Firebirds News and Notes

Published on January 27, 2003 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Albany/Indiana Firebirds News Release


QUICK FACTS:
Indiana Firebirds (0-0) vs. Detroit Fury (0-0)
Date: February 2, 2003 Kickoff: 3:00 pm
Site: The Palace of Auburn Hills (14,826)
Officials: William LeMonnier – Referee, Dan Ferrell – Umpire, Allen Baynes – Head Linesman, Dana Mckenzie – Line Judge, Billy Beckett – Back Judge Television: UPN Indiana - Tape Delayed, 7 pm (Ari Wolfe, Charles Arbuckle and Jacob VanRyn – Sideline)
Radio: ESPN RADIO 950 AM & WPZZ 95.9 FM (Rob Blackman and Jacob VanRyn)
Series Record: Indiana Leads 3-1
Last Meeting: June 14, 2002 (Firebirds 56, Fury 38)
Coaches: Mike Dailey (0-0 2003, 57-36 Overall) Al Luginbill (0-0 2003, 0-0 Overall)

THE STAKES: The Firebirds enter week one of the regular season having lost their last two season openers and are looking to get an early jump on the 2003 season. The Firebirds will be after their first win of the season on the road, where they finished below .500 last year (3-4). With two road games to begin the season, an opening day victory over a non-divisional opponent could set the tone for the remainder of the season.

THE SERIES: The Firebirds own a 3-1 series advantage over the Fury. The two teams last met on June 14th of last year, where the Firebirds won handily 56-38. The ‘Birds took both contests last year winning both in Detroit and Indiana. Raymond Philyaw threw for 257 yards and five touchdowns without being intercepted while Eddie Brown grabbed six passes for 58 yards. Leroy Thompson, who was named the Ironman of the contest, had seven rushes for 12 yards, a TD and recorded 1 1/2 tackles.

Mike Dailey: Mike Dailey begins his seventh season as head coach of the Indiana Firebirds. Last season Dailey led the Firebirds to a 7-7 record and a berth in the post-season for the fifth time in six seasons. Dailey is the Firebirds' all-time winningest coach posting a 57-36 record (including playoffs) coming in to the 2003 season. Dailey led the Firebirds to a franchise-best 14 wins and first-ever ArenaBowl championship during the 1999 season. He joined the Firebirds prior to the 1992 season, spending five seasons as an assistant coach before being named head coach in 1997. Dailey began his Arena Football coaching career with the Washington Commandos where he served as offensive and defensive line coach. Prior to the AFL, Dailey worked as an Assistant Coach at Towson State University and was the Offensive Coordinator at Montgomery College-Rockville (MD).

Al Luginbill: Al Luginbill enters his first season as head coach of the Detroit Fury, becoming the second head coach in Fury history. Luginbell replaced Darrel "Mouse" Davis, who finished two seasons in Detroit with an 8-20 record. He brings over 33 years of football experience. Luginbill has coached at such colleges as Pasadena City College, Arizona State University, Wyoming and San Diego State University. He has also coached the Amsterdam Admirals (NFLE) and the Los Angeles Xtreme (XFL) in the professional ranks. Luginbill is credited with finding and developing NFL stars such as Marshall Faulk (San Diego St. Player) and Kurt Warner (NFL Europe / Amsterdam Player).

THIS WEEK'S QUOTES:

Head Coach Mike Dailey on playing Detroit: "TheY have made substantial changes during the offseason with Coach Luginbill coming on board. He has done a tremendous job putting together a good football team and we will have to play well and execute if we want to win."

Head Coach Mike Dailey on preseason: "Training camp went well and the boys worked really hard. Everyday they were willing to work hard and get better. I was very pleased with their effort and I am looking forward to seeing that effort carry over to the regular season."

INDIANA FIREBIRDS NEXT WEEK

The Firebirds will travel to New York to face the Dragons in their second road game to open up the 2003 season. The Firebirds have a 2-0 series advantage over the Dragons and will be making their first-ever trip to New York.

2002 REVIEW

The Firebirds entered the 2002 season hoping to build on an impressive 2001 season where the team advanced to the Arena Football League's semi-finals. The Firebirds ended the season with a 7-7 record and made it to the post season for the eleventh time in thirteen seasons despite early season injuries to key players such as Eddie Brown, Evan Hlavacek, and Cornelius Coe. The ‘Birds won three out of their last four games to fight their way into the playoffs, but fell short during the first round in a fiercely contested battle with the expansion Dallas Desperados, falling 47-46. With FB/LB Leroy Thompson earning Built Ford Tough Man of the Year and the emergence of First-Team All-Arena selection, OL/DL Chris Snyder, the Firebirds have their eyes set on returning to ArenaBowl Champion form.

FAMILIAR FACES:

Current Fury quarterback John Rayborn was a member of the Firebirds during the 2001 season backing up current quarterback Raymond Philyaw. Detroit's Curtis Eason and current Indiana quarterback Craig Whelihan were teammates with the Orlando Predators during the 2001 season.

BROWN QUICK OUT OF GATES

Firebirds' OS Eddie Brown has made it a habit of picking apart opposing defenses on a weekly basis and throughout his career has proven that he does not need a week or two to warm up. Brown has posted impressive week one numbers throughout his career. In nine career season openers, Brown has caught 81 balls for 1,240 yards and 26 touchdowns. So to have an average game this week against the Fury, Brown will simply need to have nine catches for 138 yards and three touchdowns.

WEEK ONE SUCCESS

A win in the first game of the season is important no matter what league it is or what level of play. Though it is a long season, a week-one victory can set the tone for the remainder of the season and lead to continued success. This week in Detroit, the Firebirds will be looking for their tenth week-one victory in the team's fourteen-year history. The Firebirds have lost their season-openers two years in a row after winning nine out of their first eleven

RUSH TO THE RESCUE

Coming out of last season one concern Head Coach Mike Dailey and his staff had was the reliability of their kicking game. Hopes are high that any kicking woes for the ‘Birds are a thing of the past after completing their biggest off-season acquisition this past November. The Firebirds quickly dissolved any concern with the signing of former AFL Kicker of the Year, Clay Rush. Rush, a four-year veteran of the Arena Football League, has spent his entire career with the New York Dragons (formerly Iowa Barnstormers). He will be entering his fifth year in the League (first with the Firebirds) having connected on 58-of-103 field goal attempts and hitting on 313-of-342 PAT's for his career. His best season as a pro came during the 2000 season where he finished the season seventh in the League in scoring (tops among kickers, 147), first in PAT's made (99), PAT percentage (.952), and was tied for fourth with 16 field goals made. He capped off the 2000 season by being named the AFL's Kicker of the Year and grabbing First-Team All-Arena honors. During the 2001 season, Rush also connected on a League-record 110 PAT's. Rush is coming off a 2002 campaign where he finished the season second in the League in field goals made (22) and third in field goal percentage (51.2).

TURNOVER MARGIN

Taking care of the football might be the most important ingredient in the success of a football team. Last season the Firebirds finished second in the League in turnover margin (+14) whereas the Fury finished the season dead last (-1). Turnovers could play a hand in the outcome of this week's game.

PLAYERS TO WATCH:

OS "Touchdown" Eddie Brown: Eddie has had one of the most successful careers in AFL history. A five-time scoring champion, Brown is the AFL's all-time leader in receiving touchdowns (286), receptions (859), and is second in receiving yards (11,628)

FB/LB Leroy Thompson: Leroy is coming off his best season as a pro. In 2002, Thompson rushed the ball 37 times for 118 yards and ten touchdowns. Defensively, he recorded 21 tackles and six sacks on his way to being named the Arena Football League's Built Ford Tough Man of the Year.

OL/DL Chris Snyder: Snyder had a breakout year in 2002. Chris spearheaded the Firebirds' defense, which finished last season ranked second in the League in points allowed. He recorded 19.5 tackles (7.5 for a loss), led the Firebirds with 6.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, and three fumble recoveries.

QB Raymond Philyaw: Ray enters his fourth season with the Firebirds as the team's second most accurate quarterback in franchise history (63.2). Philyaw has quickly ascended to third in team history in virtually every passing category. Currently ranks third in pass attempts (867), completions (548), yards passing (6,766), and passing touchdowns (126).

WR/LB Brett Bech: A late season addition a year ago, the Firebirds' WR/LB wasted little time in making his presence felt. Appearing in three games last season, Bech caught 19 balls for 310 yards and five touchdowns on his way earning AFL All-Rookie honors.

WR/DB Donnie Caldwell: Spent the majority of the 2002 season on the IR, however was extremely productive in three games last season. In three games, Caldwell recorded five catches for 95 yards and a touchdown. Defensively, he tallied seven tackles, two interceptions, and two pass deflections. Look for a break-out season from Caldwell.

MILESTONES:
Eddie Brown: Needs 32 points to reach 2,000 points scored for his career.
Eddie Brown: Needs 14 touchdown catches to reach 300 for his career.
Eddie Brown: Needs 372 receiving yards to reach 12,000 for his career.
Jay Jones: Needs 19 yards to reach 2,000 yards receiving for his career.
Leroy Thompson: Needs 11 rushing touchdowns to reach 50 for his career.
Raymond Philyaw: Needs 24 touchdown passes to reach 200 for his career.
Leroy Thompson: Needs 3.5 sacks to reach 15 for his career.
Chris Snyder: Needs 3.5 sacks to reach 15 for his career.
Kyle Moore-Brown: With two more consecutive games, Moore-Brown will have played in 125 consecutive games, all in a Firebirds' uniform.

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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from January 27, 2003


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