATORS TEAM COMPARISON

Austin Orlando
Rookies 8 10
AFL Veterans (1-3 years) 8 7
AFL Veterans (4+ years) 8 9
Average Age 29 28
Combined AFL experience 90 69

ALL-TIME AFL TOP-TEN RECORD HOLDERS

OL/DL Tom Briggs
7th- Most Sacks, Career (28.5)
5th- Most Sacks, Season (10.5)
OS Shannon "Skinny" Culver
5th – Most Pass Receptions, Game (16)
WR/LB Darryl Hammond
2nd- Most Tackles, Career (562.5)
2tnd-Most Fumbles Recovered, Season (5)
2tnd- Most Seasons, 50+ Receptions (8)
5th- Most Pass Receptions, Career (677)
5tth – Most Pass Receptions, Game (16)
6tth- Most Interception Return for TDs (6)
9th- Most Yards Gained, Career (7,355)
QB John Kaleo
3trd- Most Season, 2,000+ Passing (5)
4th- Most Passes Attempted, Game (53)
6th- Most Passes Attempted, Career (3,060)
6th- Most Passes Completions, Career (1,810)
6th- Most Yards Gained, Career (22,057)
7th- Most Touchdown Passes, Career (345)
9th- Most Yards Gained, Season (4,188)
DS Cedric Walker
4th- Most Tackles, Career (470.0)
6th- Most Tackles, Season (98.0)
9th- Most Tackles, Season (93.0)

WRANGLERS FROM ORLANDO

Two of the Wranglers veteran leaders started their first AFL seasons as members of the Orlando Predators. In 1996, DS Cedric Ward played five games for the team and WR/DB Charlie Davidson made 13 receptions for 123 yards in six appearances with Orlando.

af2 Talons to AFL Wranglers

Coach Foster looked to several players from his ArenaCup-champion Tulsa Talon team when building the Wranglers roster.

While playing in Tulsa in 2003, WR/LB Mitch Allner became af2's all time leading scorer. In 2003, WR/DB Tacoma Fontaine led the Talons in receiving, catching 93 passes for 1,229 yards and 30 touchdowns. K Tony Dodson spent three seasons kicking for Coach Foster in Tulsa. OL/DL Josh McMillan played every game of his af2 career with the Talons.

Ramon Richardson played two full seasons for the Talon in 2002 and 2003. OL/DL Gladston Taylor was activated by Tulsa for six regular season games during their 2003 season.

Wranglers from Big 12

Five players on the Wranglers roster honed their football skills at current Big 12 schools. OS Shannon Culver earned conference Offensive Newcomer of the Year honors in his debut year at Oklahoma State. DS Brandon Daniels started in three positions as an Oklahoma Sooner: quarterback, wide receiver and safety. His defensive play for the University of Texas earned TE/DE Aaron Humphrey a second place ranking on the all-time tackles for loss at Texas and landed him eighth in career sacks for the Longhorns. As a sophomore, WR/DB Sirr Parker led Texas A&M in rushing and later led the Aggies to a Big 12 title to end his collegiate career. During his senior year, QB Bobby Pesavento led his Colorado University team to a 2001 Big 12 Championship. OL/DL Ramon Richardson was a key defensive player on Oklahoma's 2000 National Champion team.

Texas High School Players

The Wranglers roster is highlighted by eight players who played high school football in Texas, two from Austin. This inaugural season will be a homecoming for WR/DB Charlie Davidson (Del Valley) and FB/LB Dane Krager (Leander). WR/DB Aleric Clark attended Jay High School in San Antonio, Texas. While at Houston's Willowridge High School, OL/DL Gladston Taylor was selected to the SuperPrep All-Region team. USA Today All-American honors were extended to FB/LB Patrise Alexander while attending Ball High School in Galveston. WR/DB Tacoma Fontaine played high school football for Western Hills High School in Ft. Worth, Texas. Before playing collegiate football at Stephen F. Austin, DS Cedric Walker played for Lufkin High School in East Texas. TE/DE Aaron Humphrey was a two time district Defensive Player of the Year during his time at Monterey High School in Lubbock.

Wranglers drafted to the NFL

Four members of the 2004 Austin Wranglers were drafted into the NFL out of college. Both OL/DL Tony Bowick and OL/DL Tom Briggs were initially drafted by the Atlanta Falcons. In 1996, WR/LB Jahine Arnold was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers and DS DeRon Jenkins was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens.

Years in service

WR/LB Darryl Hammond will begin his 14th season in the AFL, most in League history. OL/DL Tony Bowick and QB John Kaleo will begin their 11th seasons in the AFL.

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

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.



Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from February 11, 2004


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.

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