Elway, Garcia Cross Paths Again

March 26, 2003 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I) News Release

HENRY GARCIA was also a quarterback and eventually became the football coach at Grant High School in Sacramento, California, his old stomping grounds, where his son was active in sports. Henry, however, did not allow young Aaron to play football until he was a freshman in high school. When Aaron put on the pads, Henry took on the role as his son's coach on the same field where he had been a quarterback years before and the journey of one of the AFL's all-time greats began.

"He didn't want me to play football until I was fully developed," the 6-foot-1, 195-pound Garcia said. "When I finally got to play, I just couldn' t get enough of it. It was a natural fit. I had the opportunity to play for someone who was not only my father, but also my role model. Those are probably the best memories I have playing football.

In his ninth AFL season, Garcia, 32, has many football memories to his credit, including last Sunday, when he surpassed both the 500-touchdown and 25,000-yard AFL passing milestones in the same day. Garcia was named AFL Offensive Player of the Week for his 339-yard, eight-touchdown performance in a 54-51 win at Chicago.

"I realized the 500th touchdown because people were talking about (Detroit' s) ANDY KELLY and me racing to get there," Garcia said of the accomplishment. "I didn't really know about the 25,000 yards. The biggest thing on my mind was just trying to beat Chicago.

To date, Garcia – among the leading candidates for Offensive Player of the Year honors – has completed 216 of 308 pass attempts for 2,736 yards and 61 touchdowns with only five interceptions. He had led New York (2-6) to two consecutive wins and has kept their playoff hopes alive.

In his early days of football, Garcia strove to be the best, measured at the time by victories on field and the California State High School passers list. In 1987, Garcia's senior season, PAT HADEN, current AFL on NBC analyst, topped the list. Another marquee name on the list was JOHN ELWAY, current co-owner of the AFL's Colorado Crush.

That season Garcia passed for 3,517 yards, moving beyond both Elway and Haden to capture the mark, at the time, for highest single-season passing yards in California State High School history. The record still stands at Grant High School. While one can never predict the future, Garcia was hopeful that his path would again cross with his fellow California quarterbacks. It has this season. Haden has called his games on NBC and this Sunday at noon ET, Garcia and the Dragons host Elway's Colorado team at Nassau Coliseum.

"It's exciting that (Elway) has become part of the AFL," Garcia said. "The respect that he has shown for the League and this sport is great and the effort that he has put into his organization will help make this successful.

Elway is equally respectful of Garcia.

"Aaron has had a great career at all levels," Elway said. "It is nice to see a guy having the success he has had to break these records. He has a quick release, he's accurate, and moves very well in the pocket. Aaron is a great athlete, and knows the game as well as anybody. He is a credit to the Arena Football League.

After high school, Garcia started his freshman year at Washington State and passed for more than 1,500 yards. Edged out of his starting job in his sophomore season by DREW BLEDSOE, Garcia transferred to Sacramento State. Ten years later, his name still lines the Hornets record books among the top 10 in career, single-season, and single-game passing records. His 99-yard touchdown pass in his senior season (1993 at Cal-Poly) still stands today as the longest pass play in college football history.

Garcia's first start in the AFL came in 1995 with DANNY WHITE and the Arizona Rattlers. He then moved around to Connecticut, Iowa, and New Jersey, before finding his place in the Iowa Barnstormers/New York Dragons organization. He would fill the passing vacancy left by KURT WARNER with the Barnstormers, successively claiming all of Warner's team passing records.

Garcia went on to set new benchmarks for AFL passing – throwing for 92 touchdowns in 2000 and a history-making 104 in 2001. Despite the attention Garcia has received for his individual success, he has set his sights higher ... on an ArenaBowl title.

"All of these records might mean something more to me down the line – maybe I can tell my kids some tall tales," he said. "But right now, the only goal is winning the ArenaBowl. That's what really matters.

This season, the AFL's championship game will be televised nationally live on NBC. The network exposure has Garcia thrilled.

"I think it's huge. When I came into the League years ago, we talked about it, we dreamed about it, we worked hard for it for a long time," he said. "One of the best parts for me is the conversations that we have with NBC before the game and the research that they put into what we do on and off the field. Their presentation of our game is very exciting. Hopefully our play on the field is living up to their expectations and what the fans are looking for.

At the season's midway mark, the Dragons are two games behind first place in the Eastern Division. Garcia is quick to credit his primary go-to guy, OS MIKE FURREY, who has collected 1,122 yards and 31 touchdowns.

"He is an incredible talent. It's hard for me to talk about him without smiling or laughing, because he has so much fun out there on the field," Garcia said. "He's so creative. We have a good relationship and trust each other. That's one of the most exciting parts about football -- the bond built in the heat of battle on the field, which then often carries off the field.

This offseason marked the first time in seven years that Garcia did not coach football at his old high school. Instead, he spent his time with his children, Gabriella (4) and Isabella (1). He took the role of an athlete's father, coaching his daughter and other four-year-olds in soccer and basketball.

Father knows best. Just ask Henry Garcia.

Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from March 26, 2003

• Division Leaders Square off in Orlando - AFL I
• Week Nine AFL Injury Report - AFL I
• Elway, Garcia Cross Paths Again - AFL I
• San Jose SaberCats Game Notes - San Jose SaberCats
• Desperados Lineman to Undergo Surgery - Dallas Desperados
• Buffalo And New York Swap Linemen - Buffalo Destroyers
• Buffalo Destroyers Game Notes - Buffalo Destroyers

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