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Crush Look for First Win

February 4, 2003 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Colorado Crush News Release


After losing their first game of the season to the Georgia Force 44-40, the Colorado Crush is looking to rebound when the team takes on the Grand Rapids Rampage. This is the second of three straight home games for the Crush to open the season. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. (MST).

THIS WEEK IN THE AMERICAN WESTERN CONFERENCE

Overall in Week 1, AWC teams went a combined 2-2. Los Angeles won at home, defeating Las Vegas 60-48, San Jose won at Arizona, in a rematch of last season's AFL Championship game, 49-28, and Colorado dropped its first ever-game 44-40 to Georgia.

In Week 2, Colorado (0-1) hosts Grand Rapids (1-0), Arizona (0-1) hosts Las Vegas (0-1), and San Jose (1-0) travels to Los Angeles (1-0).

TELEVISION/RADIO COVERAGE

During its inaugural season, 760 The Zone will be the flagship radio station for the Crush. The game will feature Marc Stout of KBPI as the play-by-play announcer, and former Denver Broncos offensive lineman David Diaz-Infante as the color analyst.

QUOTES FROM COLORADO CRUSH OWNER JOHN ELWAY On the challenges of entering the AFL:

"It ranks right up there. It's a new adventure for us, and we are definitely excited about it. It has been a tough six months, but it's time to see the team on the field for the first time. It has been a lot of work, but also a lot of fun as well. I feel we are getting involved with the AFL at the right time. If we put out a good product and maintain people, then we have a chance to be around for a long time."

On being an owner:

"It has been a great learning experience for me because I really didn't know much about the business side. We started from the ground up, and had to go through all of the different things it takes to start an organization, so it has been quite a treat and learning experience all at the same time. It has been a great training ground for me, and I would not have wanted to do it anywhere else. If I would have done this in the NFL, there is not way I would have gotten the training that I have received over the last six months. It has been perfect, plus we can stay in Denver." On his goals:

"I did a couple of commercials for the league because I wanted to help out as much as I could, but my focus all along was on Colorado and getting us out front. The response in Colorado has been great. Season tickets sales have far exceeded our expectations, but my main things is to definitely help the league as much as I can, and to take care of the Crush." On the fans:

"I think that football is losing the younger crowd. If you look at what is going on with today's youth and the fact they are into extreme games, skateboarding, and video games, and how quickly everything is moving, I think this game and this league has the ability to keep their attention. The game has the ability to attract a younger crowd, which I think it will do."

NEXT WEEK

The Crush will end its three game home stand to open the 2003 season, when Los Angeles invades the Pepsi Center on Sunday, Feb. 16. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. (MST).

REGULAR SEASON REVIEW: WEEK 1 FORCE 44-CRUSH 40 (FEB.2, 2003)

DENVER -- Colorado's passion for pro football made a successful transition from Mile High Stadium and INVESCO Field at Mile High to the indoor environs of the Pepsi Center, as a raucous sellout crowd greeted the Colorado Crush for its first Arena Football League game against the Georgia Force.

However, things didn't go quite as well on the field, as Georgia quarterback Donnie Davis fired three touchdown passes -- including two in the fourth quarter -- and ran for one more to snatch a 44-40 victory away from the Crush in front of 17,483 fans and an NBC television audience.

Colorado sprinted to a 27-17 halftime lead on the strength of four touchdown connections from John Dutton to Damian Harrell. The first of the scores came on the Crush's first-ever snap, the last with three seconds remaining in the half.

But Colorado's offense struggled in the second half. The Crush's first offensive play following intermission ended in a Georgia touchdown, as Jermaine Smith pounced on a John Dutton fumble in the end zone. Overall, Colorado's first six second-half possessions netted only six points, via two Kris Heppner field goals. Meanwhile, the Force kept driving. Davis' first touchdown pass in the fourth quarter pulled Georgia within 33-31; his second put the Force up to stay.

Looking for a comeback, Dutton went deep for Ahmad Hawkins on the next possession. However, Georgia defensive specialist Kevin Gaines intercepted the pass and was tackled at the Force's 1-yard-line. Davis promptly led Georgia on a 49-yard drive that culminated in Davis' 1-yard scoring plunge with just over 1 minute remaining. Dutton and Harrell responded by hooking up on a touchdown in the last minute, but Georgia regained possession and ran out the clock for the win. Colorado's defeat means that four of the AFL's last five expansion teams have dropped their first games. The only AFL expansion team since 2000 to win its debut contest was the Dallas Desperados, who defeated the Carolina Cobras 57-44 to open their franchise's history last season.

HEAD COACH BOB BEERS POSTGAME QUOTES (vs. GEORGIA)

Opening statement:

"I thought we were very inconsistent, and if we would have been more consistent, we would have played a lot better and maybe the outcome might have been different. We were inconsistent on special teams and field goals; we missed a couple of those. We had some chances and we didn't use the opportunities that we had on turnovers, and if we would have converted those, it might have been different.

"We're still finding out about ourselves. We can make that excuse, but I'm not going to. There's no excuse. It's a game of execution. We have to get better executing it, and more consistent executing it, and once we do, we're going to be a better football team."

On second-half turnovers:

"Every turnover is critical in any game, and this was exceptionally critical, especially in the end. You know in the fourth quarter, you can't turn the ball over, you can't drop the ball."

On the difference between the first and second halves:

"Maybe we should have scripted the whole game. We had the first eight plays scripted, and then we went away from it. I think that between the nervous energy and the execution, that they adjusted well to us. They played a good football game. We played a good football team. They were very consistent, they made plays and we had chances, and sometimes we made them and sometimes we didn't. That's the consistency of the game."

On Harrell's five-touchdown day:

"We expected that. We knew he could do that. What we have to do is get more support around him, and other guys making plays and going after the football like he does.

"You get a little upset that we had chances and didn't take advantage of them. Then you're disappointed that when the time came in the red zone we chances that we should have taken advantage of."

COLORADO CRUSH WEEK 2 NOTES

DAVIDSON, HARRELL AMONG CAREER LEAGUE LEADERS

WR/DB's Charlie Davidson and Damian Harrell both rank among the top 25 AFL career leaders in highest average gain per reception (min. 230 receptions). Davidson's career pass reception average of 13.0 comes on 231 receptions for 3000 yards and ranks him 23rd all-time, and Harrell's career pass reception average of 13.7 comes on 276 receptions for 3787 yards ranks him 13th all-time.

DEFENSIVE MACHINE

WR/DB Adrian Lunsford is well known around the AFL for his special defensive skills. His 383.5 career tackles rank him tenth all-time, 29 career interceptions rank tied for eighth all-time, 331 career interception return yards rank sixth all-time, six career interceptions returned for touchdowns rank tied for third all-time, 11.4 career interception return average rank third all-time, and 64 career pass breakups rank 15th all-time.

MOORE FOR LESS

Otis Moore certainly knows how to get into the opponents backfield. His 14.5 career tackles for loss rank him tied for tenth all-time in the AFL, just 4.5 out of second place. HEAD COACH BOB BEERS

Bob Beers was named Head Coach of the Colorado Crush on July 11, 2002. In addition to leading the Crush when the team takes the field, Beers will oversee all of the team's player personnel transactions.

Beers has a background in coaching and scouting that spans more than 30 years. Most recently, Beers has served as a college scout for the Denver Broncos. He has scouted the western United States since 1995, and will continue to do so in a limited capacity.

"We are thrilled to have Bob as our coach," said John Elway. "He is a perfect fit for this team. In addition to being an outstanding person, he has a proven track record as a coach, and a keen eye for talent. Bob has a solid understanding of what it takes to win."

"One of the reasons we hired Bob Beers with the Broncos was because he had experience as a football coach, with a great track record, and he did an equally outstanding job in personnel for us," said Denver Broncos Head Coach Mike Shanahan. "We're happy for Bob to have this head coaching opportunity, and I know he will do a great job for the Crush."

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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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