Grand Rapids Rampage vs. Toronto Phantoms

April 1, 2002 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Grand Rapids Rampage News Release


QUICK FACTS:

Grand Rapids Rampage vs. Toronto Phantoms
Date: Saturday, April 6, 2002
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. (EST)
Site: Van Andel Arena (10,424)
National Anthem: Shannon Novak
Officials: Bill LeMonnier (Referee), Dan Ferrell (Umpire), Allen Baynes (Head Linesman), Kent Payne (Line Judge), Tony Lombardo (Back Judge).
Radio: Joe Parson & Tom Sullivan
TV: None
Series Record: Rampage lead 1-0
Last Meeting: Grand Rapids 62, Toronto 45 (Saturday, May 5,2001 in Toronto)
Coaches: Grand Rapids Rampage, Michael Trigg (54-52 overall, 9th Year). Toronto Phantoms, Mark Stoute (8-6 overall Record, 2nd Year)

THE SERIES: In their first ever international contest, the Rampage defeated the Phantoms 62-45 at the Air Canada Centre. The teams have only met that one time and will not meet during the regular season this year.

HEAD COACHES:

MICHAEL TRIGG, Grand Rapids Rampage (54-52, 8th Year): Michael Trigg enters his fifth season with the Rampage, boasting a history of achievement both on the sidelines and on the field. That history reached new heights on August 19, 2001 when the AFL's smallest market team won ArenaBowl XV in front of a sold-out Van Andel Arena and a national television audience on ABC. Last season, Trigg not only guided the Rampage to the team's third consecutive playoff berth and first championship, but he also led the team to a league-best 11-3 record. For his efforts last season, Trigg was named the 2001 AFL Coach of the Year. He is just the sixth coach in AFL history to reach the 50-win plateau and now ranks as the fifth winningest coach in AFL history.

MARK STOUTE, Toronto Phantoms (8-6, 2nd Year): Mark Stoute enters his eighth season in the AFL and is second season as head coach and general manager of the Phantoms. Last season, Stoute led the Phantoms to an 8-6 regular season record and the AFL's Eastern Division Championship.

GRAND RAPIDS RAMPAGE (11-3 in 2001)
Date Preseason Time
4/6 TORONTO 7:30 p.m.
4/11 @ Buffalo 7:30 p.m.
Date Regular Season
4/20 DETROIT 7:30 p.m.
4/27 INDIANA 8:00 p.m.
5/4 @ Chicago 8:00 p.m.
5/11 ORLANDO 7:30 p.m.
5/17 @ Carolina 7:30 p.m.
5/25 BUFFALO 7:30 p.m.
5/31 @ Arizona 10:00 p.m.
6/8 @ New Jersey 7:30 p.m.
6/15 LOS ANGELES 7:30 p.m.
6/23 ATLANTA 2:00 p.m.
6/29 @ Indiana 8:00 p.m.
7/6 CHICAGO 7:30 p.m.
7/13 @ New York 7:30 p.m.
7/19 @ Detroit 7:30 p.m.

TORONTO PHANTOMS (8-6 in 2001)
Date Preseason Time
4/6 @ Grand Rapids 7:30 p.m.
4/11 NEW YORK 7:00 p.m.
Date Regular Season
4/20 @ Tampa Bay 7:30 p.m.
4/25 DETROIT 7:00 p.m.
5/4 @ Arizona 10:00 p.m.
5/9 INDIANA 7:00 p.m.
5/18 @ Buffalo 7:00 p.m.
5/23 NEW JERSEY 7:00 p.m.
6/1 @ New York 7:00 p.m.
6/9 @ Georgia 7:30 p.m.
6/13 BUFFALO 7:00 p.m.
6/21 @ Orlando 7:30 p.m.
6/27 LOS ANGELES 7:00 p.m.
7/4 CAROLINA 7:00 p.m.
7/13 @ New Jersey 7:30 p.m.
7/18 NEW YORK 7:00 p.m.

2001 REVIEW:

* In just their fourth Arena Football League season, the Grand Rapids Rampage won their first ArenaBowl championship, defeating the Nashville Kats 64-42 in front of an overflow crowd at Van Andel Arena and a national television audience on ABC.

* The Rampage's finished the regular season with a league best 11-3 record, winning their first Central Division title.

* The Rampage began the season with records of 5-0 and 7-1, marking the best starts in franchise history. In addition, the team's five consecutive wins to start the season set a record for the longest winning streak in franchise history.

* QB Clint Dolezel enjoyed the most prolific season ever for a Rampage hurler, breaking his own AFL record with 574 attempts while establishing team marks for touchdown passes (80), passing yards (3,952) and completions (364). The 80-TD threshold has been eclipsed just seven times in AFL history, and Dolezel became the only man to do it three times (81 in 1998, 80 in 2001 and 1999).

* Two Rampage players added their names to the AFL's all-time greats. In a 41-38 win vs. Carolina on May 11, WR/LB Michael Baker became the fifth player in league history to accumulate 5,000 receiving and 5,000 return yards for his career. Then, in a 79-58 win vs. Chicago on July 7, QB Clint Dolezel became just the seventh player in AFL history to record 300 passing touchdowns and the tenth player to record 2,000 passing attempts.

* Five members of the Rampage were honored by the AFL. After leading the Rampage to the league's best regular season record, coach Michael Trigg was chosen as the AFL's Coach of the Year. In addition to Trigg, K Brian Gowins was named AFL Kicker of the Year and DS JoJo Polk was presented with the league's Most Inspirational Award, following his miraculous recovery from a broken neck. QB Clint Dolezel, WR/LB Michael Baker, and Gowins are also named to the All-Arena Second Team. Polk was also named to the All-Rookie Team.

PRESEASON HISTORY: According to most, preseason games don't mean much. But in four previous seasons, the Rampage's preseason has pretty much determined the type of season the team would have. Grand Rapids two best seasons have come when the team finished flawless in preseason play. In 1999, the Rampage finished 8-6 after preseason wins against Portland and Houston. Last season the team finished with a league-best 11-3 record and of course an ArenaBowl XV championship after defeating the New Jersey Gladiators and the Nashville Kats during the preseason.

Date Opponent Score
4/6/01 NASHVILLE 60-41, W
5/29/01 New Jersey 55-40, W
4/7/00 NEW JERSEY 47-62, L
4/1/00 Nashville 22-51, L
4/15/99 HOUSTON 58-33, W
4/10/99 Portland 46-40, W
4/23/98 PORTLAND 30-18, W
4/18/98 Houston 32-53, L

LAST MEETING: Grand Rapids 62, TORONTO 45 (6/5/01) - Clint Dolezel completed 23 of 39 passes for 277 yards and six TDs as the Rampage won their first international contest, 62-45, over the Phantoms in front of 6,503 fans at the Air Canada Centre. The Rampage victory was a total team effort, as they received scoring from the offense, defense and special teams. The Phantoms jumped out to an early 7-0 lead when Toronto fullback Jermaine Younger scored a one-yard rush just 2:18 into the opening quarter. Grand Rapids knotted the game at seven when Michael Baker pulled in a five-yard touchdown pass from Dolezel. The Rampage took advantage of two Phantom turnovers on their next two possessions to build a 17-7 lead, thanks to a 37-yard field goal by Brian Gowins and a four-yard touchdown reception by Rodney Blackshear. Demo Odems and Ricky Ross combined for three touchdowns in the third quarter as the Rampage jumped out to a 52-23 lead. Toronto would add a late third quarter touchdown on a pass from Phantom back-up quarterback Chad Salisbury, who hit Charlie Davidson for his second touchdown of the game. In the final quarter of play, the Phantoms attempted to mount a comeback after recording an early score off of a Dolezel interception that led to a one-yard Younger rush for a touchdown. After a 34-yard Gowins field goal, Toronto pulled to within ten at 55-45, when Damian Harrell caught his second touchdown pass of the afternoon. Grand Rapids answered with a late fourth quarter touchdown on a 14-yard scoring strike from Dolezel to Ross that increased the Rampage lead to 62-45. JoJo Polk´s interception with 42 seconds remaining in the game iced the victory the Rampage.

FAMILIAR FACES: Phantoms assistant head coach and defensive coordinator Rick Frazier served three seasons under Rampage head coach Michael Trigg as the defensive coordinator and special team's coach of the Milwaukee Mustangs...Rampage OS Steve Smith and Phantoms WR/LB Nakia Jenkins were teammates in high school (Belle Glades (FL) Central High School), junior college (Chaffey Junior College) and college (Utah StateUniversity)...Smith also played college ball with Phantoms FB/LB Jermaine Younger...Rampage OL/DL Demetrius Crowder and Phantoms OL/DL Kelvin Ingram were roommates while at Oklahoma State University...Rampage OL/DL Terry Grooms and Phantoms OL/DL Chris Bell were teammates at the University of Cincinnati...Rampage OL/DL Mpumi Masimini and Phantoms OL/DL Sherwin Lacewell were teammates at East Carolina University.

RAMPAGE NEXT WEEK: The Rampage will finish out their 2002 exhibition schedule on the road in Buffalo on Thursday, April 11 at 7:30 p.m. It will be the first time the two teams have met in the preseason. Buffalo, led by Hudsonville native and former Central Michigan University standout Ray Bentley, will visit Van Andel Arena during the regular season on Saturday, May 15.

TEAM NOTES:

Returnees: The Rampage return 18 players from last year's championship team.

Championship Staff: For the first time in five years, the Rampage returned all of their assistant coaches from the previous season. Robert Smith (asst. head coach), Sparky McEwen (offensive coordinator) and Marshall Foreman (defensive coordinator) are all back for the 2002 season.

Arena Experience: Grand Rapids entered training camp with only six players that haven't played Arena football.

POSITION BATTLES TO WATCH:

Offensive Specialist: Who will replace ArenaBowl XV MVP Terrill Shaw? Currently, the leading candidates are newcomers Corey Bridges, Ricky Ross, Steve Smith and Jason Waters

Defensive Specialist: All-Rookie DS JoJo Polk, Raphael Ball and Joseph Todd are the only returning defensive specialists. Looking to move up the depth chart are former Houston ThunderBear Verone McKinley, Jeromy Flowers, Derek Fox and Mark Herron.

The Line: According to the coaching staff, the Rampage line is better than it has ever been at this point in training camp. Newcomers Madison Johnson, Mpumi Masimini, Israel Raybon, Tyrone Rodgers and Tyshaun Whitson will all be vying to make the opening day lineup.

Quarterback: One of the toughest battles of the 2002 preseason will be at the back-up quarterback position. Nick Browder, who served as the Rampage's back-up last season, and Todd Hammel, who is the AFL's all-time leading passer, will get the majority of the snaps in exhibition play to win the number two job.

RETURNING PLAYERS TO WATCH:

Rampage WR/LB Michael Baker : Baker returns for his fifth season with the Rampage. He is the only holdover from the 1998 inaugural team. Last season, Baker led the Rampage in catches (77), kick returns (37) and return yardage (697). He also added 721 receiving yards and 12 receiving touchdowns.

Rampage QB Clint Dolezel: Dolezel, who just recently signed a two-year contract extension, returns for his second season with the Rampage after setting Rampage single-season records in passing yards (3,952), pass attempts (574), pass completions (364) and touchdowns (80). He also broke Rampage single-game records in passing yards (402), pass attempts (50), pass completions (35) and touchdowns (8).

NEW PLAYERS TO WATCH:

Rampage OL/DL Israel Raybon: Raybon enters his first AFL season, but is no stranger to professional football. The former North Alabama standout was a fifth round draft pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1996. Besides Pittsburgh, Raybon also spent time with the Carolina Panthers. Standing 6-5 and weighing in at 305, he shouldn't be hard to keep an eye on.

Rampage WR/LB Curtis Ceaser: Ceaser enters his fifth AFL season. Prior to joining the Rampage, Ceaser spent four seasons with the Florida Bobcats. He brings experience, size and over 4,000 career receiving yards to the Rampage's receiving corps.



Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from April 1, 2002


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