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Rampage Game Notes

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


QUICK FACTS:
Grand Rapids Rampage @ Colorado Crush
Date: Friday, February 7, 2003.
Kickoff: 9:00 p.m. (EST).
Site: Pepsi Center (17,210).
Officials: Riley Johnson (Referee), Rick DiBernado (Umpire), Neil Brurner (Head Linesman), Paul Engelberts (Line Judge), Bud McCleskey (Back Judge).
Radio: WBBL 1340 AM, Joe Parson & Tom Sullivan. Coverage begins at 8:40 p.m. (EST).
TV: None.
Series Record: First meeting.
Coaches: Grand Rapids, Michael Trigg (66-64 overall, 10th season). Colorado, Bob Beers (0-1, 1st season).

THE STAKES: Only one team that made the playoffs in 2002 started the season 2-0. That team just happened to be the ArenaBowl XVI champion San Jose SaberCats. In fact, four of the last five ArenaBowl champs have won their first two games to begin the season, including the 2001 Rampage. If the Rampage are to return to championship glory, a win against Colorado would be a step in the right direction.

THE IFs:

If Grand Rapids defeats Colorado it would...
· Give the Rampage a 1-0 series lead over Colorado.
· Give the Rampage a 2-0 road record.
· Give the Rampage a 2-0 overall record.
· Give the Rampage a 1-0 record against the American Conference in 2003.
· Give the Rampage a 1-0 record against the Western Division in 2003.
· Give the Rampage a 3-6 all-time record against the Western Division.
· Give Michael Trigg a 67-64 overall record as a coach.
· Give the Rampage their first 2-0 start since 2001.

HEAD COACHES:

MICHAEL TRIGG, Grand Rapids Rampage (66-64, 10th Season): Trigg, the only coach in Rampage team history, is in his sixth season with the Rampage and tenth overall as a head coach in the AFL. Last season, Trigg led the Rampage to an 8-6 regular season mark and a fourth consecutive playoff berth. He also became just the fifth AFL coach to reach the 60-win plateau, making him the fifth winningest coach in AFL history. Trigg's history of achievement reached new heights on August 19, 2001 when the AFL's smallest market team won ArenaBowl XV in front of a sold-out Van Andel Arena and a national television audience. For his efforts, Trigg was named the 2001 AFL Coach of the Year.

BOB BEERS, Colorado Crush (0-1, 1st Season): Bob Beers was named head coach of the Colorado Crush on July 11, 2002. Beers has a background in coaching and scouting that spans more than 30 years. Most recently he served as a college scout for the Denver Broncos. He has scouted the western United States since 1995 and will continue to do so in a limited capacity with the Broncos.

RAMPAGE LAST WEEK: Grand Rapids 54, BUFFALO 36 (2-1-03) – Clint Dolezel fired four touchdown passes to lead the Rampage past the Buffalo Destroyers, 54-36. Dolezel, who led the league in total offense a season ago, completed 24-of-33 passes for 235 yards and was not intercepted. He connected with Steve Smith on a five-yard touchdown pass for a 7-6 lead in the first quarter and opened the second with a 27-yard scoring strike to Smith. Dolezel added an 11-yard touchdown pass to Ricky Ross at the start of the third quarter and closed out the night with a 10-yard scoring pass to Smith as the Rampage won their fourth straight season opener. For new Destroyers head coach Ron Selesky, the season opener did not go quite according to plan. Buffalo quarterback Jeff Loots completed just 17-of-32 passes for 246 yards and five touchdowns. Gunnard Twyner added eight catches for 134 yards and three touchdowns. The Destroyers trailed by just five at 34-29 midway through the third but surrendered 13 unanswered points in a 3:38 span and could never catch up.

RAMPAGE NEXT WEEK: The Rampage open their home schedule with a 3 p.m. NBC affair against quarterback Aaron Garcia and the New York Dragons.

2002 MILESTONES:

· Grand Rapids sets a new team record for regular season attendance with 69,341 total fans attending games during the 2002 season, which includes a team record three sellouts.

· Rampage coach Michael Trigg recorded career regular season victory number 60 against the Georgia Force (6/23). Only four other coaches (John Gregory, Tim Marcum, Perry Moss and Danny White) have reached the 60-win plateau.

· Rampage QB Clint Dolezel moved past Mike Perez for fifth place on the AFL's all-time charts in passing yards (19,995) and sixth place in pass attempts (2,609). In addition, Dolezel also passed John Kaleo for fifth place in completions (1,698) and former teammate Todd Hammel for fourth place in career passing touchdowns (393).

· Dolezel became the first quarterback in AFL history to throw for 70 or more TDs in four different seasons.

· Rampage FB/LB Chris Ryan broke his own team single-season rushing marks in yards (133) and touchdowns (12). He also broke Basil Proctor's four-year old attempts record (49).

· Rampage FB/LB Travis McDonald broke the Rampage's single-season sack record with his 2.5 sack performance against the New York Dragons (7/13). McDonald, who finished with 5.5 sacks on season, moved past Corey Mayfield and Buster Stanley (4.5).

RECENT MILESTONES:

· QB Clint Dolezel moved past Fred McNair for fifth place on the AFL's career list in passing attempts (2/1 @ Buffalo).

· Also at Buffalo, Dolezel became just the fifth quarterback in AFL history to amass 20,000 career passing yards.

· K Brian Gowins moved past Michael Baker for second place on the Rampage's all-time scoring list.

UPCOMING MILESTONES:

· QB Clint Dolezel needs just three passing TDs to become only the fourth AFL quarterback with 400.

· Coach Michael Trigg is just four wins from his 70th career victory. Only four other coaches (John Gregory, Tim Marcum, Perry Moss and Danny White) have reached the 70-win plateau.

· K Brian Gowins needs just three FG attempts (84 total) to become the Rampage's all-time leader in that category.

FAMILIAR FACES:

· Crush OL/DL Bryant Shaw spent two years on the Rampage's exempt list prior to being activated for the final three regular season games in 2002.

· Crush special teams coach Fred Gayles played for the Rampage during the team's inaugural season (1998).

· Rampage K Brian Gowins and Crush OL/DL Dwayne Missouri were teammates for three seasons at Northwestern.

· Rampage DS Lamar Grant and Crush OL/DL Aaron Hamilton and WR/DB Adrian Lunsford were teammates last season with the Dallas Desperados.

· Rampage WR/DB Sean Riley and Crush OL/DL Chris Janek were teammates in 2001 with the Milwaukee Mustangs.

CONSECUTIVE GAME STREAKS:

· QB Clint Dolezel has thrown at least one TD pass in every game played in a Rampage uniform (29 regular season games).

· OS Steve Smith has caught at least one TD in nine consecutive regular season games.

· FB/LB Chris Ryan has rushed for at least one TD in six consecutive regular season games.

· WR/DB Willis Marshall has caught at least one pass in every game played in a Rampage uniform (22 regular season games).

TEAM NOTES:

Successful Second: Prior to losing to the Indiana Firebirds in regular season game number two last season, Grand Rapids had won every one of their previous post-openers.

Road Warriors: After defeating the Buffalo Destroyers last week, the Rampage are now 18-18 all-time on the road.

First Time for Everything: If the Rampage are able to defeat the Crush, it will mark the first time the team has opened the season with back-to-back road victories.

Important Road: Of the 12 teams that made the playoffs last season, nine had winning road records, including Grand Rapids that finished 4-3 on the road.

Many More Happy Returns? In 15 total games last season, the Rampage only managed two returns (kickoff, missed FG, fumble or interception) for touchdowns. Already this season, Ricky Ross has returned a missed field goal 52 yards for a TD.

Defense Steps Up: The 36 points that the Rampage allowed against Buffalo was the lowest point total for an opponent since the Rampage held the Orlando Predators to 34 on June 9, 2000.

16 Return: 16 players from last year's 8-6 squad returned to Grand Rapids. Of the 16, 11 return from the Rampage's 2001 championship team. With QB Nick Browder also back on board this season, Grand Rapids features 12 players from their ArenaBowl glory.

Defensive Upgrade: After finishing 13th in the league in total defense in 2002, the Rampage used the offseason to upgrade their defensive secondary. In to change Grand Rapids' defensive fortunes this season are veterans Cecil Doggette, Lamar Grant and Shea Showers.

Rookie Crop: Since the team's inception, the Rampage have had at least one rookie make the AFL's All-Rookie Team. This year's crop features WR/LB Damon Hodge and linemen Jason Gamble and Albert Reese. All three players have NFL experience and have shown the ability to be successful indoors.

RAMPAGE PLAYERS TO WATCH:

QB Clint Dolezel: Arguably one of the best quarterbacks in the AFL, Dolezel picked up where he left off last season with an MVP performance against Buffalo. The former East Texas State standout completed 24-of-33 passes for 235 yards and four TDs. He also became just the fifth quarterback in AFL history to go over 20,000 career passing yards.

OS Steve Smith: Speaking of picking up where he left off last season, Smith did just that against Buffalo. He led all receivers with nine catches for 116 yards and three TDs. Dating back to last season, the speedy receiver has caught at least one TD in nine consecutive regular season games.

WR/DB Willis Marshall: A second-team All-Arena selection in 2002, Marshall opened the 2003 season with two catches for 27 yards and three kickoff returns for 74 yards on the offensive side of the ball. He also added two tackles on defense in the 54-36 victory over Buffalo.

DS Cecil Doggette: The Arizona Rattlers' career leader in nearly every defensive category was signed by GR to help solidify a defensive unit that ranked 13th last season. So far, so good as Doggette and the Rampage defense stopped the Destroyers offense four times and held them to 36 points. In his Rampage debut, Doggette recorded three tackles and a game-high three pass breakups.

THIS WEEK'S QUOTES:

Michael Trigg: On the improved defense: "They really were the difference tonight. I thought we covered well. We gave up a bad one where we had miscommunication in the second half, but those are the things your draw optimism on, because at least communication seems to be improved from last year, and that was the difference.

On winning game one on the road: "The importance of winning on the road in week one and having another road game to follow it up, it gives us a little bit of breathing room and cushion because we get three more at our house. If we had lost this game, we would have dug ourselves a hole, especially with how tough the Central Division is going to be."

Clint Dolezel: On Friday's game against Colorado: "This is a huge game for us. We looked at our early schedule and we definitely wanted to win five of our first six, because our last 10 games are extremely tough. We want to go to Colorado, which will be a hostile environment, and come home 2-0 to guarantee New York will come into an equally hostile environment for our home opener."

Cecil Doggette: On the Buffalo win: "It was a great win for us. We got the lead early and didn't let it go. Defensively, we gave up too many easy touchdowns, but overall, I thought it was a good overall performance by the team.

On the team's defensive performance: "Our goal was to get four stops and that's what we did. Four stops and holding a team under 40 points is a big deal in Arena Football."

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