Rampage Begin Drive to ArenaBowl XVII this Sunday

Published on May 22, 2003 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Grand Rapids Rampage News Release


GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - The Grand Rapids Rampage look to rebound from a disappointing end to the 2003 regular season as they square off with the Detroit Fury in the Wild Card Round of the Arena Football League playoffs on Sunday, May 25. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. (ET) at Van Andel Arena.

After starting the season winning eight of their first 11 games, Grand Rapids has dropped their last five contests to fall to 8-8, while Detroit (8-8) has responded from a dreadful 1-13 record in 2002 with one of the biggest single-season turnarounds in AFL history. Despite their geographical locations, the two teams did not meet this season due to off-season realignment.

The Rampage attempt to make up for their 72-64 defeat at the hands of the Carolina Cobras in the first-round of last season's playoffs, while the Fury look to secure the team's first-ever postseason victory.

Offensive standouts Clint Dolezel and Terrill Shaw will be looked upon to lead Grand Rapids' Drive to ArenaBowl XVII. In four career playoff games with the Rampage, Dolezel has thrown for an average of 299 yards and six touchdowns, while Shaw has recorded 121.5 yards receiving yards and three touchdowns per game.

First-year head coach Al Luginbill has led the resurrection of Detroit, which is paced by AFL-veterans Andy Kelly and Ron Carpenter. Kelly passed for 93 touchdowns this season, while Carpenter posted a team-high 87 tackles for the Fury defense.

Sunday's game also marks the third NBC Sports broadcast from Van Andel Arena this season. Bill Weber and former Super Bowl MVP John Riggins will handle the telecast, with Dave Burns serving as the sideline reporter.

Live radio coverage of Sunday's game can also be heard beginning at 2:40 p.m. on WBBL 1340 AM. Joe Parson and Tom Sullivan will handle the broadcast.

Plenty of tickets are still available for Sunday's game and can be purchased by contacting the Rampage office at (616) 559-1871 or Tickets PLUS at (616) 222-4000 or (800) 585-3737. Tickets are also available at The Zone, located on the west side of Van Andel Arena, all West Michigan Meijer locations, and on-line at www.ticketsplus.net and the Rampage Web site.

The 2003 season marks the historic debut of the AFL on NBC. NBC Sports will televise up to 70 games, including all playoff games and ArenaBowl XVII on June 22. The network's coverage this week includes: Georgia vs. Dallas, Las Vegas vs. Arizona and Chicago vs. New York.

GAME PROMOTIONS

ALLTEL Giveaway ALLTEL will assist the Rampage on their Drive to ArenaBowl XVII by providing Thunderstix to the first 3,000 fans in attendance at Sunday's Wild Card playoff contest with the Detroit Fury. The Thunderstix are redeemable following the game at the Walker, Rockford and Grand Rapids ALLTEL locations for a collectible Rampage Calling Card and ten minutes of pre-paid long distance.

Halftime Performance Please welcome The Skyriders! They are an awesome acrobatic trampoline team whose brand of extreme fun and entertainment amazes audiences of all ages. These talented and athletic acrobats, who have many national, international and Olympic titles between them, reach heights up to 26 feet in the air! During the performance the athletes perform sky-high single, double and even twisting triple somersaults!

Autograph Session: Immediately following the game, the Rampage will hold a postgame autograph session. All fans are welcome to come down on the field to meet the players and get free autographs.

Tailgate & Postgame Party: Fans can tailgate two hours before the game across the street from Van Andel Arena at Tiki Bob's. After the game, fans can venture back over to the Tiki Bob's to join Rampage players and coaches for the team's official postgame party.

RAMPAGE/FURY QUICK FACTS

* Grand Rapids holds the all-time series lead, 3-1.

* The Rampage hold a 3-3 all-time record in the playoffs.

* Grand Rapids is 3-0 all-time when leading at the half in the postseason. The team is 0-3 when trailing at the half.

* The Rampage have never lost six consecutive games.

* Detroit's roster includes two former Rampage standouts: OS Thomas Bailey (1998-00) and OL/DL Lucas Yarnell (2001-02). * Rampage QB Nick Browder started five games for the Fury in 2002.

* Detroit's Andy Kelly and Ron Carpenter played for the Nashville Kats in Grand Rapids' ArenaBowl XV victory.

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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from May 22, 2003


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