Dorados Now Have Coordination
January 22, 2004 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Rio Grande Valley Dorados News Release
GUSSMAN ANNOUNCES BLACKSHEAR AND MISSICK AS TEAM'S COORDINATORS
HIDALGO, TX: January 22, 2004 â One day after having their first player assigned to the team by the af2, the Rio Grande Valley Dorados of arenafootball2 (af2) have announced Head Coach Gary Gussman has added Rodney Blackshear and Tony Missick to the coaching staff. Blackshear will serve as the Offensive Coordinator/ Player Personnel and Missick will serve as the squad's Defensive Coordinator/Player Personnel.
"I am excited to have gentlemen that provide arena football coaching and playing experience on our staff," said Dorados Head Coach Gary Gussman. "Rodney was a very smart and tough player in the AFL. I have coached him and after seeing what he has done as a player, I know that he knows the game very well and I look for him to transfer the knowledge and habits he had, as a player, into a coaching capacity to educate our players. Missick also has playing experience in the AFL and also brings coaching experience from this level. It is thrilling to add a member to your staff that has as much experience as Missick does."
Blackshear, a 34 year-old native of Houston, Texas, was a four-year standout at Texas Tech University (1987-1991) before embarking on a career in the Arena Football League (AFL), where he played in 60 games, spanning 5 seasons. He played four seasons in his hometown of Houston, suiting up for the Texas Terror during the â96 and â97 season and the Houston ThunderBears during the â98 and â99 seasons, where he came across Gussman. Blackshear combined for 204 receptions for 2,482 yards and 45 receiving touchdowns in 52 games in Houston. He also recorded a touchdown off of an interception and off of a missed field goal attempt. The 1998 All-Arena First Team WR/DB recipient closed out his AFL with the 2001 Arena Bowl Champion Grand Rapids Rampage. The former Red Raider was a member of Spike Dykes' inaugural recruiting class at Texas Tech University. Blackshear led the team in receiving in 1990 (44 rec., 973 yds, 9 TDs) and 1991 (30 rec., 649 yds, 5 TDs). He ranks third at Tech with 973 single-season yards in 1990 and also is tied for third at Tech with nine single-season TD receptions in 1990 (Jr. season). Overall, he ranks fourth in career yardage (1,980) and is tied third with 14 career receiving touchdowns on Tech's all-time list. Blackshear holds the Southwest Conference (SWC) and Texas Tech single-game record with 251 against Houston (5 receptions- 50.2 avg.). He also holds Tech's all-time record for career yards per reception with 20.4, and was awarded the Red Raiders "Team MVP" honor in 1990 and "Team Leadership" honor in 1991. Blackshear also was awarded as a two-time All-SWC member from 90-91, and received invitations to the Blue - Gray Game and the Japan Bowl in 1991. He was the first player to ever score a touchdown off of a kickoff against the famed Texas A&M 12th Man Kickoff Team in 1990, which led to the end of an Aggie tradition.
Missick joins the Dorados after serving as the Assistant Head Coach and Defensive Coordinator with the af2's Columbus Wardogs last season. The Miami, Florida native started his coaching career as an assistant with his alma mater, the University of Kentucky. He then went onto serving as the Linebackers Coach for Virginia Union University before heading into the af2 as a coach. Missick started in the af2 as a Defensive Coordinator in 2000 with the Richmond Speed. The following season (2001), Missick headed to the Norfolk Nighthawks to serve as their Defensive Coordinator before he was promoted to the Head Coaching position with Norfolk in 2002. As a player, Missick began his pro career with the NFL's Philadelphia Eagles in 1989 and learned the NFL game under Defensive Coordinator Jeff Fisher (now Tennessee Titans Head Coach) and Head Coach Buddy Ryan. After a suffering an injury that ended his shot with the Eagles, Missick went on to a career in the Arena Football League. The 35 year-old Missick appeared in 41 games over his Arena Football League career from 1991 - 1995 (6 seasons). He began his AFL career in 1991 with the Columbus Thunderbolts and recorded 40 total tackles (36-solo, 8-assisted) in 10 games during his rookie campaign, and also grabbed 5 interceptions. The squad moved to Cleveland in 1992, and Missick had a career best 50.5 total tackles (47-solo, 7 -assisted) in 8 games before heading to Albany where he played in one game. He also had 13 pass breakups that season. Missick continued in Albany with the Firebirds for the 1993 and 1994 season, combining 51.5 total tackles (48-solo, 7-assisted) in 16 games. He finished his AFL career in 1995 with the Miami Hooters. His total AFL career numbers include 183 total tackles, with 160 solo and 28 assisted tackles in 41 games. He also had 12 interceptions and returned one for his only AFL touchdown. Missick's played two seasons at Marian(AL) Institute as a starting free safety before transferring to Lexington Community College and then onto the University of Kentucky, where he lettered in 1988 and 1989. He recorded 17 tackles in 1988 and 29 tackles in 1999 to total 46 tackles in 22 games while with the Wildcats.
Both Blackshear and Missick will assist Gussman in recruiting efforts and they will be evaluating players with Gussman at the Houston tryout camp.
The Dorados will play a 16 game schedule with 8 weekend games played at the Dodge Arena beginning in late March. Season tickets are currently on sale and may be purchased by stopping by the Dodge Arena offices (2600 N. 10th St. in Hidalgo, Tx) or contacting them by phone at 956-843-7825. Home dates for the 2004 season have not been released by the af2 at this time, but all home games will be played on weekends. Additional ticket information and corporate opportunities are available by contacting the Dorados offices at 956-843-7825. Rules regarding the af2's play can be found at the following site: www.af2.com/news/af2_headlines/334218.html.
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