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New York Dragons game notes

February 15, 2005 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
New York Dragons News Release


Quick Facts

Nashville Kats (1-2) at New York Dragons (1-1)
Date: Saturday • February 19, 2005
Kickoff: 7:00 PM (EST)
Site: Nassau Coliseum (12,985)
Officials: Referee: David Lambros, Umpire: Al Granado, Head Linesman: Mike McCabe, Line Judge: Brian Matthew, Back Judge: David Cutaia
TV: FSNY – Peter Schwartz (play-by-play) and Jesse Palmer (analyst)
Radio: 1560 Radio Disney WQEW – Paul Dottino (play-by-play) and Wayne Morris (analyst)
Series Record: New York leads 3 games to 1
Series Streak: Nashville +1
Last Regular Season Meeting:
Nashville 63, Iowa Barnstormers 56
Gaylord Entertainment Center • Nashville, TN
August 6, 2000
Coaches:
Nashville • Pat Sperduto (All-Time: 33-20)
New York • Weylan Harding (All-Time: 1-1)

DRAGONS 2005 SCHEDULE
DATE OPPONENT TIME RESULT
January 26-28 BYE --- ---
February 6 DALLAS 1:00 W 55-45
February 11 at Las Vegas 10:00 L 41-37
February 19 NASHVILLE 7:00
February 27 ARIZONA 3:00
March 6 at Philadelphia 12:00
March 12 GEORGIA 7:00
March 19 at Austin 4:00
March 26 at Columbus 7:00
April 2 CHICAGO 7:00
April 10 at Los Angeles 3:00
April 15 at Orlando 7:30
April 24 PHILADELPHIA 1:00
April 29 at Dallas 8:30
May 7 COLUMBUS 7:00
May 15 at Tampa Bay 1:00
May 21 COLORADO 7:00

NATIONAL EASTERN STANDINGS

TEAM W-L PCT HOME AWAY DIV CONF
1. PHI 2-1 .667 1-0 1-1 0-0 1-0
1. DAL 2-1 .667 2-0 0-1 1-1 1-1
3. NYD 1-1 .500 1-0 0-1 1-0 1-0
4. CMB 0-2 .000 0-1 0-1 0-1 0-1

Game Preview

After a disappointing loss against Las Vegas last week, the Dragons return home to start a two-game home stand. The team looks to start some momentum at home against Nashville. This will be the first time these two squads have met since the Kats went into hibernation after 2001.

Last Regular Season Meeting Recap

The last time these two franchises met was when the Dragons were the Iowa Barnstormers and the Kats were on their first "life." The meeting occurred in the 2000 Playoffs when Nashville knocked Iowa out of the playoffs in the second round on August 6 by a score of 63-56. The Barnstormers defeated the Kats in the 2000 regular season 56-31 on June 30.

dragons/NASHVILLE all-time

DATE H/A SCORE W/L
June 22, 1998 A 46-43 W/OT
June 5, 1999 H 64-63 W
June 30, 2000 A 56-31 W
August 6, 2000 H 63-56 L

Last Week

After winning their first game in Week Two, the Dragons fell to the Las Vegas Gladiators 41-37 in their first road game of the season in Week Three. Markeith Cooper returned the opening kickoff for a 57-yard touchdown, but Las Vegas QB Rod Robinson scored on the ground with four seconds remaining to seal the victory for the Gladiators.

Next Week

The Dragons welcome an old friend as former head coach Todd Shell and the Arizona Rattlers come to town. Shell spent a year and a half at the Dragons helm, guiding the team to two Eastern Division Championships. The Rattlers enter Week Four minus starting QB Sherdrick Bonner who is on Injured Reserve and a 1-2 record.

The IF's

If the Dragons defeat Nashville it would...

· Give the Dragons a 2-1 record to start the season.
· Give the Dragons a 2-0 home record at the Nassau Coliseum for the first time.
· Give the franchise a 2-0 home record for the fourth time.
· Give the franchise its 85th regular season victory.
· Give the Dragons their 41st victory since moving to Long Island in 2001.
· Give QB Aaron Garcia his 51st victory with the franchise and his 26th with the Dragons.
· Give the Dragons an all-time record of 1-0 verses the Nashville Kats.

Dragons 2005 Record When/Versus

At the Home 1-0 Opponents Score First 0-0
On the Road 0-1 Ahead at Half 1-1
Friday 0-1 Tied at Half 0-0
Saturday 0-0 Behind at Half 0-0
Sunday 1-0 Ahead after 3 Quarters 1-1
February 1-1 Tied after 3 Quarters 0-0
March 0-0 Behind after 3 Quarters 0-0
April 0-0 Outcome 7 pts or less 0-1
May 0-0 Outcome 3 pts or less 0-0
National Conference 1-0 Outcome 7 pts or more 1-1
Eastern Division 1-0 Outcome 3 pts or more 0-0
Southern Division 0-0 Overtime 0-0
American Conference 0-1 Plus turnover margin 1-1
Central Division 0-0 Even turnover Margin 0-0
Western Division 0-1 Minus Turnover Margin 0-0
Score First 1-1

Dragons' Practice Schedule

Monday (2/14/05): Film
Tuesday (2/15/05): 10:45 -12:45 at Practice Facility
Wednesday (2/16/05): 10:45 - 12:45 at Practice Facility
Thursday (2/17/05): 10:45-12:45 at Practice Facility
Friday (2/18/05): Walk through – Time TBD

To confirm the Dragons' practice schedule or to receive directions, please contact Corey Witt at 516-501-6841.

Notes From the Dragons' Lair

TEDDY BEAR TOSS:
Nassau Coliseum will be raining Teddy Bears this week. When the Dragons score their first touchdown of the second half, fans are asked to throw new, unwrapped Teddy Bears on the field. The end result figures to be a sight never before seen at a professional football game.
The collected Teddy Bears will be donated to the John Theissen Children's Foundation. Fans that are unable to bring bears can purchase them on the concourse for a $2 donation to the JTCF. For more information, logon to www.newyorkdragons.com.

NASHVILLE CONNECTIONS:
Nashville has two former Dragons from last season on their roster. Kicker Gary Kral and WR/LB Cosmo DeMatteo (Injured Reserve) are both a member of the expansion Kats. Two Kats went to high school in the New York-area: WR/DB Angel Estrada (John F. Kennedy High School in the Bronx) and OL/DL Joe Minucci (St. Anthony's High School). Dragons Head Coach Weylan Harding played for the Iowa Barnstormers (1995-1996) and the original Nashville Kats (1999).

FOX SPORTS NET:
As part of a new partnership between the network and the AFL, the Dragons will be on Fox Sports Net this season. Bob Wischusen will call the play-by-play for the majority of the games as he did in 2002. This year he will be joined by the NFL's Defensive Rookie of the Year for 2004, New York Jets LB Jonathan Vilma. The former Miami Hurricane will make his broadcasting debut on the FSN broadcast of the March 12th game vs. Georgia. This week, the announcing crew with consist of radio play-by-play telecaster Peter Schwartz and New York Giants QB Jesse Palmer with color commentary. This will be Schwartz' television debut. ESPN 1050 reporter Paul Dottino will fill in with play-by-play for Schwartz on the radio, which will be broadcasted on Radio Disney 1560 AM.

GARCIA PASSES BONNER, SECOND IN ALL-TIME PASSING YARDS:
Dragons QB Aaron Garcia enters his 11th AFL season as one of the League's top passers. He remains first all-time with 642 touchdowns and moved ahead of Sherdrick Bonner to second in all-time passing yards with 30,955. Garcia remains fourth all-time with 2,403 completions.
The All-Arena QB is now only eight touchdowns away from being the first person to each the 650 plateau. Last year on May 16 at Los Angeles, he went over 30,000 passing yards. On April 18 vs. the Colorado Crush, Garcia became the first professional football player to throw for 600 career touchdowns.

Aaron Garcia All-Time Rankings:
Rank TDs Yardage Completions
1st Aaron Garcia642 Andy Kelly34,006 Andy Kelly2,958
2nd AndyKelly640 Aaron Garcia30,980 Sherdrick Bonner2,477
3rd Sherdrick Bonner 618 Sherdrick Bonner30,820 Clint Dolezel2,478
4th Clint Dolezel589 Clint Dolezel 29,633 Aaron Garcia2,404

BILLY THE KID:
Rookie DS Billy Parker is certainly making waves in the Dragons Lair. In his first two AFL games, Parker has recorded three interceptions and ADT Defensive Player of the Games in both contests. Quarterbacks beware, Parker is proving to be a defensive gem in the backfield.

FAST AND FURIOUS:
In their first two games, the Dragons have received the ball first and scored on their opening drive. WR/LB Mike Horacek scored on a 19-yard pass from QB Aaron Garcia in Week Two and OS Markeith Cooper returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown in Week Three.


COLISEUM MADNESS:
For the second consecutive season the Dragons set a new single-game franchise attendance record. The organization started off the 2005 season with a packed house of 14,925, which is the complete Arena Football capacity for the Nassau Coliseum.

STANDING TALL:
At 5 foot 6 inches tall, OS Markeith Cooper holds the distinction of being the shortest athlete in professional football. Quick on his feet, Cooper's first position was halfback. However, he switched to wide receiver while in his junior season in college.

LIVING YOUNG:
In the off-season the Dragons hired a defensive-minded head coach, who also happens to be the youngest in professional football. Weylan Harding enters the 2005 season at 33 years old, 23 months and four days younger than the second-youngest head coach – New Orleans's Mike Neu. However, Harding does not hold the distinction of being the youngest coach in league history. That honor goes to Kevin Guy of the 2000 New Jersey Red Dogs. Guy was 27 years old.

TEAM COACH DOB AGE
NYD Harding 1/5/1972 33
NOV Neu 12/9/1970 34
LAA Hodgkiss 10/23/1970 34
GRR McEwen 4/28/1968 36
ORL Gruden 3/4/1967 37

ORIGINAL DRAGONS:
FB/LB Chin Achebe and QB Aaron Garcia are New York Dragons thick and thin. The duo are the only two that have played with the team for each of its first five seasons on Long Island. Both Achebe and Garcia made the move when the Iowa Barnstormers relocated to New York prior to the 2001 season.
Achebe has spent each of his six AFL seasons with the franchise as he made his league debut as a Barnstormer in 2000. Garcia was traded to Iowa from New Jersey on June 2, 1998 for WR/DB Chris Spencer and OL/DL John Dixon. This is Garcia's 11th AFL season and eighth with the franchise.

OS Kevin Swayne has been the property of the Dragons for all five seasons, however he spent two seasons on the exempt list from 2002-2004. After a successful 2001 campaign, he was signed by the NFL's New York Jets and stayed there for three seasons. He returned to the Dragons mid-way through the 2004 season. Swayne also suited up for the Barnstormers from 1998-1999.

WR/LB Mike Horacek is the only other player to have played for both the Barnstormers and the Dragons. From 1997 to 2000, Horacek split time as a WR/DB and an OS with Iowa. He was the AFL's Offensive Player of the Year in 2000, his last with the team until he was selected in 2004 Dispersal Draft. The 2005 season will be his first with the Dragons, but fifth with the franchise.

ARENA-BRED COACHES:
The Dragons are one of two teams in the league this season to have their entire coaching staff comprised of former AFL players. They share the distinction with the Philadelphia Soul. In total, the Dragons coaching staff has a combined 22 years of AFL playing experience and another combined 14-plus years as coaches.

Players to Watch

THREE FIRE BREATHIN' DRAGONS:
QB Aaron Garcia: One of the most prolific passers in the history of the AFL always gives his team a chance to win. He struggled in Week Three, so looks for him bounce back against Nashville in front of the home crowd.

OS Markeith Cooper: Cooper is still trying to find his place within the offense, but he found a niche returning kickoffs. Last week he returned the opening kickoff for a 57-yard touchdown. He finished the game with a team-high 78 all-purpose yards.

DS Billy Parker: Parker might be an AFL rookie, but he's playing like one of the top defensive specialists in the league. Coming off a two interception performance, Parker has been a bright spot in the Dragons defense. If he was on the winning side against Las Vegas, he would have been a favorite to win the ADT Defensive Player of the Week honors.


Inside the Headset

Every Monday, Dragons head coach Weylan Harding lets the fans get inside his head set in an open question and answer forum. Here is a summary of last Monday's journal.

I was wondering if it is tough to utilize all the receivers you have and get them all involved in the game?

Harding: It is only a challenge in making sure we are playing to their particular strengths. Each man is potentially a go-to receiver on any play depending on what the defense gives us or what we choose to take advantage of.

When do you expect Kevin Swayne to return and how will you handle the use of all your high quality Offensive Specialists?

Harding: I hope to have him back soon but you can't rush the healing process so we're day to day. Because of the substitution rules, we have to be very creative and employ a two OS rotation which is common with teams that have a surplus of talent at this position.

How impressed are you with Billy Parker's play? So far, he seems like he's a stud!

Harding: Billy has probably had the best two game start of any DB I have seen. Considering he is totally new to arena his progress has been remarkable. It's key that he continues on this path.

For a full length copy of Inside the Headset, please contact Corey Witt or see a Dragons Media Relations Assistant.

Game Award Winners

Week 1:
Team did not play

Week 2:
Offensive POG: WR/LB Mike Horacek
US Army Ironman: WR/LB Mike Horacek
ADT Defensive POG: DS Billy Parker

Week 3:
ADT Defensive POG: DS Billy Parker

Dragons Transactions:

2/8/05: Signed WR/DB Chuck Wesley to the practice squad.
2/05/05: Placed OS Kevin Swayne on the injured reserve list.
2/01/05: Signed OL/DL Ufuoma Pela to the practice squad.
1/31/05: Signed WR/LB Latrez Harrison to the practice squad.
1/28/05: Signed QB Ronnie Gordon to the practice squad.
1/27/05: Waived FB/LB Jeremiah Pharms from the practice squad.
1/26/05: Signed WR/DB Yuichi Watanabe to the international practice squad.
1/25/05: Awarded FB/LB Jamaal Cherry off waivers. Placed OL/DL Clyde Sanders on the injured reserve list. Signed FB/LB Jeremiah Pharms to the practice squad.
1/24/05: Placed WR/DB Lamont Webb on the injured reserve list.
1/23/05: Waived DS Jerald Brown.
1/22/05: Waived OL/DL Andre Arnold, OL/DL David Ashkinaz, QB Kane Claunch, WR/DB Scott Cloman, DS Nate Coggins, QB Ronnie Gordon, WR/LB Latrez Harrison, OL/DL Kerry Linnear, OL/DL John McDermott, FB/LB Chris McIver and OL/DL Charles Missant.
1/21/05: Signed OL/DL Kerry Linnear, OL/DL Steve Scifres and WR/DB Lamont Webb.
1/20/05: Waived WR/DB Kenny Johnson and OL/DL Ufuoma Pela.
1/19/05: Signed WR/DB Kenny Johnson. Waived FB/LB Laurence Nolen.
1/18/05: Signed WR/DB Mutsumi Takahashi to the international practice squad.
1/13/05: Signed QB Ronnie Gordon, OL/DL Joe Laudano and FB/LB Chris McIver.
1/12/05: Signed OL/DL Charles Missant.
1/11/05: Signed OS Markeith Cooper. Waived OL/DL Jerry Turner.
1/09/05: Waived DS John Barnes, FB/LB Rashon Burns and FB/LB Derric Coackley.
1/05/05: Signed WR/DB Corey Johnson.
1/04/05: Placed WR/DB Lincoln Dupree and OL/DL Eric England on the refused-to-report list.

MILESTONES WITHIN REACH

Kevin Clemens 5 rushing yards shy of 100 for his career
Markeith Cooper 24 receiving yards shy of 2,000 for his career
Stacey Evans 8.0 tackles shy of 100.0 for his career
Aaron Garcia 8 touchdown passes shy of 650 for his career
Aaron Garcia 17 total touchdowns shy of 700 for his career
Mike Horacek 11 touchdowns shy of 150 for his career
Jermaine Miles 5.5 tackles shy of 50.0 for his career
Kevin Swayne 81 receiving yards shy of 5,000 for his career
Kevin Swayne 5 touchdown receptions shy of 100 for his career

MILESTONES REACHED in 2005

Weylan Harding Recorded his first win as a head coach vs. Dallas (2/6)
Stacey Evans Played in his 60th AFL game vs. Dallas (2/6)
Corey Johnson Recorded his 250th career tackle vs. Dallas (2/6)
Billy Parker Played in his first AFL game vs. Dallas (2/6)
Billy Parker Recorded his first AFL interception vs. Dallas (2/6)
Joe Laudano Played in his first AFL game vs. Dallas (2/6)
Jamaal Cherry Played in his first AFL game at Las Vegas (2/11)

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