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Mustangs up for 2012 Year-End AFL Awards

July 20, 2012 - Arena Football League (AFL)
Milwaukee Mustangs News Release


MILWAUKEE (July 20, 2012) - As the Milwaukee Mustangs look to wrap up their 2012 season this weekend in Orlando, the Arena Football League office released the list of the year-end awards. With this year's talented group of players on-and-off the field, the team has taken home several individual awards and the organization has made a huge stride in the league. This year's progress has positioned the Mustangs to be considered for numerous awards. Below is a list of candidates for those awards:

Commissioner's Award (Organization of the Year): MILWAUKEE MUSTANGS

The Milwaukee Mustangs have had a lot of success on and off the field in 2012. On the field, the Mustangs were excited to welcome back the jack-of-all-trades defensive back/wide receiver Marcus Everett, quarterback Gino Guidugli, and defensive lineman Luis Vasquez. Off the field, starting with the ownership of Chris Rebholz, Todd Hansen, and Dave Bahl, the Mustangs have taken a tremendous leap of progress in the Arena Football League and have certainly made their presence known.

VP Scott Jacka, C.O.O. Tom Colleton, and the front office staff worked hard in the off-season to ensure that the Mustangs would be a team to be recognized in the AFL this season. In a very short amount of time, the Mustangs organization has made a vast turnaround within the league and communities throughout the Milwaukee area.

Players, Stang and the Fillies Dance Team support a variety of different events and festivals and the organization has made a remarkable effort to give back to the community and support its sponsors. Being involved in the community has helped brand the team to the fans, as the Mustangs have made a huge turnaround in attendance and corporate sponsorships in just a year.

The Mustangs partnered with several charities this season including ALS, Variety the Children's Charity of Wisconsin, Making Strides for Breast Cancer and the Charles Woodson Foundation. Each charity was given their own 'night' to raise money for and promote awareness about their organization.

This year the Mustangs were the first team in Arena Football League history to step onto the field in four different jerseys in one season, as well as being the first team to wear a throwback jersey. Along with the home and away jerseys, the team wore camouflage jerseys for military night and the 94' Mustangs' purple and teal jerseys for throwback night. The team also supported Making Strides for Breast Cancer with pink sweatbands; chin straps and gloves for breast cancer awareness night.

The team had six of their games locally broadcast on Time Warner Cable Sports32 with Dwayne Mosley and former Green Bay Packer, Brian Noble, a weekly coaches' radio show on 540 ESPN, and all of the Mustangs games were broadcast live on 540 ESPN radio with Bill Johnson. The team also held a postgame concert featuring country music star Justin Moore and hosted green and gold night with Green Bay Packer Charles Woodson. The team also raffled off a customized bike from Hal's Harley-Davidson in the last home game of the season for fan appreciation night.

Source One Support Staff of the Year: MILWAUKEE MUSTANGS

The support staff of the Milwaukee Mustangs consists of hard working and dedicated members of the front office, including: Communications/Community Relations, Public Relations/Media Relations, Football Operations (Equipment, Training, Medical, Player Personnel, Dance Team, Video and photography), Game Operations, Marketing/Advertising, Sponsorship Sales, and Ticket Sales departments. With six front office staff members, a creative designer, dance team director, game operations coordinator, photographer and videographer, the Mustangs have gotten a lot accomplished in a single year.

Gridiron Executive of the Year and Founder's Award candidate: VP SCOTT JACKA

Scott Jacka, who is in his second season with the Milwaukee Mustangs, stepped into the role of vice president this season with the loss of the Mustangs' former general manager just prior to the start of the season. Such as several of the Mustangs front office members, Jacka plays dual roles in the organization. He oversees all departments while leading the charge on marketing, advertising and sponsorship sales. The Mustangs partnered with several big names this season including: ESPN Milwaukee, Time Warner Cable Sports32, Coors Light, the National Guard, ATI Physical Therapy, Beer Capitol, Martinizing and Hal's Harley-Davidson.

Assurance Agency Athletic Trainer Excellence Award candidate: DARREN ROSE

The Milwaukee Mustangs have kept Head Athletic Trainer, Darren Rose and ATI physical therapy medical staff busy in 2012. With a total of 16 total injuries on the season, Rose has had his hands full at practice and on game day. Rose is in his second season as the head athletic trainer for the Milwaukee Mustangs. Rose earned his bachelor's degree at UW-Stevens Point and is currently studying to become a certified strength and conditioning coach.

National Guard MVP of the Year; Russell Athletic Offensive POY and All-Arena candidate: QB GINO GUIDUGLI

Guidugli added stability at the quarterback position for a Mustangs offense that used three signal callers last season. Starting every game, Guidugli passed for 4,549 yards and 83 touchdowns on 345 of 543 passing. Gino ranked in the top 10 in pass efficiency all season long with a 111.3 efficiency mark, while completing 63.5% of his passes. Named the Offensive Player of the Game four times during the season, Guidugli also led the team with 88 rushing yards and 16 rushing touchdowns.

Spalding Offensive Lineman of the Year and All-Arena candidates: C RAYMOND McNEIL & OL MICHAEL DIAZ

The duo of McNeil and Diaz played a large role in the Mustangs' success protecting Gino Guidugli in 2012. Milwaukee ranks fourth in the league in sacks allowed with 18, while also paving the way for 31 total rushing touchdowns. McNeil overcame a significant hip injury to play in 13 games and start 12 for the Mustangs, while Diaz started the first 14 games before being placed on Injured Reserve to end the season.

Game Tape Exchange Defensive Lineman of the Year; Riddell Defensive POY All-Arena candidate: DL LUIS VASQUEZ

In his second season with the Mustangs, Vasquez developed into an even greater presence on the defensive line. He leads the team with 8.5 sacks to go along with 28.5 tackles and 11.0 for a loss. He is also credited with five pass deflections, two blocked kicks, two quarterback hits, and one forced fumble on his way to four Riddell Defensive Player of the Game honors in 2012. Perhaps Vasquez's most impressive stat is his four-fumble recoveries, which ties him for second in the league. Two of his recoveries resulted in touchdowns in Week 13 when he was named the AFL Defensive Player of the Week.

J. Lewis Small Ironman of the Year, All-Ironman Team, and All-Arena candidate: WR/JLB MARCUS EVERETT

A frequent ironman in 2011, Everett continued his playmaking ways on both sides of the ball in 2012. As a wide receiver, he has totaled 20 catches for 224 yards and seven touchdowns. But his most impressive contributions have come at linebacker, where he has recorded 17.0 tackles, nine interceptions, four pass breakups, two forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries. Everett has three defensive touchdowns this season, which ties him for the most in a single season in franchise history. Finding a way to be around the ball all season has helped Everett earn Riddell Defensive Player of the Game honors three times, Ironman of Week 3 recognition, and Week 8 MVP honors.

All-Arena candidate: DL DWAYNE LEFALL

Lefall followed up his spectacular 2011 season with another solid campaign in 2012. The pass rusher totaled 24.0 tackles, 9.0 tackles for a loss, and 7.5 sacks. He also forced three fumbles, deflected three passes, had three quarterback hits, blocked one kick, and recovered one fumble for the Mustangs' defense.

All-Arena and Rookie of the Year candidate: WR JARED JENKINS

From the first game of the season through Week 17, Jenkins emerged as a go-to target for Gino Guidugli in the passing game. The rookie wide receiver has hauled in 111 catches for 1,498 yards and 32 touchdowns to lead the team in receiving. Jenkins had a massive outing in his first outing against Arizona, catching 13 passes for 211 yards and two touchdowns, to be named the Offensive Player of Week 2. He also recorded 12 receptions for 147 yards and two scores this past against Chicago in Week 19.

All-Arena candidate: WR ANDRAE THURMAN

Thurman was acquired via trade early in the season and stepped into the spotlight quickly for Milwaukee. Despite playing in only eight games before being placed on Injured Reserve, Thurman caught 63 passes for 907 yards and 21 touchdowns, and led the team with 113.4 receiving yards per game. The AFL veteran was named the Offensive Player of the Game four times in a stretch of seven weeks and was awarded the Cutters Catch of Week 10 for a fingertip catch in the end zone. In fact, that catch was just one of his top plays in Week 10 as Thurman had his most impressive performance of the season with 12 catches for 154 yards and three touchdowns.

All-Arena and Community MVP candidate: DB RYAN McFOY

Starting all 16 games he played in, McFoy was a valuable contributor on-and-off the field this season for the Mustangs. He led the team in tackles with 95.0 and pass breakups with 10 before finishing the season on Injured Reserve. McFoy also has intercepted three passes, forced a fumble, and returned a fumble recovery for a touchdown. As great a player McFoy has been on the field, he has played an equally large role off the turf. In Week 14, McFoy was named the AFL's Community MVP of the Week for his participation in the "Autism Speaks Walk" at Soldier Field in Chicago, as well as Strong Links, a mentoring center that provides teens with an opportunity for growth and discovery.

The 2012 Milwaukee Mustangs are thrilled to honor and represent the Arena Football League as they celebrate their silver 25th anniversary this season. For more information visit mkemustangs.com or call 414-224-4000 today! Please make sure to follow the Milwaukee Mustangs and Fillies Dance Team on Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter.

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