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Carolina Cobras Game Notes

April 9, 2003 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Carolina Cobras News Release


QUICK FACTS:
Carolina Cobras (0-10) vs. Tampa Bay Storm (8-2)
Date: April 11, 2003
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m.
Site: Charlotte Coliseum (12,229)
Officials: David Lambros (Referee), Al Granado (Umpire), Mike McCabe (Head Linesman), Bob McElwee (Line Judge), Bud McCleskey (Back Judge)
Series Record: Tampa Bay leads all-time series 4-2
Coaches: Carolina: Mike Hold (1st Season, 0-10) Tampa Bay: Tim Marcum (15th Season, 151-53)

THE SERIES: Tampa Bay leads all-time series 4-2
@ Tampa Bay 50, Carolina 29 – May 4, 2000
Tampa Bay 72, @ Carolina 69 – July 21, 2000
@ Tampa Bay 58, Carolina 51 – June 1, 2001
@ Carolina 46, Tampa Bay 36 – May 4, 2002
Carolina 49 @ Tampa Bay 45 – May 25, 2002
@ Tampa Bay 60, Carolina 20 – January 31, 2003

COBRAS LAST WEEK: The Carolina Cobras franchise-record losing streak reached 10 games with a 63-48 loss to the Los Angeles Avengers. The Cobras trailed by only seven at the half, but Los Angeles scored 21 straight points to open the second half to break the game open. Tony Graziani completed 15-of-21 passes for 270 yards and eight touchdown passes. Greg Hopkins and Chris Jackson each had three touchdown receptions for Los Angeles. Stewart Patridge made his second start of the season for the Cobras and set career highs with 30-of-46 passing for 287 yards and six touchdowns. Bernard Holmes tied a Cobras franchise record and set a new career high with 13 receptions for 107 yards and three touchdowns. Ty Law recorded his first 100-yard game of the year with a career-high nine catches for 101 yards and two scores.

STORM LAST WEEK: The Tampa Bay Storm won their seventh straight game, defeating the Georgia Force, 58-39. The win kept the Storm atop the Southern Division standings with an 8-2 record. Storm quarterback John Kaleo completed 25-of-37 passes for 281 yards and five touchdowns. Game MVP Freddie Solomon caught nine passes for 109 yards and two touchdowns. Lawrence Samuels added a pair of receiving scores for the Storm.

HEAD COACHES: After two seasons as head coach of the af2 Augusta Stallions, Mike Hold is making his AFL coaching debut with the Cobras in 2003. He led the Stallions to a combined 22-10 record in his two years, including a 13-3 mark and playoff appearance in 2002. Prior to joining the coaching ranks, Hold spent 12 seasons as an AFL quarterback. He saw action for eight teams during his tenure and was the last remaining active player from the league's first season when he retired in 2000. Hold had training camp stints with the Denver Broncos (1986) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1987, 88). He appeared in three games for Tampa Bay during the NFL strike in 1987. A 1985 graduate of the University of South Carolina, Hold led the Gamecocks to the school's only 10-win season in 1984 and earned MVP honors of the Gator Bowl. Despite playing only two seasons, he ranks seventh on the school's all-time passing yards list with 2,981 yards.

Tim Marcum is in his ninth season as head coach of the Tampa Bay Storm and his 15th overall as an AFL head coach. A charter member of the Arena Football League Hall of Fame, Marcum is the winningest head coach in Arena Football history. He owns six ArenaBowl championships and has coached in nine of the 16 ArenaBowls. Marcum is the only coach in Arena history to lead three different teams to ArenaBowl championships (Denver, Detroit, and Tampa Bay), and is the AFL career coaching leader in victories, winning percentage, games coached, and post-season victories. A two-time recipient of the AFL Coach of the Year award (1987 & 1998), Marcum's AFL clubs have advanced to the post-season in every year he has coached.

THIS YEAR'S COBRAS-STORM MEETING:

Tampa Bay 60, Carolina 20 (1/31/03 at Tampa Bay)

Turnovers doomed the Cobras as they fell 60-20 to the Tampa Bay Storm in the season opener at the St. Pete Times Forum. The Storm took advantage of four interceptions thrown by Cobras quarterback Chad DeGrenier to score four touchdowns and break open a game that was close early. The teams traded touchdowns on the game's first four possessions before Tampa Bay took over the contest with 39 consecutive points over a 40-minute stretch. Storm quarterback John Kaleo led the way with 214 yards and six touchdowns on 16-of-27 passing. He connected for three touchdowns with Freddie Solomon, who hauled in 10 passes for 132 yards. DeGrenier finished with 113 yards and two touchdowns on 9-of-20 passing, before being replaced by Stewart Patridge in the fourth quarter. DeGrenier's four interceptions in the game tied a franchise record for a single player. Patridge went 7-of-13 for 57 yards and one touchdown, an eight-yard strike to Gabe Amey. The Cobras posted 78 yards of total offense in the first quarter, but had just 85 yards the rest of the way.

FAMILIAR FACES: Storm head coach Tim Marcum coached Cobras defensive coordinator Flint Fleming when Fleming played for the Detroit Drive from 1991-93...Storm FB/LB Andre Bowden spent the 2002 season with the Cobras.

INJURY UPDATES: OS Ben Bronson and DS Buddy Crutchfield are still on injured reserve but have returned to practice...OL/DL Jim Stiebel and QB Ron Lopez are questionable to return to practice this week.

COBRAS MILESTONES:

QB Robert Hall needs:
• 159 passing yards to reach 7,500

OS Bernard Holmes needs:
• 8 receiving touchdowns to reach 50
• 256 kickoff return yards to reach 3,500

WR/LB Ty Law needs:
• 315 receiving yards to reach 3,000
• 4 receiving touchdowns to reach 50

DS Derek Stingley
• 2 pass breakups for 100

COBRAS NEXT WEEK: The Cobras remain at home when they take on the Georgia Force on Friday, April 18 at 7:30 p.m. Georgia defeated the Cobras 45-37 when the Southern Division rivals met at Georgia in March 15.

Country music sensation Ricochet will be on hand to sing the National Anthem and perform a postgame concert. In addition, the first 10,000 fans in attendance will receive Snake Charmers posters and Cobras rally towels.

The Cobras will donate $1 for each ticket sold to the American Red Cross Phone Card Program. In addition, fans making a $10 donation to the Phone Card Program will receive a free car wash from Autobell Car Wash, a free sandwich from Chick-Fil-A and a two-for-one ticket offer for the Cobras game against the Chicago Rush on May 4. SNAKE BITES:

Record-Setting Losing Streaks: Last week's loss at Los Angeles was the Cobras tenth straight overall adding to the franchise record. The previous long streak of eight came during the 2000 campaign. The AFL record for consecutive losses to start the season is 14 set by Memphis in 1996. The loss was also the Cobras sixth straight on the road, tying a franchise record set in 2000.

A Tough Stretch: This week's game against Tampa Bay is Carolina's third straight game against a team among the top four in the AFL. San Jose (4th seed, 7-3), Los Angeles (1st seed, 8-2) and Tampa Bay (2nd seed, 8-2) would each have first round byes if the playoffs started today.

Holmes Continues To Shine: No player has had a bigger impact for the Cobras this season than WR/DB turned OS Bernard Holmes. He has recorded 200 or more all-purpose yards in each of his last seven games played (he missed week five due to a family death). During that stretch, he has 62 receptions for 750 yards and 14 touchdowns and 49 kickoff returns for 1,019 yards, including 56-yard touchdowns against Detroit and Georgia. Last week at Los Angeles, Holmes had a career-high 13 receptions for 107 yards and three touchdowns along with seven kickoff returns for 135 yards, finishing the night with 248 all-purpose yards. So far this season, he has recorded the third (284 in week seven at Georgia), fourth (283 in week four vs. Orlando), fifth (272 in week three vs. Detroit), sixth (258 in week six vs. Las Vegas) and seventh (248 in week ten at Los Angeles) best single-game all-purpose yardage totals in franchise history. His 180 receiving yards on March 9 against Las Vegas set a career high. Below are the top seven all-purpose yardage games in Cobras history.

Climbing The Charts: In just eight games played, Holmes already ranks as one of only four players in AFL history to have seven or more games of 200 or more all-purpose yards in a season.

Player Season Team Games
Lamont Cooper 2001 Oklahoma 12
Steve Papin 1998 San Jose 10
Steve Papin 2002 New York 9
Steve Papin 2000 San Jose 8
Ben Bronson 2000 Houston 7
Steve Papin 1999 San Jose 7
Bernard Holmes 2003 Carolina 7

Patridge Makes Mark On Record Books: QB Stewart Patridge started his second game of the season last week at Los Angeles, seeing his first game action since week two at Buffalo. Patridge posted franchise records of 30 completions and 46 pass attempts, throwing for 287 yards and six touchdowns, both of which are season-highs for a Cobras quarterback.

A Career Night for Law: WR/LB Ty Law posted his first 100-yard receiving game of the season last week at Los Angeles, catching a career-high nine passes for 101 yards and two touchdowns. Law ranks second on the Cobras with 40 receptions for 391 yards.

A Former Rage In The Cage: The Cobras signed nine-year AFL veteran OL/DL Robert Stewart this week. Stewart returns to Charlotte, where he spent three years with the old Charlotte Rage (1994-96). He has also seen time with the New Jersey Red Dogs (1997-2000), New York Dragons (2001-02) and Arizona Rattlers (2003). Stewart has been named First Team All-AFL three times (1994, 1999, 2001) and Second Team three times (1995, 1997, 1998). He was the AFL Lineman of the Year in 1999, one of two seasons in which he led the league in sacks. Stewart ranks third on the AFL's career sacks list with 38.5, seventh on the single-season sacks list (9.0 in 2001) and third on the single-game sacks list (4.0 on June 30, 2001).

A Slew Of Roster Moves: The Cobras also signed rookie OL/DL Kyle Benn, released WR/DB Tramain Jones and FR/LB Michael Blair and waived OL/DL Blaine Mensch this week. Benn joins the Cobras from the University of Washington, where he was First Team All-Pac-10 as a senior in 2001. Benn, who was also First Team All-Academic Pac-10 as a junior and senior, was the Huskies Offensive Lineman of the Year and Co-Offensive Player of the Year in 2001. He started 36 consecutive games at center from 1999-2001, including the 1999 and 2001 Holiday Bowls and the 2000 Rose Bowl.

Changing Numbers: OL/DL Ben Crosland has changed from number 77 to 75 so that Robert Stewart can wear number 77, which he has worn for the majority of his career.

Offense vs. Defense: This week's game against Tampa Bay features the Storm's defense, which ranks first in the league in scoring defense (40.8) and second in total defense (245.0), against the Cobras' offense, which is tied for 15th in the league in scoring offense (36.5) and 14th in total offense (225.7).

Third Quarter Woes: By far this season, the Cobras worst quarter has been the third. In 10 games played, Carolina has scored just 54 points in the third frame, the worst of any team in the AFL. The Cobras have been outscored 136-54 in the stanza, an average of 8.2 points per game.

The Quarterback Carousel: After starting five different quarterbacks in their first six games, the Cobras settled in with Robert Hall as the starter for three outings before going back to Stewart Patridge last week. Chad DeGrenier started the season opener at Tampa Bay, throwing four interceptions. Patridge got the nod in week two at Buffalo. Hall was the starter in weeks three and four against Detroit and Orlando. Rookie Glen Gauntt got the start in week five at Grand Rapids. Ron Lopez got the starting nod in Week 6 against Las Vegas. Lopez was replaced in the fourth quarter of that game by Hall, who started the next three weeks. Patridge returned to the starting lineup last week at Los Angeles.

Back At Home: Despite their 0-4 home record, the Cobras have been much more competitive at home than on the road. Three of Carolina's four losses at the Charlotte Coliseum have been by 10 points or less. The Cobras play four of their final six games on their home turf.

Site Yards/Gm TO/Gm Margin
Home (4 games) 240.5 1.3 -11.8
Road (6 games) 213.0 2.8 -21.2

A Roster Turnover: Only eight players on the Cobras active roster for this week's game were on the active roster when the Cobras and the Storm met in week one. Seven more players from the Cobras week one roster are currently on injured reserve.

Cobras Among League Leaders: OS Bernard Holmes is one of only three players in the league that is averaging over 200 all-purpose yards per game and ranks 2nd in that category with 224.8...Holmes is 2nd in kickoff returns (49), 2nd in all-purpose yardage (1798), 3rd in kickoff return yardage (1019), tied for 6th in kickoff return TDs (2) and tied for 9th in receptions (63)...DS Larry Casher is tied for 8th in the league in tackles with 50.0...QB Robert Hall is tied for 6th with six rushing TDs... DS Derek Stingley is tied for 14th in passes defended (11)...K Matt George is tied for the league lead in field goal attempts (27), tied for 5th in field goals made (9) and is 8th in PAT percentage (83.3) A Passing Frenzy: The Cobras defense has allowed opponents to complete 69.5 percent of their passes over the last six games (116-of-167). Four of those six games have seen opposing quarterbacks complete over 70-percent of their passes.

From Out Of Nowhere: The surprise star of Carolina's March 28 game at San Jose was rookie WR/LB Chris Johnson. Johnson caught nine passes for 112 yards and two touchdowns in just his second career game played. He followed that up with four receptions for 45 yards and one touchdown last week at Los Angeles. Since being signed from the practice squad on February 20, Johnson had been inactive in four games and had just one reception for a 12-yard touchdown in his lone game played on March 9 against Las Vegas.

Post To Post: Carolina has allowed a franchise record five kickoff returns for touchdowns this season and one missed field goal return for a touchdown. In the previous three years of the team's history, the Cobras had allowed only six kickoff returns for touchdowns. On March 28, San Jose returned two Carolina kickoffs for scores.

The AFL's Version Of Slash: Cobras QB Robert Hall set a franchise record with four rushing touchdowns on March 21 against Dallas and has six of the team's seven rushing touchdowns this season. He has also thrown for 24 touchdowns and has two receptions for 31 yards. Hall has seen action as both a quarterback and offensive specialist throughout his AFL career. He is the only player in league history to have 2,000 passing yards and 2,000 receiving yards in his career.

From Teammate to Coach: OS Ben Bronson, QB Robert Hall and OS Bernard Holmes were teammates of Cobras head coach Mike Hold with the Houston ThunderBears.

It's A Small World: Defensive coordinator Flint Fleming was a teammate of OL/DL Jim Stiebel with the Buffalo Destroyers in 2000. Fleming played with WR/DB Bernard Holmes and WR/DB Nick Ward as a member of the Florida Bobcats in 2001.

Coming With The Coach: WR/LB Chris Johnson, DS Adrian Jones, OL/DL Blaine Mensch, FB/LB Glen Mitts and defensive backs coach Maurice Blanding came to Carolina with head coach Mike Hold from the af2 Augusta Stallions.

Supporting Our Military: To show their support for the men and women serving in our armed forces at home and overseas, the Carolina Cobras are offering special discounts and, when available, complimentary tickets for all armed forces personnel and their families to any Cobras game for the remainder of the 2003 season. To take advantage of this offer, armed forces personnel and/or their families will be asked to present a military ID at the Charlotte Coliseum box office to receive the tickets. COBRAS PLAYERS TO WATCH:

OS Bernard Holmes: Holmes set a career-high and tied a franchise record with 13 receptions for 107 yards and three touchdowns last week at Los Angeles. He added 135 yards on seven kickoff returns to go over 200 all-purpose yards for the seventh consecutive game. In his last seven games played (he missed week five due to a family death), he has 62 receptions for 750 yards and 14 touchdowns and 49 kickoff returns for 1,019 yards, including 56-yard touchdowns against Detroit and Georgia. So far this season, he has the third (284 in week seven at Georgia), fourth (283 in week four vs. Orlando), fifth (272 in week three vs. Detroit), sixth (258 in week six vs. Las Vegas) and seventh (248 in week ten at Los Angeles) best single-game all-purpose yardage totals in franchise history. His 180 receiving yards on March 9 against Las Vegas marked a career-high for the six-year veteran. Holmes is 2nd in the AFL in all-purpose yards per game (224.8), 2nd in all-purpose yardage (1798), 2nd in kickoff returns (49), 3rd in kickoff return yardage (1019), tied for 6th in kickoff return touchdowns (2) and tied for 9th in receptions (63).

QB Stewart Patridge: Patridge started his second game of the season last week at Los Angeles, seeing his first game action since week two at Buffalo. Patridge posted franchise records of 30 completions and 46 pass attempts, throwing for 287 yards and six touchdowns, both of which are season-highs for a Cobras quarterback.

DS Derek Stingley: Stingley is tied for 14th in the league with 11 passes defended this season. He has recorded at least one pass breakup in each of his eight games played. Stingley has twice posted a season-high with 8.0 tackles – February 14 vs. Detroit and March 21 vs. Dallas.

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