New Orleans VooDoo game notes
March 15, 2004 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
New Orleans VooDoo News Release
QUICK FACTS
New Orleans VooDoo (5-1)
at Arizona Rattlers (3-3)
Site: America West Arena (16,321)
Radio: WSMB (1350-AM)
Chris Kenyon and Ashley Ambrose
TV: COX Sports Television (Ch. 37 in New Orleans)
Todd Kalas, Michael Lewis and Harry McCulla
Coaches: New Orleans: Mike Neu (1st Season in New
Orleans, 2nd season overall, 11-9, regular season; 1-2
postseason); Arizona: Danny White (13th season in
Arizona, 113-53 regular season; 18-9 postseason)
New Orleans VooDoo Looks For Third Straight Win In Trip To Arizona
The VooDoo will visit the Arena Bowl finalist Arizona Rattlers on Thursday evening after employing a stingy defense to defeat the Detroit Fury on Friday night 45-31, upping their record to 5-1. A feisty New Orleans defense stopped the Detroit offense on downs on two consecutive first half possessions, allowing New Orleans to jump out to an early 21-3 lead. FB/LB Dan Curran enjoyed an outstanding game on both ends for New Orleans, rushing six times for 29 yards with his 11th TD of the season and recording three tackles, one tackle for a loss and one sack. WR/DB Calvin Spears had five receptions for 52 yards and one TD, while leading VooDoo tacklers 7.5 stops and DS Monty Montgomery had five tackles and a game-high three passes defensed. QB John Fitzgerald was an efficient 22-of-31 for 251 yards with five touchdown passes.
NEXT WEEK
The New Orleans VooDoo will return home, trying to uphold their undefeated mark at the New Orleans Arena when they host the Carolina Cobras at 7 p.m..
NEW ORLEANS VooDoo (5-1)
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.
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 Football coaching veteran, coming to the New Orleans 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 secondstraight postseason berth. 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. 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. He started his coaching career with the Kats in 1998.
Neu played 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.
Danny White: Only head coach and general manager in Rattlers' team history. Embarks on 13th season as the second- winningest coach in Arena Football League history. Finished his 12th season in 2003 with an overall 128-59 record. Notched 100th career win as an Arena Football League coach on June 30, 2001, only second coach in league history to hit the century mark. Has brought two ArenaBowls to Arizona (1994 & 1997) and ArenaBowl appearances in 2002 and 2003. Arizona Athlete of the Century by the Arizona Republic (1999). His Arizona State University jersey (No. 11) retired. Played three seasons for Sun Devils, becoming the school's and NCAA's all-time leading passer, setting seven NCAA passing records. Sports Illustrated voted him as second-best rated collegiate quarterback of all-time behind Steve Young. As quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys, took the team to playoffs five times and led them to three NFC East titles. Holds 22 Cowboys' records.
VooDoo - Rattlers Connections
New Orleans Executive Director Mike Feder spent 12 seasons as Vice President and General Manager of the Tucson Sidewinders, the AAA affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks, prior to coming to New Orleans in 2001. Rattlers Chairman of the Board Jerry Colangelo also serves as Managing General Partner of the Diamondbacks...VooDoo Special Teams Coordinator/Offensive Assistant Tres Sullivan played quarterback for the Rattlers in 1995 and 1996, backing up Arizona's legendary QB Sherdrick Bonner as well as AFL star Aaron Garcia...OL/DL Jason Berger and OL/DL Sean Powell played for New Mexico State, where they were college teammates with Arizona OL/DL Tim Engelhardt...VooDoo Line Coach Junior Ili and Arizona Assistant Coach/Line Chris Conlin were teammates with the Miami Hooters in 1994...New Orleans OL/DL B.J. Cohen, WR/LB Lamont Moore and Arizona OS Siaha Burley played together with the Orlando Predators from 2001-02...Rattlers WR/LB Hernandez "Hunkie" Cooper attended training camp with the New Orleans Saints in 1994, where he was a teammate of VooDoo Fullbacks/Linebackers Coach Franklin Thomas...Arizona DS Clarence Lawson and New Orleans WR/LB Tremaine Neal were teammates with the Florida Bobcats in 1999. Lawson played for Carolina in 2001, where he was a teammate of Bratton, VooDoo OS Aaron Bailey and K Brian Schmitz. Bailey and Arizona DS Hamin Milligan were teammates in San Jose in 2003... OL/DL Gaylon Hyder and Arizona QB Joe Germaine were teammates with the St. Louis Rams in 1999, earning Super Bowl rings in their rookie seasons. VooDoo OL/DL Tim Martin and Rattlers OL/DL Jason Anderson were teammates in 1999 training camp for the New England Patriots. Arizona OL/DL Antionne Scott played at Mississippi from 1996-99 where he was a college teammate of Saints Pro Bowl RB Deuce McAllister
VooDoo on the Airwaves
New Orleans VooDoo and AFL fans will enjoy plenty of chances 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. Selected media personalities, New Orleans Saints coaches, players and front office personnel will serve as analysts. Saints cornerback Ashley Ambrose will handle color for this week's game for the second time this season, which can be heard on WSMB. WWL will also broadcast a weekly coaches show with coach Mike Neu on Tuesdays from 9 - 10p.m., with Kenyon and Kenny Wilkerson as co-hosts. Due to a scheduling conflict, this week's show will air on Monday from 9-10 p.m.
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 will broadcast the VooDoo's remaining six games regionally. Cox second broadcast of the season on Thursday night will feature Todd Kalas doing play by play, Saints wide receiver Michael Lewis as guest analyst and Harry McCulla as sideline reporter. They will also broadcast a 30-minute pre-game show before each game broadcast. Cox Sports TV will air "Inside VooDoo with Mike Neu" on a weekly basis. The halfhour show will show on Thursday, March 18 from 7:00-7:30 p.m., followed by the pregame show "VooDoo" tonight at 7:30 p.m., prior to kickoff at 8 p.m.
Last Week
The VooDoo jumped out to a 28-10 lead in the first half, making a pair of key stops on Detroit's first two possessions as well, resulting in a 45-31 victory over the Detroit Fury in the New Orleans Arena before a record crowd of 15,303.
QB John Fitzgerald connected with OS Aaron Bailey for three touchdowns to lead New Orleans offensively, helping them improve their record to 5-1 and remain undefeated at home.
Fitzgerald finished 22-of -31 for 251 yards with 5 touchdown passes for the VooDoo. Detroit QB Andy Kelly finished 24- of-40 for 312 yards and 3 touchdown passes. Bailey finished the game with five receptions for 59 yards and three touchdowns and was named Offensive Player of the Game. VooDoo FB/LB Dan Curran played a key role both offensively and defensively, carrying six times for 29 yards with one TD, grabbing two receptions for 21 yards and recording three tackles, a tackle for a loss and a sack.
Statistics
A quick look at how New Orleans and Arizona match up based on 2004 regular season stats.
Statistical New Orleans Arizona
Category Stat Stat
Scoring Offense 268 290
Scoring Defense 250 285
Total Offense (Yds/G) 236.5 248.2
Total Defense (Yds/G) 264.8 247.8
Pass Offense (Yds/G) 205.8 233.5
Pass Defense (Yds/G) 242.2 226.5
Rushing Offense (Yds/G) 30.7 14.7
Rushing Defense (Yds/G) 22.7 21.3
Kickoff Returns 15.7 21.0
Field Goals 4-10 3-7
PAT Kicking 32-35 27-35
Sacks By (sks-yds) 2-11 7-35
Sacks Against 3-12 5-32
First Downs 109 114
Penalties (#/yds) 45/279 47/281
Turnover Margin +2 -2
Time of Possession 29:56 29:37
The VooDoo's Record When?
A quick look at how New Orleans and Arizona match up based on 2004 regular season stats.
3-0 at home
2-1 on the road
2-0 vs. Central Division
1-0 vs. Eastern Division
2-0 vs. Southern Division
0-1 vs. Western Division
0-0 on Thursdays
1-0 on Fridays
1-0 on Saturdays
3-1 on Sundays
3-1 in February
2-0 in March
4-1 in games televised on NBC
1-0 in games televised on Cox Sports Television
4-0 when leading at the half
0-1 when tied at the half
1-0 when trailing at the half
5-0 when leading after three quarters
0-0 when tied after three quarters
0-1 when trailing after three quarters
2-0 outcome 7 points or less
2-0 outcome 3 points or less
0-0 overtime games
2-1 when the VooDoo scores first
3-0 when the opponent scores first
Coach Neu Says
Excerpts from VooDoo head coach Mike Neu's postgame comments about Friday's win over Detroit
(on his evaluation of his team's defensive performance)
"Our defense has been the mainstay of our football team. They did a real good job. Detroit's a team that has been playing with a lot of confidence. I think they're number one in total offensive yards. Our defense, those guys have fun playing the game. Their energy is contagious, It rubs off on the other players and they have fun playing this game. It's great to see. Those guys get after the quarterback, becuase Andy's (Kelly) a guy that doesn't hold onto the ball. To get a sack on him is saying something becuase Andy gets rid of the ball. He's a guy who usually prevents bad plays. I'm proud of our guys. First half, I couldn't have asked to play a better first half of football in all three phases. Second half, we battled through some adversity but we responded when it counted most at the end of the game."
(on if this is the most complete game the team has played so far)
"I think without question that's the most complete game we've played overall. I think our defense has always been playing really good from week one. Our offense has shown bright spots and has been inconsistent at times, but I think this is the most complete game we've played, but I'm proud of our guys. There's some guys that couldn't play tonight because of sickness. A couple of guys were banged up, injurywise. We had some guys step up and play some significant roles and really, Calvin Spears comes to mind. He was asked to play a lot of minutes tonight and really stepped up and played a nice game."
(on if the difference in the game was New Orleans scoring on their first four possessions and stopping Detroit on downs twice in the first half)
"Yes, no question. That first half of play was the difference. Once we were able to get that lead on them and get the ball in the second half, that's difficult to overcome. Unfortunately we were nicked up good. We weren't great. We were productive, but that first half is really what set the tempo. We had the crowd support behind us which was great, because the fans have played such an instrumental part in our success so far.
(on the play of Spears who excelled on both offense and defense in substitiute of a sick Calvin Coleman and injured Luke Leverson)
"He's a warrior. That nickname he's got the junkyard dog, he's earned that, beucase that's how he plays his game. He's scrappy, he's feisty. I'm proud of him because he played a lot of minutes. I think that's a true test and it complements our team. We've got other guys that can step up like that on the practice squad or on the inactive list and all of our guys are going to have to step up in certain situations and have done a great job. To lose Luke Leverson in your first offensive series and you're down to 19 guys, some guys played a lot of minutes. Lamont Moore played a lot of minutes. You can't say enough about him. Tremaine Neal stepped in, Calvin Spears, Ira Gooch. A lot of the guys stepped up and made a lot of plays on both sides."
(on John Fitzgerald's proficiency on third down)
"There's no bigger pressure situation than on third down. John's hard on himself. I think he wants to succeed so bad that you want something a little bit too much, it can get you in trouble. I'm proud of him. He's a warrior and he wants to be good in such a bad way and sometimes he just needs to relax, play ball and let the other guys make plays."
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