Austin Wranglers training camp week one
Published on January 3, 2005 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Austin Wranglers News Release
The Austin Wranglers report to camp today, starting with individual physicals, equipment check-in and a light afternoon practice.
Austin fans can expect to see some exciting action on and off the field with new players, coaching staff and front office management.
The Wranglers welcome new team President Doug MacGregor and former AFL player and veteran assistant coach Jon Norris. Competition at the quarterback position is wide-open as 2004 starter John Kaleo was traded to the Los Angeles Avengers during the offseason.
Head Coach Skip Foster and General Manager Glyn Milburn have built the Wranglers 37-man training camp roster around 16 returning players, nine scheduled to return to the Wranglers in the team's second season and seven re-signed in free agency. Free agency also brought 10 veteran Arena Football performers from around the League including the All-Arena first-team selection, OL/DL Bryan Henderson.
Wranglers Fan Fest
The Austin Wranglers invite all Wranglers fans for an exhibition practice at Soccer Zone in Cedar Park on Saturday, January 8, from noon-3 p.m. In addition to the team's practice, the 2005 Lady Wranglers will entertain the crowd. Wranglers players, coaches and Lady Wranglers will be available for autographs at the event.
Kickoff Season Ticket Package
All those who purchase a minimum of two season tickets at www.austinwranglers.com from now until January 15 will receive a $25 credit to the Wranglers On-Line Store. To purchase tickets, go to www.austinwranglers.com or call 477-6060.
Austin Wranglers Coaches
AT A GLANCE
Skip Foster
Austin Wranglers Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator
Head Coach Skip Foster is entering his second AFL season with the Austin Wranglers. Foster, deemed the second most winning coach in arenafootball2 history with a 44-10 record, will again act as the Wranglers offensive coordinator in addition to carrying the head coaching duties. In the team's inaugural season performance, Foster's offense scored 104 touchdowns, averaged 47.8 points per game, led the AFL in total offense for five weeks and remained one of the League's top three total offenses for a total of fifteen weeks in 2004. The Wranglers offensive unit gained more than 300 yards in five different performances. Prior to joining the Wranglers, Foster served as the head coach for the 2003 af2-Champion Tulsa Talons. Foster was the only af2 coach to go undefeated at home over three consecutive regular seasons. Before moving to arena football, Foster compiled a record of 82-39-2 at Coffeyville Community College in Kansas and led the Red Ravens to six conference championships during his 12 seasons as the head coach. In 1990, Foster led Coffeyville to a national championship and an undefeated season.
Jon Norris
Austin Wranglers
Defensive Coordinator, Line Coach
Norris joins the coaching staff of the Austin Wranglers after two years with the Dallas Desperados and a year as assistant head coach and offensive and defensive line coach with the Oklahoma Wranglers. In his first year with the Dallas Desperados, Norris used his own four-year AFL career as a teaching tool for his inexperienced linemen and their transition to life on both sides of the ball. In his second year, the defensive line was ranked second in the league with 27 sacks and the offensive line was the anchor of an offense that led the league in total offense. In Austin he is reunited with Tom Briggs who he coached in Dallas. In Norris' second year in Dallas, Briggs earned All-Arena, All-Ironman and Lineman of the Year honors. Prior to joining the ranks of the AFL's Texas teams, he was the head coach for the af2 Tulsa Talons, NCAA Division II Panhandle State University in Goodwell, Okla. and served as an assistant coach at the collegiate and AFL levels.
Michael Foster
Austin Wranglers
Secondary Coach, Special Teams, Director of Pro Scouting
Foster returns to the Austin Wranglers for his second season in the AFL and 29th year of coaching. In the team's inaugural season, Foster's group of defensive backs averaged almost four stops per game and contributed approximately half of the defense's 429 total tackles to go along with 31 pass breakups, six interceptions and five fumble recoveries. The Wranglers kick coverage unit finished the 2004 season ranked fifth in the League limiting their opponents to an average start at the 12.4 yard line and stopped their opponents inside the 10 yard line on more than half of their returns. Prior to coming to the Wranglers, Foster spent four years at Southwest Missouri State University coaching the defensive secondary and outside linebackers and served as an assistant coach, special teams coordinator and recruiting coordinator at the University of Tulsa from 1997-99.
Eddie Vowell
Austin Wranglers
Fullbacks/Linebackers
Vowell is entering his sixth season as an AFL coach and second with the Wranglers. In the Wranglers first season, Vowell worked with the Fullback/Linebackers to inspire a successful year for his two-way players. This group combined for 110 rush attempts for 317 yards and 15 touchdowns on offense and 42 total tackles, 2.5 sacks, six passes defensed, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and eight quarterback hurries on defense. Prior to joining the Wranglers, Vowell's AFL experience included three seasons as assistant head coach with the Tampa Bay Storm and one season as an assistant with the Grand Rapids Rampage. Vowell spent 13 seasons as head coach of Texas A&M-Commerce (formerly East Texas State University) and coached a total of 18 players at the collegiate level that have gone on to star in the AFL.
AUSTIN WRANGLERS RETURNING PLAYERS
AT A GLANCE
JEREMY BEUTLER OL/DL AFL: 4 Ohio
Beutler finished his first season in Austin with nine tackles, four passes defensed and five quarterback hurries on defense. He ranked second on the team in rushing with 47 attempts for 133 yards and seven receptions for 40 yards and a combined total of eight touchdowns on offense. Traded to the Dallas Desperados during the 2002 season where he remained through 2003. Originally signed with the Carolina Cobras and spent the 2000 and 2001 seasons on the Reserve/Exempt list after two years away from the indoor game. Beutler accumulated 21 yards rushing for 1 touchdown and 14 tackles (9 solo) during his AFL career prior to the 2004 season.
TOM BRIGGS OL/DL AFL: 9 West Virginia
Briggs is entering his ninth AFL season, second with the Wranglers. Regarded as one of the best linemen win the AFL, he posted 8.5 sacks for the Wranglers in 2004, leading the team and registering the third-most in the League. His contributions also extended to Austin's offensive efforts with six receptions for 74 yards and two touchdowns. Upon the conclusion of the 2004 season, Briggs was selected to the All-Arena Team for the third time in his career. In his 2003 campaign with the Dallas Desperados, Briggs was chosen as the AFL's Lineman of the Year after a 41-tackle, 10.5-sack performance under the direction of new Wranglers Defensive Coordinator and Line Coach Jon Norris.
GREG BROWN WR/DB AFL: 1 Texas
Brown begins his second AFL season with the Wranglers. He spent eight games of the 2004 season on the practice squad and played the last two games of the season, recording two tackles. Brown played two seasons with the Rhein Fire of NFL Europe where his career totals included 94 tackles, 14 passes defensed, six interceptions and a forced fumble. Attended the University of Texas where he played in 43 career games. He recorded 168 tackles, six interceptions, eight pass defenses and three forced fumbles.
BRENT BROWNER DS AFL: 3 Northern Iowa
Browner played in eight games for the Wranglers in 2004, after spending first two weeks of the regular season on Injured Reserve. He recorded a career high 24.5 total tackles, one pass defensed, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery on defense and caught two passes for 18 yards on offense. Browner Joined the AFL's Detroit Fury in 2003 where he Registered 21 total tackles, eight passes defensed, and one interception.
DARRIN CHIAVERINI WR/LB AFL: 2 Colorado
Chiaverini returns to the Wranglers for his second season after coming to the team in Week Six of the 2004 AFL season. In the 12 games he played for the Wranglers, he contributed greatly to the offense with 60 receptions for 676 yards and 13 touchdowns. He proved to be a two-way threat, as he added 21 total tackles and an interception on defense. Chiaverini was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in 1999 and spent time with the Dallas Cowboys and Atlanta Falcons.
BRANDON DANIELS DS AFL: 2 Oklahoma
As a rookie, Daniels played in 13 contests for the Wranglers in 2004, with four starts at WR/LB. He accumulated 22 total tackles, 20 solo and two passes defensed and gained 197 yards on 18 receptions, scored three touchdown and rushed for one additional touchdown. As a member of the 2003 ArenaCup-champion Tulsa Talons, accumulated nine receptions for 111 yards and a touchdown and returned one field goal for 24 yards and two kickoffs for 43 yards on offense. On defense, he posted 43.5 total tackles, 37 solo, 10 passes defensed, and three interceptions for 47 return yards. During his college career at Oklahoma, he started at three different positionsâquarterback, wide receiver and safety.
CHARLIE DAVIDSON WR/DB AFL: 10 Mississippi State
Davidson returns to the Wranglers for his tenth AFL season after posting career highs on offense and special teams with the Wrangles in 2004. Davidson had 92 receptions for 883 yards and 16 touchdowns, which leaves him only 56 yards from 5,000 career receiving yards. He also led the team in kickoff returns and yards with 45 returns for 821 yards. On defense he recorded 37.5 total tackles and eight passes defensed. He also led the team in interceptions with three. Davidson attended Del Valle high school before being recruited by Mississippi State.
TONY DODSON K AFL: 2 Arkansas
Dodson returns to the Wranglers after his 2004 rookie season in which he kicked in all 16 games. He ranked second in the AFL for most touchbacks on kickoffs with 44 and converted 84 of 97 PAT's and eight of 18 field goals. He also recorded seven games in which he converted all PATs attempted. Dodson came to the Wranglers from the Tulsa Talons. He is the af2's career leading kick scorer with 310 points. He kicked five field goals of 50-plus yards in 2003 for the Tulsa Talons on their way to the AreanCup and made three of the longest field goals in af2 history with two 56-yarders and a 55-yarder.
TACOMA FONTAINE OS-WR/DB AFL: 2 Southwest Missouri State
In Fontaine played in 13 games for the Wranglers and was selected to the AFL All-Rookie team in 2004. He led the Wranglers in receiving yards and touchdowns with 1,076 yards and 21 touchdowns on 72 receptions and recorded five consecutive games with more than 100 receiving yards. He also holds Wranglers single-game records for receiving yards, longest reception, receiving touchdowns, longest kickoff return and total yards from scrimmage. Fontaine led the 2003 af2 ArenaCup-champion Tulsa Talons in receiving with 93 receptions for 1,229 yards and 30 touchdowns. He also returned 15 missed field goals for 339 yards for one touchdown, and 33 kickoffs for 888 yards and two touchdowns and registered five tackles defensively.
AARON HUMPHREY DE/TE AFL: 2 Texas
Humphrey returns to the Wranglers after receiving AFL All-Rookie honors for his 2004 performance. He recorded 16.5 tackles, three sacks, three passes defensed, four forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and a quarterback hurry as well as the team's only safety at Georgia. He also recorded two receptions for 21 yards. Humphrey joined the Wranglers after stints in the NFL, including NFL Europe. The 1999 Longhorn MVP was a proven defensive end at the University of Texas that currently ranks second in all-time tackles for loss (50.5) and is eighth on the Longhorn career sack chart (24.5).
JARRAIL JACKSON WR/LB AFL: 4 Oklahoma
After starting the 2004 AFL season with the Columbus Destroyers accumulating 10 receptions for 104 yards and two touchdowns, Jackson joined the Wranglers in AFL Week 14. He was never activated for a game with the Wranglers and finished the season defensively with six total tackles, four solo, and two passes defensed. Jackson played under current Wranglers Defensive Coordinator Jon Norris while he was the head coach of the af2 Tulsa Talons and continued with the Talons leading the team in receptions and kickoff returns in 2001 under current Wranglers Head Coach Skip Foster.
DANE KRAGER FB/LB AFL: 2 Angelo State
Krager returns to the Wranglers after playing in 14 games as a rookie in 2004. He led the team in rushing with 41 attempts for 152 yards and five touchdowns and recorded 22.5 tackles, two forced fumbles, one sack, one pass defensed, a fumble recovery and a quarterback hurry on defense. He ranked 10th in the league for rushing yards and rushed for more than 20 yards in three games. Krager was signed from Wranglers open tryouts after spending time in training camp with the NFL's Seattle Seahawks in 2003 being allocated to NFL Europe's Rhein Fire by the Minnesota Vikings in 2002. He ranks first in Angelo State history with 31 career sacks and set an Angelo State single-season record with 15 sacks in 1999. He finished his college career ranked ninth on the school's career tackle list.
BOBBY PESAVENTO QB AFL: 3 Colorado
As a backup quarterback for the Wranglers in 2004, Pesavento took the field at QB for two games. He finished the season completing all five of his pass attempts for 98 yards, no interceptions and two touchdowns. With the Colorado Crush in 2003, Pesavento saw action in four games completing 13 of 37 pass attempts for a total of 118 yards and two touchdowns. While at the University of Colorado, he played in 15 games with eight starts leading the Buffalos to the 2001 Big 12 Championship in his senior campaign
RAMON RICHARDSON OL/DL AFL: 2 Oklahoma
Richardson returns to the Wranglers for his second AFL season after playing in 15 games in 2004. Last season, he recorded 16 total tackles, two quarterback hurries, two passes defensed, two forced fumbles, one sack and a fumble recovery and caught two passes for 22 yards and a touchdown. Prior to joining the Wranglers, Richardson played two seasons for the af2 Tulsa Talons during which he notched 47 tackles, 9.5 sacks and eight quarterback hurries.
ERIC THOMAS OL/DL AFL: 4 Florida State
2005 begins Thomas' his fourth AFL season and second with the Wranglers. In 2004, he played on both sides of the line in 15 games for the Wranglers as he started all 15 games at center. He recorded career highs with five tackles, two sacks a fumble recovery and a quarterback hurry. 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.
CEDRIC WALKER DS AFL: 10 Stephen F. Austin
Walker will be a defensive asset for the Wranglers as he begins his tenth AFL season. Walker started in all 16 games for the Wranglers last season led the team with 67 total tackles for which he was ranked 19th in the AFL. He was ranked 15th in the AFL for solo tackle with 61. Walker also recorded four passes defensed, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery in 2004. Before playing football at Stephen F. Austin, Walker was an all-district performer in football, basketball and baseball at Lufkin High School.
AUSTIN WRANGLERS AFL VETERAN FREE AGENTS
AT A GLANCE
JOHN FITZGERALD QB AFL: 4 Tulsa
In his 2004 performance with the AFL-expansion New Orleans VooDoo, Fitzgerald surpassed his career numbers in all areas of the quarterback position. While starting all 16 regular season games with the VooDoo, he completed 279 of 488 pass attempts for 3,425 yards and 61 touchdowns and 15 interceptions and was named Offensive Player of the Game four times. In his Arena Football career, Fitzgerald has accumulated 557 completions in 939 attempts for 6,600 yards and 111 touchdowns. Fitzgerald has also appeared in three playoff matches completing 73 passes of 116 attempts for 921 yards, two interceptions and 19 touchdowns.
BRYAN HENDERSON OL/DL AFL: 3 Northwest Oklahoma
One element in strengthening the line was signing free agent Bryan Henderson. Henderson was named First Team All-AFL for his performance during the Arizona Rattlers' 2004 ArenaBowl campaign coming off his 2003 All-Rookie season. He led the team with a record eight sacks, posted 19.5 tackles, four forced fumbles and one blocked kick. Henderson appeared in three postseason contests for Arizona, recording three tackles. In college, Henderson earned First Team All-Conference at Northwest Oklahoma University in 2000 after Transferring from Los Angeles Valley (CA) Junior College, where he earned First Team Juco All-America in 1999.
KELVIN HUNTER DS AFL: 5 Arizona
Hunter will begin his fifth AFL season in Austin from the Arizona Rattlers where he played his past three seasons. He appeared in 10 games for the Rattlers, recording 43.5 tackles, 41 solo, and 1.5 tackles for loss. During the Rattlers' playoff run to the 2004 ArenaBowl, Hunter earned ADT Defensive Player of the Week for his performance in Arizona's semi-final victory. He added seven passes defensed to bring his career numbers to 102 total tackles and 22 passes defensed.
GAYLON HYDER OL/DL AFL: 2 Texas Christian
Going into his second AFL season, Gaylon Hyder spent most of the 2004 season with the New Orleans VooDoo where he contributed to an offensive line that allowed only 10 sacks, which ranked them fifth in the AFL. In New Orleans, Hyder recorded 2.5 tackles and one blocked kick. The end of his 2004 season was spent with the Detroit Fury where he appeared in two games. Hyder spent time in the NFL with the 1999 Super Bowl Champion St. Louis Rams and the Cleveland Browns. Hyder earned East Texas Player of the Year honors during his junior and senior seasons at Longview High School.
JAMIE LOVERN OL/DL AFL: 4 Appalachian State
After spending his first three seasons in the AFL with the Dallas Desperados, Jamie Lovern is set to join the Wranglers' stacked two-way line. Lovern has racked up 16 tackles and two sacks in his three year career. After playing at Appalachian State, Lovern was signed by the Carolina Panther as a rookie free agent in 2001 and was released prior to training camp.
ANGEL RUBIO OL/DL AFL: 5 Southeast Missouri State
Angel Rubio comes to the Wranglers to begin his fifth AFL season. In 2004 he played in 11 games for the Detroit Fury and 3 games for the Dallas Desperados. His combined totals for the 2004 season included 11.5 total tackles, 2 sacks and 1.5 tackles for loss. Prior to coming to the AFL, Rubio played in the XFL's Las Vegas Outlaws in 2001 where he recorded 18 tackles and three sacks. He also spent training camp with the Arizona Cardinals in 2000 and the San Francisco 49ers in 1999. While attending Southeast Missouri State, Rubio received Division 1-AA All-American, Ohio Valley Conference Defensive Player of the Year, and All-OVC honors.
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from January 3, 2005
- Destroyers begin training camp Tuesday - Columbus Destroyers
- VooDoo to hold Select-A-Seat event January 6 - New Orleans VooDoo
- Austin Wranglers training camp week one - Austin Wranglers
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