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Fury Game Notes

February 19, 2003 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Detroit Fury News Release


QUICK FACTS:
Dallas Desperados (2-1) at Detroit Fury (2-1)
Date: February 23, 2003
Kickoff: 3:00 p.m.
Site: The Palace of Auburn Hills (14,826)
Officials: David Lambros (Referee), Al Granado (Umpire), Mike McCabe (Head Linesman), Craig Worlstad (Line Judge), Dino Paganelli (Back Judge)
Radio: WDFN, 1130 AM
Jamie Samuelsen (Play-by-Play) Marc Spindler (Color)
TV: NBC Tom Hammond (Play-by-Play) Pat Haden (Color) Lewis Johnson (Sideline)
Series Record: 0-1
Last Meeting: Dallas defeated Detroit 61-54 at Dallas
Streaks: Dallas – Lost 1 Detroit – Win 2
Coaches: Joe Avezzano (10-9, 2nd Year) Al Luginbill (2-1, 1st Year)

THE STAKES: The Fury have their first winning streak since June 30, 2001, and they will be looking to keep it going this Sunday. Detroit is currently tied with Buffalo for first place in the Eastern Division, and a win this week would keep the Fury on track. The Fury do not begin division play until week seven and any non-division wins would be beneficial for the Fury. Dallas is coming off a tough loss to Orlando in week three, and they will be looking for a win to keep pace with Indiana (3-0) in the Central Division.

THE SERIES: The Fury lost to the Desperados in their inaugural season, at Dallas, to fall (0-1) in the series. This will be the first time these two teams play at The Palace.

HEAD COACHES:

AL LUGINBILL, Detroit (2-1, 1st Year): Luginbill enters his first season as head coach and general manager of the Detroit Fury and his first season coaching in the Arena Football League. He brings over 33 years of football experience to the Fury. Luginbill began his coaching career at Pasadena City College, where he guided Pasadena City College to Jr. Rose Bowl Championship in his final season as a head coach. He then moved on to Arizona State University and worked as an assistant coach from 1977-1984 with a one-year coaching stint at the University of Wyoming. Finishing his career as a Sun Devil, he left ASU to pursue a job with the San Diego State University Athletic department. After three years on the administrative side, Luginbill was given the control over the slumping Aztec football program, where he served as head coach of SDSU for five years. He is the only coach in SDSU to ever have five consecutive winning seasons. Luginbill's career turned when he left the collegiate ranks to coach in the NFL Europe (World League). He served as head coach and director of football operations of Amsterdam Admirals from (1995-2000). In his tenure there, he guided the Admirals to the World Bowl. Luginbill moved back to States and took a job with up-start XFL and guided the Los Angeles Xtreme to XFL's first and only league championship. Throughout his career, Luginbill is credited with finding and developing NFL stars such as Marshall Faulk (San Diego St. Player), Kurt Warner (NFL Europe / Amsterdam Player) and most recently, Tommy Maddox (XFL). Luginbill currently holds a 86-56-2 overall record as a head coach. He has won three championships and appeared in five bowl games during his coaching tenure.

JOE AVEZZANO, Dallas (10-9, 2nd Year): Avezzano is returning to the Desperados for his second season, after a successful inaugural run in 2002. Avezzano's Desperados finished 7-7 in 2002 and found themselves in the 2002 ArenaBowl playoffs. He coached Dallas to their first post-season victory in the playoffs and an overall record of (1-1) in the 2002 playoffs. Avezzano joined the Desperados after spending 13 seasons with the Dallas Cowboys, as their special teams coach. While with the Cowboys, Avezzano's kicking units consistently finished among the league's best, and his team's performance earned him three coaching awards during his tenure. Before joining the ranks of professional football, Avezzano coached college football. He coached at Texas A & M from 1985-1998, serving as the offensive line coach and later the offensive coordinator. Avezzano also made coaching stops as a head coach at Oregon State University (1980-1984), as an offensive coordinator at Tennessee (1977-1979) and as an offensive line coach at Pittsburgh (1973-1976), helping the Pitt Panthers to their 1976 National Championship. 2002 REVIEW:

The Fury finished the 2002 season with a record of 1-13. The season was highlighted by players R-Kal Truluck for winning the league's award for Lineman of the Year. Chuck Winters received the AFL's Community Hero Award, which is given the player that has given the most back to his local community.

LAST WEEK:

Charlotte, NC. – It wasn't easy, but the Detroit Fury held off a fourth quarter comeback to defeat the Carolina Cobras 49-44 at the Charlotte Coliseum. It was the UT connection between former Volunteer quarterback Andy Kelly and receiver Marcus Nash that gave Detroit the winning score with only 4.7 seconds remaining in the game.

The Cobras came back from a 20-point deficit and scored 23 fourth-quarter points to take a 44-42 lead with less than a minute remaining in the game. The Fury took the kickoff and drove down the field. A pitch to FB Rupert Grant put the Fury within three yards of the end zone and on the next play, Kelly hit Nash for the game-winner.

Nash, named the game's MVP, finished the game with eight catches for 86 yards and three touchdowns. Jason Kaiser also finished the game with eight receptions for 85 yards and two touchdowns. Kelly finished the game completing 27-of-47 for 290 yards, six touchdowns and one interception. In the game, Kelly connected with seven different receivers.

Carolina's Bernard Holmes sparked the Cobras offense all night, finishing the game with 7 catches for 110 yards, three touchdowns and also returned 7 kickoffs for 148 yards and one touchdown.

DETROIT FURY NEXT WEEK:

The Fury will be packing their bags for a two-game road trip. Detroit will be heading south to sunny Tampa Bay to battle with the Storm. The game will pit old Detroit vs. New Detroit. Storm coach Tim Marcum coached the Detroit Drive to four ArenaBowl Championships, and not the Fury are looking to reclaim Detroit's Arena Football glory. The Fury and the Storm have played each year since the team's inaugural season in 2001, but they have never played at the Ice Palace in Tampa. This will be the Fury's first trip into the State of Florida. The Fury have also never defeated the Storm.

FURY NOTES / TRENDS:

Desperado Insiders: For the fourth week in a row, members of the Fury roster will be playing against their former teams. Today's game will pit many Fury players against their former team. Quarterback Andy Kelly, WR/DB Jason Kaiser, OL/DL Matt Norwood and Fury offensive coordinator Tom Luginbill will all be matching up against their former squad. Kelly, the AFL's all-time leading quarterback and Luginbill led the Desperados' offense in 2002 and guided them to a playoff appearance and the team's first playoff victory. Norwood played in seven games for the Desperados as a solid offensive lineman. Kaiser began the season with Tampa Bay, but finished the season as a Desperado, seeing a limited role in Dallas. The Fury traded for Kelly, Kaiser and Norwood during the off season, sending the 2002 Lineman of the Year R-Kal Truluck, OL/DL Ben Huff and WR/DB Shawndel Tucker to Dallas. OL/DL Ben Huff is the only remaining player on the Desperado roster left from the trade.

Injury's revolving door: The Fury's roster is getting an early season test. With so many injuries to the Fury, the rest of Detroit's players have really stepped up for the Fury. With WR/DB Mario Kelso, OS Sulecio Sanford, K Todd Latourette all recently placed on the IR, the Fury has had to fill the gaps by spreading the duties around. Last Week, the Fury welcomed back OS Marcus Nash, DS Richard Jones and OL/DL Dary Myricks. In their first week back, Nash led the Fury's receivers with eight catches, 86 yards, three touchdowns and Myricks had one sack.

Three is the Lucky Number: For the second week in a row, Fury kicker Matt McNew was a perfect 3-for-3 on field goals against Carolina, including a season long 46 yard field goal. McNew is now 6-for-6 on the season in Field Goals and 5-for-6 on PAT's.

The UT Connection: Detroit can credit much of its offensive success against Carolina to the State of Tennessee. Former Volunteer quarterback Andy Kelly and Volunteer receiver Marcus Nash, in his first AFL game, connected for three scores in last week's win at Carolina.

No Superstars: Although the Fury's defense has been playing very well recently, not one player has stood out as a superstar for the Fury. Linemen Curtis Eason, Jon McCall and Dary Myricks all have one sack, and WR/LB Ty Grovesteen got his first sack of the season. DS Ron Carpenter and WR/DB Ernest Ross each have one interception on the season, and FB/LB's Errick Herrin and Rupert Grant have been getting their hands on the ball, knocking down three passes last week at Carolina.

RUNNING WITH THE RECORDS: Watch as Fury Quarterback Andy Kelly continues his assault on the Arena Football League's record books, as he hopes to remain the league's all-time leading passer. AFL Veterans Aaron Garcia (NY) and Sherdrick Bonner (AZ) are right behind.

THE IFs:

If DETROIT defeats DALLAS, it would ...
· Give DETROIT a (1-1) record against Dallas
· Give DETROIT a (1-0) record at home vs. Dallas
· Give DETROIT a three-game winning streak
· Give DETROIT their first win on NBC
· Give DETROIT a (1-1) record in the Central Division and in the American Conference

KEY PLAYERS TO WATCH:

QB, Andy Kelly:

- Ranks 1st in the AFL as All-Time Passing Leader for completions, attempts, yards and touchdowns

- Has lead his team to the playoffs five years in a row, including the expansion Dallas Desperados in 2002

- Has appeared in two if the last three ArenaBowls

- Has an entirely new receiving corps to throw to for the second season in a row

- Finished the 2002 ranked 2nd as the AFL's offensive touchdown leader (75) and 3rd in passing touchdowns (73) DS, Ron Carpenter:

- Signed by the Fury in the offseason to give them a proven veteran on defense but as well as kickoff and missed field goal returns

- Recorded his first interception of the season in week 2 vs. Georgia. The INT set up the Fury's winning touchdown drive

- In week one, his 292 kickoff return yards placed him third on the AFL's All-time leader board for most kickoff return yards in a game

WR/LB, Marcus Nash:

- Will be making his first start in the AFL - Had a great first game for the Fury, leading the Fury receivers and catching the game winning pass with 4.7 seconds remaining in the game.

- Will be looking for the UT connection all day from fellow Volunteer quarterback Andy Kelly.

Offensive / Defensive Lines:

- A completely new group of guys fighting in the trenches, they are a strong group of AFL veterans who could be the difference makers late in the game for the Fury.

- Curtis Eason comes to Detroit from Orlando and finished as the team's second QB sack leader. - Matt Keneley was a part of the 2002 ArenaBowl Champion San Jose SaberCats and is a proven offensive lineman.

- Dary Myricks and Jon McCall come from Carolina and are proven two-way lineman. Myricks was the team's leading lineman tackler. Last week, McCall recorded his first sack of the season and Myricks will be playing in his first game of the season, coming off a knee injury suffered during training camp

- Lucas Yarnell comes from Grand Rapids, and is well known for his pass protection skills that he displayed during ArenaBowl XV.



Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from February 19, 2003


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