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Detroit Fury Game Notes

March 18, 2003 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Detroit Fury News Release


QUICK FACTS:
Detroit Fury (3-4) at Colorado Crush (1-6)
Date: March 23, 2003
Kickoff: 5:00 p.m. ET
Site: The Pepsi Center (17,210)
Officials: Wes Fritz (Referee), Tony Payne (Umpire), Rich Grube (Head Linesman), Kent Payne (Line Judge), James Cole (Back Judge)
Radio: WDFN, 1130 AM Jamie Samuelsen (Play-by-Play)
TV: None
Series Record: n/a
Last Meeting: None
Streaks: Colorado – Lose 2 Detroit – Lose 3
Coaches: Bob Beers (1-6, 1st Year) Al Luginbill (3-4, 1st Year)

THE STAKES: The Fury have lost three straight games, including the last one against the previously winless New York Dragons. Detroit, although they are currently still tied for first place in the Eastern Division, need to snap their losing streak. The Fury have never played in Denver and in the Pepsi, and they will have to play in a very hostile environment. Detroit will play five if its next six on the road, and a victory here would snap the losing streak and return them to .500 on the season.

THE SERIES: This will be the first meeting between the expansion Colorado Crush and the young Detroit Fury team. Although the Fury are not a new to the AFL, after being rebuilt this season, this will be a game between two brand new teams.

HEAD COACHES:

AL LUGINBILL, Detroit (3-4, 1st Year): Luginbill enters his first season as head coach and general manager of the Detroit Fury and his first season coaching in the Arena Football League. He brings over 33 years of football experience to the Fury. Luginbill began his coaching career at Pasadena City College, where he guided Pasadena City College to Jr. Rose Bowl Championship in his final season as a head coach. He then moved on to Arizona State University and worked as an assistant coach from 1977-1984 with a one-year coaching stint at the University of Wyoming. Finishing his career as a Sun Devil, he left ASU to pursue a job with the San Diego State University Athletic department. After three years on the administrative side, Luginbill was given the control over the slumping Aztec football program, where he served as head coach of SDSU for five years. He is the only coach in SDSU to ever have five consecutive winning seasons. Luginbill's career turned when he left the collegiate ranks to coach in the NFL Europe (World League). He served as head coach and director of football operations of Amsterdam Admirals from (1995-2000). In his tenure there, he guided the Admirals to the World Bowl. Luginbill moved back to States and took a job with up-start XFL and guided the Los Angeles Xtreme to XFL's first and only league championship. Throughout his career, Luginbill is credited with finding and developing NFL stars such as Marshall Faulk (San Diego St. Player), Kurt Warner (NFL Europe / Amsterdam Player) and most recently, Tommy Maddox (XFL). Luginbill currently holds a 86-56-2 overall record as a head coach. He has won three championships and appeared in five bowl games during his coaching tenure.

BOB BEERS, Colorado (1-6, 1st Year): Beers signed on as the Colorado Crush's first head coach before the end of the 2002 Arena Football season. Along with his duties as a head coach, Beers will also oversee all of the team's player transactions. Beers' brings over 30 years of football experience to the Crush organization. He most recently served as a college scout for the Denver Broncos, and he will continue to scout for the Broncos on a limited basis. Beers has been scouting the west since 1995. Prior to joining the NFL ranks, Beers spent one season under current Fury Head Coach Al Luginbill with the Amsterdam Admirals. Beers has spent most of his coaching career in the State of Montana. He has coached with the University of Montana (1986-1990), Montana Tech (1972-1974), Western Montana (1993-1995) and various high schools in Montana and Oregon (1975-1985). He has also coached with two different NFL Europe teams, the Amsterdam Admirals (1995) and the Frankfurt Galaxy (1990-1992).

FURY IN THE COMMUNITY:

FURY HOSPITAL VISIT

Members of the Fury Team visit local area hospitals to bring cheer and hope to children during their stay. Often, players and coaches will "take over" the ward, filling it with Fury decorations. Players and coaches spend time with the children, sign autographs and leave special gifts behind. The Fury hopes that these types of events will leave a lasting impression on the children and provide a life long memory they are sure to never forget.

The Fury traveled to William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak on February 21, 2003 to visit children in the hospital's pediatric unit. Fury lineman Lucas Yarnell and Jon McCall, Fury Cheerleaders, and team mascot Frenzy toured the unit brining cheer and hope to children of all ages. Several children were lucky enough to take a ride on a model John Deere tractor, with Lucas doing most of the work pushing them down the hallway. The players, cheerleaders and Frenzy brought pennants, autographed photos, stickers, pens and posters to lighten the day of the Beaumont guests.

FURY FIELD TRIPS PROGRAM

The Fury Field Trips program is designed to encourage young people's interest in science, math and technology by introducing them to real-life examples of how the sciences are used in the world around them. The goal of Fury Field Trips is to instill an interest in the sciences that they will carry through adulthood. The Fury Field Trips are proudly supported by the Metro Detroit Ford Dealers and the Towne Mortgage Company.

The Fury embarked on the first Fury Field Trip of the 2003 season with a visit to the Ford River Rouge Plant in Dearborn, Michigan on Friday, March 21, 2003. Fury players Jon McCall, Dary Myricks, Angel Rubio and Lucas Yarnell toured the plant with sixty students from Stout Middle School in Dearborn. After the tour, Ford representatives and Fury players spoke to the children about the importance of learning about science.

Next week, the Fury will travel to Woodland Elementary School in Troy, Michigan on Thursday, March 27, 2003. Students in attendance will be treated to a wonderful, educational learning experience through an interactive science show. This show will be performed by Science Theatre, a student run organization from Michigan State University. These science majors will involve students and players in showing physics and chemistry to students in an interesting and innovative production.

LAST WEEK:

Auburn Hills, Mich. – The Detroit Fury lost their third consecutive game of the season, falling to the New York Dragons 65-57 in overtime. The Fury (3-4), failed to convert on a fourth down in the overtime, giving the Dragons (1-6) their first victory of the year.

The scoring combination between Dragon quarterback Aaron Garcia and offensive specialist Mike Furry proved to be too much for Detroit. Garcia completed 28-of-39 for 389 yards, nine touchdowns and two interceptions, while Furrey grabbed 15 of Garcia's passes for 229 yards and six touchdowns. Furrey was named the game's MVP.

Despite the loss, Fury quarterback Andy Kelly became the first quarterback in professional football to throw for 500 touchdowns in his career in one league. He finished the day completing 31-of-49 for 257 yards, seven touchdowns and one interception.

Returning from the injured reserve, OS Sulecio Sanford led the Fury's receivers, catching nine passes for 74 yards and three touchdowns.

The Fury fell behind early, as they were outscored 20-6 in the first quarter, as the Dragons were able to convert a Fury interception into a touchdown.

Detroit turned the tables in the second quarter, outscoring New York 30-8. The Fury forced three turnovers in the second quarter.

Lineman Jon McCall recorded his second sack of the season and forced a fumble that was recovered by Fury WR/LB Marcus Nash. Later in the half, Fury DS Kelly Snell intercepted his second pass of the season, setting up a Fury touchdown. On the Dragons' next possession, WR/DB Herman Bell intercepted Garcia in the end zone, setting up another Detroit touchdown.

The Fury returned from halftime with a 36-28 lead and received the opening kickoff in the second half, but were unable to increase their lead. The Dragons held the Fury scoreless in the third quarter.

The Dragons tried an onside kick to open the half, but the Fury's Marcus Nash recovered the kick. Detroit took possession of the ball on New York's four-yard line, but they were unable to score on three straight plays. A New York penalty gave Detroit a fresh set of downs, but again, New York's defense held and forced Detroit to attempt a field goal. Detroit missed the field goal, and New York recovered for the touchback.

In the fourth quarter, both the Fury and the Dragons traded scoring strikes, but the Fury were able to get a defensive stop in the last minute. The Fury defense held the Dragons to a third and long, and it set up a Dragons' field goal attempt. Dragons' kicker Pete Elezovic missed the kick, but the Fury were unable to return the kick. With only three seconds remaining on the clock, Detroit's Todd Latourette missed a field goal, but a penalty gave the Fury another chance. Rather than take the chance of having the next field goal attempt blocked, quarterback Andy Kelly threw the pass out of bounds, sending the game to overtime.

The Dragons won the coin toss in overtime and received the ball. It didn't take New York long to score, as Garcia found Furrey for his sixth touchdown strike in the back of the end zone.

Detroit took its possession on its five-yard line, but that is as far as they got. Kelly went deep for Herman Bell with the first play, but Carlos James broke up the pass. Kelly's next pass fell incomplete, intended for Marcus Nash, and on third down, Kelly avoided a safety by throwing the ball out of bounds. On the Fury's final play of the game, Kelly went deep down the sideline for Marcus Nash, but Dragons' WR/DB William Holder knocked down his pass.

The loss was the Fury's first loss in overtime in team history.

MVP: Mike Furrey (NY) Ironman: Marcus Nash (DET)

Attendance: (9,888)

DETROIT FURY NEXT WEEK:

The Fury will remain on the road, and they will play their first divisional game at Buffalo. Last season, although they weren't in the same division, Detroit played Buffalo twice, splitting the series meeting. Each team won at home, and the Fury's win vs. the Destroyers last season was the Fury's only victory of the season.

Buffalo, Las Vegas and Detroit are all still tied for first place in the division, with a (3-4) record heading into this week. A win here would be critical for the Fury, as they lost their division opener to the New York Dragons. The Dragons (1-6) are only two games back from the first place spot.

FURY NOTES / TRENDS:

Who will take the Division: Right now there is a three-way tie for first place in the Eastern Division. Detroit, Buffalo and Las Vegas all own a 3-4 record, but New York is only two games back at 1-6. With a victory this Sunday, Detroit can grab a win, while Buffalo and Las Vegas will be battling each other. Detroit already suffered a division loss last week to New York, but can keep pace with the other teams with a win. A win will keep Detroit tied with the winner of the Buffalo and Las Vegas for first place.

Nobody from Colorado: So far this season, there is a pattern to the Fury's success and failure, and it comes from each team in the league. In all three victories, the Fury has had members from each of the team's 2002 squads. In week two, the Fury's Ron Carpenter and Rupert Grant were all members of the 2002 Force squad. In week three, Fury OL/DL Jon McCall and Dary Myricks played with the 2002 Cobras, and in week four, Fury QB Andy Kelly, OL/DL Matt Norwood and WR/DB Jason Kaiser all played with the Desperados in 2002. In all four losses, the Fury did not have any free agents that were either members of the Firebirds, Storm, Rattlers or Dragons rosters in 2002. Preparring for Colorado gives this little trend a twist. Since Colorado is an expansion team, there is no way anyone could have come from their roster, so the Fury will have to opportunity to end this trend in the middle of the season.

Rotating the OS: So far this season, the offensive specialist position for the Fury has not been held by any one person for more than two weeks at a time. This week, Sulecio Sanford will get his second chance at the OS position. Before him, Thomas Bailey got the nod in Arizona. Junior Lord held the OS position for the two weeks before that, Marcus Nash played the OS for week three and Sulecio Sanford originally played the Fury OS in weeks one and two.

Some stability in the "D": Although the Fury defense was tested last week against the league's top rated pass offense, there has been some stability returning to the Fury defense. DS Kelly Snell returned to the lineup two weeks ago in Arizona, and has already made his presence felt. In two straight weeks, Snell has grabbed an interception. WR/LB Marcus Nash has adjusted very well to his role on defense, knocking down passes, recovering fumbles and tackling. Nash had not played defense since high school.

New teams in old cities: The Fury and Crush are both young teams in the Arena Football League, but the game of Arena Football is not new to either city. The Detroit Drive and Denver Dynamite were two of the original four AFL teams that kicked off over 16 years ago.

RUNNING WITH THE RECORDS: Watch as Fury Quarterback Andy Kelly continues his assault on the Arena Football League's record books, as he hopes to remain the league's all-time leading passer. AFL Veterans Aaron Garcia (NY) and Sherdrick Bonner (AZ) are right behind.

THE IFs:

If DETROIT defeats COLORADO, it would ...
· Give DETROIT a (1-0) record against the expansion Colorado Crush
· Give DETROIT a (2-2) record on the road
· Snap DETROIT'S three-game losing streak
· Give DETROIT a (1-1) record against the Western Division and a (2-2) vs. the American Conference
· Keep DETROIT in hunt for first place in the Eastern Division
· Return DETROIT to (.500) in the season



Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from March 18, 2003


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