Crush Looking to Make it Two Straight against Conference Rival San Jose

April 22, 2003 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Colorado Crush News Release


After coming off of a 25-point come from behind victory at Tampa Bay to win 49-45, the Colorado Crush are looking for their third win of the season, and first at home, when they take on rival San Jose. Colorado lost to San Jose earlier this season 80-40. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. (MST).

THIS WEEK IN THE AMERICAN WESTERN CONFERENCE

Overall in Week 12, AWC teams went a combined 4-0. Colorado got their second win of the season beating Tampa Bay 49-45, Los Angeles beat Buffalo 65-14, Arizona won in overtime over Grand Rapids 82-81, and San Jose beat Indiana 73-71. In Week 13, Colorado (2-10) hosts conference rival San Jose (8-4), Los Angeles (9-3) travels to Dallas (7-5), and Arizona (7-5) hosts Carolina (0-12).

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 continues their two game home-stand when they take on the Orlando Predators on Sunday May 4 at 1:00 p.m. (MST).

REGULAR SEASON REVIEW: WEEK 12
CRUSH 49-STORM 45 (APR.20, 2003)

TAMPA, Fla. -- From the utter hopelessness of falling behind 21-0 less than 11 minutes into the game and the largest halftime deficit in franchise history, the fact that the Colorado Crush sat at the Tampa Bay Storm's 5-yard-line with eight seconds left and a three-point deficit was remarkable enough.

But it wasn't sufficient. Even after the humbling setbacks of the past six weeks -- six consecutive losses by an average of 20.2 points a game -- coming close wasn't enough. Not when the Crush had come agonizingly close to victories over three of the league's better teams in February.

So this wasn't a chance to tie the game. It was a chance to win, to defeat the four-time AFL champions, to slay the thundering giant of a team that had run roughshod through the league in winning eight consecutive games. And with a timeout called and the throng at the St. Pete Times Forum sounding louder than the announced attendance of 9,404, the Crush realized that this chance belonged to only one man -- Damian Harrell, whose 33 touchdowns on the season were exceeded by only one AFL player, New York's Mike Furrey.

"We just said, 'Hey, we're down by three. Just throw it to Damian," quarterback John Dutton said.

Harrell wanted it.

"I was begging for them to throw me the ball," he said. "Just throw it up. I was going to make something happen."

Harrell's begging fell on receptive ears.

"I'll take my chances with No. 1 any day," Dutton said.

It was a chance well taken. With the crowd and Storm defense bearing down on him, Dutton leaned back and arched a pass into the air, about 15 yards away, down the right side of the end zone. Two defenders waited for Harrell, grabbing and tugging at his No. 1 jersey. Yet, as he'd done so many times before, he waited, leapt at the precise moment, and cradled his 34th touchdown of the season -- the biggest one of all.

Two seconds later, the Crush had handed the Storm its most stunning loss in nearly four years. The comeback was complete; a 25-point deficit -- a chasm that was still 19 points at the end of the third quarter -- had turned into a 49-45 triumph.

As the horn sounded, Colorado's players darted over the dasher boards and onto the field in a fit of exultation. Hugs and whoops were in plentiful supply, heard all the way up to the top of the arena as the Storm's fans stood in silence.

It all happened so quickly, so totally, so improbably, that even Crush Head Coach Bob Beers didn't know what to make of it afterwards.

"I don't know. You want the truth, I don't know," he admitted. "But I'll tell you, what we did is we played hard and we battled back in it."

The rally began following the opening kickoff of the second half. Two plays into the third quarter, Harrell had his first touchdown of the game and the Crush had gobbled into the Storm's lead. Tampa Bay would score one more touchdown to push the lead to 42-23 late in the third quarter, but from there, the Crush dominated as it never had in its 12-game history, outscoring the Storm 26-3 in the final period.

But what will be remembered even more than the dominance as a whole was when the Crush decided to put the game in the hands of its most reliable scorer, a man who's grown from role player into AFL star in 12 games in Colorado, and even better, a man who's now grown from star into winner.

HEAD COACH BOB BEERS POSTGAME QUOTES (vs. TAMPA BAY) JOHN ELWAY

"We've been trying to hang in there all year and we finally got it today and good things started happening. We started making some plays and we got some good calls on our side that helped every once in a while."

ON GOING DOWN TO THE BENCH DURING THE GAME

"I just wanted to keep the intensity. This is a funny game; you only get so many chances. I'll tell you what -- we showed a lot of character today and hung in there. We always knew we had a lot of character, just waiting for some good things to happen and today they finally did."

ON SPEAKING TO THE TEAM FRIDAY

"My timing was probably a little bit late, but I guess it helped. We're all learning."

ON WHAT HE TOLD THE TEAM

"I'm embarrassed to be 1-10, like everybody else in this room is embarrassed ... I just said, 'Hey, take pride in what we do and you guys are lucky -- you get to play. I don't get to play. I wish i could play ... It doesn't matter if we're 10-1 or 1-10 let's take pride in what we do and it showed today."

BOB BEERS

HOW DID IT HAPPEN?

"I don't know. You want the truth, I don't know. But I'll tell you what we did is we played hard and we battled back in it. And we dig a hole if we don't dig the holes I think we're fine. We're a good football team; we've still got some things to work on, but I'd rather have it working this way next week than the other way."

ON THE OFFENSE:

"We've had that potential and the only thing you have with potential is the ability to not perform well. I thought the communication on the field was good; the players were into it. Bobby went upstairs, did a hell of a job calling it. Bobby Pesavento had input, John Dutton -- everybody worked together."

ON THE COMEBACK:

"We ran the same plays. The difference was that I think when we dug a hole we didn't mope; we didn't hang our heads; we came out and we fought and John had a lot to do with it with his speech on Friday. I think he gave them a wake-up call and they knew the score."

ON WHAT ELWAY SAID ON THE SIDELINE:

"He didn't say anything. It's his box; he didn't say anything, it's his box, he's got a right to be there. I feel secure with him there. I know if he had a uniform on I'd feel secure but I thought John Dutton did a good job rallying the troops and leading today."

ON THE TEAM'S COMEBACK:

"We have that in our arsenal to do those things and we got good players, I'll tell you what made a difference today our kickoff coverage team did a hell of a job. (Special-teams coach) Freddie (Gayles) had them going all week and they did a good job covering the ball. Usually we get one run back at us and today they went down and they had a lot of pride in that unit."

ON THE LAST CALL TO DAMIAN:

"We'd like the win better than overtime. And you might as well go to your best guy, right? Let him win the game for you -- your tallest receiver in the corner."

ON CHARLIE DAVIDSON'S DAY:

"Charlie had the game of his life today; he played well on both sides of the ball. You can't give Charlie enough credit for his leadership and everything."

COLORADO CRUSH WEEK 13 NOTES

DEFENSIVE STOPPER 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 sixth in the league in tackles with 60.0. He has also added seven pass break-ups and one forced fumble.

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 eleven games Douglass has played in, he ranks fourth in kickoff returns with 54, sixth in kickoff return yards with 1091, and sixth in all-purpose yards with 1,857.

WHERE DUTTON RANKS...

After twelve weeks, this is how John Dutton ranks among AFL quarterbacks:


7th in attempts (362)
8th in completion percentage (63.8)
6th in completions (231)
7th in touchdowns passes (58)
7th in yards (2993)
5th in passing yards/game (272.1)

WHERE HARRELL RANKS... After twelve weeks, this is how Damian Harrell ranks among AFL wide receivers:
3rd in points (210)
2nd in rec. yards/game (108.0)
2nd in rec. yards (1296)
3rd in touchdown receptions (34)
4th in receptions (88)
T-6th in yards/catch (14.7)

HARRELL ON RECORD-SETTING PACE With 88 receptions, 1296 receiving yards, and 34 touchdown receptions so far this season, Harrell is on pace to set new personal-highs with 117 receptions, 1,728 receiving yards, and 45 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) 1,296
RECEIVING YARDS (on pace for-season) 1,728( 5th all-time)
RECEPTIONS (current-season) 88
RECEPTIONS (on pace for-season) 117 (15th all-time)
TOUCHDOWNS (current-season) 34
TOUCHDOWNS (on pace for-season) 45 (T-2nd 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."



Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from April 22, 2003


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