Crush Looking to Make it a Sweep against the State of Florida
April 29, 2003 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Colorado Crush News Release
After losing for the second time this season to the San Jose SaberCats, the Colorado Crush are looking to get their third win of the season, and second in three weeks against a team based in Florida, when they take on the Orlando Predators on May 4. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. (MST).
THIS WEEK IN THE AMERICAN WESTERN CONFERENCE
Overall in Week 13, AWC teams went a combined 2-2. Colorado lost to conference rival San Jose 65-49, Los Angeles lost to Dallas 60-57, and Arizona beat Carolina 62-22.
In Week 14, Colorado (2-11) hosts Orlando (9-4), Los Angeles (9-4) travels to conference rival Arizona (8-5), and San Jose (9-4) hosts Grand Rapids (8-5).
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 no 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 thing 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 hit the road for the last time this season, when they face the Los Angeles Avengers on Saturday, May 10 at 8:30 p.m. (MST).
REGULAR SEASON REVIEW: WEEK 13
SABERCATS 65-CRUSH 49 (APR.27, 2003)
DENVER -- Against the Tampa Bay Storm, 49 points was good enough for a stunning victory. Against the San Jose SaberCats seven afternoons later, it only led to another frustrating home defeat.
The Crush couldn't sustain the momentum from its second win of the season, falling 65-49 to the division rival SaberCats in front of a sixth sellout crowd at the Pepsi Center on Sunday afternoon.
The loss dropped the Crush to 2-11.
Quarterback John Dutton threw four touchdown passes for the Crush -- two each to Damian Harrell and Charlie Davidson. But he also tossed two interceptions, and completed 16 of 33 passes. For the SaberCats, quarterback Mark Grieb connected on 19 of 26 passes for 258 yards and six touchdowns.
Davidson led the Crush in receiving with nine catches for 135 yards. It marked his second consecutive 100-yard game.
Colorado fell behind 14-0 in the first quarter as its first two possessions ended in a missed 62-yard field-goal attempt and a failed fourth-down try at the SaberCats 18. On two occasions after that, the Crush pulled back within seven points, at 14-7 and 21-14. But after a second-quarter Colorado drive ended on a failed fourth-down attempt at the SaberCats 22, San Jose scored to take a 35-14 lead, and Colorado never pulled within single digits after that.
The SaberCats pushed their advantage to as much as 24 points following Barry Wagner's 3-yard touchdown run early in the third quarter. The Crush and SaberCats then exchanged touchdowns before the Crush scored twice in a row to narrow the gap to 59-49. However, the SaberCats clinched the game when Grieb through his sixth touchdown pass of the game, to wide receiver/linebacker James Roe.
Colorado returns to the Pepsi Center next weekend to face the Orlando Predators and their quarterback, long-time AFL star Jay Gruden. The last time Gruden played a game in Denver, he lost; he and the Tampa Bay Storm fell to the Denver Dynamite, 51-34, at McNichols Sports Arena in 1991.
POSTGAME QUOTES (vs. SAN JOSE) JOHN ELWAY
"It's disappointing that we can't win at home. Our fans keep coming out hoping to see us win. We have the fans, we have the altitude, but we're not taking advantage of any of it." BOB BEERS
ON THE GAME:
"That's a good football team that doesn't make a lot of mistakes. When they get an early lead, they can run the clock out with their running game. We played pretty well at the end of the game again this week. But we didn't get out of the chute very well."
ON WENDELL DAVIS GETTING THROWN OUT OF THE GAME:
"I don't know what happened. Davis just threw a punch, and they threw him out."
COLORADO CRUSH WEEK 14 NOTES
DEFENSIVE STOPPERS Delvin Hughley's rookie season is turning out to be one to remember. He is not only leading the team in tackles, but also ranks eighth in the league in tackles with 60.0. He has also added seven pass break-ups and one forced fumble.
With his 30.5 tackles so far this season, Adrian Lunsford now ranks fifth all-time in career tackles with 414.0.
THE RETURN OF DOUGLASS
After missing all but two games last season due to injury, WR/LB Joe Douglass certainly has come back this season with a purpose. So far in 2003, he is showing why teams fear his return abilities. After twelve games Douglass has played in, he ranks fourth in kickoff returns with 59, fifth in kickoff return yards with 1,213, and fifth in all-purpose yards with 1,985.
Douglass also ranks tied for ninth all-time in most 200+ all-purpose yard games in a season with four. He had 228 yards vs. Grand Rapids, 242 yards at San Jose, 215 yards at Arizona, and 232 yards vs. Chicago.
WHERE DUTTON RANKS...
After thirteen weeks, this is how John Dutton ranks among AFL quarterbacks:
7th in attempts (395)
9th in completion percentage (62.5)
7th in completions (247)
7th in touchdowns passes (62)
7th in yards (3226)
5th in passing yards/game (268.8)
WHERE HARRELL RANKS...
After thirteen weeks, this is how Damian Harrell ranks among AFL wide receivers:
3rd in points (222) T-4th in rec. yards/game (104.5)
T-4th in rec. yards (1358) 3rd in touchdown receptions (36)
7th in receptions (91) 4th in yards/catch (14.9)
HARRELL ON RECORD-SETTING PACE With 91 receptions, 1,358 receiving yards, and 36 touchdown receptions so far this season, Harrell is on pace to set new personal-highs with 112 receptions, 1,671 receiving yards, and 44 touchdown receptions. This breaks his previous personal-highs in a season of 98 receptions, 1,340 receiving yards, and 20 touchdown receptions he set while playing for the Toronto Phantoms in 2001.
Harrell is also now tied for fifth all-time with three 1,000+ yard receiving seasons.
HARRELL ON PACE FOR...
RECEIVING YARDS (current-season) 1,358
RECEIVING YARDS (on pace for-season) 1,671( 7th all-time)
TOUCHDOWNS (current-season) 36
TOUCHDOWNS (on pace for-season) 44 (T-3rd all-time)
HEAD COACH BOB BEERS
Bob Beers was named Head Coach of the Colorado Crush on Jul. 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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