Gladiators select pair in AFL Expansion Draft
September 29, 2004 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Las Vegas Gladiators News Release
Las Vegas, NV, September 29, 2004 â The Las Vegas Gladiators announced today they selected FB/LB Tupo Tuupo with the fourth selection and OL/DL Rob Gatrell with the 15th selection in the 2005 AFL Expansion Draft. Prior to the start of the draft, the Gladiators traded their sixth and ninth selections to Nashville for the fourth choice. Later, they traded future considerations for the 15th selection.
"Selecting Tupo and Rob were great moves for us and should give us some stability on the offensive side of the ball," head coach Ron James said. "I am very pleased with how the expansion draft went for us today and we can now focus on free agency."
The Gladiators did not lose any players during the draft.
Tuupo (6-3, 265, Washington State) entered his first full season with the San Jose SaberCats in 2004. He played in two games and contributed on the defensive side of the ball with one solo and three assisted tackles. His first action in the AFL came in 2002 with the Los Angeles Avengers, but did not record any statistics.
Gatrell (6-5, 290, Fresno State) saw action in two games with the San Jose SaberCats last season, but did not record any statistics. He was a former teammate of current WR/DB DeVon Banks at Fresno State in 1999.
Las Vegas originally received the sixth and ninth picks on Wednesday, September 15, for future considerations from the Nashville Kats.
Other notable players' chosen were WR/DB Charles Pauley and WR/LB Russell Shaw with the first and second selections by the Chicago Rush.
The Gladiators third season at the Thomas & Mack Center kicks off in 2005. Season tickets are on sale now and can be purchased by calling the Gladiators office at 702-731-4977 or logging onto www.lvgladiators.com.
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from September 29, 2004
- Crush lose two in 2005 Expansion Draft - Colorado Crush
- Kats Select Nine Players In Expansion Draft - Nashville Kats
- Two Soul players taken in expansion draft - Philadelphia Soul
- AFL holds expansion draft for Nashville Kats - Dallas Desperados
- Gladiators select pair in AFL Expansion Draft - Las Vegas Gladiators
- SaberCats lose five in expansion draft - San Jose SaberCats
- Nashville takes shape after expansion draft - AFL I
- Rampage add two exciting young talents - Grand Rapids Rampage
- Rush selects three, loses Brown in expansion draft - Chicago Rush
- Rattlers Acquire Phil McGeoghan In Expansion Draft - Arizona Rattlers
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.
