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Philadelphia Soul game notes

February 18, 2004 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Philadelphia Soul News Release


QUICK FACTS
Philadelphia Soul (0-2)
Vs. Columbus Destroyers (1-1)
Site: Wachovia Spectrum (15,979)
Officials: Referee: Craig Wrolstad, Umpire: Rick Lowe, Head Linesman: Gary Cavaletto, Line Judge: Rusty Baynes, Back Judge: Scott Helverson

TUNE IN
TV: UPN-57 Philadelphia
Play-by-Play: Ari Wolfe
Color: Darrin Kenney
Sideline: Rhea Hughes
RADIO: WNJC (1360-AM)
Play-by-Play: Jacob VanRyn
Color: Brian Gowins


THE MATCHUP
The Soul are looking for their first win of the season against AFL East foe, Columbus Destroyers. The Soul rallied late against Dallas but fell to the Desperados 51-47. The Destroyers are coming off a 54-53 loss to the Carolina Cobras.

NEXT UP
The Soul will travel to take on the Tampa Bay Storm at 3 p.m. on Sunday, February 29th on NBC Sports. The Destroyers will play host to the Dallas Desperados on Sunday, February 29th at 3 p.m.

2004 SOUL SCHEDULE/RESULTS
(All times Eastern)
Date Opponent Time Result
Feb 8 NEW ORLEANS 3 p.m. L 34-42
Feb 15 @ Dallas 4 p.m. L 47-51 Feb 21 COLUMBUS 7:30 p.m.
Feb 29 @ Tampa Bay 3 p.m.
Mar 7 CHICAGO 12 p.m.
Mar 13 @ Columbus 7 p.m.
Mar 21 COLORADO 12 p.m.
Mar 28 @ Austin 3 p.m.
Apr 4 DALLAS 12 p.m.
Apr 17 @ Carolina 7:30 p.m.
Apr 24 NEW YORK 7:30 p.m.
May 2 @ Colorado 3 p.m.
May 8 LAS VEGAS 7:30 p.m.
May 15 CAROLINA 7:30 p.m.
May 22 @ San Jose 10:30 p.m.
May 30 @ New York 4 p.m.

The Coaches Corner

MICHAEL TRIGG: Hired to guide the expansion Philadelphia Soul, Trigg (70-68 reg. season, 3-7 post season) spent the last six seasons with the Grand Rapids Rampage. Trigg has led his teams to eight playoff appearances and an ArenaBowl in 2001, when he was also named AFL Coach of the Year. A veteran of expansion endeavors, Trigg spent 1994 as the head coach and general manager for the expansion Fort Worth Calvary (1994) and as head coach of the Milwaukee Mustangs (1995-97) he turned a 0-12 team into a two-time playoff participant and set the AFL record for single-season turnaround as he guided the Mustang's from 4-8 in 1995 to 10-4 in 1996.

EARLE BRUCE: Bruce began his coaching career in the AFL during the 1993-1994 season with the Cleveland Thunderbolts. He spent the 1994-1995 season with the St. Louis Stampede, making theirs the best record of an expansion football team at 9 and 4 and taking them to the playoffs. In 2001 Bruce coached the Iowa Barnstormers in the AF2 League. Bruce landed his first collegiate head coaching job at the University of Tampa in 1972, where he fashioned a 10-2 record, including a win in the Tangerine Bowl. He took over at Iowa State University from 1973-1978, where he guided the Cyclones to eight wins in each of his last three seasons. Bruce succeeded long-time coach Woody Hayes at Ohio State in 1979 and went on to compile an 81-26-1 record from 1979-1987 in Columbus. He led the Buckeyes to two outright Big Ten titles (1979, 1984) and two co-championships (1981, 1986) and was named the 1980 Big Ten Coach of the Year.

It's Not Over... ‘till It's Over

Three of the six AFL teams that have started the season 0-2 have an average margin of defeat of six points or fewer. Three of the four teams have had both games decided by eight points or less.

Following is the average margin of defeat for all four teams:
TEAM Gm. 1 Gm. 2 Avg.
Indiana 6 1 3.5
Las Vegas 1 7 4.0
Philadelphia 8 4 6.0
Orlando 11 1 6.0

Direct Connections

· Destroyers DS JoJo Polk was a member of Soul head coach Michael Trigg's 2001 Grand Rapids Rampage team which won ArenaBowl XV.
· Soul OL/DL Eric Gohlstin, a Cleveland, Ohio native attended Ohio State where Destroyers head coach Earle Bruce coached for eight years. Gohlstin also attended St. Ignatius High School in Cleveland, Ohio.
· Soul OL/DL Corey Mayfield and Destroyers WR/DB Jarrail Jackson are alumni of the University of Oklahoma, and they both hail from Texas.
· Destroyers WR/LB Corey Hill is a native of Yeadon, PA and attended Archbishop Carroll High School
· Destroyers WR/LB Cornelius White is a native of Langhorne, PA, a suburb of Philadelphia, and attended Neshaminy High School. White still resides in Philadelphia in the offseason.

Tale of the Tape

SOUL DESTROYERS
Scoring Off. 81 (17) 107 (6)
Scoring Def. 93 (8) 102 (14)
Off Yds/Game 270.5 (6) 251.0 (10)
Pass Yds/Game 236.5 (6) 230.0 (8t)
Rush Yds/Game 34.0 (3) 21.0 (10t)
Def Yds/Game 256.5 (10) 277.5 (15)
Def Pass Yds/Game 214.0 (7) 239.5 (12)
Def Rush Yds/Game 42.5 (19) 38.0 (17)
Kickoff Returns 21.1 (5) 22.7 (2)
Penalties 16 15
Penalty Yards 117 102
Opp. Penalties 14 20
Opp. Pen. Yds 80 99
(Parenthesis indicates league ranking)

Head-To-Head AFL Rankings

SOUL DESTROYERS
Total Offense 6 10
Rushing Offense 3 10t
Passing Offense 6 8t
Total Defense 10 15
Rushing Defense 19 17
Passing Defense 7 12


Trigg's Traveling Party

Soul Head Coach Michael Trigg didn't need a lot of time learning the names on the Soul roster, he's spent time with most of them in the past. The Soul have 13 players on the active roster that have spent time with Trigg, and all three members of the injured reserve are also Trigg veterans.

Here's a breakdown of Trigg's following:
#1 Ricky Ross
#4 Gary Compton
#5 Todd Hammell
#10 DeAuntae Brown
#12 Nick Browder
#13 Brian Gowins (IR)
#21 Joe Todd
#33 Lavante Epson
#36 Chris Ryan
#44 Travis McDonald
#50 Madison Johnson (IR)
#73 Michael Harrison
#75 Eric Gohlstin
#81 Derin Graham
#90 Patrick Scott
#91 Corey Mayfield (IR)



Here Comes "Soul Train"

One of the most conspicuous players in the Arena Football League at 6-0, 315, Chris "Soul Train" Ryan is tied for the AFL lead in third-and-one rushing, converting two attempts for first downs. Ryan, who had the moniker "Soul Train" embroidered on the back of his jersey against the VooDoo, ranks third in the league in rushing and has rushed six times for 35 yards and one TD this season.

Red Zone Enforcers

The Soul defense is ranked first in the league in red zone defense. Soul opponents have had four possessions inside the 20-yard line and have only given up two TDs for 13 points.
Rank Team Poss Pts TD FG TD%
1 Phi. 4 13 2 0 50.0
2 Ari. 11 58 7 3 63.6
3t Clb. 6 29 4 1 66.7
3t Det. 12 58 8 1 66.7
3t GR 9 47 6 2 66.7
3t LV 9 50 6 3 66.7

That's a First...

First coin toss (2/8/04) – Soul won, elect to receive
First kickoff return (2/8/04)– Ricky Ross, 28-yard return
First play (2/8/04) – Derin Graham, 8-yard rush
First pass (2/8/04) – Complete to Derin Graham for 9-yards
First TD (2/8/04) – Nick Browder to Tyronne Jones for a 7-yard TD with 11:29 left in the first quarter
First rushing TD (2/8/04) – Browder 1-yard run with 13:11 remaining in the 4th quarter
First tackle (2/8/04) – Mike Harrison and Travis Seaton stop VooDoo kick returner Aaron Bailey after a 19-yard return
First FG Attempt (2/8/04) – Ken Hinsley's 25-yard attempt blocked by Gaylon Hyder
First TD against the Soul (2/8/04) – Four-yard rush by Dan Curran with 13:45 left in the second quarter. Brian Schmitz point after attempt failed.
First turnover (2/8/04) – Browder's pass intercepted by Monte Montgomery at the New Orleans 2 yard-line
First Interception (2/15/04) – Joe Todd intercepts Dallas QB Glen Gauntt in the Soul endzone with 1:21 remaining in the 1st quarter.
First Kickoff Return for a TD (2/15/04) – Tyronne Jones 54-yard return against Dallas

2004 Record When...

Wachovia Center 0-1
Wachovia Spectrum 0-0
On the Road 0-1
Saturday 0-0
Sunday 0-2
On NBC 0-1
On UPN-57 0-1
Vs. East 0-1
Vs. Central 0-0
Vs. West 0-0
Vs. South 0-1
February 0-2
March 0-0
April 0-0
May 0-0
Score first 0-1
Opp Score first 0-1
Plus turnover ratio 0-1
Even turnover ratio 0-0
Minus turnover ratio 0-1

Born To Be In Philly

Nick Browder grew up idolizing former Eagles QB Randall Cunningham, he wore the same number and emulated his play on the field, but that's not the only Eagles QB Browder would become familiar with. When Browder was signed by the Soul there's no doubt he recognized Soul president Ron Jaworski, a former Eagles QB, and growing up in Waukegan, Il he was close to another Eagles QB, Donovan McNabb, who attended Mount Carmel High School outside of Chicago while Browder attended Waukegan High School.

Movin On Up

Here's a look at where the Soul ranks among the league leaders:
Nick Browder:
3rd Down Passing – 3rd (7-15-128, 3 TDs)

Tyronne Jones:
Leading Scorers, Nonkickers – 5t (5 TDs, 30 pts)
Kickoff Returns – 2nd (3-85yds, 28.3 avg, 1 TD)
3rd Down Receiving – 5t (3-35 yds, 2 TDs)

Chris "Soul Train" Ryan:
Leading Rushers – 3rd (6-35 yds, 1 TD)
3rd and 1 Rushing – 1t (2-2)

Soul Defense:
#1 defense inside the 20 – (4 possessions, 13 points, 2 TDs)

Makin Plays

Nick Browder entered the Soul inaugural season without much history. Through four years in the AFL, Browder completed 51 of 91 attempts for 651 yards. In his first two games with the Soul, Browder has completed 43 of 77 pass attempts for 481 yards and eight TDs.
Comp Att. Yds TDs
2000-2003 51 91 651 9
2004 43 77 481 8

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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from February 18, 2004


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