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Fifth Anniversary Season Underway This Weekend

March 25, 2004 - arenafootball2 (af2) News Release


CHICAGO - The battle to become the next ArenaCup Champion begins this weekend for four of af2's 25 teams, as they officially kickoff the Fifth Anniversary season. In Louisiana, the Bossier-Shreveport Battle Wings host the Birmingham Steeldogs while the defending West Division Champion Hawaiian Islanders are in Fresno, CA to take on the Central Valley Coyotes.

BIRMINGHAM STEELDOGS (0-0) AT BOSSIER-SHREVEPORT BATTLE WINGS (0-0)
SATURDAY, MARCH 27, 2004-CENTURYTEL CENTER (12,500) 8:00 P.M. ET

The 2004 af2 season kicks off in Louisiana as the Birmingham Steeldogs travel to the CenturyTel Center to face the Bossier-Shreveport Battle Wings. After being one game away from the ArenaCup in 2002, the Steeldogs finished a disappointing 7-9 in 2003 missing the playoffs. Veteran WR/DB ANTHONY JORDAN and his six interceptions and 43 receptions from last season return for the Steeldogs. Under the guidance of fifth year head coach Bobby Humphrey the Steeldogs want to start out with a victory. The Battle Wings are looking to avenge a 57-43 loss to the Steeldogs last season. After winning last season's opener against Peoria the Battle Wings managed only two more wins the rest of the season. But Bossier-Shreveport would love to get a victory for new head coach Keith Barefield. One person not new to the Battle Wings is QB SHERARD POTEETE. The all-time leading rusher in af2 history returns to the Battle Wings after spending the second half of last season with the Columbus Wardogs.

HAWAIIAN ISLANDERS (0-0) AT CENTRAL VALLEY COYOTES (0-0)
SATURDAY, MARCH 27, 2004-SELLAND ARENA (8,300) 10:30 P.M. ET

Arena Football returns to Fresno as the Central Valley Coyotes host the division rival Hawaiian Islanders. The Islanders look to continue last year's success when they compiled a 10-6 record and beat the Wichita Stealth in the first round of the playoffs, before bowing out to eventual the ArenaCup Champions Tulsa Talons. There are no worries at the quarterback position for the Islanders since they bring back veterans DARNEL ARCENEAUX and MIKE TILLIS. Fan favorite DS EDDIE KLANESKI also returns, as the Islanders want to start the season strong with a win on the mainland. Making the move from Bakersfield to Fresno with the Coyotes is dominating lineman RICKY LEUNG'WAI. He brings 9.5 sacks from last season and his veteran experience to the Coyotes. Former Riptide head coach Cree Morris now takes over as head man of the Coyotes. The game will be the first of four meetings between the Islanders and the Coyotes.

KICKOFF WEEKEND SCHEDULE
Saturday, March 27, 2004
Birmingham at Bossier-Shreveport 8:00 p.m.
Hawaii at Central Valley 10:30 p.m.

WEEK 1 SCHEDULE
Saturday, April 3, 2004
San Diego at Arkansas 8:00 p.m.
Peoria at Wichita 8:00 p.m.
Manchester at Quad City 8:30 p.m.
Laredo at Rio Grande Valley 8:30 p.m.
Bakersfield at Tennessee Valley 8:30 p.m.
Oklahoma City at Tulsa 8:30 p.m.
Albany Bye
Cape Fear Bye
Columbus Bye
Florida Bye
Green Bay Bye
Louisville Bye
Macon Bye
Memphis Bye
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Bye
All times Eastern

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