Detroit Fury Game Notes

Published on April 8, 2003 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Detroit Fury News Release


QUICK FACTS:
Detroit Fury (5-5) at San Jose SaberCats (7-3)
Date: April 11, 2003
Kickoff: 10:30 p.m. ET
Site: The HP Pavilion (14,041)
Officials: Tom McCabe (Referee), Rich Lowe (Umpire), Royce Cooley (Head Linesman), Art Lucky (Line Judge), Billy Beckett (Back Judge)
Radio: WXDX, 1310 AM Jamie Samuelsen (Play-by-Play)
TV: None
Series Record: n/a
Last Meeting: None
Streaks: San Jose – Lose 1 Detroit – Lose 1
Coaches: Darren Arbet (53-20, 5th Year) Al Luginbill (5-5, 1st Year)

THE STAKES: Detroit lost a tough game at home to the Chicago Rush, and fell a game and a half out of first place in the Eastern Division. The Fury need a win to keep pace with the Gladiators for the Eastern Division lead. Unfortunately for the Fury, the SaberCats have not lost a home game in their last 18 games, and will be returning home after a heart-breaking loss to the Dallas Desperados. The Fury are playing for a chance to host one playoff game, as a division winner, and today's game begins is the first game in a three-week road trip. The Fury need to grab some winning momentum on the road before closing out the season at home.

THE SERIES: This will be the first meeting between the SaberCats and the Fury. Today's game will mark the Fury's longest road trip of the season. HEAD COACHES:

AL LUGINBILL, Detroit (5-5, 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.

DARREN ARBET, San Jose (53-20, 5th Year): Arbet enters his fifth year as the SaberCats head coach, but his ninth season as a coach with the team. In 2002, Arbet guided his team to a 16-win season and an ArenaBowl Championship. His team finished with a 13-1 regular season record, and he was named the AFL's Coach of the Year. It was the second time Arbet has won the award. Arbet has guided the SaberCats to the playoffs three straight years and has won the Western Division for the past three seasons. Despite his head coaching duties, Arbet also functions as the SaberCats Player Personnel Director. Before taking over as head coach, Arbet joined the SaberCats in 1995 (the inaugural season) as a defensive assistant and special teams coordinator. Arbet got his coaching start in the AFL with the Albany Firebirds as a defensive assistant. His ties to the AFL date back to 1988, when he played FB/LB for the Maryland Commandos and the Los Angeles Cobras. Arbet's coaching career begin in 1990 at his alma matter, California State University, Sacramento. He played defensive end for the Hornets from 1981-1985, and he competed on the track team also. FURY IN THE COMMUNITY:

FURY HOSPITAL VISITS

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, Matt Norwood, Ron Carpenter 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.

The Fury also traveled to Woodland Elementary School in Troy, Michigan on Thursday, March 27. Students in attendance were treated to a wonderful, educational learning experience through an interactive science show. This show was performed by Science Theatre, a student run organization from Michigan State University. These science majors involved students and players in showing physics and chemistry to students in an interesting and innovative production.

LAST WEEK:

Auburn Hills, Mich. – The Detroit Fury's two-game winning streak was snapped, as they were defeated by the Chicago Rush 62-45 for the third straight time. The Rush (4-6) converted two Fury turnovers into 14 points in the final 30 seconds of the first half, and never relinquished the lead after returning from halftime. The Fury (5-5) remain in second place in the Eastern Division.

Fury quarterback Andy Kelly had his worst performance of the season, completing 16-of-32 passes for 172 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. Backup quarterback John Rayborn started the second half, but was replaced after being sacked twice, fumbling and turning the ball over on downs in his first and only series.

The Fury offense also suffered a major setback in the fourth quarter when offensive specialist Junior Lord ruptured his Achilles tendon on his right foot, sidelining him for the remainder of the season.

Rush quarterback Billy Dicken led his offense, completing 15-of-24 passes for 213 yards, six touchdowns and two interceptions. Dicken's primary receiver, Antonio Chatman, led all receivers with six catches for 116 yards and two touchdowns. Chatman also returned six kickoffs for 140 yards.

Chicago lineman John Moyer led the battle in the trenches. He finished the game with two sacks and an interception.

Despite a losing performance, Detroit's Ron Carpenter shined. Carpenter returned nine kickoffs for 250 yards, including a 56-yard return for a touchdown. He also intercepted his third pass of the season and returned it for the final touchdown of the game.

Both teams started out with good offensive performances. Chicago and Detroit each traded two passing and one rushing touchdown to start the game, but Detroit maintained the lead, as Chicago kicker Keith Gispert failed to convert his first PAT of the game.

Late in the second quarter, defense took over for both teams. The Fury held the Rush to a 54-yard field goal, but the Rush turned around and stopped the Fury on the goal line, forcing them to settle for a 20-yard field goal.

On the Rush's next possession, Fury linebacker Ty Grovesteen intercepted Dicken's pass and returned it to the Detroit 22-yard line. The Fury offense drove the ball to the Chicago two-yard line, but Fury quarterback Andy Kelly fumbled the handoff to fullback Rupert Grant. The Rush recovered the fumbled, and two plays later, Dicken found Anthony Ladd for the touchdown.

Chicago's defense continued to be trouble for the Fury in the second quarter. Linebacker Lindsay Fleshman intercepted Andy Kelly on Detroit's next possession and returned it 44 yards for the touchdown. The score was the second Chicago touchdown in 16 seconds.

Detroit received the kickoff in the second half, but backup quarterback John Rayborn was unable to spark the offense. In his first and only series, Rayborn completed his first pass for nine yards but was unable to pick up the first down. Rayborn proceeded to be sacked twice, fumbled the ball and threw an incomplete pass.

Kelly returned to the game on the Fury's next possession, but he could not drive the offense forward. Kelly threw his second interception of the game on a screen pass, when lineman John Moyer stepped in front of Kelly's pass and returned it seven yards.

Turnovers helped the Rush increase their lead to 28 points with scoring strikes from Dicken to Fleshman and Chatman. The Fury scored their first points of the half when Ron Carpenter returned a kickoff 56 yards for a touchdown.

In the fourth quarter, the Fury tried to attempt a comeback, but they were unable to climb back from the deep deficit. Receiver Sulecio Sanford dropped a pass in the end zone on fourth down on to end the comeback.

Although it was too late, Detroit's Ron Carpenter intercepted Dicken and returned it for a touchdown after Chicago took over possession. Chicago then recovered the kickoff and ran down the remaining time on the clock for the victory.

MVP: Antonio Chatman (CHI)
Ironman: Lindsay Fleshman (CHI)

Attendance: (4,812)

DETROIT FURY NEXT WEEK:

The Fury will continue on the road to face the New York Dragons. Earlier in the season, the Fury dropped a close game in overtime to the Dragons and gave them their first win of the season. The game will be Detroit's second game on the road, and the second of three straight road contests. The game will also be the first of four straight divisional games between New York, Buffalo and Las Vegas that could decide Detroit's playoff picture.

FURY NOTES / TRENDS:

Defense name of the game: With a 2-2 record in the last four games, it may be hard to tell that the Fury's defense has come alive. In the last four games, the Fury secondary has intercepted eight passes (two each game), despite having new personnel back there each week. DS Ron Carpenter leads all DB's with three picks, including one for a touchdown. The Fury has also recovered three fumbles, forced five sacks and recorded one safety in the last four weeks.

Rotating the Specialists: So far this season, no one person has not held the offensive and defensive specialist positions for the Fury for more than two weeks at a time, with the exception of Ron Carpenter. Due to injury, OL/DL Lucas Yarnell was forced to be the Fury's OS last week, and Reggie Waddell got his first start of the season at DS.

Fury ties to all Four Branches of American Troops: Although they are playing, coaching and working with the Fury, FB/LB Errick Herrin, OL/DL Coach Steve Smith and equipment manager William "Sarge" Cordery all have ties to the American conflict Iraq. Herrin served as U.S Marine for four years, and part of his service took him to Iraq as a part of Operation Desert Storm. Smith's youngest brother (18) is a member of the U.S. Air Force and is stationed in the Kuwait desert, while his brother-in-law is stationed in the Persian Gulf as a member of the U.S. Navy. "Sarge" spent 20 years in the U.S. Army as a member of a combat infantry unit. Sarge's tours took him to Vietnam, Germany during the Cold War, border patrol in Czechoslovakia and in the U.S.

Fury Quarterback Curse: Since the Detroit Fury kicked off in 2001, interceptions have plagued its quarterback in all three seasons. In 2001, Scott Semptimphelter threw 18 interceptions in the first 10 games of the season, and a combination of five different quarterbacks threw 18 interceptions in the Fury's first 10 games in 2002. As of now, Fury quarterback Andy Kelly currently leads the AFL in interceptions, with 14, through the first 10 weeks. 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.

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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from April 8, 2003


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