Sports stats

New Orleans VooDoo News and Notes

May 14, 2004 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
New Orleans VooDoo News Release


• VooDoo STAND AT FIFTH IN WEEKLY POLL: Despite a loss to the Orlando Predators last weekend, the VooDoo's 9-4 start has impressed the Arena Football League Writers Association enough to have them ranked at #5 in the weekly writers poll. The weekly poll, which is based on a vote of AFLWA members, ranks the top eight teams in the AFL. The AFLWA is a national organization made up of media members who cover the AFL. New Orleans received 97 votes.

• VooDoo HAVE A CHANCE TO CLINCH PLAYOFF BERTH ON SATURDAY: The VooDoo will have an opportunity to clinch a spot in the Arena Football League playoffs this Saturday with a win over the Georgia Force .

• QB JERMAINE ALFRED SIGNED FROM PRACTICE SQUAD; QB JOHN RAYBORN PLACED ON INJURED RESERVE: VooDoo QB John Rayborn was placed on injured reserve on May 12. Rayborn, who appeared in relief of QB John Fitzgerald in Sunday's contest vs. Orlando, suffered a ruptured right Achilles tendon in the third quarter of the game. He will miss the remainder of the 2004 season. To take Rayborn's place on the active roster, QB Jermaine Alfred was signed from the practice squad. Alfred was on the active roster for the first 10 games of the season, serving as the backup to John Fitzgerald, a role which he will reprise again starting in the VooDoo's contest against Georgia on May 15.

• VooDoo MILESTONES: The following individual marks could be set by VooDoo players this Saturday vs. the Georgia Force:

OS Aaron Bailey needs 12 receptions to exceed his career-high of 89 set in 2002 with the Carolina Cobras. Bailey needs five receptions to reach 250 for his career. Bailey needs three touchdown catches to reach 30 for the season.

OL/DL B.J. Cohen needs one touchdown reception for 10 in his career. Cohen needs one forced fumble to surpass his prior career-high of 3 in 2001 with the Orlando Predators.

QB John Fitzgerald needs two touchdown passes to reach 50 for the season. Fitzgerald needs three touchdown passes to reach the mark of 100 for his career.

FB/LB Dan Curran needs 24 yards to reach the 300-yard mark for the season. Curran is currently the AFL's leading rusher with 276 yards and 18 touchdowns through 13 games. Last year's leading rusher in the AFL, Los Angeles's Chad Dukes, ran for 223 yards in 14 games. San Jose's Barry Wagner scored 18 rushing touchdowns in 16 games last season to lead the AFL. With two touchdowns, Curran will have 20 for the season, becoming the fourth player in AFL history to reach that mark. Curran needs one touchdown for 30 in his career.

OL/DL Tim Martin needs one reception to tie his career-high total of five in 2003 with the Dallas Desperados. Martin has already set a career high with two TD receptions.

• 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 television 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 and front office personnel will serve as color analysts. Saints tight ends coach Bob Palcic will handle color for the Georgia match up. Saturday's game 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.

Up to 10 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 most of the remaining VooDoo games on regional cable with each telecast starting with a 30-minute pre-game show. This Saturday's contest amongst New Orleans and Georgia will be broadcast on Cox Sports TV. Lyn Rollins will handle the play by play and Harry McCulla will handle sideline reporting duties. Saints QB Aaron Brooks will handle color for the upcoming game as a guest analyst. 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, May 13 from 5:30-6 pm and will be replayed on Saturday, May 15 at 6-6:30 pm.



Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from May 14, 2004


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.

Other Recent New Orleans VooDoo Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central