Gooch Gone To NFL; Hewitt, Dodge Get Tryout
Published on July 29, 2003 under arenafootball2 (af2)
Quad City Steamwheelers News Release
DAVENPORT, Iowa â The past 24 hours have been interesting for head coach Rich Ingold and the Quad City Steamwheelers. While attending the Steamwheelers Gold Helmet Huddle golf outing on Monday, Ingold received word through OS Ira Gooch's agent that Gooch was on a plane to the New Orleans Saints (NFL) training camp site in Metairie, La. to sign a contract with the Saints and to join them for training camp.
Gooch did not contact Ingold personally, much to the dismay of Ingold who stated that Gooch will not play for the Steamwheelers again. "If Gooch got on that plane to New Orleans without calling me, he is done," Ingold said. "We will win without him."
Ingold was disappointed at the way that Gooch and his agent, Paul Sheehy handled the situation and with the timing of the events as the Steamwheelers just completed the regular season and are the top team going into the playoffs.
Sheehy wanted Ingold to release Gooch of his contract with the af2 so he could sign what has been reported as a two-year deal with the Saints. Ingold refused, but Gooch got his release from the af2 league office and was on his way.
Then less than 24 hours later the Carolina Panthers called looking for the other two of the Steamwheelers trio of record holders, WR/DB Jeff Hewitt and WR/DB Tim Dodge.
This situation was handled much better in Ingold's opinion as he was contacted by the Panthers football office and Director of Pro Scouting Mark Koncz. Koncz stated that if Ingold would allow the two players to go out to Wofford College in Spartanburg, South Carolina for a one-day tryout that the Panthers would not sign the two until the Steamwheelers season was complete.
Ingold quickly agreed to this, as it did not affect the two players statuses for the Steamwheelers playoff run. Hewitt and Dodge will miss a light workout tomorrow afternoon, as they will be at the tryout. They will be back for Thursday's practice session.
The Steamwheelers just completed the regular season with an af2 best 14-2 record, earning a first round bye and home field throughout the playoffs. Their National Conference semi-final game will be August 9th at The MARK of the Quad Cities. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m.
The âWheelers will play the worst remaining seeded team, either #4 Arkansas Twisters, #5 Bakersfield Blitz or #6 Wichita Stealth. The Stealth take on #3 Hawaiian Islanders on Friday, August 1st and the Twisters and Blitz will go to battle on Saturday, August 2nd.
The trio of Gooch, Hewitt and Dodge were the first ever trio of receivers on the same team to eclipse 1,000 receiving yards mark in a single season in Arena Football history.
Gooch finished the season with 91 receptions for 1,465 yards and 37 touchdowns. Hewitt was not too far behind with 88 receptions for 1,338 yards and 31 touchdowns, and even closer was Dodge who caught 80 passes for 1,275 yards and 22 touchdowns.
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- af2 Names Players of the Week - af2
- Gooch Gone To NFL; Hewitt, Dodge Get Tryout - Quad City Steamwheelers
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- Blitz Will Travel to Arkansas to Face the Twisters in the First Round of the 2003 af2 Playoffs - Bakersfield Blitz
- Brown Sweeps Swamp Foxes Weekly Honors - Charleston Swamp Foxes
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