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Rampage Embark on Three-Game Road Swing

March 4, 2003 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Grand Rapids Rampage News Release


GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - The Grand Rapids Rampage of the Arena Football League have played 75 regular season games in the franchise's six-year existence, and not once has the team had three consecutive road contests. That changes this Sunday when the Rampage (4-1) begin their longest road swing in franchise history against the Georgia Force (3-2) in a 12 p.m. NBC affair.

The game, which can be seen locally on WOOD TV (Ch. 8) and heard live on WBBL 1340 AM, is a rematch of last season's 42-41 last second thriller at Van Andel Arena (6/23/02). After Georgia stormed back to take a 41-35 lead with 12 seconds remaining in the game, Grand Rapids' Clint Dolezel hit Steve Smith in the back of the end zone as the buzzer sounded, tying the contest at 41-41. Brian Gowins then sealed the Rampage victory when he connected on the ensuing extra point with no time remaining on the clock.

This will be the first road trip to Georgia for a Rampage team that is looking to improve to 5-1 for the first time since the 2001 championship season.

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: Grand Rapids at Georgia, Los Angeles at New York and San Jose at Chicago.

Rampage/Force Quick Facts:

* Grand Rapids leads the all-time series 1-0.

* Rampage head coach Michael Trigg, who needs just one victory to become the fifth AFL coach to reach the 70-win plateau, is in his tenth season (69-65 overall), while Force head coach Marty Lowe is in his first full season with Georgia (8-6 overall).

* Grand Rapids boasts an 19-18 all-time road record.

* Rampage assistant coach Tony Kimbrough began the 2002 season as Georgia's offensive coordinator.

* Rampage OL/DL Albert Reese and Force OS Tyronne Jones were college teammates at Grambling State University. In addition, Rampage coaches Robert Smith and Glen Hall were on the legendary Eddie Robinson's staff when the two former All-SWAC performers played at Grambling.



Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from March 4, 2003


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