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AFL I Arena Football League (1987-2008)

Must-see matchups: week one

February 5, 2004 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I) News Release


ORLANDO HEAD COACH JAY GRUDEN vs. TAMPA BAY HEAD COACH TIM MARCUM

Southern division rivals Orlando and Tampa Bay go head-to-head in a rematch of last year's semi-final game, pitting six-time ArenaBowl champion and Orlando Predators Head Coach JAY GRUDEN against seven-time ArenaBowl winning Tampa Bay Storm Head Coach TIM MARCUM. In last year's Semifinals, Marcum coached the Storm to a 60-50 victory over the Predators, allowing the Storm to continue its quest to ArenaBowl XVII. Gruden's four-year totals as Orlando's head coach include a 43-23 record, two championships and three championship appearances, while Marcum reigns as the AFL's all-time winningest coach with a 158-55 (.741) career-record.

Marcum will be coaching QB SHANE STAFFORD, who returns to the Storm after a year in NFL Europe. Gruden hands over the QB reins to former Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB JOEY HAMILTON. Hamilton, a runner up in the 1999 Heisman Trophy balloting, was the first player in NCAA history to top 10,000 career all-purpose yards with at least 1,500 rushing yards. In practice, Hamilton has looked promising with completions to rookie ANTHONY BRIGHT and seven-year WR/LB CORY FLEMING.

The Orlando-Tampa Bay regular-season series is tied at 13-13.

NEW YORK QB AARON GARCIA vs. GEORGIA QB LEON MURRAY

The intensity heats up in Week 1 as New York Dragons QB AARON GARCIA (6-1, 195 Sacramento State) squares off against the Georgia Force's All-Rookie QB LEON MURRAY (6-3, 212, Tennessee State University) in a match-up of two of the League's best quarterbacks. Garcia is coming off a stellar 2003 season where he completed 349-of-508 for 4,279 yards and 100 TDs - the only QB to reach 100 TDs in a single season. Garcia set the single-season record for TDs with 104 in 2001. In his last game against the Force, Garcia was voted MVP of the game as he led his team to a 34-27 victory. Garcia's main targets will be WR/LB CHRIS ANTHONY and WR/DB WILLIAM HOLDER.

In only his second season in the AFL, Murray is coming into his own. He started the Force's last six games of 2003 and the team's two playoff games, putting up numbers that established new single-game club marks for passing touchdowns and completions. Murray finished 2003 passing for 1,737 yards on 149-of-240 passing with 33 TDs and three INTs. The addition of former Dallas players WR/LBs DIALLEO BURKS and ANDY MCCULLOUGH give the young QB even more weapons at his disposal.

GRAND RAPIDS OS STEVE SMITH vs. CHICAGO DS COREY SAWYER

Speedy Grand Rapids Rampage OS STEVE SMITH is looking to take over the teams No. 1 spot with the departure of TERRILL SHAW, but he has to get past Chicago Rush DS COREY SAWYER first. Acquired from the Tampa Bay Storm, Sawyer brings coverage skills and championship intensity to Chicago this season as he tries to shut down Grand Rapids new No. 1 weapon. In Week 1 of last season, Sawyer earned Defensive Player of the Week honors after registering 4.0 tackles and two INTs against Carolina. He finished the season with a total of 56.5 tackles and six INTs.

With 1,085 receiving yards and 31 TDs in 2003, Smith is going to put Sawyer to work. Smith has caught at least three receptions in all 16 games he played last season, and hauled in touchdowns in 12 games. Smith was named Ironman of the Game three times and his three kickoff returns for touchdowns are the most in Rampage history for a single season.

LOS ANGELES OFFENSE vs. ARIZONA OFFENSE

Two high-powered offenses continue their western division rivalry when the Los Angeles Avengers travel to Arizona in search of revenge for their 70-63 playoff loss to the Rattlers last season. Both Arizona and Los Angeles possess numerous weapons to use in their offensive attacks. In his last two regular season games against Arizona, Avengers OS CHRIS JACKSON has combined for 16 receptions for 283 yards and nine TDs. Los Angeles QB TONY GRAZIANI'S first AFL action came against Arizona on June 23, 2001, when he came off the bench and went 11-for-17 for five second-half touchdowns to lead the Avengers to a 58-48 overtime victory.

Rattlers QB and 2003 First-Team All-Arena QB SHERDRICK BONNER is third all-time in Arena Football history with 534 TD passes. He is No. 2 in passing yards (26,786) and pass completions (2,114). Bonner threw for his 500th career TD against Los Angeles last April. Bonner is coupled with 2003 Ironman of the Year WR/DB RANDY GATEWOOD and two-time Ironman of the Year WR/LB HUNKIE COOPER. Seasoned veteran Cooper ranks No. 1 in kickoff returns (482), No. 2 in all-purpose yards (19,760), No. 3 in kickoff return touchdowns (19), and No. 4 in pass receptions (720).

NEW ORLEANS EXPANSION TEAM vs. PHILADELPHIA EXPANSION TEAM

Two expansion teams will play their first AFL games ever against each other when the New Orleans VooDoo hit the road to play the Philadelphia Soul. VooDoo QB JOHN FITZGERALD brings experience as a signal caller with extensive starting and playoff experience to New Orleans. For his career, Fitzgerald has completed 277-of-450 for 3,177 yards with 45 touchdown passes and 17 interceptions. Fitzgerald spent the 2003 season with the Dallas Desperados as a backup to QB JIM KUBIAK. His main target, VooDoo OS AARON BAILEY, spent last year with San Jose, rushing seven times for 12 yards and five TDs, and catching 16 passes for 233 yards and two touchdowns.

QB NICK BROWDER will make his debut with Philly after spending last year in Grand Rapids, where he served as backup to CLINT DOLEZEL. Browder will be targeting OS TYRONNE JONES, who joins the Soul after producing 86 receptions, 989 yards and 20 TDs in Georgia last season.

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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from February 5, 2004


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