New Orleans VooDoo game notes

Published on February 9, 2004 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
New Orleans VooDoo News Release


QUICK FACTS
New Orleans VooDoo (1-0) vs. Indiana Firebirds (0-1)
Site: New Orleans Arena (12,500)
Radio: WSMB (1350-AM)
Chris Kenyon
TV: NBC Sports (Ch. 6 in New Orleans)
Eli Gold, Charles Davis, Rich Lenz
Coaches: New Orleans: Mike Neu (1st Season in New Orleans, 2nd season overall, 7-9); Indianapolis: Steve DeBerg (1st season in Ind. and overall, 0-1 overall)

New Orleans VooDoo Set To Kickoff Home Opener vs. Indiana Firebirds

The New Orleans VooDoo will take the field for the first time in the New Orleans Arena when they face the Indiana Firebirds. The VooDoo were victorious in their inaugural regular season game when they defeated the expansion Philadelphia Soul 42-34 at the Wachovia Center. VooDoo QB John Fitzgerald completed 17-of-38 passes for 206 yards with four TD passes. OS Aaron Bailey had nine receptions for 140 yards with two TDs. FB/LB Dan Curran rushed for five times for a career-high 45 yards with two TDs, including a fourth quarter 19-yard TD, tying his careerlong. FB/LB Tremaine Neal had three receptions for 19 yards and one TD, as well as a key fumble recovery in the end zone. In his AFL debut, DS Monty Montgomery had four tackles, a key two-yard interception return and two passes defensed.

NEXT WEEK

Following the home opener, the VooDoo will go on the road to face the Georgia Force on Sunday, February 22 at 2 p.m. for the VooDoo's first Southern Division contest.

NEW ORLEANS VooDoo (1-0) Date Opponent Time Result Feb. 8 at Philadelphia 2 p.m. 42-34 Feb. 14 vs. INDIANA 2 p.m. Feb. 22 at Georgia 2 p.m. Feb. 29 at Las Vegas 2 p.m. Mar. 7 TAMPA BAY 11a.m. Mar. 12 DETROIT 7 p.m. Mar. 18 at Arizona 8 p.m. Mar. 27 CAROLINA 7 p.m. Apr. 2-4 Bye Weekend Apr. 9 at Orlando 6:30 p.m. Apr. 18 COLUMBUS 2 p.m. Apr. 25 at Austin 2 p.m. May 1 at San Jose 9:30 p.m. 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.

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 played for four seasons at Ball State, where he was named the MAC Most Valuable 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 yards, attempts, completions and touchdown passes.

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

Steve DeBerg: Steve DeBerg is in his first season as Indiana Firebirds head coach. DeBerg played 18 seasons as a quarterback in the NFL, ranking as one of the all-time greats in several offensive categories. DeBerg served under legendary NFL coach Dan Reeves as quarterbacks coach for the Atlanta Falcons in 1999, and the New York Giants in 1996. In 2001, he opened a quarterbacks training camp for top college quarterbacks in Tampa Bay, Fla. DeBerg tutored current NFL starting quarterbacks Byron Leftwich (Jacksonville), Quincy Carter (Dallas) and Rex Grossman (Chicago). DeBerg played for seven teams during his NFL career, passing for over 34,000 yards and 196 touchdowns.

VooDoo - Soul Connections

Head Coach Mike Neu is an Indianapolis native, who played four seasons at Ball State, where he was named the MAC MVP and Offensive Player of the Year in 1993. A fouryear starter, Neu guided Ball State to the Conference Championship his final year and holds school career passing records in yards, attempts, completions and touchdown passes. Neu served as a graduate assistant at his alma mater in 1995...Defensive Coordinator Kevin Porter and Indiana Head Coach Steve DeBerg were teammates with the Kansas City Chiefs from 1988-91...WR/DB Luke Leverson and Indiana WR/LB Kerry Brown and DS Anthony Derricks were teammates with the New England Wolves in 2000 and then with the Toronto Phantoms from Stoute...Indiana WR/LB Brett Bech played for the New Orleans Saints from 1996-99 as a wide receiver and was also known as one of the team's best special teams players. Bech, voted by his teammates as the Saints' Most Valuable Player on special teams in 1999, was a three-year letterwinner at LSU, who led the Tigers in receiving both as a junior (30 catches, 419 yards, three TDs) and senior (45 catches, 772 yards, five TDs) and was named captain and the team's offensive MVP his senior year...Bech, a New Orleans native, prepped at Slidell High School...OS Aaron Bailey and Indiana QB Kevin Daft were teammates in San Jose in 2003 and...OL/DL B.J. Cohen and Indiana OL/DL Ricky Hall were teammates on the same defensive line at Marshall...Indiana OL/DL Mike Sutton starred at LSU from 1996-99.

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 analysts. WWL will also broadcast a weekly coaches show with Head Coach Mike Neu on Tuesday evenings from 9 - 10:00 p.m., with 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 Television 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 12 from 5:30-6:00 p.m. and will be replayed on Saturday, February 14, prior to the Indiana game from 1:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Last Week

The New Orleans VooDoo won their inaugural game with a 42-34 victory over their fellow expansion foes, the Philadelphia Soul in Philadelphia on Sunday, February 8 at the Wachovia Center. VooDoo QB John Fitzgerald was 17- of-38 for 206 yards with four TD passes. OS Aaron Bailey had nine receptions for 140 yards with two TDs. FB Dan Curran rushed five times for 45 yards with two TDs. The VooDoo offensive line surrendered no sacks. OS Aaron Bailey had nine receptions for 140 yards with two TDs. FB/LB Dan Curran supplied a potent rushing offense for the VooDoo with five carries for 45 yards and two touchdowns. In his AFL debut, DS Monty Montgomery had four tackles, a two-yard interception return and two passes defensed.

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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from February 9, 2004


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