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New Orleans VooDoo game notes

January 25, 2005 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
New Orleans VooDoo News Release


QUICK FACTS
New Orleans VooDoo (0-0) at Georgia Force (0-0)
Site: Phillips Arena (18,750)
Television: Cox Sports Television (10 p.m. Tape Delay)
Todd Kalas, Ashley Ambrose and Tim Fanguy
Radio: WWL (870-AM)
Chris Kenyon and Charles Grant
Coaches: NO: Mike Neu (2nd Season in New Orleans,
3rd season overall, 17-13, regular season; 1-3 playoffs);
Geo.: Doug Plank (1st season in Georgia and overall, 0-0)
Series Record: VooDoo lead 2-0
Last Meeting: New Orleans won 44-40 (at New Orleans,
May 14, 2004)

Southern Division Champions To Face Rival Georgia in Season Opener

The VooDoo will open up their 2005 regular season by facing Southern Division rival Georgia Force on Saturday evening at the Phillips Arena in Atlanta. Looking towards 2005, the VooDoo have put in the past a successful 2004 inaugural season, when they finished tied for the top record in the Arena Football League at 11-5, captured the Southern Division title and and a playoff berth.

THE LAST MEETING

New Orleans 44, Georgia 40 -- In front of a crowd of 15,935 at the New Orleans Arena, the VooDoo secured a spot in the playoffs with a victory over the Georgia Force. FB/LB Dan Curran's two-yard touchdown run with 44 seconds remaining in the game put New Orleans ahead for good. Curran had 24 rushing yards with three touchdowns, hitting the 300-yard mark for the season and becoming only the fourth player in AFL history to score 20 rushing touchdowns in a season. QB John Fitzgerald was 22-of-38 for 210 yards with three touchdown passes and one interception. OS Aaron Bailey had nine receptions for 124 yards with three touchdowns.

NEXT WEEK

The VooDoo will travel to Nashville to play the Kats in their inaugural home opener on Friday, February 4 at 7:30 p.m. The game can be seen live on COX Sports Television.

2005 SCHEDULE AND RESULTS

NEW ORLEANS VooDoo (0-0)
Date Opponent Time Result
Jan. 29 at Georgia 6 p.m.
Feb. 4 at Nashville 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 13 SAN JOSE 2 p.m.
Feb. 20 PHILADELPHIA 11 a.m.
Feb. 25 TAMPA BAY 7 p.m.
Mar. 5 at Dallas 7:30 p.m.
Mar. 13 ORLANDO 2 p.m.
Mar. 20 at Chicago 11 a.m.
Mar. 26 GEORGIA 7 p.m.
Apr. 1 at Austin 7:30 p.m.
Apr. 8-10 Bye Weekend
Apr. 16 COLUMBUS 7 p.m.
Apr. 23 at Grand Rapids 6:30 p.m.
Apr. 30 at Tampa Bay 6:30 p.m.
May 8 COLORADO 12 p.m.
May 14 AUSTIN 7 p.m.
May 20 at Orlando 6:30 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: The first head coach of the New Orleans VooDoo, Mike Neu is a six-year Arena Football coaching veteran.

Since being named coach of the VooDoo on June 17, 2003, Neu worked has worked tirelessly to make New Orleans a winning team. In his first season at the helm, he successfully molded a 24-man roster comprised of a mix of Arena Football League veterans and rookies, allowing the VooDoo to get off to a 7-1 start, one of the fastest starts for a firstyear AFL entry. Neu led the VooDoo to an 11-5 record, making them the only team in league history to win 11 games in their first season. The VooDoo's Southern Division title marked only the fourth time in AFL history that an expansion franchise has won their division in their first year of play. Following the season, Neu was named the Arena Football League Coach of the Year.

For his professional career, Neu has posted a 17-13 regular season record and has reached the playoffs every season as both a coach and a player in the Arena Football League.

Neu came to New Orleans after serving as head coach of the Carolina Cobras. In 2002, Neu guided the Cobras to a 5-2 record on the road and their second-straight playoff berth. Carolina posted the first playoff victory in club history in 2002 as the club featured the AFL's fourth-ranked 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 started his AFL coaching career with Nashville 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 achieved their third consecutive playoff berth. The team also set franchise highs in six offensive categories, including scoring and total offense. Current New Orleans QB Andy Kelly, one of top quarterbacks in Arena Football League history, enjoyed a career-high passer rating of 116.4 under Neu's tutelage in 1999. Neu began his coaching career in 1994 as a graduate assistant at his alma mater, Ball State.

Neu's professional playing career started with a stint with the Canadian Football League's Calgary Stampeders in 1995 before joining the Orlando Predators in 1996 and moving on to the Nashville Kats in 1997. The 1997 Nashville squad which Neu played on won an expansion record 10 games, a record which was broken by this VooDoo just this past season.

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. He was recently voted to the school's Athletic Hall of Fame. Neu and his wife, Charmin, have a daughter, Graycen and a son, Carson.

Doug Plank: On July 30, 2004, Doug Plank was announced as the new head coach of the Georgia Force becoming the fourth head coach in the team's history. Plank comes to the Force having served as the defensive coordinator for the Arizona Rattlers from 2002-2004, which included three consecutive ArenaBowl championship game births.

Following a 3-5 start in 2004, the Rattlers turned their season around to finish with a league-tying best 11-5 record and secure the top seed in the AFL playoffs. In 2002, Plank helped guide the Rattlers defense to a number one regular season ranking in rushing defense and scoring defense. In his three years with the Rattlers, he coached four First Team All-Arena selections, two Second Team All-Arena players and four All-Ironman Team choices, including 2003 AFL Ironman of the Year Randy Gatewood.

A former member of The Ohio State University football team, Plank played in three consecutive Rose Bowls, 1973, 1974, and 1975. While at Ohio State, he played for legendary coach Woody Hayes.

Plank brings with him a wealth of football experience that includes an impressive career in the NFL. He was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the 12 th round of the 1975 NFL Entry Draft and started at safety for eight seasons. The "46 Defense" created by Buddy Ryan was named for Plank's jersey number and aggressive style of play. Plank was also the first Bears rookie to ever lead the team in tackles.

Following his playing career, Plank became a franchisee for the Burger King Corporation owning and operating 17 restaurants in three different states.

Plank's professional history also includes experience as a member of the Rattlers broadcast team. Prior to becoming defensive coordinator, he spent five years as the Rattlers' radio analyst and two seasons as their television color analyst.

His broadcasting experience also includes stints with the Arizona Cardinals, Arizona State University Football, Fox Sports Net, Westwood One and Sports USA Radio Network.

Plank and his wife Nancy have two children, Andrea and Michael.

2004 AWARD WINNERS

Rita Benson LeBlanc.....Executive of the Year
Mike Neu...........Coach of the Year
B.J. Cohen........All-Bentley Team (NBC)
Dan Curran.......All-Arena (first team)
All-Ironman team
U.S. Army Ironman of the Month (February)
All-Bentley Team (NBC)
John Fitzgerald AFLWA Player of the Week (4/25)
Monty Montgomery Defensive Player of the Week (4/18)
Defensive Player of the Month (April)
Lamont Moore...Defensive Player of the Week (March 7)

STATISTICS

A quick look at how the New Orleans VooDoo and the Georgia Force match up based on 2004 Arena Football League regular season statistics and league rankings.

Category New Orleans Georgia

Scoring Offense 723 (17) 710 (18)
Scoring Defense 721 (2) 772 (9)
Total Offense (Yds/G) 249.1 (t15) 260.7 (11)
Total Defense (Yds/G) 257.1 (6) 254.8 (5)
Pass Offense (Yds/G) 220.7 (17) 228.8 (13)
Pass Defense (Yds/G) 230.4 (4) 233.9 (5)
Rushing Offense (Yds/G) 28.4 (5) 31.9 (4)
Rushing Defense (Yds/G) 26.6 (17) 20.9 (9)
Kickoff Returns 17.6 (12) 16.8 (15)
Field Goals 9-21 (12) 6-27 (19)
PAT Kicking 78-92 86-94
Sacks By (sks/yds) 15/74 (8) 14/57 (11)
Sacks Against (sks/yds) 10/57 (6) 32/106 (19)
First Downs 285 (16) 283 (18)
Penalties (#/yds) 130/784 126/734
Turnover Margin -1 (11) -3 (t12)
Time of Possession 29:15 28:06

THE VooDoo's 2004 RECORD WHEN?

7-1 at home
4-4 on the road
Scoring Allowing
0-9 points 0-0 0-0
10-19 points 0-0 0-0
20-29 points 0-1 1-0
30-39 points 1-2 3-0
40-49 points 6-1 4-1
50-59 points 2-1 2-3
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
5-3 vs. Southern Division
1-2 vs. Western Division
1-0 on Thursdays
1-1 on Fridays
3-1 on Saturdays
6-3 on Sundays
3-1 in February
4-0 in March
2-1 in April
2-3 in May
5-3 in games televised on NBC
4-2 in games televised on Cox Sports Television
2-0 in games not televised
7-2 when leading after the first quarter
2-0 when tied after the first quarter
2-3 when trailing after the first quarter
7-0 when leading at the half
1-1 when tied at the half
3-3 when trailing at the half
10-0 when leading after three quarters
0-0 when tied after three quarters
1-5 when trailing after three quarters
5-1 outcome 7 points or less
2-0 outcome 3 points or less
0-0 overtime games
6-3 when the VooDoo scores first
5-2 when the opponent scores first
5-2 when the VooDoo has more total offense
6-3 when the VooDoo's opponent has more total offense
4-3 when the VooDoo has more yards passing than opp.
6-2 when the VooDoo has less yards passing than opp.
1-0 when the VooDoo has same passing yards as opp.
6-3 when the VooDoo has more yards rushing than opp.
5-2 when the opp. has more yards rushing than VooDoo

2004 WEEKLY AWARD WINNERS

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

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 10: (at ORL): Joe Hamilton (ORL)
Week 11: (CLB): John Fitzgerald (NOV)
Week 12: (at AUS): John Fitzgerald (NOV)
Week 13: (at SJS): Mark Grieb (SJS)
Week 14: (ORL): Joe Hamilton (ORL)
Week 15: (GEO): Aaron Bailey (NOV)
Week 16: (at TB): Shane Stafford (TB)
Week 17: (AUS): Lamont Moore (NO)

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 10: (at ORL): E.J. Burt (ORL)
Week 11: (CLB): Monty Montgomery (NOV)
Week 12: (at AUS): Monty Montgomery (NOV)
Week 13: (at SJS): Omarr Smith (SJS)
Week 14: (ORL): Kenny McEntyre (ORL)
Week 15: (GEO): Monty Montgomery (NOV)
Week 16: (at TB): Tramain Jones (TB)
Week 17: (AUS): Chris Pointer (NOV)

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 (NOV)
Week 10: (at ORL): Cory Fleming (ORL)
Week 11: (CLB): Aaron Hamilton (NOV)
Week 12: (at AUS): Charlie Davidson (AUS)
Week 13: (at SJS): Fred Coleman (SJS)
Week 14: (ORL): Cory Fleming (ORL)
Week 15: (GEO): Dan Curran (NOV)
Week 16: (at TB): David Saunders (TB)
Week 17: (AUS): B.J. Cohen (NOV)

WHAT A SEASON

Sparked by a 11-5 start, the VooDoo became the first team in Arena Football League history to win 11 games in their first season, surpassing the 10-4 record by the 1997 Nashville Kats.

TOPS AT HOME

Another contributing factor for the VooDoo's 11-5 2004 record was their 7-1 home mark at the New Orleans Arena. New Orleans, the Colorado Crush and the San Jose SaberCats were tied for the best home record in the AFL.

WHAT A CROWD

Through their 8 regular season home games in 2004, the VooDoo attracted an average of 15,240 fans per game to the New Orleans Arena. New Orleans' average crowd ranked third in the AFL, led attendance figures for teams in the Southern division and is above the league's average of 12,019. The VooDoo enjoyed their two sellouts, their second being on May 30 when they attracted a standing room only crowd of 17,030 fans for the season finale with Austin Wranglers. Below are the top 10 season attendance figures.

Team Average Attendance
1. Philadelphia Soul 16,851
2. Columbus Destroyers 16,286
3. NEW ORLEANS VooDoo 15,240
4. Colorado Crush 15,233
5. Tampa Bay Storm 14,348
6. Chicago Rush 14,085
7. San Jose SaberCats 13,138
8. Orlando Predators 13,086
9. Arizona Rattlers 13,000
10. Los Angeles Avengers 12,590

WHAT A RUSH

One of the keys to the VooDoo's successful season in 2004 was having the fifth ranked rushing offense in the Arena Football League. Due to the loss of Dan Curran, FB/LB Leroy Thompson will be counted on to fill his role in the offense. With 913 career rushing yards, Thompson is the AFL's sixth leading all-time rusher, while his total of 54 rushing touchdowns is also sixth on the league's all-time list. Thompson is a 10-year Arena Football League veteran, who spent his first nine seasons with the Albany and Indiana Firebirds. An outstanding two-way player, Thompson was named the League's Ironman of the Year in 2002.

GETTING DEFENSIVE

An important reason for the VooDoo's 11-5 inaugural season was the team's ability to keep the opposition out of the end zone on the defensive end. Through 16 games, New Orleans surrendered an average of only 45.1 points per game, putting them in second place in the Arena Football League in scoring defense. In the 14 games the week prior to playing the VooDoo (not counting the inaugural season opener at the Philadelphia Soul), VooDoo opponents had averaged 55.0 points on offense and were held to an average of 45.8 points by the VooDoo defense, a difference of - 9.2 points per game.

IMPACT PLAYER

OS Aaron Bailey made an immediate impact for 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. In 2004, Bailey had 91 receptions for 1364 yards with a career-high 32 touchdowns. Bailey finished the season tied for fifth in the AFL in scoring among nonkickers (204), receiving touchdowns, ranked 13th in receptions, tied for first in receiving average (15.0 - min. 80 catches), ranked sixth in receiving yards, third in all-purpose yards (2333), eighth in first downs (76) and tied for sixth in third down receptions (17). A five-year NFL veteran, Bailey played for the Indianapolis Colts 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.

ANDY KELLY

QB Andy Kelly is considered one of the league's premier quarterbacks and was signed by the VooDoo in the team's stated objective to improve their passing offense in the 2005 season. Kelly is one of the AFL's All-time passing leaders. He currently holds the AFL career passing records for completions (2863), attempts (4671), passing yards (32,031) and touchdown passes (621). Kelly holds the record for most touchdown passes ever by any professional quarterback in any league. Kelly helped engineer squads in Nashville, Dallas and Detroit to playoff berths in seven consecutive seasons from 1997-2003 and helped lead the Kats to consecutive ArenaBowl berths from 2000-01.

B.J. COHEN

OL/DL B.J. Cohen's leadership and high level of performance played a key role both on the field and in the locker room for the VooDoo in 2004. Starting all 16 games last season, Cohen recorded 26 tackles, was tied for 10th in the league with four sacks and third with a career-high four forced fumbles. One of the league's all-time leading passcatchers at the tight end position, Cohen led VooDoo linemen with 10 receptions for 96 yards with two touchdowns.

VooDoo ON THE AIRWAVES

New Orleans VooDoo and Arena Football League fans will enjoy plenty of chances to watch the team both live and on various on radio and television programs throughout the 2005 season and the postseason.

Every VooDoo game will be heard on WWL-AM 870 or WSMB-AM 1350. Chris Kenyon will handle play-by-play. Selected media personalities and Saints players and coaches will serve as guest color analysts and Kenny Wilkerson will handle sideline duties. This week's game will be broadcast on WWL and Saints DE Charles Grant will handle color. WWL will also broadcast a weekly coaches show with VooDoo head coach Mike Neu on Tuesdays from 7 - 8p.m., with Kenyon and Wilkerson as co-hosts.

Four 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 eight games regionally. This week's game will be broadcast at 10 p.m. on a tape delay basis on Cox Sports TV. Todd Kalas will handle play-by-play, Saints CB Ashley Ambrose will do color and Tim Fanguy will handle sideline duties. Selected media personalities and New Orleans Saints players and coaches will serve as guest color analysts throughout the season. Cox Sports TV 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 can bee seen on Friday, January 28 from 6:00-6:30 p.m. Kenyon will serve as host and Fanguy will do player features.

VooDoo-GEORGIA CONNECTIONS

New Orleans Saints and New Orleans VooDoo Owner Tom Benson and Atlanta Falcons and Georgia Force Arthur M. Blank are fellow NFL owners, whose teams have been longtime divisional rivals...OL/DL Bruce McClure played for the Force from 2002-03...Line coach Junior Ili served as Georgia assistant head coach/defensive coordinator Bob Kronenberg's position coach in Nashville from 1999-2000, while coach Mike Neu served as the team's offensive coordinator in 1998. Neu served as coach of the af2 Augusta Stallions in 2000, where WR/DB Lamont Moore played for him...FB/LB Jason Bratton QB Andy Kelly, OL/DL Aaron Hamilton and McClure were teammates with Kronenberg in Nashville...Georgia FB/LB Coach Brennan Booth served on Neu's staff with the Carolina Cobras in 2002...Kelly, OL/DL Tim Martin and Georgia WR/LB Dieallo Burks and QB Jim Kubiak were teammates with the Dallas Desperados...VooDoo OS Aaron Bailey and Georgia DS Kevin Gaines were college teammates at Louisville. Gaines went to training camp with the New Orleans Saints in 1995 as an undrafted rookie free agent, was coached by VooDoo defensive coordinator Kevin Porter in Orlando in 1999 and was also a teamamte of VooDoo OL/DL B.J. Cohen in Orlando. Gaines played for Neu in Carolina in 2002, where he and Georgia OL/DL Marcus Keys, OL/DL Dary Myricks, OL/DL Juan Porter and WR/DL Nick Ward were teammates of Bailey, WR/DB Carl Bond and K Brian Schmitz...FB/LB Leroy Thompson and Georgia K Nelson Garner were teammates with the Albany/Indiana Firebirds...Georgia OL/DL Shane Grice played at Mississippi, where he blocked for Saints RB Deuce McAllister after transferring from Itawamba (Miss.) Junior College. B...Georgia WR/DB Luke Leverson and OL/DL Adam Metts played for New Orleans in 2004...Leverson, Bailey and Martin were teammates with the XFL's Chicago Enforcers in 2001...Kelly and Georgia OL/DL Dary Myricks were teammates in Detroit in 2003...OL/DL Bobby Setzer spent part of 2000 on the Saints practice squad and went to training camp with the team in 2001...WR/DB Jacques Rumph played for the Macon Knights of af2, where they were coached by Porter, a Georgia native who played at Auburn. Rumph prepped at Peach County (Ga.) High School.



Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from January 25, 2005


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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