Sports stats

Georgia Force game notes

February 3, 2004 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Georgia Force News Release


QUICK FACTS:

New York Dragons (0-0) at Georgia Force (0-0)

Date: February 8, 2004
Kickoff: 3:00 ET
Site: Arena at Gwinnett Center (11,200).
Anthem: Country music star John Berry.
Television: NBC (Bob Papa: play-by-play, Ray Bentley: color analyst, Fred Kalil: sideline).
Radio: WQXI 790 AM The Zone (David Hubbard: play-by-play, Chuck Oliver: color analyst).
Coaches: Marty Lowe, Georgia (14-13 overall, 1-1 postseason, 3rd Year).
Todd Shell, New York (38-30 overall, 6th Year, 9-5, 2nd Year with Dragons).
Series Record: New York leads the all-time series 1-0.
@ Georgia 27, NY 34 (4/12/03)


MEDIA CONTACTS:

Georgia: Jason Gilham (p: 770-813-7625, jason@georgiaforce.com).
New York: Howie Wirtheim (p: 516-501-6738, HowieCW@aol.com).


THE GAME:

The Georgia Force kickoff their third season in the Arena Football League when they host the defending Eastern Division Champion New York Dragons on February 8th at 3:00 p.m. in the Arena at Gwinnett Center on NBC. Last season, Georgia was 7-3 in NBC televised contests.

The Force open their second season in the Arena at Gwinnett Center and will look to protect their perfect 2-0 record in season openers. Last year, the Force defeated the Colorado Crush 44-40 in Denver. In 2002, Georgia captured their first win in club history versus the Orlando Predators 67-49 at Philips Arena. This year's opponent will not be any easier, as the Force are 0-1 all-time against New York and last year finished the regular season 0-4 versus team's hailing from the Eastern Division. In last season's match-up Georgia was held to a team-record tying low 27 points.

Leading the team into battle this season under center is quarterback Leon Murray, who was a 2003 AFL All-Rookie team selection. Murray will be the third different quarterback to start for the Force on opening day (Kevin McDougal- 2002, Donnie Davis- 2003).

Despite being hampered by injuries all season in 2003, the Force jumped out to a 6-2 mark to start the year, finishing the season at 8-8, and was able to ride the strength of its league-leading defense to advance to the Quarterfinal Round of the playoffs. The Force concluded the year with the league's premiere defense, a distinction it held for 14 straight weeks of the 16-game regular season. Georgia finished atop the league charts for total defense only giving up an average of 238.4 yards per game and was third in the AFL in scoring defense yielding an average of 43.8 points per game.

The offseason could best be described as a time of change or moving on. Gone where longtime players from the Force roster like WR/LB Darryl Hammond, WR/DB Jarrick Hillery, OS Tyronne Jones and OL/DL Jermaine Smith among others. Many of these players had been with the team since its days in Nashville. In their place were some of the biggest free agents signings in the AFL. First was the announcement of Andy McCullough and Dialleo Burks; two WR/LB's both from the Dallas Desperados that recorded 95+ receptions, 1,200+ yards receiving and 20+ touchdowns each last season. Following that was the addition of 2001 AFL Ironman of the Year and 2001 AFL Breakout Player of the Year WR/DB Dameon Porter from the Chicago Rush. The Force continued their free agent march adding players with valuable NFL and AFL experience.

The New York Dragons visit the Force for the second time in team history after securing a 34-27 road win last year. New York finished the regular season 8-8 as one of the AFL's hottest team rallying from 0-6 start to win the Eastern Division and secure a first round playoff
victory. The Dragons late season success can be attributed to a combination of a head coaching change that brought in current Head Coach Todd Shell, as well as their franchise setting five-game road-winning streak.


FORCE TO HONOR UGA LEGENDS AT HOME OPENER:

At least ten former UGA all-Amercias scheduled to be in attendance

Two legendary drought-breakers are among the illustrious list of over 50 former University of Georgia football players who will be honored at halftime of the Georgia Force's opening game on February 8th versus the New York Dragons at 3:00 p.m. in the Arena at Gwinnett Center.

All-Southeastern Conference fullback Theron Sapp, one of four UGA players whose uniform numbers have been retired, scored the touchdown that broke an eight-year losing streak beating Georgia Tech 7-0 in 1957. Along with the player known in Georgia lore as "the Drought Breaker" is another drought-breaker of sorts, former UGA quarterback Sonny Perdue, who was elected the first Republican Governor of the state of Georgia since reconstruction.

"The University of Georgia has such a rich and illustrious football tradition that we felt it is was only fitting to honor some of the many legends that have played for UGA as the Force is building their own football tradition here in Georgia," said Virgil Williams, Force Owner and Chief Executive Officer. "With all the excitement surrounding kicking off our home opener and a new season, this gives our fans another thrill and chance to see many of the UGA players they watched for years. As a Georgia Tech alumni, I personally am looking forward to February 22nd when we can honor the Yellow Jacket football legends as well."

Some of the many UGA legends in attendance will be:
Bruce Adrine, Amp Arnold, Fred Brown, Kevin Butler, Dickie Clark, Tim Crowe, Knox Culpepper, David Dukes, Paul Etheridge, Mike Fisher, Freddie Gilbert, Mack Guest, Jeff Harper, Robert Honeycutt, Spike Jones, Charles Junior, Bob Kelly, Dax Langley, Willie McClendon, Curtis McGill Sr., Curt McGill Jr., LeBrone Mitchell, Tim Morrison, George Patton, Billy Payne, Sonny Perdue, Larry Rakestraw, Ray Rissmiller, Frank Ros, Theron Sapp, Bill Stanfill, Kim Stephens, Matt Stinchcomb, Wayne Swinford, Ronnie Swoopes, Jerry Varnado, Mike Weaver, David Weeks, Chris Welton, Todd Wheeler, Scott Williams, Jim Wilson, Scott Woerner.











GEORGIA FORCE NEXT WEEK:

The Force will open Southern Division play when they travel to Tampa Bay to face the defending AFL World Champion Storm on Friday, February 13th at the St. Pete Times Forum at 7:30 p.m. The Storm currently leads the all-time series 4-0 capturing every game the two teams have played.

THE SCHEDULE:

GEORGIA FORCE (0-0)

Date OPPONENT RESULT SCORE
Feb. 7 NEW YORK
Feb. 13 @ Tampa Bay
Feb. 22 NEW ORLEANS
March 1 @ Los Angeles
March 7 LAS VEGAS
March 12 @ Orlando
March 20 @ Indiana
March 27 TAMPA BAY
April 1 @ Detroit
April 11 @ Austin
April 18 ORLANDO
April 25 SAN JOSE
BYE
May 9 @ Columbus
May 15 @ New Orleans
May 23 AUSTIN
May 30 CAROLINA



AFL ON NBC:


WEEK 1 AFL ON NBC SCHEDULE, Sunday, Feb. 8th.

Los Angeles at Arizona, 3 pm
Grand Rapids at Chicago, 3 pm
New York at Georgia, 3 pm
N.O. at Philadelphia, 3 pm
Orlando at Tampa Bay, 3 pm

(all times are Eastern)








HEAD COACHES:

MARTY LOWE, Georgia (14-13 overall, 1-1 postseason, 3rd Year): Marty Lowe concluded his second season and first full year as Head Coach with the Georgia Force in 2003, guiding the team to a record eight wins and leading the club to its first postseason appearance. At 32 years old (9/21/71), Lowe is the youngest head coach in the Arena Football League.

Despite being hampered by injuries all season in 2003, the Force jumped out to a 6-2 mark to start the year and was able to ride the strength of its league-leading defense to advance to the Quarterfinal Round of the playoffs. Lowe, a former AFL quarterback himself, helped pave the way for rookie Leon Murray to emerge as one of the league's rising stars after the loss of two starting quarterbacks during the year. Following the season, Murray was named to the AFL's All-Rookie Team.

In 2002, Lowe replaced Robert Lyles, who was relieved of his duties following the Force's 1-4 start. Under his direction, the Force finished the year winning five of their last eight games in the team's inaugural season.

Prior to joining the Force, Lowe served as running back coach for the University of Texas-El Paso. Lowe's coaching career in the Arena Football League started when he joined the Nashville Kats as an offensive assistant in March 2000 after spending three seasons as an assistant coach at the University of Louisville. With the Kats, Lowe had Nashville's offense clicking on all cylinders in the 2000 playoffs, scoring more than 50 points in each of the team's first three post-season contests to quality for Arena Bowl XIV. Lowe went on to serve as the Kats offensive coordinator and assistant coach, where his duties included creating and implementing the offensive game plan and coaching the team's wide receivers and quarterbacks.

Lowe, who played quarterback at the University of Louisville from 1991-95, spent two seasons in the Arena Football League. He played quarterback for the St. Louis Stampede in 1996 and joined the Texas Terrors. He was a starter at Texas until a knee injury ended his playing career.

In college, he started 22 consecutive games for the Cardinals, passing for 2,268 yards and 16 touchdowns as a senior in 1995. He is one of only four passers in Louisville history to throw for more than 2,000 yards in back-to-back seasons. Lowe joined the Louisville coaching staff in 1997, breaking down practice and game tape. A native of Chattanooga, Lowe was Mr. Football in Tennessee as a senior at Red Bank High School in 1990. Marty and wife Michelle have two children, son Bryce and daughter Reece.



TODD SHELL, New York (38-30, 6th Year Overall, 9-5, 2nd Year with Dragons): On February 24, 2003, the New York Dragons named former San Jose SaberCats Head Coach Todd Shell as the second coach in team history. The hiring came after John Gregory and his assistants were relieved of their duties following Week 4 of the 2003 season.

Shell's impact was felt instantly in New York, starting the season 0-6, New York climbed to an 8-8 record and captured their first Eastern Division Championship. The Dragons were also able to advance to the Quarterfinal Round of the AFL playoffs after defeating Chicago 48-45 in the Wild Card Round. The 2003 season marked the second time in Shell's career that he had led a team to a Division title in his first year at the helm.

Serving as the first head coach in Sabercats history, Shell led his 1995 squad to a record of 8-4 and a Western Division Championship. His team became the first expansion franchise in AFL history to win a division title. After four seasons at the helm in San Jose, Shell compiled a record of 29-25 earning a playoff berth in three of four seasons.
Shell was the San Francisco 49ers' 1984 first-round draft pick out of BYU where he proceeded to win two Super Bowl rings (1984 and 1988). Shell played five seasons in San Francisco before retiring due to injuries. He most recently worked as the color commentator for the Arizona Rattlers, where he served as defensive coordinator from 1992-1994.


CONNECTIONS:

New York defensive specialist Corey Johnson was a three-year starter at free safety at the University of Georgia from 1993-96...Dragons offensive/ defensive lineman Jermaine Miles played at Georgia Tech from 1995-96...New York Offensive Specialist Vinny Sutherland was a fifth round draft pick by the Atlanta Falcons in 2001.

THE FORCE THIS SEASON ARE:

0-0 at home
0-0 on the road

0-0 vs. Central Division
0-0 vs. Eastern Division
0-0 vs. Southern Division
0-0 vs. Western Division

0-0 on Fridays
0-0 on Saturday
0-0 on Sundays

0-0 in February
0-0 in March
0-0 in April
0-0 in May

0-0 in televised games on NBC

0-0 when leading at the half
0-0 when tied at the half
0-0 when trailing at the half

0-0 when leading after 3 quarters
0-0 when tied after 3 quarters
0-0 when trailing after 3 quarters

0-0 outcome 7 points or less
0-0 outcome 3 points or less
0-0 overtime games

0-0 when the Force scores first
0-0 when opponent scores first


THINGS TO WATCH:


BASKING IN THE SPOTLIGHT:

Georgia was 7-3 on the year when the NBC cameras were rolling in 2003. Claiming victories against the Colorado Crush (2/2), vs. the defending AFL World Champion San Jose SaberCats (2/16), at Los Angeles (3/2), vs. Grand Rapids (3/9), at Orlando (3/23), at Indiana (5/6) and in the Wild Card Round of the playoffs at Dallas (5/24). The Force dropped its three NBC televised games against Tampa Bay (4/6) and (5/18) and at San Jose (5/31) in the Quarterfinal Round of the playoffs.





A DEFENSIVE FORCE:

The Force concluded the year as the league's premiere defense, a distinction it held for 14 straight weeks of the 16-game regular season. Georgia finished atop the league charts for total defense only giving up an average of 238.4 yards per game and is third in the AFL in scoring defense yielding an average of 43.8 points per game.

The Force was also high among some of the other league defensive categories. Georgia was second in pass defense (226.9), second in pass defense rating (102.3), second in rush defense (11.5), second in interceptions (23), third in red zone defense (55-73), fourth in turnover margin (+10) and ninth in sacks (16).

The Force defense was able to make its mark against some of the AFL's highest rated offenses. (AFL rank at time of game).

OPPONENT AVG PTS/ GM PTS vs. FORCE
San Jose (2/16) 60.5 (3rd) 49

Los Angeles (3/2) 62.5 (2nd) 35

Grand Rapids (3/9) 60.2 (2nd) 54

Orlando (3/23) 53.0 (7th) 36

New York (4/12) 55.4 (5th) 34

Carolina (4/18) 36.6 (15th) 19

Orlando (4/26) 52.3 (8th) 38

Tampa Bay (5/18) 53.8 (6th) 42

PLAYOFFS

Dallas (5/24) 56.8 (5th) 45
















PLAYERS TO WATCH:


WR/LB Dialleo Burks:

- Played his first two seasons in the AFL with the Dallas Desperados.

- Along with Force teammate Andy McCullough, made up two-thirds of the Desperados offensive attack that finished the 2003 season ranked first in total offense and fifth in scoring.

- In 2003 established new team records for catches, receiving yards and touchdowns for a season.

- Finished last year with a career-high and team-record 102 catches for a career-high and team-record 1,226 yards and a career-high and team-record 28 touchdowns.

- Missed the final six games of the 2002 season with a fractured wrist after putting up numbers that would have made him a strong candidate for AFL Rookie of the Year.


OS Markeith Cooper:

- Listed at 5'7", Cooper is listed as one of the shortest player in the Arena Football League.

- Earned a roster spot with the team from the club's open player tryouts in 2002.

- Has blazing speed and big-play capabilities.

- In the Force's Quarterfinal Round playoff game at San Jose last season, he racked up 153 yards on five kickoff returns including a 56-yard touchdown return. His efforts helped Georgia establish a new AFL playoff record for kickoff return yards in a game with 312 yards.

- Only one of two players remaining from the Force's 2002 roster.













K Steve McLaughlin:

- Named Kicker of the Month for March 2003.

- Set Force team record for the longest field goal, 51-yarder at Las Vegas (3/29) and most single-game PATs made with 11 at Indiana (5/4).

- Led all kickers in 2001 with 152 points, which also put him ninth overall in scoring.


- Stands sixth overall in AFL history for career points by a kicker with 668.

- Currently sixth in AFL history for most one point PAT's with 407.

- Ranks sixth in AFL history for most three-point field goals with 87.

- Stands sixth in league history in most one-point PAT attempts with 449.

- Ranks fourth in the league record books for most three-point field goal attempts with 190.

- Was a third round selection by the St. Louis Rams in 1995.


WR/LB Andy McCullough:

- In two seasons with the Dallas Desperados, was the team's career leader in scoring, touchdowns receptions and yards.

- Along with Force teammate Dialleo Burks, made up two-thirds of the Desperados offensive attack that finished the 2003 season ranked first in total offense and fifth in scoring...

- Last season, finished the year with season-high 96 catches for career-high 1,215 yards and a career-high 24 touchdowns. Also posted a career-high 22.5 tackles, career-high two pressures, a career-high four passes defensed and a team-and career-high three fumble recoveries. Added his first two career interceptions.

- His playmaking ability helped him earn selection to the All-Rookie team in 2002 after leading Dallas in receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns.




QB Leon Murray:

- Burst on to the Arena Football League scene after starting the season as the Force's third string quarterback.

- Despite only playing in eight games, finished the regular season ranked seventh in the league in passer rating with a 115.9 rating and ranked ninth in the AFL in pass completion percentage at 62.1.

- Led the Force to their first-ever postseason appearance and victory over of the Dallas Desperados on the road.

- Was named to the AFL's All-Rookie team and was voted the Force's Co-Offensive Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year by the players and coaches.

- Established new team single game records for passing yards (354) and touchdowns (8) last season.


WR/DB Dameon Porter:

- Has established himself as one of the league's premiere two-way players.

- Was named the AFL's Ironman of the Year and Breakout Player of the Year after the 2001 season.

- Is a two-time first-team all-Arena selection.

- Had 22 interceptions over the 2002 and 2001 seasons, breaking the league record for highest two-year total (previously 21 by Orlando's Kenny McEntyre in 2000-2001).

- His 156 interception return yards in 2002 represented the 2nd-highest mark for a season in the league's record book.

- Is only the second player in history to lead the league in interceptions two consecutive years (2001-2002). Orlando's Kenny McEntyre led the AFL in 1999 (7) and 2000 (11) Durwood Roquemore, a member of the AFL Hall of Fame, also led the league in interceptions twice (1990, 1994).

- Has earned four Ironman of the Week awards.


FB/LB Robert Thomas:

- Longtime NFL veteran with the Dallas Cowboys, who played both fullback and linebacker during his NFL tenure.

- Helped lead the way as Emmitt Smith ran for 109 yards on 24 carries and became the NFL's all-time leading rusher with an 11-yard run in the fourth quarter versus Seattle (10/27/02).

- Played in over 60 games, including over 25 starts, as a member of the Dallas Cowboys from 1998-2002.

- Made a name for himself as a rookie free agent with small school experience, but he has also survived a major career change, moving from linebacker to fullback.

- In a very short period of time, he went from being a reserve middle linebacker to the lead blocker for Emmitt Smith as the Cowboys starting fullback.



Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from February 3, 2004


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

Other Recent Georgia Force Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central