Balck and blue rivalry renews on NBC this Sunday
February 9, 2005 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I) News Release
NEW YORK â The black-and-blue Central Division renews one of the AFL's best rivalries and a potential American Conference Championship preview when "Mr. Hands" OS DAMIAN HARRELL (6-3, 200, Florida State) and the Colorado Crush (1-1) host "The Franchise" QB RAYMOND PHILYAW (6-1, 200, NE Louisiana) and the Chicago Rush at Pepsi Center this Sunday at 3 p.m. ET to kick off NBC's full slate of Week 3 coverage.
Former NFL QB and AFL head coach STEVE DE BERG will join AFL on NBC studio host AL TRAUTWIG and analyst GLENN PARKER in the studio for halftime commentary and postgame wrap-up interviews. DeBerg has been credited for bringing 2004 Rookie of the Year QB ADRIAN MC PHERSON to the AFL while with Indiana.
In Florida, the War on I-4 adds another chapter in its storied history when TIM MARCUM's Tampa Bay Storm (2-0) travel up Interstate 4 to TD Waterhouse Centre to face JAY GRUDEN's Orlando Predators (2-0) in what could be a preview of the National Conference Championship on Friday at 7:30 p.m. on Sun Sports and INHD. The 2004 U.S. Army Ironman of the Year WR/LB CORY FLEMING (6-3, 215, Tennessee) teams with QB JOE HAMILTON (5-10, 190, Georgia Tech) in an attempt to match TD-for-TD with Tampa Bay's duo of QB SHANE STAFFORD (6-3, 210, Connecticut) and WR/LB CLIF DELL (5-11, 180, South Florida).
The defending champion San Jose SaberCats (1-1) head to the bayou to face the defending Southern Division champion New Orleans VooDoo (1-1) this Sunday at 3 p.m. ET on NBC. San Jose's former Offensive Player of the Year QB MARK GRIEB (6-3, 208, Cal-Davis) guides the No. 3-ranked offense (305.5 YPG), while Week 2 Offensive Player of the Week QB ANDY KELLY (6-3, 220, Tennessee) leads the No. 2 ranked offense (316.5 YPG) under 2004 Coach of the Year MIKE NEU's guidance.
Do you prefer country or rock-and-roll? The two will clash when TIM MC GRAW's Nashville Kats (1-1) travel to Wachovia Center to face JON BON JOVI's Philadelphia Soul (1-1) this Sunday at 3 p.m. ET on NBC. 2004 All-Arena QB TONY GRAZIANI (6-3, 210, Oregon) and two-time U.S. Army Ironman of the Week WR/LB SEAN SCOTT (6-2, 200, Millersville) have become one of the AFL's most lethal duos. The Kats counter with QB LEON MURRAY (6-3, 210, Tennessee State) and deep-threat WR/DB FRED COLEMAN (6-1, 194, Washington).
Columbus head coach CHRIS SPIELMAN looks for his first career victory when his Destroyers (0-1) travel to American Airlines Center to face All-Ironman WR/DB WILL PETTIS (6-0, 200, Midwestern State) and the Dallas Desperados (1-1) in an Eastern Division showdown this Sunday at 3 p.m. ET on NBC. Pettis, who is No. 3 in all-purpose yards (190.0 YPG), will go head-to-head with Columbus WR/DB SEDRICK ROBINSON (5-10, 185, Kentucky Wesleyan). The two versatile stars finished No. 1 and 2 â Pettis (188.6 YPG) and Robinson (169.4 YPG) â in all-purpose yards in 2004.
Week 3 slate of games include: Tampa Bay at Orlando (Sun Sports, FSN Pittsburgh & INHD), Los Angeles at Austin (FSN West, FSN Southwest & NASN-Europe), New York at Las Vegas (AFL Net - www.arenafootball.com) on Friday; Arizona at Georgia (FSN Arizona & FSN South) on Saturday; Columbus at Dallas (NBC), Nashville at Philadelphia (NBC), Chicago at Colorado (NBC) and San Jose at New Orleans (NBC & NASN-Europe). Grand Rapids has a bye week.
ARENA FOOTBALL LEAGUE WRITERS' ASSOCIATION (AFLWA)
RANK TEAM RECORD VOTES (FIRST PLACE)
1 Tampa Bay Storm 2-0 119 (14)
2 Orlando Predators 2-0 101 (1)
3 San Jose SaberCats 1-1 65
4 Chicago Rush 1-1 61
5 Colorado Crush 1-1 58
6 New York Dragons 1-0 52
7 Philadelphia Soul 1-1 23
8 New Orleans VooDoo 1-1 15
Also receiving votes: Arizona Rattlers 13, Georgia Force 8, Nashville Kats 8, Los Angeles Avengers 7, Dallas Desperados 5 and Las Vegas Gladiators 5.
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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from February 9, 2005
- Balck and blue rivalry renews on NBC this Sunday - AFL I
- Gladiators make roster moves, Dolezel placed on IR - Las Vegas Gladiators
- Rattlers Bring Back Anthony Brenner - Arizona Rattlers
- Colorado Crush game notes - Colorado Crush
- War on I-4 a battle of unbeatens - AFL I
- VooDoo QB Andy Kelly named AFL's Offensive Player of the Week - New Orleans VooDoo
- Wranglers will Start Fitzgerald, Make Changes to Active Roster - Austin Wranglers
- A Look Around The Leagues - OSC Original by Walter L. Johnson II
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