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New Orleans VooDoo game notes

March 15, 2005 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
New Orleans VooDoo News Release


QUICK FACTS
New Orleans VooDoo (5-2) at Chicago Rush (4-3)
Site: Allstate Arena (16,000)
Television: NBC (WDSU-6 locally)
Play-by-Play: Tom Hammond Analyst: Ray Bentley
Radio: WSMB (1350-AM)
Play-by-Play: Chris Kenyon Analyst: Michael Lewis
Coaches: NO: Mike Neu (2nd Season in New Orleans, 3rd season overall, 22-15, regular season; 1-3 playoffs);
CHI.: MIke Hohensee (5th season in Chicago, 12th overall, 83-72, regular season; 6-8, playoffs)
Series Record: Teams have never met

VooDoo TO LOOK TO REBOUND ON ROAD IN CHICAGO

Following Sunday's disappointing 63-52 loss to Southern Division rival Orlando Predators in the New Orleans Arena, the New Orleans VooDoo will attempt to rebound when they travel to Chicago to play the Rush on Sunday, March 20 at the Allstate Arena. The Rush are currently one of the hottest teams in the Arena Football League, as they have won their last two contests. Sunday's game will be an important matchup for the 5-2 VooDoo as they work to keep pace with fellow division leaders Georgia and Orlando who have the same record. The contest will pit two of the three top ranked offenses in the Arena Football League.

A VooDoo WIN WOULD

* Improve New Orleans' overall record to 6-2.
* Give New Orleans a 3-1 road record in 2005.
* Give New Orleans an all-time 7-5 road record.
* Give New Orleans an 11-2 record all-time against nondivisional opponents.
* Improve New Orleans' 2005 record against non-divisional opponents in 2005 to 5-0.
* Mark New Orleans' first win against the Chicago Rush.
* Improve New Orleans' 2005 record against American Conference opponents to 3-0.

NEXT WEEK

Following this week's game, the VooDoo return home to face Southern Division rival Georgia Force on Saturday, March 26 at the New Orleans Arena.

2005 SCHEDULE AND RESULTS

NEW ORLEANS VooDoo (5-2)
Date Opponent Time Result
Jan. 30 at Georgia 3 p.m. 44-46
Feb. 4 at Nashville 7:30 p.m. 59-34
Feb. 13 SAN JOSE 2 p.m. 62-61
Feb. 20 PHILADELPHIA 11 a.m. 61-47
Feb. 25 TAMPA BAY 7 p.m. 48-42
Mar. 5 at Dallas 7:30 p.m. 53-51
Mar. 13 ORLANDO 2 p.m. 52-63
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 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 AFL veterans and rookies, allowing the VooDoo to get off to a 7-1 start, one of the fastest starts for a first-year 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 AFL Coach of the Year.

For his professional career, Neu has posted a 22-15 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 CFL'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 in 2004.

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.

Mike Hohensee: Begins his fifth season as Rush head coach and his 12th as an AFL head coach. This is his 17th season as a member of an AFL coaching staff. Has a 83-72 regular season record as a head coach, has reached the playoffs eight times and led the Rush to playoff appearances in each of the team's four seasons, including Central Division championships in 2002 and 2004.

Hohensee signed a contract extension through the 2006 season with an option for 2007 on July 19, 2004. He became the fourth coach in AFL history to record 80 career wins with a 51-36 win against the Tampa Bay Storm April 11, 2004. This season he became the third-winningest coach in AFL history.

Hohensee's prior head coaching stints include heading the Washington Commandos (1990), the Albany Firebirds (1994-96), the Anaheim Piranhas (1997) and the New England Sea Wolves (1999-2000). He began his coaching career as an assistant for the Chicago Bruisers in 1989, the first former AFL player to join the league as a coach and the youngest head coach in league history when he took over the Washington Commandos in 1990. He was named one of the 14 finalists for the 2002 AFL Hall of Fame.

In addition to serving as an assistant with Chicago, Hohensee also served as offensive coordinator of the Albany Firebirds from 1991-93 and in 1998.

Hohensee played two seasons for the Arena Football League's Pittsburgh Gladiators (1987-88) and threw for 2,031 yards (178-304) with 39 touchdowns and four interceptions before suffering a career-ending neck injury. He was credited with the first touchdown pass in AFL history on June 19, 1987. He participated in the first ArenaBowl. Hohensee played professional football for the Washington Federals of the USFL and the CFL's Ottawa Rough Riders and Toronto Argonauts. He also saw action with the Chicago Bears during the 1987 season.

Hohensee was an All-America quarterback at San Antonio Junior College before transferring to the University of Minnesota. As a Golden Gopher (1981-82), he was the team's MVP and the University's Athlete of the Year after both seasons. Was inducted into the University's M Club Hall of Fame in November, 2000.

Mike Hohensee (hoe-en-see) was born February 22, 1961, in Inglewood, CA. Mike and his wife, Deborah, reside in Chicago with their three children; Cayla, Michael Jr. and

2005 AWARD WINNERS

Andy Kelly.....AFL Offensive Player of the Week (Week 2)
AFL Offensive Player of the Week (Week 3)
AFL Offensive Player of the Month (Feb.)

QUICK START

Through their first 23 regular season games, the VooDoo are tied for the second-best 23-game start in AFL history with the Nashville Kats. Entering Week 8 of the season, the VooDoo hold a 5-2 record and are 16-7 in their first 23 regular season games. The team posted an 11-5 mark in their in 2004. The former Detroit Drive franchise compiled a 17-6 record from their inaugural season in 1988 through the seventh week of the 1990 season. The Nashville Kats compiled a 16-7 record from 1997-98. VooDoo QB Andy Kelly was the Kats starter during that period and VooDoo coach Mike Neu served his backup for the Kats in 1997 and as the team's quarterbacks coach in 1998.

THE VooDoo's RECORD WHEN?

3-1 at home
2-1 on the road
Scoring Allowing
0-9 points 0-0 0-0
10-19 points 0-0 0-0
20-29 points 0-0 0-0
30-39 points 0-0 1-0
40-49 points 1-1 2-1
50-59 points 2-1 1-0
60-69 points 2-0 1-1
70-79 points 0-0 0-0
80+ points 0-0 0-0
1-0 vs. Central Division
2-0 vs. Eastern Division
1-2 vs. Southern Division
1-0 vs. Western Division
0-0 on Thursdays
2-0 on Fridays
1-0 on Saturdays
2-2 on Sundays
0-1 in January
4-0 in February
1-1 in March
0-0 in April
0-0 in May
2-0 in games televised on NBC
2-2 in games televised on Cox Sports Television
1-0 in games televised on Fox Sports Net
0-0 in games not televised
3-1 when leading after the first quarter
2-0 when tied after the first quarter
0-1 when trailing after the first quarter
4-0 when leading at the half
1-0 when tied at the half
0-2 when trailing at the half
2-0 when leading after three quarters
1-0 when tied after three quarters
2-2 when trailing after three quarters
3-1 outcome 7 points or less
2-1 outcome 3 points or less
0-0 overtime games
3-1 when the VooDoo scores first
2-1 when the opponent scores first
4-2 when the VooDoo has more total offense
1-0 when the VooDoo's opponent has more total offense
4-2 when the VooDoo has more yards passing than opp.
1-0 when the VooDoo has less yards passing than opp.
0-0 when the VooDoo has same passing yards as opp.
1-0 when the VooDoo has more yards rushing than opp.
4-2 when the opp. has more yards rushing than VooDoo

2005 WEEKLY AWARD WINNERS

A listing of the weekly game award winners for 2005 VooDoo games

Offensive Player of the Game
Week 1: (at GEO): Troy Bergeron (GEO)
Week 2: (at NASH): Andy Kelly (NO)
Week 3: (SJS): Andy Kelly (NO)
Week 4: (PHI): Andy Kelly (NO)
Week 5: (TB): Jaques Rumph (NO)
Week 6: (at DAL): Jason Shelley (DAL)
Week 7: (ORL): Joe Hamilton (ORL)

ADT Defensive Player of the Game
Week 1: (at GEO): Dialleo Burks (GEO)
Week 2: (at NASH): B.J. Cohen (NO)
Week 3: (SJS): B.J. Cohen (NO)
Week 4: (PHI): Monty Montgomery (NO)
Week 5: (TB): Chris Pointer (NO)
Week 6: (at DAL): Alvin Porter (NO)
Week 7: (ORL): Kenny McEntyre (ORL)

U.S. Army Ironman of the Game
Week 1: (at GEO): Robert Thomas (GEO)
Week 2: (at NASH): Thabiti Davis (NO)
Week 3: (SJS): Thabiti Davis (NO)
Week 4: (PHI): Lamont Moore (NO)
Week 5: (TB): B.J. Cohen (NO)
Week 6: (at DAL): Bobby Perry (DAL)
Week 7: (ORL): Cory Fleming (ORL)

TOPS AT HOME

A contributing factor for the VooDoo's early success is their cumulative 10-2 regular season record at the New Orleans Arena. After finishing tied for first in the league with a 7-1 home record in 2004, The VooDoo have kept pace this current season, compiling a 3-1 record at "The Graveyard".

WHAT A CROWD

Through the regular season in 2004, the VooDoo attracted an average of 15,240 fans per game to the Graveyard. New Orleans' average crowd ranked third in the AFL, led attendance figures for teams in the Southern Division and was above the league average of 12,019. This season, the VooDoo's attendance has once again remained amongst lead leaders, above the league average of 13,052 and possessed the highest figures in the Southern Division, fueled by two consecutive sellout crowds. Below are the league's top average attendance figures.

Team Average Attendance
1. Columbus Destroyers 17,171
2. Philadelphia Soul 16,645
3. Colorado Crush 15,355
4. Chicago Rush 15,347
5. New Orleans VooDoo 15,022
6. Nashville Kats 14,855
7. San Jose SaberCats 14,673
8. Tampa Bay Storm 13,874
9. Orlando Predators 13,287
10. Georgia Force 12,909

TOP OF THE POLLS

The New Orleans VooDoo's early success in 2005 has impressed media members enough to move them up to the number one spot in both of their weekly power rating polls. In the Arena Football League's "Power Poll", released on Tuesday on arenafootball.com, the league's official website, the VooDoo held the top spot for the third consecutive week. The VooDoo moved into the top spot for the Arena Football Writers Association weekly poll three weeks ago and has since held onto the top spot. The AFLWA is a national organization made up of media members who cover the AFL. Both weekly polls ranked the top eight teams in the Arena Football League. At the beginning of the season, New Orleans failed to hold a spot in either weekly poll.

RECEIVING OPTION

WR/LB Thabiti Davis was signed from Detroit to fill the void of a tall receiver in the VooDoo offense and improve the team's red zone production. After enjoying career-highs in 2004 and finishing among league leaders with 127 receptions for 1557 yards and 26 touchdowns, Davis has helped the the VooDoo offense, recording 55 receptions for 489 yards and 11 touchdowns. Currently, Davis is tied for 15th in the AFL in scoring among nonkickers (66), ranked fourth in receptions, 17th in receiving yardage, tied for 11th in first downs (31) and eighth in third down receptions (8). Davis has also been a steady defender at the "Jill" linebacker position, recording 12 solo tackles and one pass defense.

IMPACT PLAYER

New Orleans VooDoo OS Aaron Bailey has been an important part of the VooDoo offense and one of the AFL's leading receivers since signing with the team prior to their inaugural season. In 2004, Bailey recorded 91 receptions for 1364 yards with 32 touchdowns and finished among league leaders in all major receiving categories, while setting career-highs. This season, Bailey is once again ranked among AFL leaders with 61 receptions for 768 yards and 15 touchdown catches, while returning 14 kickoffs for 225 yards with one touchdown. Bailey is currently ranked sixth in the AFL in scoring among nonkickers (102) and tied for sixth in touchdown receptions, ranked first in receptions, third in receiving yardage and total yards from scrimmage (769), fifth in all-purpose yards (998), tied for second in first downs (46) and ranked third in third down receptions (10).

ANDY KELLY

QB Andy Kelly, one of the AFL's premier quarterbacks and all-time passing leaders, was signed by the VooDoo in the team's objective to improve their passing offense. He currently holds the AFL career passing records for completions (3072), attempts (4985) and passing yards (34, 139) and is second all-time in touchdown passes (663). 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. Kelly has started 126 consecutive games, the alltime record for consecutive starts by a QB. Kelly currently trails New York's Aaron Garcia (666) for the league's all-time lead in touchdown passes by three scores, as he is currently the eighth rated quarterback in the Arena Football League in 2005 (111.8) and at or near the top of the league leaders in most categories, completing 209-of-314 passes for 2106 yards with 43 touchdown passes and six interceptions. The 12-year AFL veteran is currently leading the league in attempts, completions, passing yardage, touchdown passes and is fourth in completion percentage (66.6).

B.J. COHEN

OL/DL B.J. Cohen's leadership and performance has played a key role both on the field and in the locker room for the VooDoo. Starting 16 games last season, Cohen recorded 26 tackles, four sacks and finished third in the AFL with a career-high four forced fumbles. In 2005, Cohen is currently among the AFL's defensive leaders with 12.5 tackles, five sacks, one interception and a career-high five passes defensed. He is ranked second in the league in sacks.

VooDoo ON THE AIRWAVES

VooDoo fans will have plenty of chances to catch them live and on various radio and TV programs throughout 2005.

Every VooDoo game will be heard on WWL-AM 870 or WSMB-AM 1350. Chris Kenyon will handle play-by-play, selected Saints players and coaches and local media personalities will serve as guest color analysts and Kenny Wilkerson will handle sideline duties for home games. New Orleans Saints wide receiver/kickoff and punt returner Michael Lewis will serve as guest color analyst for the Chicago game. This week's game will be broadcast on WSMB. WWL will also broadcast a weekly coaches show with Mike Neu on Tuesdays from 7 - 8 p.m., with Wilkerson and Kenyon as the show's hosts. Due to a scheduling conflict, this week's show will air on Monday from 7-8 p.m.

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 six games and Fox Sports Net Southwest will broadcast two. This week's game will be broadcast on NBC by their top-ranked crew. Tom Hammond will handle play-by-play, Ray Bentley will serve as color analyst and Lewis Johnson will be sideline reporter. Saints players and coaches will serve as guest color analysts throughout the season on Cox Sports Television broadcasts. 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 can be seen on Friday, March 18 from 6:00- 6:30 p.m. Kenyon will serve as the host.

VooDoo-RUSH CONNECTIONS

Chicago Partner Mike Ditka served as head coach of the Saints from 1997-99...OS Aaron Bailey and OL/DL Tim Martin played for the XFL's Chicago Enforcers in 2001...QB Billy Dicken served as the starting QB for Chicago from 2001-03, leading them to the playoffs each season. Dicken serves as an assistant coach at Illinois Wesleyan University in the offseason...K Brian Schmitz played at Maine South HS and also serves as a commercial/industrial real estate broker in the Chicago area in the offseason...FB/LB Leroy Thompson played for Chicago head coach/director of football operations Mike Hohensee in Albany, where he played with Chicago FB/LB Jamie McGourty. Thompson played with Chicago WR/DB DeJuan Alfonzo, OL/DL Charlie Cook and WR/LB Jeremy McDaniel in Indiana...Chicago asst. head coach/def. coord. Walt Housman played for the Saints in 1987, played for the AFL's New Orleans Night in 1991 and served as a coach with the Night in 1992...DS Chris Pointer played for Chicago defensive backs coach Brian Schwartze with the New Jersey Gladiators in 2002, where he played with DS Jeroid Johnson. Johnson is the cousin of Saints CB Ashley Ambrose. Pointer and Chicago OS Henry Douglas went to training camp with the Carolina Panthers in 2003...Def. coord. Kevin Porter had Chicago dir. of player personnel/special teams coord. Dave Witthun on his staff with the af2 Pensacola Barracudas in 2000 and the Macon Knights in 2001...Chicago OL/DL Colin Greczek and OL/DL Jon McCall played for the Carolina Cobras in 2002, where he played for VooDoo coach Mike Neu and played with Bailey, OS Carl Bond and Schmitz. Greczek and McCall played in Orlando with OL/DL B.J. Cohen, WR/LB Thabiti Davis and WR/DB Lamont Moore. McCall and Martin went to training camp together with the New England Patriots in 1999...Chicago QB Raymond Philyaw is a New Orleans native who prepped at Southwood HS in Shreveport and starred at Northeast Louisiana.



Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from March 15, 2005


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