Birmingham Steeldogs game notes
April 4, 2006 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Alabama Steeldogs News Release
QUICK FACTS:
Everett Hawks (0-1)
at Birmingham Steeldogs (0-0)
Date: Saturday, April 8, 2006
Kickoff: 7:00 p.m. CT
Site: BJCC Arena (16,000)
National Anthem: Pelham High School Choir
Coin Toss:
Officials: David Smith (Referee), Mark Baynes (Umpire),
Dirk Bell (Head Linesman), Rod Holloway (Line
Judge), Wayne Gautney (Back Judge)
Radio: WAPI-1070 AM (Matt Coulter and Roger Shultz)
TV: None
Series Record: First Meeting
Last Meeting: First Meeting
Streaks: Birmingham L2 (from 2005), Everett L1
Coaches: Ron Selesky (19-13; 1-1 playoffs, Third Season)
Rickey Foggie (0-0, 0-0 playoffs, First Season)
THE STAKES: This is the beginning of the Steeldogs' seventh season of af2 football...Birmingham is coming off their worst-ever season, a 2-14 campaign in 2005...this is HC Ron Selesky's first game with the Steeldogs.
THE SERIES: This is the first game of the series.
THE IFs:
If Birmingham defeats Everett, it would ...
- Give the Steeldogs a 1-0 series record with Everett
- Give Ron Selesky a 1-0 record with the team, 21-14 overall
- Give the Steeldogs a 3-4 all-time opening night record
- Give the Steeldogs a 5-2 all-time home opener record
- Give the Steeldogs a 3-1 all-time record on opening night against expansion teams
BIRMINGHAM (0-0, Lost 2 dating back to 2005)
Date Opponent Result Score
4/8 EVERETT 7:00 ---
Date Opponent Time Streak Series
4/14 RIO GRANDE 7:00 BHM 1-0
4/21 @ Louisville 7:00 Tied 3-3
4/29 @ South Georgia 7:00 SGA 2-1
5/5 LOUISVILLE 7:00 Tied 3-3
5/13 @ Florida 6:30 FLA 4-3
5/20 @ Tennessee Valley 7:30 TV 9-2
5/27 MACON 7:00 Tied 4-4
6/3 @ Everett 9:30 Tied 0-0
6/10 SOUTH GEORGIA 7:00 SGA 2-1
6/17 @ Memphis 7:00 BHM 3-2
6/24 FLORIDA 7:00 FLA 4-3
7/8 @ Rio Grande 7:00 BHM 1-0
7/15 @ Macon 7:00 Tied 4-4
7/22 MEMPHIS 7:00 BHM 3-2
7/29 TENNESSEE VALLEY 7:00 TV 9-2
EVERETT (0-1, Lost 1)
Date Opponent Result Score
3/30 BAKERSFIELD 7:30 L 54-60
4/8 @ Birmingham 7:00 ---
Date Opponent Time Streak Series
4/15 @ Spokane 6:00
4/30 CENTRAL VALLEY 2:00
5/6 @ Stockton 7:00
5/12 SPOKANE 7:30
5/20 @ Tulsa 5:00
5/27 STOCKTON 7:00
6/3 BIRMINGHAM 7:30 Tied 0-0
6/10 @ Central Valley 7:30
6/17 @ Stockton 7:00
6/24 CENTRAL VALLEY 7:30
7/8 BAKERSFIELD 7:30
7/15 GREEN BAY 7:30
7/22 @ Spokane 6:00
7/29 @ Bakersfield 7:00
HEAD COACHES:
RON SELESKY, BIRMINGHAM STEELDOGS
Head Coach Ron Selesky is an Arena Football League and af2 coaching veteran. He served as the defensive coordinator for the Columbus Destroyers in 2005 under Head Coach Chris Spielman. Prior to that, Selesky spent the 2004 season on the sidelines for the Carolina Cobras, beginning the year as the team's defensive coordinator before finishing the season as the head coach.
Selesky earned af2 Coach of the Year honors in 2002, guiding the expansion Albany Conquest to a regular-season mark of 13-3 and a Northeast Division title. He spent the 2001 season as the head coach of the Louisville Fire, leading the team to a 6-10 mark.
Selesky spent the 2003 season as head coach and director of football operations for the Buffalo Destroyers, prior to the team relocating to Columbus, Ohio. He also served as the director of player personnel and assistant coach for the Tampa Bay Storm from 1997 to 1999. With the Storm, his teams compiled a 31-11 regular season record and earned a berth in the 1998 ArenaBowl.
RICKEY FOGGIE, EVERETT HAWKS
Coach Foggie joins the Hawks after spending last season with the Amarillo Dusters. Under Foggie, Amarillo was the af2's number one scoring offense, averaging 55.8 points per game. For his efforts Foggie was named the League's Assistant Coach of the Year for 2005.
Beginning his football career with the Minnesota Gophers in 1984, Foggie was a four-year starter. Coach Foggie finished 2nd All-Time in Total Offense at Minnesota. He led his team to two back-to-back bowl berths and was a Big 10 All-Conference Quarterback in 1985, 1986, and 1987. He was the team MVP for all four season and was inducted in the Minnesota Gopher and Independence Bowl Hall of Fame.
After a stint in the CFL the "Fog Dog" was known as one of the most exciting players in the AFL. Accurate passing along with unbelievable escapable was his trademark.
LAST SERIES MEETING: First Meeting
SERIES NOTABLES: First Meeting
FAMILIAR FACES: Rickey Foggie was Ron Selesky's QB when Selesky took over as head coach at Carolina in 2004. Foggie and Steeldogs volunteer coach Chris Pope both played with the New Jersey Red Dogs in the late 90's along with Foggie's two assistant coaches (Matt Steeple and Alvin Ashley). Reggie Hargrove played for Coach Selesky in Louisville in 2001.
LEAGUE TOP 10s: Players from this week's matchup who rank among af2's statistical leaders:
STEELDOGS
Player Rank Category Stat
HAWKS
Player Rank Category Stat
Julian Reese 3rd Total Offense 319.0 y/g
Julian Reese 2nd Passing Avr/Gm 296.0 y/g
Julian Reese 1st Pass Efficiency 150.1
TALE OF THE TAPE: Here's how the Steeldogs and Hawks stack up:
Statistical BIRMINGHAM EVERETT
Category Rank Stat Rank Stat
Scoring Offense 4th 54.0
Scoring Defense 22nd 60.0
Total Offense 2nd 327.0
Total Defense 20th 287.0
Pass Offense 2nd 296.0
Pass Defense 18th 251.0
Rushing Offense 4th 31.0
Rushing Defense 23rd 36.0
Scoring 4th 54
Pass Rating 2nd 150.1
Pass Def. Rating 21st 146.5
Kickoff Returns 4th 17.2
MFG Returns t-7th 0-0
Turnover Margin t-22nd -2
Field Goals t-3rd 0-2
PAT Kicking 5th 6-8
Sacks By t-4th 1-2
Sacks Against t-1st 0-0
First Downs 2nd 24
Opp. First Downs t-17th 17
Penalties 20th 10-62
Opp. Penalties 6th 6-58
STEELDOGS INJURY REPORT:
Pos. Name Injury Status
WR/DB Donald Amaker Torn ACL Out
DS Roberto Terrell Hamstring Out
OL/DL Eric Thomas Quad Strain Day-to-Day
MILESTONES: Saturday is beginning of the Steeldogs' seventh season of af2 football in Birmingham. The team is the longest-tenured professional football team in the city's history. The second-longest, the USFL's Stallions, lasted three seasons.
Head Coach Ron Selesky begins his tenure in Birmingham, having built a 20-14 lifetime af2 record at Louisville in 2001 and Albany in 2002.
The Steeldogs roster will have only two returning players from the 2005 squad. David Daniel and Alex Walls are the team veterans, with Daniel beginning his fourth season as a Steeldog and Walls his second.
DROPBACK: No game last week
FORWARD MOTION: The Steeldogs will debut a new quarterback in 2006, as they have each year since 2003. Ryan Hawk and Robert Kent are locked in a tight battle to be the Steeldogs top signal-caller. Hawk seems to have the early edge, but the decision may not come until gameday.
The Steeldogs hope to be much improved in the trenches this season after giving up 37 sacks in 2005. Newcomers Myron Powe, Deon Deboise, Jordan Brumbaugh and returning starter David Daniel will attempt to transform the team's biggest weakness last season into a strength.
PLAYERS/MATCHUPS TO WATCH:
RYAN HAWK AND ROBERT KENT, QBs: The jury is still out on who will be the Steeldogs' No. 1 quarterback. Both have had impressive camps.
KERRY WRIGHT, OS: The Steeldogs have a long tradition of talented offensive specialists. From Wayne Thomas, to Herman Bell, to Aryvia Holmes, to Carlos McNeary, to Detronn Harris...the list goes on. Wright has had a very impressive camp. He promises to be the team's most electrifying offensive threat.
THE LINEMEN: The Steeldogs lost just about every battle they waged along the line of scrimmage in 2005, so a large crop of talented big-men have arrived to turn the tide. Look for improved play along both lines, especially the defensive front, where Jordan Brumbaugh looks to make a great impact...on opposing quarterbacks.
KEY DATES IN TEAM/LEAGUE HISTORY:
APRIL 7, 2000: The Steeldogs collected their first-ever win. It came against the Greensboro Prowlers, 18-7, at the BJCC Arena in what is still one of the af2's lowest scoring games.
APRIL 7, 2001: Birmingham beat Bossier City in overtime, 63-57, at the Century Tel Center in Bossier City, La., to open the 2001 regular-season.
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