Clay Rush Named AFL's Top Kicker
May 26, 2003 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I) News Release
NEW YORK â Indiana Firebirds K CLAY RUSH (6-3, 220, Missouri Western) has been selected the 2003 Kicker of the Year as voted by the 16 head coaches of the Arena Football League. Rush, who earned Kicker of the Year honors with the Iowa Barnstormers in 2000, was named to the All-Arena First Team last week.
In his fifth season, the former Griffon tallied an AFL-best 154 points while connecting on 24-of-46 (52.2 percent) of his field goal attempts. Rush converted 82-of-96 (85.4 percent) of his extra-point attempts and his consistently deep kickoffs led to the Firebirds allowing an 18.4 kickoff-return average (No. 3 in AFL) and 30 touchbacks.
Other candidates included: Arizona's NELSON GARNER, Dallas' JASON WELLS, Georgia's STEVE MCLAUGHLIN, Las Vegas' STEVE VIDETICH, Los Angeles' REMY HAMILTON, Orlando's BRIAN SCHMITZ and San Jose's DARON ALCORN.
The Lineman of the Year will be announced tomorrow, Tuesday, May 27, while Rookie of the Year (Wednesday) and Coach of the Year (Thursday) honors will be announced later this week. The following is the complete history of the Kicker of the Year:
AFL KICKER OF THE YEAR WINNERS
SEASON PLAYER, TEAM
2003 CLAY RUSH, INDIANA FIREBIRDS
2002 Steve Videtich, New Jersey Gladiators
2001 Brian Gowins, Grand Rapids Rampage
2000 Clay Rush, Iowa Barnstormers
1999 Mike Black, New England SeaWolves
1998 Kenny Stucker, Milwaukee Mustangs
1997 Steve Videtich, New Jersey Red Dogs
1996 Pete Elezovic, Albany Firebirds
1991 Rusty Fricke, Denver Dynamite
Novo Bojovic, Detroit Drive
* No award issued from 1992-95.
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from May 26, 2003
- Clay Rush Named AFL Kicker of the Year - Albany/Indiana Firebirds
- Clay Rush Named AFL's Top Kicker - AFL I
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