Dritlein returns to Stealth
March 15, 2004 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Wichita Stealth News Release
Wichita, Kan. -The Wichita Stealth announced today that they have been assigned offensive specialist Michael Dritlein for the 2004 season. Dritlein was second on the team in receiving yards and scoring despite only playing in nine games last season. Dritlein tore his anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in a game versus the Green Bay Blizzard on May 31, 2003.
"Michael is a tremendous talent and we are very excited to have him back on our roster," said Stealth head coach Sean Ponder. "It was a huge loss when Michael went down to injury and this season we hope to have him for the entire 2004 season."
Dritlein caught 56 passes for 853 yards and 22 touchdowns. He also returned 35 kickoffs for 710 yards and one touchdown. He was leading the league in several offensive categories and was on pace to break several af2 records before his injury.
Dritlein proved to be the deciding factor in two Stealth victories during the 2003 season. On April 26, 2003, he caught a 37-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Anthony Buich that led the Stealth to a 56-49 over-time victory versus the Tulsa Talons, marking the first ever victory for the Stealth over the Talons. The next week, Mr. Excitement returned a missed field goal 57 yards in the final seconds of a game to give the Stealth a 36-29 victory over western division rival, the Hawaiian Islanders.
Before coming to Wichita, Dritlein was with the Kansas City Chiefs (1996 and 1997) and also spent time in the World League in 1997 with the Rhein Fire, who played in the 1997 World Bowl. During his time with the Fire, Dritlein was the third leading receiver on the team with 13 receptions for 165 yards and two touchdowns. Dritlein has also spent time with the New England Patriots.
Dritlein played college football at Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas where he established school records with 170 receptions for 3,103 yards. His yardage total also set an all-time conference record. Dritlein earned first-team NCAA Division II All-America honors from American Football Quarterly and garnered GTE Academic All-America honors as a senior.
STEALTH NOTES: The Stealth will kick-off the 2004 season on April 3rd at the Kansas Coliseum when they take on the Peoria Pirates. Game time is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. and season tickets are still available by calling the Stealth ticket office at 316.755.3307. Fans, may view ticket pricing and seating map by visiting www.wichitastealth.com.
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