Nighthawks Open On The Road As They Take On The Mountain Lions
Published on September 25, 2012 under United Football League (UFL 1)
Omaha Nighthawks News Release
Game: 1
Omaha at Sacramento
Raley Field
Friday, Sept. 28, 2012
Kickoff: 8 p.m. (PDT)
Radio: KOZN (1620AM)
TV: CBS Sports Network
2012 Nighthawks Schedule
Date Opponent Time/Score
9.28 at Sacramento 10 p.m. CDT
10.3 at Vegas 8 p.m. CDT
10.12 Virginia 6 p.m. CDT
10.17 Las Vegas 8 p.m. CDT
10.23 Sacramento 8 p.m. CDT
10.31 at Vegas 8 p.m. CDT
11.9 at Virginia 8:30 p.m. CST
11.16 Virginia 6 p.m. CST
2012 UFL Standings
Team W-L Pct.
Las Vegas 0-0 .000
Omaha 0-0 .000
Sacramento 0-0 .000
Virginia 0-0 .000
This Week's Games
9.26 Virginia at Las Vegas, 9 p.m. EDT
9.28 Omaha at Sacramento, 11 p.m. EDT
Last Week's Results
N/A
Game Day Information
Gates open at 6 p.m.
THE GAME
For the first time in franchise history, the Nighthawks will open their season on the road as they take on the Sacramento Mountain Lions at Raley Field. The action begins at 8 p.m. Pacific Time with live broadcasts on KOZN (1620 The Zone) and CBS Sports Network (Cox channel 234). A live stream of the radio broadcast will be available online at 1620thezone.com. Radio play-by-play will be provided by Gary Sharp, with color commentary by Mike'l Severe. Howard David will provide play-by-play coverage for the television broadcast, with analysis by Jaime Dukes and sideline reporting by Jackie Montgomery.
This week's game kicks off the Nighthawks' third season of professional football. This is the United Football League's fourth year of play.
THE SERIES
The Nighthawks' only victory of the 2011 season was on the road against the Mountain Lions. In that game, Omaha squeaked by with field goal in the final seconds of the fourth quarter to win 33-30. The Nighthawks later lost to Sacramento 25-19 in Omaha in the final game of the 2011 season. The Nighthawks also had a split record against Sacramento in 2010, first beating the Mountain Lions 20-17 at home but later falling 41-3 in California.
THE MISSION
The Omaha Nighthawks will endeavor to produce a great football organization that will be a credit to the Omaha community and the United Football League. We will strive to provide our city and region with a successful team that personifies qualities of integrity, sportsmanship and competitive respect for each other, our opponents and our fans. Our organization will provide an environment wherein our players, coaches, staff and partners can improve and enhance their personal careers and aspirations. We are all in it together. The right way. The Nighthawk way.
A FRESH START
The Nighthawks will be looking for their first winning season this year. The Nighthawks went 3-5 during the team's inaugural season in 2010 under head coach Jeff Jagodzinski. They finished with a 1-4 record for the shortened 2011 season under head coach Joe Moglia. Current head coach Bart Andrus, who took the reins this past spring, was the team's offensive coordinator during the 2011 season. Last season, Andrus developed an offensive team that led the league in total passing yards. He hopes to build on that success this year.
A WINNING COMBINATION
Nighthawks head coach Bart Andrus has put together a coaching staff with a combined total of more than 300 years of coaching experience and seven Super Bowl appearances. Furthermore, five of Andrus' assistant coaches were on his staff at Amsterdam in 2005, when the Admirals won the World Bowl (NFL Europe's championship game). Assistant to the head coach Don Lawrence, tight ends coach Robert Hunt, offensive line coach Ron Heller, defensive line coach Rex Norris and defensive backs coach Richard Kent are all hoping for another championship season under Andrus.
CANADIAN CONNECTION
Many players with NFL aspirations use the CFL to gain playing experience and get the attention of pro teams in the states. The UFL provides an alternative in which players can keep playing the American game in their home country. Many Nighthawks coaches including Bart Andrus, Ron Heller, Robert Hunt, Pete Kuharchek, Rex Norris and Richard Kent have CFL experience, which comes in handy when coaches are interested in the players coming in and out of Canada. Offensive coordinator Marcel Bellefeuille has made several coaching stops in the CFL, most recently in Hamilton, Ontario, where he served as the head coach of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats from 2009-2011. Quarterback Jason Boltus played for Bellefeuille in Hamilton from 2009-2011.
AN UNCONVENTIONAL START
Most professional teams have several weeks of training camp and a few preseason games under their belts before they suit up for the first game of the regular season. In contrast, the four teams of the United Football League had a little more than a week to prepare for their season openers. Still, the Nighthawks coaching staff committed themselves to putting a great product on the field for the first game. "We can't control what the other team does," head coach Bart Andrus said during the first team meeting. "But we can control what we do and how we play."
YOUNG AND HUNGRY
Scan the date of birth column on the Nighthawks roster, and it's easy to see what the coaches were going for when they assembled this year's team. Approximately two-thirds of the players were born in 1987 or later. Many of them have attended NFL training camps or appeared on NFL practice rosters, but haven't seen much playing time since college. That gives them extra motivation to perform on the field this season, as they have the opportunity to get noticed. That said, there is a wealth of potential on the roster, as indicated by the college football rsums of many of the players. Antonio Fenelus (2012 Wisconsin graduate and two-time first team All-Big Ten selection), Marcus Harris (All-American wide receiver and kick returner at Murray State) and GJ Kinne (2012 Tulsa graduate with more than 9,400 career passing yards) will all be guys to watch this season.
VALUABLE VETERANS
With so many new names on the roster, the Nighthawks' returning players have proven extra valuable this season. Nighthawks veterans such as Stuart Schweigert, Jay Moore, DeMarcus Faggins and Dan Gay have taken it upon themselves to make sure the newer, less experienced guys learn the ropes and become productive members of the team.
ALL-TIME UFL OPENING WEEKENDS
2009 - Oct. 8, 2009 - Las Vegas Locomotives 30, California Redwoods 17 (at
Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas, Nevada)
2009 - Oct. 10, 2009 - Florida Tuskers 35, New York Sentinels 13 (at Florida
Citrus Bowl, Orlando, Florida)
2010 - Sept. 18, 2010 - Hartford Colonials 27, Sacramento Mountain Lions 10
(at Rentschler Field, East Hartford, Conn.)
2010 - Sept. 18, 2010 - Florida Tuskers 27, Las Vegas Locomotives 20 (at Sam
Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas, Nev.)
2011 - Sept. 15, 2011 - Virginia Destroyers 23, Omaha Nighthawks 13 (at TD Ameritrade Park, Omaha, Neb.)
2011 - Sept. 17, 2011 - Las Vegas Locomotives 23, Sacramento Mountain Lions 17 (at Hornet Stadium, Sacramento, Calif.)
2012 OMAHA NIGHTHAWKS PRONOUNCIATION GUIDE
Bart Andrus AND-russ
Marcel Bellefeuille BELL-fay
Pete Kuharchek Kah-HAR-check
GJ Kinne KIN-nee
Antonio Fenelus Fen-ELL-us
Cory Ohnesorge O-nez-ORG-ah
DeMarcus Faggins FAY-ghins
Brandon Akpunku ACK-a-POON-koo
Schuylar Oordt SKY-ler ORT
Aaron Pflugrad FLEW-grad
Franklin Okam OAK-um
Nicholas Saenz SINES
2012 NIGHTHAWKS COACHING STAFF
Bart Andrus Head Coach
Marcel Bellefeuille Offensive Coordinator/Wide Receivers
Pete Kuharchek Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers
Don Lawrence Assistant to the Head Coach
Russ Purnell Special Teams
Ron Heller Offensive Line
Rex Norris Defensive Line
Richard Kent Defensive Backs
Mike Morand Defensive Quality Control
Robert Hunt Tight Ends
Steve Heimann Running Backs
Travis Andrus Special Teams Quality Control
James Kerwin Head Strength Coach
Tom Lechtenberg Head Athletic Trainer
2012 COACHES' BIOS
Bart Andrus, Head Coach
Bart Andrus returns to Omaha for his second season with the Nighthawks after serving as the team's offensive coordinator for the 2011 season. Andrus has more than 30 years of coaching experience and has coached in five championship games at the professional level. Prior to joining the Nighthawks, Andrus spent one season as the head coach of the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League in 2009. From 2001 to 2007, he served as the head coach of the Amsterdam Admirals of NFL Europe, leading the team to two World Bowl championship berths. In 2005, Andrus was named NFL Europe Coach of the Year after the Admirals won their first championship title in franchise history. He spent a total of four seasons with the Tennessee Titans as a quarterbacks coach and offensive assistant, helping former NFL great Steve McNair lead the team all the way to Super Bowl XXXIV. Andrus also enjoyed great success at the collegiate level, culminating with the 1996 NAIA Coach of the Year Award.
Marcel Bellefeuille, Offensive Coordinator/Wide Receivers
Marcel Bellefeuille comes to Omaha following a successful 15-plus-year career in Canada. Most recently, Bellefeuille served as the head coach of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League from 2009-2011. During that time, he led the Tiger-Cats to three playoff appearances and their first playoff victory in 10 years. He also has served as the offensive coordinator for the Montreal Alouettes and the Saskatchewan Roughriders. During his tenure at the University of Ottawa, Bellefeuille coached the Gee-Gees to a national championship title in 2000.
Pete Kuharchek, Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers
Pete Kuharchek returns for his second season with the Nighthawks, having served as the team's defensive backs coach in 2011. He brings more than 40 years of coaching experience to Omaha. During his ten seasons as an assistant coach and head coach in NFL Europe, Kuharchek earned a reputation as one of the best defensive coaches in league history. As the defensive coordinator for the Rhein Fire, Kuharchek won two World Bowl titles. He later took over head coaching duties for the Fire and led the team to two World Bowl appearances in five seasons. Kuharchek also has coached for the Tampa Bay Storm of the Arena Football League (2006 and 2008) as well as the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League (2009).
Russ Purnell, Special Teams Coordinator
Russ Purnell has more than 40 years of coaching experience. After beginning his coaching career at the high school and collegiate levels, he joined the Seattle Seahawks staff in 1986 as an assistant tight ends and special teams coach. Since then, he has coached for the Tennessee Titans, the Baltimore Ravens, the Indianapolis Colts and, most recently, the Jacksonville Jaguars. He won two Super Bowl rings as a special teams coach, with Baltimore in 2000 and with Indianapolis in 2006.
Don Lawrence, Assistant to the Head Coach
Don Lawrence's career in football spans more than 50 years. He played three years for the Washington Redskins before beginning his coaching career at the collegiate level. He spent three seasons as Virginia's head coach (1971-1973) and also served as an assistant on the coaching staffs at Kansas State and Missouri. At the professional level, Lawrence is one of the most accomplished coaches on the Nighthawks staff. As a tight ends coach for the Buffalo Bills in the 1990s, Lawrence coached in four-straight Super Bowls. He also coached in four-straight World Bowls with the Frankfurt Galaxy and the Amsterdam Admirals of NFL Europe. He served as the offensive line coach for the Nighthawks during the 2011 season.
Gene Dahlquist, Quarterbacks
Gene Dahlquist has more than 30 years of collegiate coaching experience at top football programs across the country. He spent six seasons from 1992-1997 as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at the University of Texas, where he helped produce some of the best offenses in Texas history en route to three conference championships. Dahlquist previously held the same coaching position at Illinois, where he twice saw his offense lead the league in passing and helped the team secure four bowl game appearances in four years. As the offensive coordinator at Boise State, Dahlquist helped the Broncos capture five Big Sky Conference titles, along with a Division I-AA national championship title in 1980. Dahlquist also has coached at Idaho State, Utah, Oregon, Iowa State and the University of Nevada-Las Vegas. After leaving the collegiate ranks, Dahlquist spent three seasons as the head coach of the Scottish Claymores of NFL Europe from 2001-2003. Since then, he has lent his expertise to Football University and has served as an NFL personnel consultant.
Steve Heimann, Running Backs
Steve Heimann returns to Omaha for his second season with the Nighthawks. He was an offensive quality control/assistant quarterbacks coach during the 2011 season. Heimann previously served as the tight ends coach at Nebraska Wesleyan University and was promoted to special teams coordinator before accepting his position with the Nighthawks. He coached defensive backs for the Nebraska Bears indoor professional football team in 2005.
Robert Hunt, Tight Ends
Robert Hunt returns for his second season with the Nighthawks after serving as an assistant offensive line/quality control coach in 2011. Hunt played briefly for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the New Orleans Saints, the Frankfurt Galaxy of NFL Europe and the New York/New Jersey Hitmen of the XFL before starting his coaching career in 2005 as an intern with the Amsterdam Admirals of NFL Europe. From 2007-2008, Hunt served as the offensive line and run game coordinator at Howard University. He then spent one season as the tight ends/offensive quality control coach for the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League in 2009. He was an offensive line coach at Bridgewater College in 2010.
Ron Heller, Offensive Line
Ron Heller spent 12 seasons as a starting tackle in the NFL, playing for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Philadelphia Eagles and the Miami Dolphins. He began his coaching career in 2004 as an assistant offensive line/tight ends coach for the Amsterdam Admirals of NFL Europe. In subsequent seasons with the Admirals, he was promoted to offensive line coach and offensive coordinator. He spent one year as the offensive line coach for the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League in 2009 before accepting a position as an offensive assistant with the Jacksonville Jaguars. He coached in Jacksonville for two seasons, 2010 and 2011.
Rex Norris, Defensive Line
Rex Norris brings more than 40 years of college and NFL coaching experience to the Nighthawks staff. After playing linebacker in college, Norris began his coaching career and quickly moved up the collegiate coaching ranks with stints at Texas A&M, Oklahoma and Arizona State. He later spent time at Florida, Tennessee and Texas. In the NFL, Norris has coached for the Detroit Lions, the Denver Broncos, the Tennessee Titans and the Chicago Bears. In 2004, he joined the Amsterdam Admirals of NFL Europe as a defensive line coach and helped lead the team to a 2005 World Bowl victory. He also spent one season with the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League in 2009.
Richard Kent, Defensive Backs
Richard Kent returns to Omaha for his second season after coaching special teams for the Nighthawks in 2011. He spent 16 seasons coaching at the collegiate level before moving to NFL Europe, where he filled a variety of roles as a coach, personnel director and scout. Kent reached the World Bowl four times, winning titles in 2002 with the Berlin Thunder and in 2005 with the Amsterdam Admirals. He served as a secondary coach for the Toronto Argonauts for one season in 2009.
Mike Morand, Defensive Quality Control
Mike Morand returns to Omaha for his second season with the Nighthawks after serving as an assistant wide receivers/quality control coach during the 2011 season. Morand brings with him 12 years of college coaching experience, and he spent half of those as an offensive coordinator. His coaching stops include North Carolina A&T, Virginia Union, Virginia State, Wingate, Barber-Scotia, Livingstone and West Georgia. In 2009, he completed an NFL coaching internship with the Houston Texans. He attended training to become a head coach with the NCAA Expert Coaches Forum in 2008 and the NCAA Coaches Academy in 2009. From 1996-1999, Morand played quarterback at Florida A&M University, where he was coached by the legendary Billy Joe, the fourth winningest head coach in NCAA Division I history.
Travis Andrus, Special Teams Quality Control
Travis Andrus, the son of head coach Bart Andrus, makes his coaching debut this season after playing football at the University of Montana.
United Football League Stories from September 25, 2012
- Nighthawks Open On The Road As They Take On The Mountain Lions - Omaha Nighthawks
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