New Orleans VooDoo News and Notes
Published on March 10, 2004 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
New Orleans VooDoo News Release
* VooDoo REMAIN AT #5 IN AFLWA POLL: The VooDoo's 4-1 start and 55-43 victory over the Tampa Bay Storm impressed the Arena Football League Writers Association enough to keep them at #5 in the weekly writers poll. The VooDoo remained in the same position in the poll this week after peaking at #4 two weeks ago, however they appear to be picking up steam as evidenced by the three first place votes they received this week. The weekly poll, which is based on a vote of AFLWA members, ranks the top eight teams in the Arena Football League. Founded at the start of the 2004 season, the AFLWA is a national organization made up of media members who cover the AFL. New Orleans received 92 votes this week. The San Jose SaberCats remain in first place with 131 votes, including nine first place votes.
* VooDoo SUNDAY CROWD SETS NEW ORLEANS AFL RECORD: The VooDoo's attendance of 14, 837 at the New Orleans Arena for last Sunday's contest against the Tampa Bay Storm marked the largest Crescent City crowd to watch an Arena Football League game. Sunday's crowd exceeded the count of 14,392 on July 11, 1992 when the New Orleans Night played the Orlando Predators at the Louisiana Superdome.
* VooDoo TIES AFL RECORD FOR INTERCEPTION RETURNS FOR A TOUCHDOWN: The VooDoo tied an AFL record when they returned three interceptions for a touchdown in Sunday's victory against Tampa Bay. WR/LB Lamont Moore had TD returns of 10 and 18 yards, while DS Calvin Coleman recorded a 37-yard interception return for a TD. The only other time in Arena Football League history when this occurred was on June 7, 1996 by the Arizona Rattlers at the Minnesota Fighting Pike, featuring a 51-yard TD return by Henry Milton, a six-yard return by Richard Holt and a 33-yard return by Herb Duncan.
* LAMONT MOORE NAMED AFL'S ADT DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: VooDoo WR/LB Lamont Moore has been selected as the AFL's Week 5 ADT Defensive Player of the Week. Moore (6-0, 195, Baylor), who is in his fourth AFL season, led New Orleans defensively, recording two of the VooDoo's three AFL record-tying three interception returns for TDs. On Tampa's first offensive play, Moore returned a Shane Stafford pass 10 yards into the end zone to give New Orleans a 14-0 lead. In the third quarter, Moore had his second return for a TD, picking off a Stafford pass for an 18-yard score. Moore also recovered a New Orleans onside kick and had an assisted tackle in the game. Moore is the team's third leading receiver with 10 grabs for 98 yards and is among the defensive leaders with 6.5 tackles, two interceptions, two passes defensed and two fumble recoveries. This is the first time Moore has received this honor.
* PROTECTING THE BALL: One of the primary reasons for the VooDoo's 3-0 start is their proficiency in preventing turnovers and taking advantage of opportunities for takeaways. The VooDoo defense has forced nine turnovers, while the VooDoo offense has surrendered only six turnovers. New Orleans' +3 turnover differential is tied for fifth in the AFL. This week's opponent, Detroit, is ranked last with a -8 differential.
* WHAT A RUSH: For the fifth consecutive game, FB/LB Dan Curran rushed for a touchdown. One of the VooDoo's first acquisitions in the offseason, Curran was signed by the VooDoo from the Georgia Force, where he established himself the past two seasons as one of the AFL's top fullbacks. Curran is currently the second leading rusher in the Arena Football League with 26 carries for 102 yards with a league-high nine TDs. The University of New Hampshire product is also tied for 12th in the AFL in scoring among non-kickers with 54 points. The AFL record for rushing TDs is held by Bernard Hall of the St. Louis Stampede, who scored 26 in 1996. Curran is currently on pace to break that record. Curran has scored 22 touchdowns in his four-year AFL career.
* DEFENSE NEVER RESTS: The VooDoo defense is currently ranked third in the Arena Football League's National Conference, composed of teams from the league's Southern and Eastern divisions. New Orleans has been led by a strong pass defense that has only surrendered 229.6 passing yards in its first five games and is ranked first in the conference. Even more impressive: The VooDoo secondary is manned by two first-time starters in Monty Montgomery and Chris Pointer. Montgomery, a five-year NFL veteran, has quickly adjusted to the indoor game, recording 24.5 tackles, one interception and six passes defensed. Pointer, who competed for a roster spot in training camp with the Carolina Panthers in 2003, currently leads VooDoo defenders with 29.5 tackles.
* IMPACT PLAYER: OS Aaron Bailey has made an immediate impact on the VooDoo offense. Bailey, a four-year AFL veteran who came to the VooDoo from the San Jose SaberCats after spending his first two seasons playing under VooDoo coach Mike Neu in Carolina, is among the AFL's leading receivers. Through five games Bailey has 29 receptions for 431 yards with nine TDs. For his efforts, Bailey was selected the Baby Ruth Player of the Game for four of five games this season, including last Sunday's contest against Tampa Bay when he had five receptions for 92 yards with two TDs. Bailey is on pace to surpass his finest AFL season, when he caught 89 balls for 1,102 yards and 18 TDs under Neu with the Carolina Cobras in 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: QB John Fitzgerald has been a steadying presence to the VooDoo offense, completing 77-of-159 passes for 996 yards, with 16 TD passes and three interceptions. The fourth-year veteran has played his best when it matters most, as he has posted a third down passer rating of 122.5, which ranks first in the AFL. On third-down plays, Fitzgerald has completed 19-of-32 passes for 241 yards and six TD passes.
* PHOTOS AVAILABLE TO MEDIA: Action photos of the Orleans VooDoo are available for use by local, opponent and national media by contacting Justin Macione of VooDoo media Relations at (504) 731-1848 or at macionej@saints.nfl.com.
* VooDoo ON THE AIRWAVES: 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 TV programs throughout the 2004 season.
Every VooDoo game will be broadcast on WWL 870-AM or WSMB 1350-AM. The Voice of the VooDoo, Chris Kenyon, will handle the play-by-play. Selected Saints coaches, players, front office personnel and local media personalities will serve as color analysts. WDSU Sports Director Rich Lenz will be the color commentator for this Sunday's game, which will be broadcast on WSMB. WWL will broadcast The Mike Neu Show with VooDoo Head Coach Mike Neu each Tuesday from 9-10 pm as Kenyon and WWL's Kenny Wilkerson co-host. Fans can call into the show or submit questions for Coach Neu through the club's official web site, GoVooDoo.com.
Ten of the VooDoo's 16 regular season games are scheduled to be telecast by NBC (WDSU-TV 6 in New Orleans). Cox Sports Television will telecast the remaining six VooDoo games on regional cable, with each telecast starting with a 30-minute pre-game show, including this Friday's game against Detroit. Todd Kalas will handle play by play, Saints TE Boo Williams will serve as color analyst and Harry McCulla will handle sideline duties. Cox will air Inside VooDoo with Mike Neu, a 30-minute show, each week. Inside VooDoo with Mike Neu will air this week on Thursday, Mar. 11 from 5:30-6 pm.
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