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Grand Rapids Rampage game notes

February 3, 2004 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Grand Rapids Rampage News Release


RAMPAGE QUICK FACTS
Grand Rapids Rampage (0-0) at Chicago Rush (0-0)
Date: Sunday, February 8, 2004
Kickoff: 3:00 p.m. (EST)
Site: Allstate Arena (16,000)
Officials: Referee: Bill LeMonnier; Umpire: Rick Podraza; Head Linesman: Allen Baynes
Line Judge: Dana McKenzie; Back Judge: Billy Beckett

Radio: WBBL 1340 AM, Joe Parson & Tom Sullivan Coverage begins at 2:40pm (EST)
TV: NBC (WOOD TV channel 8)
Dan Hicks & Mike Pawlawski

PR Contact: Andy Lopusnak
Office: 616.559.1871 ext. 3055
Cell: 616.813.2049
E-mail: andy@rampagefootball.com

2004 Rampage Schedule/Results
Feb. 8 at Chicago 3:00 *
Feb. 14 COLORADO 12:00
Feb. 22 LAS VEGAS 3:00
Feb. 29 at San Jose 10:30
March 6 at Dallas 8:30
March 14 LOS ANGELES 12:00 *
--- BYE ---
March 29 at Indiana 7:30
April 4 ARIZONA 12:00
April 10 at Detroit 7:30
April 17 INDIANA 7:30
April 23 at Colorado 9:00
May 1 AUSTIN 7:30
May 8 CHICAGO 7:30
May 15 at Columbus 7:30
May 22 at Carolina 7:30
May 29 DETROIT 7:30

* indicates a game broadcast on NBC

All times are Eastern, in the PM and subject to change.


ON THE TELEVISION
NBC will televise two Rampage games this season, include this week's contest in Chicago vs. the Rush. The other game will be the March 14th battle against the LA Avengers.

ON YOUR RADIO DIAL
All Rampage games can be heard live on WBBL 1340 AM with Joe Parson & Tom Sullivan calling all the action. Pre-game starts twenty minutes before kickoff.

Join radio Analyst Tom Sullivan and Head Coach Bob Cortese for Rampage Roundup each Wednesday night from 6-7pm for all the news on the Rampage straight from the Coach.

AT YOUR FINGERTIPS
The Grand Rapids Rampage also maintains a comprehensive website, featuring latest information on every Rampage related.

THIS WEEK'S GAME
The Grand Rapids Rampage begin their seventh AFL season this Sunday against the Chicago Rush, and look for their fifth straight season with a win on opening day. On the Rampage 24-man roster there is only ten players that donned a Rampage uniform. The team also comes into the season with a brand head coach.

Returning 2003 Players Rampage Newcomers
Chris Avery Alvin Ashley
Desmon Baker Thomas Bailey
Cecil Doggette Jermaine Benoit
Jason Gamble Travis Burns
Damon Hodge Josh Bush
Rod Manuel Nick Gatto
Israel Raybon Robert Hall
Mark Ricks Paul LaQuerre
Steve Smith Jeff Loots
Antonio Watson Ramon Luster
Hardy Mitchell
Ron Perry
Teto Simpson
Will Sullivan

2003 TEAM LEADERS AMONG RETURNING PLAYERS
Despite having just ten returning players, the Rampage feature many of their 2003 statistical leaders.

2003 LEADERS PLAYER
RUSHING Chris Avery (35 rushes, 166 yards, 8 TDs)
TACKLES Cecil Doggette (64.5)
TACKLES FOR LOSS Israel Raybon (4.0)
SACKS Israel Raybon (3.0)
INTERCEPTIONS Mark Ricks (five)

RAMPAGE IN SEASON OPENERS
All-time the Rampage are 4-2 in the opening game of the season. Here's a look at all six previous season-opening contests.

2/07/2003 54-36 win at Buffalo
4/20/2002 49-45 win vs. Detroit
4/14/2001 60-59 (OT) win at Indiana
4/15/2000 51-31 win vs. Los Angeles
4/24/1999 53-54 loss vs. San Jose
5/01/1998 27-42 loss at Orlando


SERIES HISTORY – Tied 3-3 in regular season (Rampage leads 4-3 overall)
The regular season series between the Rampage and Rush is knotted up at three wins apiece, however, the Rampage did defeat the Rush in the 2001 playoffs for the team's first playoff win on their way to winning ArenaBowl XV. Grand Rapids won the first three overall meetings (all in 2001). In recent history, Chicago has won three of the last four battles, including the last two at Allstate Arena. A complete game recap from each of these six games is detailed later in these game notes (pages 6-11). ALL CAPS = home team.

5/19/2001 Rampage 54, CHICAGO 52
7/07/2001 RAMPAGE 79, Chicago 58
8/05/2001 RAMPAGE 53, Chicago 21 (Playoff)
5/04/2002 CHICAGO 71, Rampage 59
7/08/2002 Chicago 56, RAMPAGE 50
3/29/2003 RAMPAGE 48, Chicago 34
4/27/2003 CHICAGO 54, Rampage 46

COACH CORTESE IN OPENERS
In his three seasons as an Arena head coach, Bob Cortese has won all three season openers. In addition, Cortese won his first four games as the head coach of the Oklahoma Wranglers (2000), then his first two in 2001 and last season with the af2's Wichita Stealth opened win a win, then after a loss to the eventual ArenaCup champion Tulsa Talons, the Stealth rattled off three straight victories.

4/15/2000 62-51 win vs. Buffalo (Oklahoma)
4/14/2001 38-28 win vs. Houston (Oklahoma)
3/29/2003 46-28 win vs. Arkansas (Wichita)

RAMPAGE STARTING QBs IN FIRST GAME
On Sunday, the eighth starting QB in Rampage will take the field. As on Monday, the Rampage have not named their opening day starter. Coach Cortese has Jeff Loots listed as A1 and Robert Hall as A2. He says that Hall is gaining ground quickly. Only three of the seven previous QBs (Dolezel, Kusick & McEwen) have won their first game in a Rampage uniform. Here's a look at the all-time records of all seven QBs in team history.

All-time Overall Reg. Season Playoffs
Clint Dolezel 30-18 27-16 3-2
Craig Kusick 13-13 13-11 0-2
Sparky McEwen 2-1 2-1 0-0
Corey Pullig 1-6 1-6 0-0
Jason Martin 1-3 1-3 0-0
Jake Kelchner 0-2 0-2 0-0
Max Knake 0-2 0-0 0-0
TOTAL 47-46 44-42 3-4

RAMPAGE IN FEBRUARY
Grand Rapids has played five games in the month of February (all in 2003) and boast a 4-1 record. Three of the five contests were decided in the final minute of play.

MUST WIN TV
This Sunday's game will be the sixth time the Rampage have been featured on NBC and have not posted a victory (0-5). The team, however, will be looking for its first win on the NBC and first win on national broadcast television since 2001 when they won the ArenaBowl.

Feb. 23 Tampa Bay 58, GRAND RAPIDS 56
March 23 GEORGIA 70, Grand Rapids 54
April 27 CHICAGO 54, Grand Rapids 46
May 18 Dallas 62, Grand Rapids 51
May 25* Detroit 55, GRAND RAPIDS 54

* denotes playoff game

RETURNING TO CORTESE
Bob Cortese might be starting a new position as the Rampage's second ever head coach, however, four of the 24-man roster that have ties to him. The two players on injured reserve also served two seasons under Cortese in Oklahoma (Carlos Johnson & Barry Dillard).

Player Where with Cortese
Jeff Loots Oklahoma (2000-01)
Ron Perry Oklahoma (2000-01)
Mark Ricks Portland (1998-99), Oklahoma (2000)
Will Sullivan Wichita (200102)


ISN'T THAT SPECIAL
The Rampage boast two of the greatest defensive specialist of all-time in Cecil Doggette and Mark Ricks. Both add up to the most experienced DS duo in the AFL with 193 AFL regular season games combined played. All-time AFL ranking are in ( ).

STATS DOGGETTE RICKS
AFL Games Played 88 105
Tackles 394.0 (11) 419.5 (7TH)
Interceptions 27 41 (4TH)
Pass Breakups 108 (3rd) 102 (4TH)

AFL ALL-TIME LEADERS – DEFENSE
Ricks and Doggette are among the AFL's all-time leaders in three of the most measurable stats for a defensive player – tackles, pass breakups and interceptions. Here's a look at the all-time leaders in each of these categories. Players in italics are active.

PLAYER INTERCEPTIONS
Durwood Roquemore 50
Kenny McEntyre – ORL 45
Barry Wagner – SJ 44
Mark Ricks - GR 41

PLAYER TACKLES
Barry Wagner – SJ 614.5
Darryl Hammond – GEO 562.5
Damon Mason – LV 502.0
Cedric Walker – CHI 470.0
Durwood Roquemore 462.5
Carlos James – TB 458.5
Mark Ricks – GR 419.5
Adrian Lunsford – COLO 415.0
Tracey Perkins 400.5
Eddie Brown – NY 395.5
Cecil Doggette – GR 394.0

PLAYER PASS BREAKUPS
Chris Barber 133
Tracey Perkins 130
Cecil Doggette – GR 108
Mark Ricks – GR 102
Derek Stingley – DAL 102
Barry Wagner – SJ 99

RAMPAGE DOESN'T LOVE RAYMOND
This Sunday, former Indiana Firebird QB Raymond Philyaw will be facing the Rampage for the first time in a Chicago Rush uniform. In seven previous contests, Philyaw has posted impressive numbers despite the Rampage winning four of the seven contests. Philyaw's 41 touchdown passes are the most by a single player vs. Grand Rapids.


Comp Att Pct. Yds TD INT Rating
128 207 61.8% 1,839 41 2 126.19


RAMPAGE INJURY REPORT
Player Position Injury Status
Carlos Johnson WR/LB Hamstring On IR
Barry Dillard DS Groin On IR
Terry Grooms OL/DL Calf ON IR

LOOTS RETURNS TO THE WINDY CITY
When the Rush entered the AFL in 2001, Jeff Loots was the quarterback for Chicago when they faced Coach Cortese's Oklahoma Wranglers. Loots tossed a 40-yard score to Joe Douglass with nine seconds left. However, Loots' 2-point pass to win the game fell short and Cortese's Wranglers prevailed 45-44. A week later, Loots won the Rush's first game in team history 41-38 over Carolina. Both Rampage QBs have never taken a snap against the Rush.

PAWLASKI TO CALL THE GAME
Former Arena Football QB Mike Pawlawski will be at this Sunday's game as an analyst for NBC. In his six seasons in the AFL, Pawlawski tossed for 16,673 yards and 303 touchdowns. In 1999, he led the Albany Firebirds to an ArenaBowl championship and was also named First Team All-Arena in the process.

YEAR TEAM PCT YARDS TD INT RATING
1995 Miami 46.5 674 6 5 60.17
1995 San Jose 0.0 0 0 0 ---
1996 Albany 65.7 296 5 0 127.80
1997 Albany 69.0 4,272 69 14 116.95
1998 Albany 65.5 3,795 74 11 121.41
1999 Albany 66.5 3,864 79 7 126.92
2000 Albany 67.6 3,772 70 8 120.84
AFL TOTALS 65.8 16,673 303 45 118.98

RAMPAGE NEXT WEEK
The Rampage host the Colorado Crush next Saturday, February 14 at Van Andel Arena for a noon tilt. This will be the teams' second meeting – the Rampage won 57-55 last year in Denver. Former Rampage WR/DB Willis Marshall is now playing for the Crush. This will be Elway's first trip to Grand Rapids since the Crush were approved for expansion prior to ArenaBowl XV.

DESMOND HOWARD AT HOME OPENER
Prior to the Rampage's home opener on Valentine's Day, former Super Bowl MVP and Heisman Trophy winner Desmond Howard will be signing autographs an hour before kickoff and will be on-hand for the coin flip.

THE HEAD COACHES
Bob Cortese, Grand Rapids
Cortese brings six seasons of Arena Football experience, seven Coach of the Year awards and more than three decades of involvement at the professional, collegiate and high school levels to Grand Rapids. In 32 seasons as a head coach, the Rochester, N.Y., native has compiled an overall record of 244-102-9 (.705), including a 13-17 mark in two AFL seasons (2000-01) with the defunct Oklahoma Wranglers. Last year, he served as the head coach for the Wichita Stealth of arenafootball2 and posted a 4-3 record.

Mike Hohensee, Chicago
Hohensee tossed the AFL's first touchdown pass back in 1987 and spent two seasons as the QB for the Pittsburgh Gladiators. Following his playing career that spanned the USFL, CFL and NFL, Hohensee began coaching in the AFL in 1990 with the Washington Commandos. Next he took over for the Albany Firebirds in 1994 and led them to two 11-win seasons in three years. His next three years were in Anaheim and New England before taking the reigns as head coach of the expansion Chicago Rush in 2001. All three seasons in the Windy City, Hohensee has posted at least a .500 record and has taken the Rush to the playoffs each year.

ALLTEL Kickoff Classic Week
The Rampage will be holding various events in and around the city of Grand Rapids thanks to ALLTEL leading up to the home opener.

Tuesday, February 10 1:00-2:00pm
Soccer Spot (3701 32nd Street in Kentwood)

Rampage - ALLTEL Touchdown Tuesday Event
Youth from St. Johns Home will join Rampage players and coaches for a "Fantasy Day" held at the Rampage practice field at the Soccer Spot. Players will lead their guests in football instructional activities and sign autographs. St. Johns Home will receive 50 tickets to the home opener compliments of ALLTEL.

Wednesday, February 11 6:00-7:00pm
WBBL 1340 AM

Rampage Round Up
Starting this Wednesday evening on the home of Rampage Football, WBBL 1340-am- host Tom Sullivan and Head Coach Bob Cortese break down the opponents and take a look around the AFL.

Thursday, February 12 9:00am-Noon
Throughout Grand Rapids

Rampage Donut Delivery
Rage Dance Team Members, Blitz and Rampage front office to deliver Krispy Kreme donuts and 2004 schedules to area businesses and media outlets.

Friday, February 13 12:30pm
Soccer Spot

Meet the Rampage presented by ALLTEL
Rampage ownership and head coach Bob Cortese will address the media, the public and the corporate community on the upcoming season. All Rampage personnel, including players, will be available for interviews and interaction with guests.

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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.

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