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Rampage Kick Off 2008 Season Tomorrow at Van Andel Arena

March 9, 2008 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Grand Rapids Rampage News Release


GRAND RAPIDS - The Grand Rapids Rampage will begin their 11th Arena Football League season tomorrow night (March 10) at Van Andel Arena against the defending ArenaBowl champion San Jose SaberCats. The game, which kicks off at 7 p.m. (EDT), will be the first of two games in five days during Centennial Wireless Kickoff Week.

Grand Rapids will issue in a new era on Monday night beginning with head coach Steve Thonn, who took the helm this past offseason. Considered by many as one of the AFL's brightest offensive minds, Thonn spent the past three seasons as the offensive coordinator with the Georgia Force. Last year, the Force set an AFL record with 145 touchdowns, posted a 14-2 regular-season record and advanced to the National Conference Championship game. Thonn also brings head coaching experience, having served in that role with the Houston ThunderBears from 1998-2001.

Thonn and his coaching staff revamped the Rampage roster, bringing back only five players from last season's squad. Among those returning to Grand Rapids are quarterback Adrian McPherson (Bradenton, Fla.), who was named the team's starter earlier this week, and fullback Chris Ryan (Lake Charles, La.), who set a team record with 20 rushing touchdowns in 2007. Bolstering the Grand Rapids air attack will be free agent acquisitions Kenny Higgins (Long Beach, Calif.) and Anthony Hines (West Palm Beach, Fla.). Higgins earned a spot on the 2007 AFL All-Rookie Team as a leading receiver with the Nashville Kats, while Hines led the Rampage in 2006 with 124 catches and 1,329 receiving yards.

Perhaps the biggest changes came on the defensive side of the ball. Defensive back Ahmad Hawkins (Hampton, Va.) led the AFL with 13 interceptions last season and was named to the All-AFL First Team. Meanwhile, Rahim Abdullah (Jacksonville, Fla.), a 1999 second-round draft pick with the Cleveland Browns and six-year (2002-07) Canadian Football League standout, leads a Rampage defensive line consisting entirely of Arena Football rookies.

After taking on the defending champions tomorrow, Grand Rapids' season will not get much easier. The 2006 ArenaBowl champion Chicago Rush arrive Friday (March 14) for the inaugural Amtrak Classic rivalry game.

Rampage fans unable to get down to the arena can hear every snap with play-by-play voice Joe Parson at RampageFootball.com beginning at 6:40 p.m. For additional information including updated schedules, rosters, and ticket options, visit RampageFootball.com.

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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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