Dolezel Headlines Weekly Winners
Published on June 4, 2002 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I) News Release
Grand Rapids Rampage's QB CLINT DOLEZEL, Dallas Desperados' DS HASSAN SHAMSID-DEEN, and Los Angeles Avengers' WR/LB GREG HOPKINS have been named the Arena Football League's Offensive Player, "ADT" Defensive Player, and Ironman of the Week, respectively, for their performances during Week Seven of the 2002 season.
Dolezel (6-5, 205, East Texas St.), a six-year AFL veteran, helped keep his Rampage (5-2) on top of the Central Division by connecting on 22-of-31 for 305 yards, eight touchdowns and no interceptions in their 71-53 victory over the Arizona Rattlers. Dolezel led the Rampage to 36 second half points on the way to securing the American Conference victory and extende four-game winning streak. The 2001 All-Arena performer currently leads the league in passing yards (2,010). This marks the second time this season and eighth time in his career that he has earned a league weekly honor.
Shamsid-Deen (5-9, 183, North Carolina St.), a three-year AFL veteran, recorded two interceptions, two solo tackles, an assist, and defended five passes to help lead the Desperados (3-4) a 62-55 upset victory at Los Angeles. The former member of the Wolf Pack also recovered a kickoff in the end zone for a defensive touchdown in the third quarter. Shamsid-Deen currently leads the Desperados in tackles (32.0) and interceptions (4). This award marks the first time that Shamsid-Deen has garnered league-wide weekly recognition in his career.
Hopkins (6-2, 205, Slippery Rock), a six-year AFL veteran, starred on both sides of the ball in Los Angeles' (4-3) 62-55 loss to the Dallas Desperados last Saturday. Hopkins had eight receptions, 98 yards, and four touchdowns on offense, while adding four and a half total tackles, two defended passes, and a 27-yard interception return for a touchdown. The interception return for a touchdown tied Hopkins with current Avenger teammate MARK RICKS for the career mark (7). The former All-Arena selection is currently No. 5 in scoring (94 points) and receiving yards (666), while he ranks No. 4 in receptions (52). This marks the second time this season that Hopkins has earned Ironman of the Week honors and third time in his career.
Other candidates for Offensive Player of the Week included: Arizona's Chris Horn, Grand Rapids' Steve Smith, Indiana's Terence Davis, Los Angeles' Tony Graziani and Greg Hopkins, Orlando's Andre Cooper, San Jose's Mark Grieb, Tampa Bay's Calvin Schexnayder and Mike Black, and Toronto's Damian Harrell.
Other candidates for "ADT" Defensive Player of the Week included: Chicago's Dameon Porter and Cedric Walker, Detroit's R-Kal Truluck, New York's Donvetis Franklin, San Jose's James Williams, and Toronto's Charlie Davidson.
Other candidates for Ironman of the Week included: Chicago's Lindsay Fleshman, Dallas' Andy McCullough, Detroit's Ty Grovesteen, Georgia's Jarrick Hillery, Grand Rapids' Willis Marshall and Gary Compton, Indiana's Van Johnson, San Jose's Jerry Reese and Shalon Baker, and Toronto's Luke Leverson.
PREVIOUS WEEKLY AWARD WINNERS
Week, Offensive, "ADT" Defensive, Ironman
Week 1, Chris Jackson (Los Angeles), Ron Carpenter (Georgia), Gary Compton (Indiana)
Week 2, Sherdrick Bonner (Arizona), Bob McMillen (San Jose), Mike Furrey (New York) Week 3, Lamont Cooper (Buffalo), Andre Bowden (Carolina), Greg Hopkins (Los Angeles)
Week 4, Chris Horn (Arizona), Sam Hernandez (San Jose), Lawrence Samuels (Tampa Bay)
Week 5, Sedrick Robinson (New Jersey), Chris Snyder (Indiana), Mike Furrey (New York)
Week 6, Chris Jackson (Los Angeles), Donvetis Franklin (New York), Chad Dukes (Los Angeles)
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"BUILT FORD TOUGH" WINNERS
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Toronto coaches selected WR/DB LUKE LEVERSON as one of last week's "Built Ford Tough" Players of the Game. The "Built Ford Tough" Award is a national recognition award given after every game to the player or players on each team best demonstrating determination and toughness in that game. The award honors the players who made a game-saving tackle or score-saving tackle, threw a key block on the big play or exhibited physical sacrifice or consistent tough blocking and tackling on either side of the ball. LUKE LEVERSON helped lead the Phantoms past the Dragons last week (63-38) and lift Toronto's record over .500 (4-3), recording seven catches for 103 yards and a pair of touchdowns. His first scoring catch came on a 30-yard pass in the final frame to increase the Dragons' lead to 49-38. Up to five players who display the "get-it-done" kind of attitude are honored by each team every week. A point system is maintained on the league's official site, www.arenafootball.com, throughout the season that will culminate in the "Built Ford Tough" Man of the Year, a player who will win a Ford Truck at the end of the season. This week's winners:
WEEK SEVEN TEAM-BY-TEAM WINNERS
Arizona: Chris Horn, Orshawante Bryant, Hunkie Cooper
Buffalo: Bret Cooper, Kerwin Hairston, Kevin Mason
Carolina: Aaron Bailey, Kevin Gaines, Dary Myricks
Chicago: Antonio Chatman
Dallas: Patrise Alexander
Detroit: Kelvin Kinney, Kevin Scott, R-Kal Truluck, Ty Grovesteen, Ricky Wood
Georgia: Darryl Hammond, Travis Reece, Jermaine Smith
Grand Rapids: Willis Marshall, Gary Compton, Israel Raybon, Travis McDonald, Corey Mayfield
Indiana: Evan Hlavacek, Dejuan Alfonzo, Rich Young, Leroy Thompson
Los Angeles: Carlos Fowler, Greg Hopkins, Kevin Ingram
New Jersey: Sedrick Robinson, Karl Bates, Jeroid Johnson
New York: Steve Papin, Mike Furrey, Carl Sacco, Donvetis Franklin, Shea Showers
Orlando: Ernest Allen, B.J. Cohen, Jay Gruden
San Jose: Shalon Baker, Jerry Reese, Mike Ulufale, Joe Jacobs, James Williams
Tampa Bay: Calvin Schexnayder, Scott Milanovich
Toronto: Luke Leverson, Charlie Davidson, Anthony Derricks, Doug Lytle, Anthony Hicks
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ARENAFOOTBALL.COM WEB POLL RESULTS
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Q: WHO DO YOU THINK HAS DONE THE BEST COACHING JOB SO FAR THIS SEASON?
* DARREN ARBET, San Jose (7-0)- 33%
* DANNY WHITE, Arizona (5-2) - 18%
* ED HODGKISS, Los Angeles (4-3) - 17%
* FRANK HAEGE, New Jersey (4-3) - 16%
* MIKE NEU, Carolina (4-3) - 8%
* Other - 8%
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from June 4, 2002
- AFL Ready to Begin TNN Schedule - AFL I
- Arena Football League Transactions - AFL I
- Shamsid-Deen Named AFL Defensive Player of the Week - Dallas Desperados
- Dolezel Headlines Weekly Winners - AFL I
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