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Birmingham Steeldogs game notes

April 12, 2005 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Alabama Steeldogs News Release


The Quick Facts
BIRMINGHAM STEELDOGS GAME NOTES
Birmingham Steeldogs (0-1) at Macon Knights (1-1)
Thursday, April 14, 2005 - 6:30 p.m.
Macon Coliseum (7,182) - Macon, Georgia
Radio: WJOX-AM 690...Matt Coulter (play-by-play) and Roger Shultz (color analyst)
Overall Series Record: Steeldogs lead the series, 4-2
Streaks: Birmingham has won three consecutive vs. Macon
Last Meeting: Birmingham defeated Macon, 50-31, at Macon
Coaches (regular season records):
BIR: Bobby Humphrey (47-34 - 6th Season)
MAC: Mike Hold (1-1 - 1st Season)
(22-11 - as an af2 Head Coach)
Officials: Rusty Wynn (R), Mike Cullin (U), Jeff Heaser (HL), Harold Mitchell (LJ), Ronnie Stewart (BJ)

2005 Steeldogs Schedule
2005 American Conference South
Date Opponent Time (CT) Series/Res.
Sat., April 9 San Diego 7:00 p.m. L, 57-58
Thu., April 14 at Macon 6:30 p.m. Bir., 4-2
Sat., April 23 Memphis 7:00 p.m. Bir., 3-0
Sat., April 30 at Louisville 6:30 p.m. Bir., 3-1
Sat., May 7 S. Georgia 7:00 p.m. Ga., 0-1
Sat., May 14 at San Diego 9:00 p.m. S.D, 1-0
Sat., May 21 at Arkansas 7:00 p.m. Bir., 4-3
Sat., May 28 Green Bay 7:00 p.m. Bir., 1-0
Sat., June 4 at Florida 6:30 p.m. Bir., 3-2
Sat., June 11 Louisville 7:00 p.m. Bir., 3-1
Sat., June 18 at Memphis 7:00 p.m. Bir., 3-0
Fri., June 24 at Green Bay 7:00 p.m. Bir., 1-0
Sat., July 9 Macon 7:00 p.m. Bir., 4-2
Sat., July 16 at S. Georgia 6:30 p.m. Ga., 0-1
Sat., July 23 Arkansas 7:00 p.m. Bir., 4-3
Sat., July 30 Florida 7:00 p.m. Bir., 3-2

STEELDOGS FALL ON OPENING NIGHT: Birmingham dropped a heartbreaker in their season-opener against the San Diego Riptide, 58- 57. The loss marked the fourth opening-night loss in the Steeldogs' six year history.

ON THE REBOUND: Steeldogs Head Coach Bobby Humphrey is 3-0 in his career after a season-opening loss. In fact, Birmingham seems to thrive on beginning the season on a dour note. After a week one loss at Tulsa in 2002, the Steeldogs reeled off victories in eight of their next nine games, finishing the season with a berth in the National Conference Championship game.

In 2004, Birmingham dropped their first game on the road at Bossier City, 63-41. Humphrey's crew then proceeded to win seven games in a row, a team-record. Birmingham's average margin of victory in those games was more than 18 points.

PEACH STATE BLUES: The Steeldogs have not fared too well playing in the State of Georgia, compiling a 3-3 record against the Macon Knights and the now-defunct Columbus Wardogs. The Steeldogs did complete their Georgia swing last year with a 50-31 win over Macon in Birmingham's regular-season finale.

MACON' IT AGAINST THE KNIGHTS: The Steeldogs have enjoyed much success against their rivals in the American Conference South Division, the Macon Knights. Birmingham owns a 4-2 career record against the Knights and has won the last three games in the series. Following a 49-29 loss to Macon on April 19, 2003, the Steeldogs have outscored the Knights 168-95 in the series last three games. Two of those match-ups came in the Macon Coliseum, where the Steeldogs own a career 2-1 record.

OVER THE HUMP: Steeldogs Head Coach Bobby Humphrey is just one win away from his 50th career victory as the "top dog" of Birmingham's Hometown Team. Humphrey currently owns a 47-34 regular-season record along with a 2-3 career playoff record. Humphrey is currently the all-time winningest head coach in the af2, surpassing former Macon coach Kevin Porter (45 career wins) during the 2004 season. NELSON OR ZOW?: One of the Steeldogs' most-heralded signees of the team's six-year history did not play in the team's season-opener against the San Diego Riptide. Former University of Alabama quarterback Andrew Zow did not see any action in the game due to tendonitis in his throwing shoulder. Coach Bobby Humphrey is hopeful that Zow will be healthy enough to play at Macon on Thursday.

In the meantime, former Samford University star Ray Nelson looked solid in Zow's absence. After an early interception, Nelson directed the Steeldogs offense efficiently, guiding his team to points in eight of Birmingham's 10 offensive drives. Nelson finished 9 of 20 passing for 171 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. He also ran seven times for 41 yards and a touchdown.

BILLINGS ON THE RUN: Steeldogs FB/LB Patrick Billings made quite an impact in his first af2 game. The Stillman College-product collected 27 yards and three touchdowns on only three rushing attempts. "P-Bill" averaged nine yards per touch.

WHAT'S AT STAKE AGAINST THE KNIGHTS:
A WIN GIVES BIRMINGHAM...
-their first victory of the 2005 season
-a 4-0 record in games following a season-opening loss
-a 5-2 all-time record against Macon
-a milestone 50th career victory for Bobby Humphrey as a head coach in the af2, his 48th regular season victory
-a 22-23 career road record
-a 12-8 career record against teams from the American Conference South Division
-a 17-10 record against American Conference teams
-a 15-6 lifetime record in the month of April

DETRONN'S DOMINATING: Bobby Humphrey calls him "the missing piece of the puzzle." Opposing defenses generally refer to him as their worst nightmare. Detronn Harris, the last player signed to the Steeldogs' 2005 roster is picking up right where he left off in 2004.

Before making his way to Charlotte and the Carolina Panthers' training camp lineup, Detronn's 4.2 speed exhausted defensive backs and made insomniacs out of many a defensive coordinators. He finished second on the squad in receiving and scoring, despite the notable handicap of appearing in just nine of the Steeldogs' 17 games.

Against San Diego, he caught three passes for 67 yards and a touchdown. In the same game, he returned six kickoffs for 133 yards, including a 50-yard touchdown scamper.

Advice? We keep hearing wonderful things about Unisom.

ONE FOR THE ROAD...SERIOUSLY : The Steeldogs' first road trip of the season has been historically unsuccessful. Birmingham owns a 1-4 record upon taking their show on the road for the first time in a season. In 2000, the Steeldogs dropped their first road game in team history at Pensacola, 69-42. In 2002, the Steeldogs opened the season with a 55-42 loss at Tulsa. In 2003, Birmingham fell at Macon 49-29, and in 2004, the ‘Dogs dropped a 63-41 decision at Bossier City.

Birmingham's lone road win on their first try of the season came in 2001, as the Steeldogs downed Bossier, 63-57, in overtime.

DIVISIONAL FIRST-NIGHTERS: The Steeldogs are 3-2 when playing their first game against a divisional opponent in the team's five year history.

This week's game at Macon marks the Steeldogs' first intra-divisional tilt of the 2005 season, as well as the third time that Birmingham will open their division slate on the road. The Steeldogs own a career 1-1 record when starting division play away from home, with the lone loss coming at Macon in 2003. Since switching from the National to the American Conference, the Steeldogs are 2-1 in division openers.

LEAGUE LEADERS:
*Birmingham currently leads the af2 in rushing offense (71.0 yards per game), rushing average per carry (6.5 yards per carry) and rushing touchdowns (4)
*The Steeldogs lead the af2 in passing yards per catch, with 18.9 yards per reception
*Birmingham is tied with Memphis for the leagues' best red zone offense conversion percentage (4 of 4 for 100%)
*Patrick Billings leads the league in rushing TDs (3)
*Detronn Harris is tied for first in KO return TDs (1)

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