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AFL I Arena Football League (1987-2008)

Q&A with New York WR/DB Richmond Flowers III

March 11, 2004 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I) News Release


NEW YORK – New York Dragons rookie wide receiver/defensive back RICHMOND FLOWERS III continues to emerge as one of the AFL's up-and-coming young stars.

Flowers (5-11, 205, Duke) is averaging 17.5 yards per catch and recorded three receptions for 34 yards and two touchdowns, as well as 2.0 tackles, in his team's victory over previously-undefeated San Jose last Sunday.

This Sunday on NBC at noon ET, Flowers and the Dragons (2-3) will face the defending ArenaBowl champion Tampa Bay Storm (2-3) at St. Pete Times Forum.

The 25-year-old played receiver and safety at Vestavia Hills (AL) High School and played college football as a wide receiver at Duke, earning a degree in history in the process. Upon completion of his degree and with one remaining year of eligibility, he followed his passion for the game and searched the Internet for the college football team that passed the most times per game. He transferred to Tennessee-Chattanooga for his final season.

Flowers comes from an athletic family, his father, Richmond Flowers II, was a track star at Tennessee and also played for the NFL's New York Giants. His younger brother, Bill, plays football at Mississippi.

Q: When was the first time you ever played football?

A: In Miami, Fla., for the Sunnyland Sundevils in Pop Warner. I was in the third grade, probably eight or nine years old.

Q: Do you play any other sports?

A: I grew up playing soccer and tennis. In high school, I ran track and played football. It always helps when you're able to put that in your memory bank as a young child – playing sports like basketball or soccer where you can really work on your coordination.

Q: You come from a family of athletes, how has that affected your life both on and off the field?

A: Obviously, I had an athletic role model as a young child, having my father play in the NFL. It sparked interest at a young age and made me very competitive. I have a brother that is three years younger than me – we were close enough to compete. With athletics always being prevalent in our family, it got me out there competing at a young age. There's so much from athletics that I carry off the field. I commit myself to the sport I'm playing, so off the field I take that passion and zest for life and apply it to something else.

Q: Coming from 100-yard football to the AFL, what is the one thing about the AFL that you think gets overlooked or is the biggest surprise as a player?

A: The biggest difference is the angles that you have you take as a wide receiver. You have high angles. There's not as much room to flatten the ball out. You run out of room easily. Just let the dasherboard hit you in the mouth a couple of times, it will teach you to take high angles. I was able to wake up pretty quick the first couple of plays out there. I was the outside receiver and ran a 10-yard curl route. The ball was overthrown and I went up for it and my momentum carried me over out of the field, over the wall and into the first row of fans. I became familiar pretty quick, just shook it off, climbed back over and ran back to the huddle. With my style of play, I don't think anything is going to stop me from hitting the wall or going over it. It will probably be a part of my game, but I'll definitely do what I can to limit how many times I run into it.

Q: What has it been like to learn a new game and new teammates, including working with veteran QB AARON GARCIA?

A: He's a big part of the reason why I chose to come the New York Dragons. It's a benefit for me in my first year making the transition to arena football. Being around a guy like Aaron, because he's so savvy and knowledge about the game, as a young guy, I get the opportunity to learn from the best.

Q: What is your pregame ritual?

A: I like to wear a new pair of gloves before every game, but that's about it. I'm not a very superstitious person. I just get ready and come out to play.

Q: What is fitness schedule and eating habits?

A: I'm a pretty health-conscious person. I like to eat healthy. I like sushi.

Q: What kind of music do you listen to?

A: I like a lot of classic rock; I like Led Zeppelin. But my music interest has a pretty broad range – from Tool to the Grateful Dead to Gordon Lightfoot.

Q: What is your favorite sport movie?

A: The Longest Yard. I remember as a kid watching that movie with BURT REYNOLDS. Guys just going out there as a bunch of scrubs and beating the odds, taking their intensity out to the field in the jail yard to face the guards and taking the one opportunity as the underdogs to show them what they've got.

Q: What makes you a good teammate?

A: In being a good teammate, what matters is that everyone is accountable for what they do. This is professional football and when we step out onto the field, we're accountable for our assignments and for what we bring to the game. I put a lot of pressure on myself to be someone that this team can look to in order to help win a game or make a big play.

Q: What would you be doing if you weren't playing in the AFL?

A: I have broadcasting interests in order to stay in sports or possibly acting. I take acting classes in the offseason and I like music. I'm young enough that right now I want to stay unconventional. I plan continue to take every opportunity I can to pursue those passions of mine.

Q: Where do you see yourself in five years?

A: A New Year's resolution for me has been to take each day, day by day, and take life as it comes. You just never know what life is going to through at you and you just have to be prepared every day.

Q: What two AFL teams would you like to see in the ArenaBowl this year?

A: The New York Dragons and the Dallas Desperados. They are a division rival who came in here (Nassau Coliseum) and beat us once already. That would be quite a match-up.

DID YOU KNOW? His Grandfather Richmond Flowers I was the Attorney General of the State of Alabama during the Civil Rights Movement in the 60's and one of the leading advocates for de-segregating the state. As the state's attorney general from 1963 to 1967, Flowers Sr. became the foil for segregationist Governor George Wallace.

AND...Flowers spent training camp with the Dallas Cowboys the season they were featured on HBO's Hard Knocks and was known as the "singing cowboy."



Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from March 11, 2004


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