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Orlando Predators game notes

March 23, 2004 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Orlando Predators News Release


Las Vegas (3-4) at Orlando (2-4)
Date: Saturday, March 27
Toe-to-Leather Time: 7:30 p.m.
Site: TD Waterhouse Centre (13,692)
Officials: Referee: Perry Havener; Umpire: Tom Laverty;
Head Linesman: Kelly Saalfeld; Line Judge: David Meslow;
Back Judge: Jim Anderson; Supervisor: Jim Lapetina
Radio: WFLA 540 (Tom Morgan and Dan Pearson)
TV: None
Streaks: Orlando has lost two games in a row; Las Vegas has lost one in a row.
Series Record: Orlando leads all-time series 3-2
Coaches: Orlando: Jay Gruden (7th season, 45-27, .625); Las Vegas: Frank Haege (3rd Season, 20-19, .513)


THE STAKES: Still smarting from the worst defeat in franchise history (15-58 vs. Chicago Rush), the Orlando Predators are faced with an almost "must-win" situation when they take on the Las Vegas Gladiators on Saturday, March 27 at the TD Waterhouse Centre. Kickoff is 7:30 p.m.

The game is extremely important to the Predators for several reasons. First, the Predators – at 2-4 – are a full game and half behind both New York and Georgia (4-3) who are currently tied for the eighth and final playoff spot. More importantly, there are four additional teams wedged between the Predators and those two teams. Orlando can ill-afford to fall too far behind in the standings, with the reduction in AFL playoff teams shrinking from 12 to eight this season. In addition, this week's opponent Las Vegas is one of those four teams currently wedged between the Predators and the eighth place teams.

Secondly, the Predators will be eager to break a two-game home losing streak. Orlando has lost consecutive home games just eight times since the 1991 season and would like to stop the slide on Saturday against the Gladiators. "We need to turn around the notion that teams should be able to walk in our building and beat us," Gruden said. "Our fans, which have been tremendously supportive, deserve better from us."

Orlando Predators (2-4-0) *All Times Eastern
Date Opponent W/L Score
Feb. 8 At Tampa Bay L 41-52
Feb. 13 Austin L (OT) 48-49
Feb. 28 At Carolina W 59-32
Mar. 6 Indiana W 50-38
Mar. 12 Georgia L 44-52
Mar. 21 At Chicago L 15-58
Mar. 27 Las Vegas 7:30 p.m.
Apr. 4 At Columbus 12 Noon
Apr. 9 New Orleans 7:30 p.m.
Apr. 18 At Georgia 3 p.m.
Apr. 25 Dallas 7:30 p.m.
May 2 Tampa Bay 3 p.m.
May 9 At New Orleans 3 p.m.
May 16 At Austin 3 p.m.
May 23 New York 3 p.m.
May 30 At Los Angeles 4 p.m.

Las Vegas (3-4-0)
Date Opponent Result Score
Feb. 6 At Colorado L 42-33
Feb. 14 Los Angeles L 55-62
Feb. 22 At Grand Rapids W 51-14
Feb. 29 New Orleans W 50-30
Mar. 7 At Georgia L 40-55
Mar. 14 Arizona W 65-64
Mar. 20 At San Jose L 62-79
Mar. 27 At Orlando
Apr. 4 Chicago
Apr. 10 At Arizona
Apr. 25 Detroit
May 2 Indiana
May 8 At Philadelphia
May 16 San Jose
May 22 At Los Angeles
May 30 Columbus

QUOTE/UNQUOTE
"It was one huge disaster. It seems we did not have one play last week where at least one person didn't miss an assignment. Every player on the team is embarrassed by the performance. We need to regroup and make sure it never happens again."

--QB Connell Maynor on last week's 58-15 loss

IMPORTANT NOTICE
PREDS MOVE TO 540 FOR SATURDAY
Due to a scheduling conflict, the Orlando Predators game will be moved to WFLA 540 AM on Saturday. Tom Morgan and Dan Pearson will be on the call with the pre-game show starting at 7 p.m.

PREDS HEAD COACH JAY GRUDEN
After spending the last two seasons as the team's quarterback, JAY GRUDEN returned to the bench as the team's head coach in 2004. Gruden began his coaching career in 1997, serving as offensive assistant for the Nashville Kats. One season later, the Predators made him the youngest head coach in the AFL. Gruden would go on to lead the Predators to three consecutive appearances in the ArenaBowl and a pair of championships. After guiding the Predators to a fourth consecutive trip to the playoffs, Gruden shocked the AFL world by announcing his intentions to resign in order to return to the playing field. In two seasons, Gruden directed the Predators to back-to-back appearances in the semifinals, falling one game short of his goal each season. In 2003, he recorded a 10-0 record with 49 touchdown passes and two interceptions as a starting quarterback during the regular season. Off-season surgery, combined with the tragic loss of former Head Coach Fran Papasedero in a June 19 traffic accident, resulted in Gruden returning to the sideline. Gruden will take a 45-27 (.625) all-time coaching record into the Georgia game. He is 37-25 in regular season games (.597) and 8-2 as a head coach in playoff games (.800).

ORLANDO PREDATORS
HEAD COACHING RECORDS
Coaches, Years Record Pct.
Jay Gruden, 1998-2001, 2004 45-27 .625
Fran Papasedero, 2002-03 22-13 .629
Perry Moss, 1991-97 67-31 .684
Las Vegas Head Coach Frank Haege
Although he is in only his third season as head coach of the Gladiators, Frank Haege brings a wealth of Arena Football experience with him into this match-up. Haege began his AFL career as defensive coordinator of the Minnesota Fighting Pike in 1996. He served two seasons as defensive coordinator of the New Jersey Red Dogs (1997-98), before becoming the team's offensive coordinator and assistant head coach in 1999. In the 2000-01 seasons, he was Head Coach and Director of Football Operations of the Quad City Steamrollers of the "arenafootball2" league. During his stint with the Steamrollers, he compiled a remarkable 37-1 record, won back-to-back league championships and posted a perfect season in 2000. He returned to New Jersey for the 2002 season, being named Head Coach of the New Jersey Gladiators. When the team moved to Las Vegas prior to the 2003 season, he moved with the team. Taking over a 2-12 team, he guided New Jersey to a 9-5 record and an Eastern Division title. Counting a 3-4 start this season, Haege is 20-19-0 as an AFL head coach and 57-20 overall as a head coach counting his "af2" stint with Quad Cities.

Quick Fact: Label this another one of those series that runs a lot deeper than Orlando's 3-1 series lead. Although they retained the same roster and played in the same building in New Jersey, the team opted to call itself an expansion franchise when they changed ownership and names (going from New Jersey Red Dogs to the New Jersey Gladiators) following the 2000 season. Orlando played the Red Dogs five times from 1997 to 2000, going 4-1 in those contests.

SERIES NOTES
Orlando leads the all-time series with the New Jersey/Las Vegas Gladiators, 3-1...Orlando defeated the Gladiators, 56-31, last season as Jay Gruden completed 15 of 26 passes for 169 yards, 5 touchdowns and one interception...Kenny McEntyre had two interceptions in that game and Glenn Davis added one as the defense forced four total turnovers...Connell Maynor was a perfect 4 for 4 for 44 yards and one touchdown and added a 25-yard run in mop-up duty for Gruden...Orlando dropped a 49-46 decision to New Jersey in a 2002 regular season, but got revenge in the playoffs, beating the Gladiators, 49-46, in one of the team's best played playoff games in recent memory...Lamont Moore forced the only turnover of the game, stripping a ball on a second half kickoff return that the Predators converted into a touchdown and a two-score lead in the 4th quarter...counting Saturday's game, four of the five contests have been played at the TD Waterhouse Centre in Orlando...when the five games played against the New Jersey Red Dogs are factored in (see note above), the Predators lead the all-time series 7-2.

ALL-TIME SERIES RESULTS
Las Vegas/New Jersey Gladiators (3-1)
Date ORL OPP
May 18, 2001 (H) 58 47
May 4, 2002 (H) 44 45
Aug. 3, 2002 (A) 49 46*
Apr. 20, 2003 (H) 56 31

New Jersey Red Dogs (4-1)
Date ORL OPP
July 6, 1997 (A) 45 33
August 8, 1997 (H) 45 37*
June 8, 1998 (H) 49 60
May 22, 1999 (A) 51 38 (ot)
April 15, 2000 (H) 38 21

*Indicates AFL Playoff Game

NO NBC FOR PREDS vs. COLUMBUS
The Arena Football League informed the Predators on Tuesday that their April 4 game at Columbus (1-6) was being dropped from consideration for NBC broadcast. Although the game will not be seen on television, fans can still tune in to WQTM 740 AM to listen to the game.

How The 2004 Predators Were Built
Retained From 2003 (9): Travis McGriff, Connell Maynor, Cory Fleming, Kenny McEntyre, Fred Ray, Justin Cleveland, EJ Burt, Doug Miller and Reggie Lee

Veteran Free Agents Signed (6): Bret Cooper, Rupert Grant, William Gaines, Cecil Caldwell, Jermaine Smith, and Sean Riley.

Obtained by Trade (2): James Bowden, Greg Krause

Rookie Free Agents (11): Idris Price, Jay Taylor, Joe Hamilton, Lin-J Shell, Marlon Moye-Moore, Arkee Thompson, Paul Young, Buck Gurley, Michael Brown.

Released/Traded Players No Longer on Roster:
Waived: Kevin McLeod, Antwuan Wyatt, Chris Sanders, Roy Stabler, Nate Bandy, Barry Hall, Anthony Bright, Tavares Jurineack, Joe Crear, Anthony McKenzie, Abdullah Wiggins, Paul Miranda, LaVar Glover, George Williams Traded: Thabiti Davis (Detroit)


PREDS NEWS, NOTES, TRENDS

McENTYRE LOOKS TO TIE/BREAK ALL-TIME
INTERCEPTION RECORD
With an interception two weeks ago against Georgia, Kenny McEntyre brought his career regular season total to 49. That moves him to within one interception of tying Durwood Roquemore for first place on the all-time AFL list for career picks. Roquemore played for three teams during his nine-year AFL career, including the Orlando Predators from 1991-96. McEntyre has almost matched Roquemore in just over five seasons of play (McEntyre played in just one regular season game in 1998). In addition, McEntyre has 10 post-season interceptions to give him 59 in just 94 career games. It is interesting to note that of the top five players in career interceptions, four have spent the majority of their playing career with the Predators.

AFL ALL-TIME LEADERS INTERCEPTIONS
Name No. Years With Preds
Durwood Roquemore 50 1987-96 1991-96
Kenny McEntyre 49 1998-04 1998-04
Barry Wagner 41 1992-04 1992-99 Tracey Perkins 37 1991-01 ---
Chris Barber 35 1992-00 1996-98

PREDATORS HURTING AT QUARTERBACK FOR LAS VEGAS GAME
Orlando Predators Head Coach Jay Gruden was forced into duty during Tuesday's practice, as both Joe Hamilton and Connell Maynor nursed injuries. Gruden threw balls to wide receivers during the workout, as he did not have either of his quarterbacks available.

Hamilton, who left Sunday's game with a strained knee, underwent an MRI Monday night. Head Trainer Kevin Mercuri said the tests revealed no significant damage, but said it would be a few days before Hamilton's status for Saturday's game with Las Vegas would be known.

Maynor had injured the wrist of his throwing hand in practice last week, but was able to relieve Hamilton and finish the game against Chicago. He received a cortisone shot on Tuesday morning but was unable to practice.

"Hopefully we'll have both these guys back real soon," Gruden said. "If not, we'll have to scramble and bring someone in here in the next day or two."

PREDATORS INJURY REPORT
Joe Hamilton QB Knee Questionable
Connell Maynor QB Left Wrist Questionable
Bret Cooper WR/DB Knee Probable
Justin Cleveland OL/DL Thumb Out
Michael Brown WR/DB Hamstring Out
Travis McGriff OS Hamstring Probable

McKIBBEN LOST FOR ONE GAME
In addition to the numerous injuries, the Predators will be without key lineman Josh McKibben on Saturday. After being waived by the Tampa Bay Bucs (NFL) during the pre-season, McKibben had to be coaxed out of retirement by Predators Head Coach Jay Gruden and signed after Week 2 of the regular season. Part of McKibben's deal with the Predators required the team to give him this weekend off. The reason? Wedding bells. McKibben and his fiancée Cari Hanchey had scheduled their wedding after he announced his retirement and before the deal with the Predators was signed.

McENTYRE IS TRUE IRONMAN
Kenny "The Glove" McEntyre has been one of the toughest competitors to ever wear a Predators uniform. Despite numerous injuries in his career, McEntyre has yet to miss a start since coming to the Predators in the tail end of the 1998 season. Counting the game against Chicago last week, McEntyre has now answered the bell for 94 consecutive games -- a team record.



PREDS LOOK FOR INSURANCE AT CENTER
OBTAIN FIREBIRD KRAUSE ON TRADE
Orlando obtained OL/DL Greg Krause on Tuesday in a trade with Indiana. Krause started all 16 games for the Mohegan Wolves (af2) last year and made the Firebirds roster but has not appeared in any games this season. Krause was acquired for his ability to play center, a position the Predators will need help at this week with the departure of McKibben for his wedding. To obtain Krause, the Predators traded the rights to DS Khalil Carter to Indiana. Carter left Predators pre-season camp this past January to sign an NFL contract with Buffalo. He remains with the Bills, but his Arena Football League rights switch from Orlando to Buffalo.

JERMAINE SMITH IS ON SACK PACE
With five quarterback sacks in his first six games, OL/DL Jermaine Smith is on pace to shatter the Orlando Predators single season record of 9.5 set last season by rookie EJ Burt. Smith's total of five has already tied Curtis Eason for the eighth most in a single season by a Predators player. Surprisingly. Burt has just one sack this season, dropping Sean Salisbury for a nine-yard loss last week. The single season list for most sacks in the regular season by a Predators player:

Player Year QS
1. EJ Burt 2003 9.5
2. Jerry Odon 1992 8
3. BJ Cohen 2000 6.5
4. Victor Hall 1994 6
Paul McGowan 1994 6
6. Paul McGowan 1997 5.5
Ernest Allen 2001 5.5
8. Jermaine Smith 2004 5*
Curtis Eason 2001 5

*Through five games

FLEMING KEEPS STING ALIVE
With his touchdown reception at the 5:28 mark of the fourth quarter WR/LB Cory Fleming has now caught at least one touchdown pass in 15 consecutive games with the Predators. Fleming has scored at least one touchdown in 21 of 23 career games with the Predators.

Quote of the Week - Part II
"Let's meet in Lakeland for a hug."

Message left on Tampa Bay's Tim Marcum's phone on Monday by Predators Head Coach Jay Gruden. Long-time perennial powers in the AFL, Tampa Bay and Orlando both lost last weekend to fall to a collective 4-9 this season.

HOW UGLY WAS IT? PLENTY
How ugly was Sunday 58-15 loss to Chicago? Consider these tidbits:

*Predators scored a franchise low 15 points. The previous record for fewest points scored by an Orlando Predators team was 16 during a 26-16 loss to the Tampa Bay Storm in 1992.

*Orlando gave up a club record seven quarterback sacks, losing a club record 32 yards on those sacks.

*Orlando turned the ball over six times, three via fumble and three via interception.

*The 43-point margin of loss was largest in club history, eclipsing the 32-point loss to San Jose in 2002 (77-45).

*Chicago scored 55 unanswered points against the Predators.

*Orlando was flagged for 10 penalties and was a collective 3 of 10 on third and fourth down conversions.

*With less than seven minutes remaining in the 4th quarter, the Predators had a whopping 105 yards of total offense and finished with just 159 yards. The franchise low was 139 yards in a 39-32 win over Columbus in 1991.

FEWEST POINTS SCORED BY THE PREDATORS
1. 15, vs. Chicago 2004 L, 15-58
2. 16, vs. Tampa Bay 1991 L, 16-26
3 19, vs. Denver 1991 L, 19-39
4. 20, vs. Tampa Bay 1995 L, 20-44
5. 24, vs. Tampa Bay* 1992 W, 24-21 ot

*AFL PLAYOFF GAME – SEMIFINALS

ON THE OTHER HAND, GOOD EFFORT BY ROOKIE MARLON MOYE-MOORE
If Orlando could point to one positive from the game it probably would be the play of rookie FB/LB Marlon Moye- Moore. Offensively, he led the Predators with 23 yards on just two carries and added an eight-yard reception. On defense, he led all linebackers with three total stops (one solo, four assists) and he blocked a field goal in the first half to keep Chicago off the board for one of the few times in the game.


PLAYERS TO WATCH
ORLANDO vs. LAS VEGAS

Gladiators QB Clint Dolezel
One of the top passers in Arena Football League history, Dolezel threw for an incredible 451 yards and nine touchdowns in a losing effort last week San Jose. Dolezel's effort was the fourth highest yardage total in AFL history. Big passing numbers are nothing new to Dolezel. He has passed for 4,000 or more yards in a single season three times and has 26,445 career passing yards with 524 career touchdowns and 102 career interceptions. He led the Grand Rapids Rampage to an AFL title in 2001.

Predators OS Travis McGriff
After missing all the pre-season and the first seven regular season games with a hamstring injury, Travis McGriff appears ready to come off IR and make his first start with the Predators. Orlando can use an offensive kick start from McGriff, who scored 26 touchdowns last season on his way to AFL Rookie of the Year honors.

Gladiators WR/LB Marcus Nash
Marcus Nash will remind Predators fans a little of former star Barry Wagner. He is a bigger target than Wagner at 6-4, and possesses terrific hands. Nash has been Dolezel's favorite receiver this season, grabbing 68 passes for 731 yards and 16 touchdowns. Nash will present numerous problems for Orlando's shorter defensive backs. Last year with Detroit he had 69 receptions for 866 yards and 24 touchdowns in just 12 games.

Predators QBs Joe Hamilton, Connell Maynor and Maybe Someone Else
With both quarterbacks injured (Hamilton – Knee, Maynor – wrist), the Predators are not in a great position to face a team that has scored 127 points in their last two games. On Wednesday, head coach Jay Gruden will decide on whether it is necessary for the team to sign another quarterback for this week's game. If Hamilton and Maynor both can go, look for Gruden to give WR/DB Bret Cooper some snaps in practice, as he will likely serve as the third quarterback for this week.




PREDATORS PRACTICE SCHEDULE
Wed., Mar. 24 9-11 a.m. Thunder Field
Thur., Mar. 25 9-11 a.m. Thunder Field
Fri., Mar. 26 9-9:45 a.m. Thunder Field

All Practices Open to the Media

NEXT WEEK
Orlando travels to Columbus to face the Columbus Destroyers. The team played in Buffalo from 1999-2003 before moving to Columbus for the 2004 season. Las Vegas returns home to face the Chicago Rush.

This Week in the AFL
Friday, March 26
Grand Rapids at Indiana 7:30
Los Angeles at San Jose 10:30
Saturday
Tampa Bay at Georgia 7:30
Las Vegas at Orlando 7:30
Carolina at New Orleans 8:00
Arizona at Colorado 9:00
Sunday
Detroit at Chicago 3:00
Philadelphia at Austin 3:00

Bye Week – Columbus, Dallas, New York
All-Time Eastern

2004 ORLANDO PREDATORS LEAGUE WIDE AWARDS:
QB Joe Hamilton
AFL Rookie of the Month – February

OL/DL Jermaine Smith
Ironman of the Week - Week 5 (Indiana)

US ARMY IRONMAN, BABY RUTH OFFENSIVE and ADT DEFENSIVE PLAYERS OF THE GAME (selected by media):

Week Opp. Player
1 At Tampa Bay
O: Shane Stafford (TB)
D: Shea Showers (TB)
I: TT Toliver (TB)
2 Austin Wranglers O: Cory Fleming (O)
D: Tom Briggs (A)
I: Charlie Davidson (A)
3 Bye Week
4 At Carolina O: Joe Hamilton (O)
D: Jermaine Smith (O)
I: James Bowden (O)
5 Indiana O: Cory Fleming (O)
D: Rupert Grant (O)
I: Jermaine Smith (O)
6 Georgia O: Leon Murray (G)
D: Dialleo Burks (G)
I: Markeith Cooper (G)
7 Chicago O: Jeremy McDaniel (C)
D: James Baron (C)
I: Bob McMillen (C)

2003 ROSTER MOVES
Date Action Player

1/31 Waived FB/LB Kevin McLeod, QB Chris Sanders, DS Marcus Smith, OL/DL Nate Bandy, OL/DL Barry Hall, OS Anthony Bright, OS Antwuan Wyatt, OL/DL Anthony McKenzie,
DS Roy Stabler. Placed OL/DL Derrick Ham, WR/LB Michael Brown on IR
1/31 Trade Received WR/DB James Bowden from Carolina Cobras in exchange for future considerations
2/3 Placed on IR OS Travis McGriff
2/16 Waived DS Paul Miranda, DS LaVar Glover
2/23 Signed DS Sam Young, DS Arkee Thompson, OL/DL Josh McKibben
2/23 Activated from IR OL/DL Derrick Ham
2/23 Waived OL/DL Derrick Ham
2/25 Placed on IR OL/DL Cecil Caldwell and DS Arkee Thompson
2/25 Activated from IR DS Michael Brown

3/2 Waived WR/LB George Williams
3/4 Signed WR/DB Sean Riley
3/10 Placed on IR OL/DL Justin Cleveland
3/16 Placed on
IR WR/DB Michael Brown
3/22 Traded From Indiana, OL/DL Greg Krause To Indiana: Rights to DS Khalil Carter

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