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New Orleand VooDoo game notes

February 2, 2004 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
New Orleans VooDoo News Release


QUICK FACTS New Orleans VooDoo (0-0) vs. Philadelphia Soul (0-0) Site: Wachovia Center (17,486) Radio: WWL (870-AM) Chris Kenyon and Saints/VooDoo Executive Vice President/General Manager Mickey Loomis TV: NBC Sports (Ch. 6 in New Orleans) Tom Hammond, Pat Haden, Lewis Johnson Coaches: New Orleans: Mike Neu (1st Season in New Orleans, 2nd season overall, 6-9); Phil.: Michael Trigg (1st season in Phil., 10th season overall 73-73 overall)

New Orleans VooDoo Set To Kickoff Inaugural Season at Philadelphia

Following over seven months of preparation since the hiring of Coach Mike Neu, the New Orleans VooDoo will take the field for the first time against a fellow AFL expansion team, the Philadelphia Soul. The VooDoo are owned by New Orleans Saints Owner Tom Benson. The Soul is co-owned by rock star Jon Bon Jovi.

Since taking the reins of the VooDoo on June 17, Neu, who served as the Head Coach of the Carolina Cobras in 2002, has worked to build a 24-man roster, starting with the expansion draft, but with an emphasis on free agency.

Highlighting the offseason acquisitions of the VooDoo are QB John Fitzgerald, OS Aaron Bailey, FB/LB Dan Curran, OL/DL B.J. Cohen, OL/DL Tim Martin and OL/DL Bruce McClure.

NEXT WEEK

Following this week's game, the VooDoo will play in their inaugural home opener at the New Orleans Arena vs. the Indiana Firebirds on Saturday, February 14 at 2 p.m.

www.GoVooDoo.com

For updated news, press releases, statistics, rosters, players, coach and front office biographies, ticket information, merchandise, photo galleries and New Orleans VooDoo Dolls information, go to the official website of the New Orleans VooDoo, www.GoVooDoo.com. Updated daily, www.GoVooDoo.com has the most extensive information on the VooDoo and the Arena Football League.

The Coaches

Mike Neu: Neu is the first head coach of the New Orleans VooDoo. Neu is a six-year Arena coaching veteran, coming to the VooDoo after serving as head coach of the AFL Carolina Cobras in 2002. That season, Neu guided the Cobras to a 5-2 record on the road and their second-straight postseason berth. Prior to joining Carolina, Neu served as Head Coach and Director of Football Operations for the Augusta Stallions of af2 in 2000. He led Augusta to a 14-4 record, the American Conference title and was named the league's Coach of the Year. At 33, he is the youngest of all current Arena Football League head coaches. Neu began his coaching career in 1994 as a graduate assistant at his alma mater, Ball State. His pro playing career started with a stint with the CFL Calgary Stampeders in 1995 before joining the AFL's Orlando Predators in 1996 and moving on to the Nashville Kats in 1997.

Neu and his wife, Charmin, have a daughter, Graycen and a son, Carson.

Michael Trigg: Trigg embarks on his first season with the Soul after finishing up six seasons with the Grand Rapids Rampage. This season markes his eighth overall as an AFL coach. He has a 73-73 (.500) career record, has taken his teams to eight playoff appearances and one ArenaBowl appearance, winning the title game in 2001 with Grand Rapids. He was named AFL Coach of the Year in 2001. As head coach of the Milwaukee Mustangs (1995-97), he turned an 0-12 team into a two-time playoff participant. Trigg's additional AFL coaching stops include head coach/general manager of the AFL's Fort Worth Cavalry and offensive coordinator/director of pro scouting for the Dallas Texans (1991-93). Trigg started his coaching career as the quarterbacks coach for East Texas State in 1990. Trigg began his AFL career as a player, playing quarterback for the Detroit Drive duirng their back-to-back championship seasons in 1989 and 1990. He is also an nine-year member of the AFL's Rules and Competition Committee.

VooDoo - Soul Connections

VooDoo QB John Fitzgerald served as Philadelphia QB Todd Hammel's backup with the Houston Thunderbears in 2001...Philadelphia OL/DL Nate Bell played on the defensive line at Southern from 1996-99...Philadelphia OS Tyronne Jones prepped at Carver High School, starred at Grambling and played for VooDoo Head Coach Mike Neu in Nashville from 1998-1999, when he called the plays for the Kats...Under Neu, Jones enjoyed his two most productive seasons in the AFL, as he ranked among league leaders in receiving and all-purpose yardage...Philadelphia assistant head coach/director of player personnel Robert Smith is a Bogalusa native. He played DE at Grambling from 1980-83...New Orleans DS Monty Montgomery was a member of the Philadelphia Eagles in 2001...Philadelphia OS Gunnard Twyner was a member of the New Orleans Saints from 1997-98...New Orleans OL/DL D.J. Cooper and Tim Martin played on the same line as Soul OL/DL Patrick Scott with the Dallas Desperados in 2003. OL/DL Abdul- Salam Noah and Philadelphia DS Travis Seaton were college teammates at San Jose State...FB/LB Michael Blair played for Philadelphia Head Coach Michael Trigg in Grand Rapids in 2002...DS Chris Pointer was a teammate of Philadelphia OL/DL Dwayne Sabb in New Jersey in 2001...QB Jermaine Alfred, WR/DB Lamont Moore and Philadelphia OL/DL Joe Jackson were college teammates at Baylor. OL/DL B.J. Cohen and Philadelphia WR/DB Keita Crispina were played together for the ArenaBowl Champion Tampa Bay Storm in 2003. FB/LB Dan Curran, OL/DL Bruce McClure and Soul OL/DL C.J. McClain were teammates in Georgia in 2002.

VooDoo on the Airwaves

New Orleans VooDoo and Arena Football fans will enjoy plenty of opportunities to watch the newest team in New Orleans both live and on various on radio and television programs throughout the 2004 season.

Every game will be heard on WWL-AM 870 or WSMB-AM 1350. Chris Kenyon will handle play-by-play duties. Various local celebrities and selected New Orleans Saints coaches, players and front office personnel will serve as color alalysts. Saints and VooDoo Executive VP/GM Mickey Loomis will handle color duties for the season opener. WWL will also broadcast a weekly coaches show with Head Coach Mike Neu on Tuesday evenings from 9 - 10:00 p.m., with Chris Kenyon and Kenny Wilkerson as the co-hosts.

Ten of the VooDoo's regular season games are scheduled to be broadcast by NBC and will be seen locally on WDSU Channel 6. Cox Sports Televison will broadcast the VooDoo's remaining six games regionally. They will also broadcast a 30-minute pre-game show before each VooDoo game broadcast. Cox Sports TV will also air "Inside VooDoo with Mike Neu" on a weekly basis. The half-hour show will premier on Thursday, February 5 from 5:30-6:00 p.m. and will be replayed on Sunday, February 8, prior to the Philadelphia game from 11:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

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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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