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New Orleand VooDoo game notes

May 4, 2004 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
New Orleans VooDoo News Release


QUICK FACTS
New Orleans VooDoo (9-3) vs. Orlando Predators (6-6)
Site: New Orleans Arena (16,245)
Radio: WSMB (1350-AM)
Chris Kenyon and Steve Gleason
TV: NBC (WDSU-6 in New Orleans) Allen Bestwick, Mike Pawlaski and Rich Lenz Coaches: New Orleans: Mike Neu (1st Season in New Orleans, 2nd season overall, 15-11, regular season; 1-2 postseason); Orlando: Jay Gruden (7th season in Orlando and overall, 41-27 regular season; 8-2, postseason)

New Orleans VooDoo Looks To Rebound In Home Rematch Vs. Orlando

The VooDoo return to the New Orleans Arena this Sunday as they will attempt to avenge an earlier season loss to Southern Division rival Orlando Predators and seek to rebound from a 68-34 loss to the San Jose SaberCats last Saturday night. New Orleans was plagued by five turnovers in their loss to San Jose, in a game which pitted the teams with the top two records in the Arena Football League. OS Aaron Bailey had seven receptions for 118 yards, including one touchdown in a strong performance against his former team as he went over the 1000-yard receiving mark for the second time in his career. FB/LB Dan Curran rushed five times for 26 yards and scored his AFL-leading 17th touchdown. San Jose QB Mark Grieb paced San Jose, completing 23-of-29 passes for 290 yards with five touchdown passes and one interception, also rushing for a touchdown.

NEXT WEEK

The New Orleans VooDoo will remain home next week to face Southern Division rival Georgia Force on Saturday, May 15 at 7:00 p.m.

NEW ORLEANS VooDoo (9-3) Date Opponent Time Result Feb. 8 at Philadelphia 2 p.m. 42-34 Feb. 14 vs. INDIANA 2 p.m. 41-40 Feb. 22 at Georgia 2 p.m. 55-52 Feb. 29 at Las Vegas 2 p.m. 30-50 Mar. 7 TAMPA BAY 11a.m. 55-43 Mar. 12 DETROIT 7 p.m. 45-31 Mar. 18 at Arizona 8 p.m. 49-45 Mar. 27 CAROLINA 7 p.m. 48-31 Apr. 2-4 Bye Weekend Apr. 9 at Orlando 6:30 p.m. 24-57 Apr. 18 COLUMBUS 2 p.m. 64-46 Apr. 25 at Austin 2 p.m. 63-59 May 1 at San Jose 9:50 p.m. 34-68 May 9 ORLANDO 2 p.m. May 15 GEORGIA 7 p.m. May 23 at Tampa Bay 2 p.m. May 30 AUSTIN 3 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.

NEW ORLEANS VooDoo NEWS & NOTES New Orleans VooDoo (9-3) vs. Orlando Predators (6-6) Week 14 -- May 9, 2004, 2:00 p.m. CST New Orleans Arena (16,245) -- New Orleans, LA

The Coaches

Mike Neu: Mike Neu is the first head coach of the New Orleans VooDoo. Neu is a six-year Arena Football coaching veteran, coming to the New Orleans after serving as head coach of the Carolina Cobras in 2002. Neu has gotten his team off to a 9-3 start in their inaugural season, marking one of the most successful seasons for a first-year Arena Football League Franchise.

In 2002, Neu guided the Cobras to a 5-2 record on the road and their second-straight postseason berth. Carolina also posted the first playoff victory in club history (a 72-64 win at Grand Rapids) in 2002 as the club featured the AFL's fourthranked defense.

As offensive coordinator with the Cobras in 2001, before being promoted to head coach prior to the team's first round playoff game, the Cobras averaged over 56 points a game (fifth in the league) and finished 7-7 (improving from a 3-13 record the year before).

Prior to coming to Carolina, Neu served as head coach and director of football operations for the Augusta Stallions of af2 in 2000. In his only season, Neu led Augusta to a 14-4 record, the American Conference title and was named the league's Coach of the Year. Augusta finished in the top four in every major offensive and defensive category.

Neu began his coaching career in 1994 as a graduate assistant at his alma mater, Ball State. His professional playing career started with a stint with the Canadian Football League's Calgary Stampeders in 1995 before joining the Arena Football League's Orlando Predators in 1996 and moving on to the Nashville Kats in 1997.

Neu started his Arena Football League coaching career with the Nashville Kats in 1998, when he served as quarterbacks coach for the Kats and handled all play-calling responsibilities for the offense. The next year he was promoted to offensive coordinator and the Kats made their third consecutive playoff appearance. The team also set franchise highs in six offensive categories, including scoring and total offense.

Neu played four seasons at Ball State, where he was named the MAC Most Valuable Player of the Year and Offensive Player of the Year as a senior in 1993. A four-year starter, Neu guided Ball State to the conference championship his final year and holds school career passing records in passing yardage, passing attempts, completions and touchdown passes.

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

Jay Gruden: One of the most successful players and head coaches in Arena Football League history, Jay Gruden returns for his second stint with the Orlando Predators as Head Coach and Director of Football Operations. Gruden began his Arena Football League career in 1991, as quarterback for the Tampa Bay Storm. Over the next six seasons, Gruden would lead the Storm to four World Championships.

Gruden left the playing field after the 1996 season, signing a three-year contract to become offensive coordinator of the expansion Nashville Kats.

When the Orlando Predators were searching for a new head coach after the 1997 season, they selected Gruden, making him the youngest head coach in the Arena Football League. The Predators would then defeated Arizona on the road to earn a trip to ArenaBowl XII. Gruden and the Predators stunned top-seeded Tampa Bay in the championship game, pounding out a 62-31 decision over the 15- point favorites.

In August 2002, Gruden would once against surprise the league by resigning as head coach of the Predators and announcing his intension to return to the playing field, signing a two-year deal with the Predators.

With the untimely death of his close friend Fran Papasedero in 2003, Gruden reluctantly agreed to assume the head coaching duties of the Predators three weeks after the season ended.

As a head coach, Gruden owns a 46-28 record and has won a pair of titles. He ranked in the top 10 in career passing stats with more than 20,000 passing yards, close to 400 touchdowns and four AFL titles. He was the first person in Arena Football League history to win an AFL title as both a player and a coach. During the 2002-03 seasons, Gruden became the only active player who was a member of the AFL Hall of Fame.

Gruden's brother, Jon is head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where he serves as a consultant. His dad Jim is a long-time NFL assistant coach and scout, having worked with Tampa Bay and San Francisco.

VooDoo Garner Midseason Accolades

The New Orleans VooDoo received several accolades in the mid-season awards poll conducted by the Arena Football League Writers Association. The AFLWA, founded at the start of the 2004 season, is a national organization made up of media members who cover the Arena Football League. Below are the honors bestowed on the VooDoo.

Coach of the Mid-Year -- Mike Neu
Fullback/Linebacker Selection-- Dan Curran
Surprise Team of the Mid-Year -- New Orleans VooDoo
Surprise Story of the Mid-Year -- Success of the expansion New Orleans VooDoo, Austin Wranglers and Philadelphia Soul.

Last Week

Despite the New Orleans VooDoo jumping out to a 20-7 lead, the San Jose SaberCats capitalized on a combination of big plays and five New Orleans turnovers to score 34 unanswered points and give them a 68-34 win over the VooDoo before 13,475 fans at the HP Pavilion, in a matchup between the two teams in the Arena Football league with the best won-loss records. The win puts the San Jose at 10-2, while the VooDoo now have a 9-3 record. The VooDoo's start still marks the best record by a first-year team in the Arena Football League to this point and they currently hold the second-best record in the AFL.

San Jose QB Mark Grieb completed 23-of-29 passes for 290 yards with five TD passes and rushed for another score.

SaberCats WR/DB Omarr Smith had two interception returns. SaberCats OS James Hundon had seven receptions for 105 yards with one touchdown.

VooDoo FB/LB Dan Curran had five carries for 26 yards and one TD. New Orleans OS Aaron Bailey led all receivers with seven catches for 118 yards with one TD, passing the 1,000 yard receiving mark for the season and the second time in his career. VooDoo QB John Fitzgerald was 18-of-30 for 243 yards with two TD passes and four interceptions.

A quick look at how the New Orleans VooDoo and the Orlando Predators match up based on 2004 regular season statistics and league rankings.

The VooDoo's Record When?

5-0 at home
4-3 on the road
Scoring Allowing
0-9 points 0-0 0-0
10-19 points 0-0 0-0
20-29 points 0-1 0-0
30-39 points 0-2 3-0
40-49 points 5-0 3-0
50-59 points 2-0 2-2
60-69 points 2-0 0-1
70-79 points 0-0 0-0
80+ points 0-0 0-0

2-0 vs. Central Division
3-0 vs. Eastern Division
3-1 vs. Southern Division
1-2 vs. Western Division
1-0 on Thursdays
1-1 on Fridays
2-1 on Saturdays
5-1 on Sundays
3-1 in February
4-0 in March
2-2 in April
5-1 in games televised on NBC
3-2 in games televised on Cox Sports Television
1-0 in games not televised
7-2 when leading after the first quarter
1-0 when tied after the first quarter
1-1 when trailing after the first quarter
7-0 when leading at the half
0-1 when tied at the half
2-1 when trailing at the half
8-0 when leading after three quarters
0-0 when tied after three quarters
1-3 when trailing after three quarters
4-0 outcome 7 points or less
2-0 outcome 3 points or less
0-0 overtime games
5-3 when the VooDoo scores first
4-0 when the opponent scores first
4-0 when the VooDoo has more total offense
5-3 when the VooDoo's opponent has more total offense
3-1 when the VooDoo has more yards passing than opp.
6-2 when the VooDoo has less yards passing than opp.
5-2 when thenVooDoo has more yards rushing than opp.
4-1 when the opp. has more yards rushing than VooDoo

Statistics

Statistical New Orleans Orlando
Category Stat Stat
Scoring Offense 550 (17) 572 (13)
Scoring Defense 556 (5) 533 (2)
Total Offense (Yds/G) 242.7 (18) 261.3 (10)
Total Defense (Yds/G) 265.2 (10) 235.8 (1)
Pass Offense (Yds/G) 213.4(18) 226.9 (14)
Pass Defense (Yds/G) 239.9 (9) 219.3 (1)
Rushing Offense (Yds/G) 29.3 (4) 34.3 (1)
Rushing Defense (Yds/G) 25.3 (15) 16.5 (6)
Kickoff Returns 17.3 (13) 15.3 (18)
Field Goals 6-16 (14) 14-20 (1)
PAT Kicking 62-71 60-66
Sacks By (sks/yds) 9/50 (14) 22/107 (1)
Sacks Against (sks/yds) 4/23 (t1) 16/67 (18)
First Downs 210 (17) 221 (10)
Penalties (#/yds) 100/598 104/581
Turnover Margin -3 (t13) +4 (t7)
Time of Possession 27:33 30:22

Award Winners

A listing of the weekly game award winners for the VooDoo in 2004

Baby Ruth Real Deal Offensive Player of the Game
Week 1 (at PHI): Aaron Bailey (NOV)
Week 2 (IND): John Fitzgerald (NOV)
Week 3 (at GEO): Aaron Bailey (NOV)
Week 4 (at LVG): Clint Dolezel (LVG)
Week 5 (TBS): Aaron Bailey (NOV)
Week 6: (DET): Aaron Bailey (NOV)
Week 7: (at ARI): Aaron Bailey (NOV)
Week 8: (CAR): John Fitzgerald (NOV)
Week 9: (at ORL): Joe Hamilton (ORL)
Week 10: (CLB): John Fitzgerald (NOV)
Week 11: (at AUS): John Fitzgerald (NOV)
Week 12: (at SJS): Mark Grieb (SJS)

ADT Defensive Player of the Game
Week 1 (at PHI): Monty Montgomery (NOV)
Week 2 (IND): Chris Pointer (NOV)
Week 3 (at GEO): Kevin Gaines (GEO)
Week 4 (at LVG): Marvin Taylor (LVG)
Week 5 (TBS): Lamont Moore (NOV)
Week 6: (DET): Monty Montgomery (NOV)
Week 7: (at ARI): Chris Pointer (NOV)
Week 8: (CAR): Monty Montgomery (NOV)
Week 9: (at ORL): E.J. Burt (ORL)
Week 10: (CLB): Monty Montgomery (NOV)
Week 11: (at AUS): Monty Montgomery (NOV)
Week 12: (at SJS): Omarr Smith (SJS)

U.S. Army Ironman of the Game
Week 1 (at PHI): Keita Crespina (PHI)
Week 2 (IND): B.J. Cohen (NOV)
Week 3 (at GEO): B.J. Cohen (NOV)
Week 4 (at LVG): Cornelius Bonner (LVG)
Week 5 (TBS): Lamont Moore (NOV)
Week 6: (DET): Dan Curran (NOV)
Week 7: (at ARI): Dan Curran (NOV)
Week 8: (CAR): B.J. Cohen
Week 9: (at ORL): Cory Fleming (ORL)
Week 10: (CLB): Aaron Hamilton (NOV)
Week 11: (at AUS): Charlie Davidson (AUS)
Week 12: (at SJS): Fred Coleman (SJS)

What a Start

Sparked by a 9-3 start, the VooDoo has enjoyed the most impressive 11-game start by an AFL first-year team. The New Jersey Red Dogs began their first season with an 8-2 start in 1997, but fell to 9-5 by the end of the season, missing the playoffs. The VooDoo can continue to exceed this pace with a win vs. Orlando this Sunday.

Tops at Home

Another contributing factor for the VooDoo's 9-3 start is their undefeated 5-0 mark at the New Orleans Arena. New Orleans along with fellow division leader, the San Jose SaberCats (6-0) are the only two teams in the Arena Football league to have an unbeaten mark at home.

Through their first four home games, the VooDoo have attracted an average of 15,155 fans per game to the New Orleans Arena. New Orleans' average crowd is ranked fourth in the AFL, leads attendance figures for teams in the Southern division and is above the league's average of 12,091. The VooDoo enjoyed their first sellout on Saturday, March 27 when they attracted 16,245 fans for their contest with the Carolina Cobras, with over 1200 fans being turned away. Below are the top ten season attendance figures.

Team Average Attendance
1. Philadelphia Soul 17,261
2. Columbus Destroyers 16,619
3. Colorado Crush 15,457
4. New Orleans VooDoo 15,155
5. Chicago Rush 14,202
6. Tampa Bay Storm 14,127
7. Orlando Predators 13,077
8. San Jose SaberCats 13,035
9. Arizona Rattlers 12,797
10. Los Angeles Avengers 12,437

What a Rush

VooDoo FB/LB Dan Curran has emerged as one of the top two-way players in the game. Curran is the leading rusher in the AFL with 61 carries for 272 yards and 17 rushing TDs, pacing the VooDoo rushing offense, which is ranked fourth in the Arena Football league. Curran has already set careerhighs in all major offensive categories.

A major reason for the VooDoo's 9-3 start is the team's ability to keep the opposition out of the end zone. Through nine games, New Orleans has surrendered an average of only 46.3 points per game, putting them in FIFTH place in the AFL in scoring defense. In the nine games the week before playing New Orleans (not counting the opener at Philadelphia), VooDoo opponents had averaged 54.6 points on offense and were held to an average of 47.4 points by the VooDoo defense, a difference of -7.2 points.

Impact Player

OS Aaron Bailey has made an immediate impact on the VooDoo offense. Bailey, a four-year AFL veteran who came to New Orleans from San Jose after spending his first two seasons playing under Mike Neu in Carolina, is among the AFL's leading receivers. This season, Bailey has 72 receptions for 1093 yards with a career-high 25 TDs. Bailey is currently ranked fifth in the AFL in scoring among nonkickers (156), tied for 14th in receptions, ranked second in receiving average (15.2 - min. 65 catches), eighth in receiving yards, 15th in kickoff return average (19.5), tied for sixth in kickoff return TDs (2), third in all-purpose yards (1931), eighth in first downs (62) and tied for seventh in third down receptions (14). Bailey is on pace to surpass his finest AFL season, when he caught 89 balls for 1,102 yards and 18 TDs with Carolina n 2002. A five-year NFL veteran, Bailey played for the Indianapolis from 1994-98 and is the Colts' career leader with 3,501 kickoff return yards and is tied for the team's all-time lead with two TD returns.

Coming Through in the Clutch

VooDoo QB John Fitzgerald has been a steadying presence to the offense, completing 198-of-350 passes for 2532 yards, with 45 TD passes and 11 interceptions. The fourthyear veteran has already set a career-high in passing yardage and completions.

An important reason for the VooDoo's surprising 9-3 record is the strength of the team's offensive and defensive lines. Excellent pass protection for quarterback John Fitzgerald has been a key to a steady offensive performance by the VooDoo as well as the team possessing the fourth ranked rushing offense in the AFL. Through 12 games, the team has only surrendered only four sacks, which is tied for first in the Arena Football League with the Colorado Crush, the Chicago Rush, and the Las Vegas Gladiators.

VooDoo on the Airwaves

New Orleans VooDoo and Arena Football League fans will enjoy plenty of chances to watch the newest professional sports team in New Orleans both live and on various on radio and television programs throughout the 2004 season. Every VooDoo game will be heard on WWL-AM 870 or WSMB-AM 1350. Chris Kenyon will handle play-by-play.

Selected media personalities, New Orleans Saints coaches, players and front office personnel will serve as color analysts.

New Orleans Saints safety Steve Gleason will serve as this week's color analyst. This week's game will be broadcast on WSMB. WWL will also broadcast a weekly coaches show with VooDoo head coach Mike Neu on Tuesdays from 9 - 10p.m., with Kenyon and Kenny Wilkerson as co-hosts.

Up to 10 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 Television is scheduled to broadcast six games regionally. This week's game will be televised live on NBC at 7:50 p.m. Allen Bestwick will handle play-by-play, former Arena Football League quarterback Mike Pawlaski will do color and WDSU Sports Director Rich Lenz. Cox Sports Television will air "Inside VooDoo with Mike Neu" on a weekly basis, featuring a review of the last week's game, preview of the upcoming game and player and coach features. The half-hour show will show on Thursday, May 6 from 5:30-6 p.m and will be replayed on Sunday, May 9 at 12:30 a.m., prior to the VooDoo-Orlando contest that day.

New Orleans-Orlando Connections

Head coach Mike Neu spent 1996 as a QB for the Predators, where he backed up Pat O'Hara. Neu also played for Orlando head coach/director of football operations Jay Gruden with the Nashville Kats in 1997, who served as the team's offensive coordinator. Neu and Orlando assistant coach offensive/defensive linemen Willie Fears were also teammates in Nashville. Fears played collegiately at Northwestern State...Orlando assistant head coach/defensive coordinator/ director of player personnel Bret Munsey served as Neu's defensive coordinator with the af2 Augusta Stallions in 2000 and with the Carolina Cobras in 2002. Neu was a teammate of Orlando WR/LB Cory Fleming in Nashville in 1997, coached Fleming in 1998 and 1999 in Nashville and then acquired him when he was head coach of the Cobras in 2002, where he and OL/DL Justin Cleveland were also teammates with VooDoo OS Aaron Bailey, QB John Fitzgerald and K Brian Schmitz. Orlando QB Connell Maynor served as Carolina's starting QB in 2002 when Neu was head coach, before being replaced by Fitzgerald as the Cobras starting QB midway through the season...Orlando DS Damon Mason prepped at Destrehan HS, starred at Southwestern Louisiana, and serves as an assistant coach at Destrehan in the offseason...Defensive coordinator Kevin Porter began his AFL coaching career as defensive backs coach of the Predators in 1999, where he worked under Gruden...OL/DL B.J. Cohen played for Orlando from 1999- 2002 where he was a stalwart on the Predators line, helping Orlando win the ArenaBowl in 2000. Cohen enjoyed his finest season in Orlando in 2000, when he recorded 6.5 sacks and set career-high receiving totals with nine receptions for 163 yards with three touchdowns and was named a second team All-AFL selection...WR/LB Lamont Moore played for Orlando from 2001-03...K Brian Schmitz played for Orlando in 2003...DS Chris Pointer and Mason were teammates with the New Jersey Gladiators in 2002...DB/WR Calvin Spears and Orlando OL/DL Cecil Caldwell were teammates in Cleveland Browns training camp...FB/LB Dan Curran, OL/DL Bruce McClure and OL/DL Adam Metts played with Orlando WR/DB Bret Cooper and OL/DL Jermaine Smith with the Georgia Force in 2003. FB/LB Jason Bratton and Cooper were teammates with the Columbus Destroyers in 2002. Curran and McClure also played with Orlando FB/LB Rupert Grant in Nashville, where Curran served as Grant's backup...DS Chris Pointer and Orlando OL/DL Buck Gurley were teammates in NFL Europe with the Frankfurt Galaxy in Spring, 2003. OL/DL Tim Martin and Orlando K Jay Taylor were teammates in training camp for the Miami Dolphins in 2000.

Pronounciation Guide

Coach Mike Neu (NEW)
# 10 Jacques Rumph (ja KWEZ)
# 34 Dan Curran (KUR-un)
# 94 Gaylon Hyder (HIGH-der)

On February 13, 2004, 4the The New Orleans VooDoo unveiled its new, state-of-the art headquarters, which gives the VooDoo unrivaled practice facilities within the Arena Football League. New Orleans Saints and New Orleans VooDoo Owner Tom Benson's commitment to the franchise and its fans is evident in the expense and detail that went into the construction of the recently-completed building, which is located on the campus of the New Orleans Saints' training facility. The facilities included in the structure are among the Arena Football League's most advanced and are expected to give the expansion team a competitive advantage in both game preparation and luring top-notch players to come play for the New Orleans VooDoo in the future. Features of the 12,800 square-foot practice facility

-- The New Orleans VooDoo practice facility is complete with a lobby/reception area, coach's offices, meeting rooms, a team locker room, showers, steam room, equipment room, laundry room, meeting rooms, a training area and whirlpools.

-- The $1.6-million New Orleans VooDoo practice facility is completely separate from the New Orleans Saints' headquarters.

-- Head Coach Mike Neu has an executive office in the building with four additional coach's offices for the entire New Orleans VooDoo coaching staff. Over 1,000 square feet of the facility is offices for the coaches and staff. The offices will be wired with the latest computers and video equipment.

-- A conference room for coaching game-plan sessions is also available.

-- Two meeting rooms for offense and defense and have been included, which can be combined into a large, team meeting area by sliding a separating partition.

-- Head Coach Mike Neu and assistant coaches Kevin Porter (defensive coordinator), Junior Ili (line coach), Tres Sullivan (offensive assistant/special teams coordinator), Franklin Thomas (fullbacks/linebackers coach) and Adam Bailey (strength and conditioning coach) have their own locker room and shower area.

-- There are two whirlpools and a steam room for the players.

-- The New Orleans VooDoo locker room features 34 player lockers and a player's lounge. It is serviced by a full-service equipment room with custom shelving and a laundry room with commercial washing machines and dryers.

-- A full-length outdoor 100-yard field which features an Astroplay surface. The field features Arena Football League regulation goalposts and the regulation net setup to allow the club to practice using the nets that surround the playing surface in an actual game. The synthetic turf surface allows the club to practice on the surface they will play every game on during the season.

-- Of course, if there is inclement weather outdoors, the New Orleans VooDoo can always move inside to the New Orleans Saints' indoor practice facility that was completed in July, 2003, which is among the top, state-of-the-art practice facilities in the National Football League. The club has designed inflatable "walls" to surround the practice area that simulates the field size of the indoor game.

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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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