Chicago Rush Game Notes

Published on February 11, 2003 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Chicago Rush News Release


The Quick Facts
TV: NBC ... Eli Gold, John Riggins
Radio: ESPN Radio 1000 ... Tom Dore, John Jurkovic
Overall Series Record: 2-2
Last Meeting: July 20, 2002 ... Indiana won 51-41
Coaches (regular season records): Mike Hohensee (60-58 — 10th season) Mike Dailey (54-32 — 7th season)
Officials: Bill Athan (Referee), Rick Nelson (Umpire), Tim Podroza (Head Linesman), Thomas Symonnette (Line Judge), Rob Vernatchi (Back Judge)

FIREBIRDS EN FUEGO: The Rush is still looking for its first victory of the season as it travels down to Indianapolis to face Central Division rival Indiana. Chicago has stumbled coming out of the blocks, losing its first two games while only averaging 36.5 points per game. The Firebirds are living up to their nickname and are on fire, averaging 65.5 points per game in winning road contests at Detroit and at New York.

The teams have split their previous four meetings with each team winning on the road last year. In the first meeting at Indiana, Anthony Ladd intercepted a Raymond Philyaw pass with 4 seconds remaining to clinch a 47-42 Rush win. The Firebirds spoiled Chicago's chance for an undefeated home season last year by beating the Rush 51-41 in the season finale. Indiana's Leroy Thompson tied a league record by scoring 5 rushing touchdowns in the contest. The Rush is 1-1 playing at Conseco Fieldhouse.

GOOD NEWS, BAD NEWS: The good news is that the Rush will play two of its next three games at Allstate Arena. The bad news, however, it that the games are against Western Division leaders Los Angeles and San Jose with a trip to Buffalo sandwiched in between. The Rush has never beaten either Los Angeles or San Jose, going 0-1 against each squad. It will be the first meeting between Chicago and the Destroyers of Buffalo.

After the Los Angeles game, the Rush will play 5 of its next 7 games on the road.

COACH MIKE HOHENSEE is in his 10th season as a head coach in the Arena Football League. Hohensee was hired as the first coach in Rush history on September 26, 2000.
- has a regular-season record of 60-58 and a career 5-6 mark in the postseason.
- has an overall 4-6 record against the Firebirds (2-2 against Indiana and 2-4 vs. Albany).
- signed a two-year contract extension through the 2005 season on August 1, 2002.
- became the sixth coach in league history to record 60 regular-season victories when the Rush defeated Dallas (58-52 in overtime) July 13, 2002.

BACK-TO-BACK-TO-BACK: The Rush needs to win this week to avoid the second 4-game losing streak in team history. The last time Chicago lost 4 straight contests was June 15-July 7, 2001.

The Rush has also lost back-to-back home games for the first time since May 19-June 23, 2001. With the loss in Dallas, the Rush's 2-game road winning streak was snapped.

BLOCK THAT KICK: When lineman James Baron blocked Dallas' Jason Wells 34-yard field goal attempt, it was the first blocked kick in Rush history.

For Baron, it was the fourth blocked kick of his career with the last one coming May 18, 2001, vs. Los Angeles. In that game, he recovered the blocked kick in the end zone for a touchdown.

BILLY AND THE FIREBIRDS: Rush quarterback Billy Dicken has enjoyed great success against Indiana in his career. In 4 games, he has completed 71 percent of his passes (93-131) for 1,086 yards, 25 touchdowns and 8 interceptions.

Dicken started his first career game against Indiana May 12, 2001, and threw for a career-high 351 yards and 8 touchdowns. Last season, he threw for 581 yards (49-68, 72%) and 11 touchdowns.

27 AND COUNTING: Although Billy Dicken is not close to challenging Brett Favre's consecutive starting streak of 174 games, he has started the last 27 contests for the Rush. Dicken took over as the starting quarterback of the May 12, 2001, against Indiana and has not looked back.

The only other starting quarterback in Rush history is Jeff Loots, who started the franchise's first three games.

KICKING KEITH: Kicker Keith Gispert has started the season 8-for-9 on extra point attempts. Of his three field goal misses, two have come from over 60 yards. In the opening weekend against Orlando, Gispert had his first career rushing attempt on a botched field goal.

Last week against Dallas, Gispert attempted the first four-point extra point (drop kick) in team history although it was unintentional. Gispert was setting up for a 62-yard field goal from the Rush end zone but the snap was errant. Gispert alertly picked up the ball and drop kicked out of the end zone to keep the Desperados from recovering for a touchdown.

Gispert kicked for the Augusta Stallions in the af2 for the last two seasons, where he connected on 176-of-203 extra point attempts (87 percent).

SALISBURY DEBUT: Quarterback Chad Salisbury made his Rush debut Sunday afternoon at Dallas. Salisbury completed 7-of-9 passes for 84 yards and 2 touchdowns. It was his first action since June 13 of last season when he suffered a season-ending right elbow injury.

DEFENSE, DEFENSE: Despite a 0-2 record, the Rush is one of only two teams to allow less than 50 points in each game. Chicago has allowed 47 and 46 points respectively (total of 93). The Georgia Force has allowed only 40 and 38 points in its first two contests (78).

By allowing 93 points in two games, the Rush ranks 7th in the league in points allowed. The league leader is Buffalo, which has allowed only 70 points (54 points to Grand Rapids and 16 to Carolina). The Firebirds have allowed 111 points in their two games.

LESS THAN 40 POINTS: The Rush has scored only 73 points in its first two contests, losing by scores of 47-35 and 46-38. The last time the Rush failed to score at least 40 points in back-to-back games was June 15-June 23, 2001. In those games, the Rush lost 58-30 at Indiana and was defeated by Detroit 47-37.

With its 73 points scored, the Rush trail only the Carolina Cobras for least points scored. The Cobras have only scored 36 points, losing 60-20 at Tampa Bay and 44-16 at Buffalo.

SNAP OUT OF IT: The Rush has been plagued by special teams miscues in the first two contests. Against Orlando, the snap on a field goal attempt hit the holder while he wasn't looking and cost the Rush a chance at three points.

Last weekend in Dallas, another errant snap cost the Rush in a field goal situation. This time the snap went behind the holder and only the quick thinking of kicker Keith Gispert kept the Desperados from scoring a touchdown. Gispert picked up the ball and drop kicked it out of the end zone.

After the drop kick field goal attempt, the game spiraled out of control for the Rush. After the miss, the Desperados scored on the very next play to take a 36-23 lead. The next two Rush possessions ended in interceptions with Dallas capitalizing to take a commanding 42-23 lead.

WALKER'S BIRTHDAY PARTY: Defensive specialist Cedric Walker will be celebrating his 32nd birthday Sunday in Indianapolis. Walker, who leads the Rush with 10.0 tackles, played for the Indiana Firebirds during the 2001 campaign. With the Firebirds, Walker recorded 34.5 tackles and 2 interceptions in 7 games.

Walker has recorded 423.5 career tackles — the 5th-highest total in league history. Walker led the league with 98.0 tackles last year. It was the second time in his career that he led the league in that category (93.0 in 1997). The 98.0 tackles are the 5th-highest single-season total in league history. He has 7 career games with over 10.0 tackles, including a career high of 13.0 tackles (April 26, 2002, at Orlando and July 13, 2002, vs. Dallas).

OTHER BIRTHDAY BOYS: Rush head coach Mike Hohensee and lineman Salem Simon will be celebrating birthdays next week. Hohensee will turn 42 on February 22. Simon, a rookie out of Northwestern, will celebrate his 24th birthday February 21.

TIME TO CHAT: Offensive specialist Antonio Chatman, who celebrated his 24th birthday Wednesday, has caught 18 passes for 221 yards in the first 2 games. Chatman caught his first touchdown pass of the season last Sunday against Dallas, an 11-yard strike from Chad Salisbury. Chatman is also averaging 20.0 yards per return on special teams.

300-YARD PASSERS: The Rush has played 30 regular season games in its two-plus year history. Chicago's pass defense has allowed only four 300-yard games. The Rush has gone 3-1 in those contests.

Quarterback Date Yards
Clint Dolezel 7/7/01 @ Grand Rapids 342
Clint Dolezel 5/4/02 vs. Grand Rapids 321
Donnie Davis 5/18/02 vs. Georgia 304
Aaron Garcia 6/30/02 vs. New York 303

THE REAL CHATMAN: The Firebirds have yet to see the real Antonio Chatman. Last year in the season opener, Chatman only played sparingly and did not record any statistics. In the season finale, he was bothered by a leg injury, recording 3 catches for 31 yards and a score. He also returned 8 kicks for 161 yards.

SLIM PICKINGS: After leading the league last season with 22 interceptions, the Rush has been shut out in the first two games this season.

Last year, the Rush had only 4 games in which it did not pick off a pass.

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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from February 11, 2003


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