Rampage News & Notes

Published on February 18, 2003 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Grand Rapids Rampage News Release


QUICK FACTS:
Grand Rapids Rampage vs. Tampa Bay Storm
Date: Sunday, February 23, 2003.
Kickoff: 3:00 p.m. (EST).
Site: Van Andel Arena (10,594).
Officials: Gene Hartleb (Referee), Rick Lowe (Umpire), Rod Pearson (Head Linesman), Art Lucky (Line Judge), Scott Helverson (Back Judge).
Radio: WBBL 1340 AM, Joe Parson & Tom Sullivan. Coverage begins at 2:40 p.m. (EST).
TV: NBC (Channel 8), Eli Gold & Charles Davis.
Series Record: Storm lead 3-1.
Coaches: Grand Rapids, Michael Trigg (68-64 overall, 10th season). Tampa Bay, Tim Marcum (144-53, 15th season).

THE STAKES: Even though the Rampage are unbeaten on the season, the team needs a victory against Tampa Bay to keep pace with the Indiana Firebirds, who are also 3-0, in the race for the Central Division crown. A win would also give Grand Rapids its first 4-0 start since the 2001 championship season.

THE IFs:

If Grand Rapids defeats Tampa Bay it would...
· Give the Rampage a 2-3 series record with Tampa Bay.
· Give the Rampage a 2-0 home record in 2003.
· Give the Rampage a 4-0 overall record in 2003.
· Give the Rampage a 3-0 record against the National Conference in 2003.
· Give the Rampage a 1-0 record against the Southern Division in 2003.
· Give Michael Trigg a 69-64 overall record as a coach.
· Give the Rampage their first 4-0 start since 2001, the team's championship season.

HEAD COACHES:

MICHAEL TRIGG, Grand Rapids Rampage (68-64, 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.

TIM MARCUM, Tampa Bay Storm (144-53, 15th Season): In his 15th season as head coach, Marcum is the winningest head coach in AFL history. A charter member of the AFL Hall of Fame, Marcum holds career coaching records in ArenaBowl championships (6), wins (143), winning percentage (.737), games coached (194) and post-season victories (22). He is also a two-time recipient of the AFL Coach of the Year award (1987 & 1988).

RAMPAGE LAST WEEK: GRAND RAPIDS 66, New York 63 (2-16-03) - In what can be best described as a bad case of déjà vu, the Rampage for the second consecutive week squeaked by an opponent with a Brian Gowins' field goal, defeating the New York Dragons, 66-63, in front of a sold out Van Andel Arena crowd (10,594).

Trailing for the entire game, Grand Rapids mounted its largest comeback in team history to pull even with Dragons, 63-63, with 27 second remaining in the game. It looked as if the game was destine for overtime, but a New York penalty during a missed field goal return gave Grand Rapids one last shot with no time on the clock. Gowins, who struggled all night with point after attempts (2-of-6), confidently struck the ball through the uprights to keep Grand Rapids undefeated.

Clint Dolezel led the way for the Rampage, completing 16-of-26 passes for 250 yards, six touchdowns and an interception. Terrill Shaw and Steve Smith led all Rampage receivers with six catches apiece. Shaw finished with 117 receiving yards and three TDs, while Smith finished with 97 yards and three TDs. Ricky Ross was named the game's Ironman, returning two kickoffs for TDs, and adding five tackles and a forced fumble on defense.

RAMPAGE NEXT WEEK: The Rampage host the Carolina Cobras, the team that upset Grand Rapids in the first round of the 2002 playoffs, to finish out a three-game home stand.

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 became just the fourth quarterback in AFL history to amass 400 career passing TDs (2/7 @ Colorado).

· Dolezel also moved past Fred McNair for fifth place on the AFL's career list in passing attempts and became just the fifth quarterback in AFL history to amass 20,000 career passing yards (2/1 @ Buffalo).

· K Brian Gowins moved past Michael Baker for second place on the Rampage's all-time scoring list (2/1 @ Buffalo).

· Gowins also moved past Remy Hamilton (current LA Avengers' kicker) to become the Rampage's all-time leader in FG attempts (2/16 vs. NY).

UPCOMING MILESTONES:

· Coach Michael Trigg is just two 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.

LAST MEETING: Tampa Bay 66, GRAND RAPIDS 41 (5/27/01) – In a battle of two 5-0 teams, John Kaleo's eight TD passes, along with his team's domination of both the first and third quarters, powered the Storm to a 66-41 victory over the Rampage. The third largest home crowd (at the time) in Rampage history (10,022) and a national television audience on TNN watched as Clint Dolezel completed 26-of-45 for 238 yards and four TDs. Demo Odems collected 10 passes for 110 yards and two TDs, while Michael Baker made six catches for 48 yards and returned six kickoffs for 110 yards.

SERIES NOTABLES:

· Clint Dolezel (GR): Completed 26-of-45 passes for 238 yards and four TDs in his only contest against Tampa Bay in a Rampage uniform.

· Chris Ryan (GR): Rushed four times for 12 yards and two TDs in two games against the Rampage.

· John Kaleo (TB): Completed 38-of-60 passes for 553 yards, 16 TDs and one interception in two games against the Rampage...Threw for a game-high eight TDs in both contests.

· Lawrence Samuels (TB): Recorded 12 catches 65 yards for three TDs in three games against the Rampage...Added 6.5 tackles and an interception return for a TD (1998) on defense...Named game Ironman on June 24, 2000.

FAMILIAR FACES:

· Tampa Bay WR/LB Gary Compton played in nine games for the Rampage in 2002.

· Tampa Bay FB/LB Basil Proctor had his best professional season with the Rampage during the team's inaugural season in 1998.

CONSECUTIVE GAME STREAKS:

· QB Clint Dolezel has thrown at least one TD pass in every game played in a Rampage uniform (31 regular season games).

· OS Steve Smith has caught at least one TD in 11 consecutive regular season games.

· WR/DB Willis Marshall has caught at least one pass in every game played in a Rampage uniform (24 regular season games).

· K Brian Gowins has made at least one FG in all three of Grand Rapids' games, including two consecutive game-winners.

TEAM NOTES:

3-0 Starts: Grand Rapids' 66-63 victory over New York last Sunday gave the team its third 3-0 start in the last four years (2000 & 2001).

4-0 Starts: The last three ArenaBowl champions have all started the season 4-0, which includes the 2001 ArenaBowl champion Rampage. That season was the last and only time that Grand Rapids started the season with four straight wins.

First Half vs. Second Half: 106 vs. 48. That's the amount of total points that Grand Rapids' defense has surrendered in the first half this season vs. the second half.

Comeback Kids: Down by 19 points at the half against New York last Sunday, Grand Rapids mounted its greatest comeback in team history to win 66-63. The week prior at Colorado, the Rampage rallied from 10 down to keep the expansion Crush out of the win column.

Gowins the Great: Widely known as one of the best pressure kickers in the AFL, Brian Gowins has delivered the past two weeks when it counted. His 23-yard FG against Colorado with nine seconds remaining in the game proved to be the game-winner. He followed up with a 47-yarder last week with no time remaining on the clock to push the Rampage past New York.

Gowins the Terrible: The former Northwestern star has been money this season when it comes to field goals (5-of-6), but he has been quite mediocre when it comes to point after attempts. Through three games, Gowins has connected on just 12-of-20 extra points, including a 2-of-6 performance against New York.

Home Field Advantage for Tampa: Tampa Bay has never hosted Grand Rapids, but other than the weather, the Storm doesn't have much to complain about. Tampa Bay has dominated the series, taking 3-of-4 from the Rampage in Grand Rapids.

Division Breakdown: Two of the league's four unbeatens hale from the Central Division. Grand Rapids remained atop the Central Division with Indiana, thanks to a narrow victory over New York.

Michigan Connection: The Storm's roster includes former Michigan kicker Pete Elezovic.

Coaching Matchup: Players win championships, but coaches have a little something to do with success, especially when your talking about Michael Trigg and Tim Marcum, two of the winningest coaches in AFL history. The two have combined for 212 wins, three Coach of the Year Awards and seven ArenaBowl championships.

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 (2/1 @ Buffalo), a fumble (2/7 @ Colorado) and two kickoffs (2/16 vs. New York) for scores. Chris Ryan also returned a Colorado Crush (2/16) fumble for the first defensive TD of his career.

16 Returnees: 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 has helped lead the Rampage to its 3-0 record. In three games this season, the former East Texas State star has completed 69-of-107 passes for 781 yards and 15 TDs, while only throwing only two interceptions. Recently, Dolezel continued his attack on the AFL record book by becoming just the fourth AFL quarterback to amass 400 career TD passes.

OS Steve Smith: Smith, who caught a team-high 26 TDs in 2002, has picked up where he left off last season, recording 19 balls for 240 yards and eight TDs in three games. Dating back to last season, the 2002 Rampage MVP, has caught at least one TD in 11 consecutive regular season games.

WR/DB Willis Marshall: A second-team All-Arena selection in 2002, Marshall hasn't caught as many TDs as he'd probably like to, but he has played a major part in the Rampage's 3-0 start, recording 13 catches for 109 yards on offense, four returns for 102 yards on special teams, and 7.5 tackles on defense.

DS Cecil Doggette: The Arizona Rattlers' career leader in nearly every defensive category was signed by GR in the offseason to help solidify a defensive unit that ranked 13th last season. Through three games this season, Doggette's signing has paid off, as the veteran defensive specialist leads the team in tackles (12) and is tied for the team lead in pass breakups (4).

WR/LB Ricky Ross: When Michael Baker retired and Gary Compton moved on to Tampa Bay, Ross finally received his chance to see the field on a more consistent basis. It didn't take long for Ross to assume Baker's Ironman duties. Already the current AFL Ironman of the week has returned a fumble, a missed field goal return and two kickoffs for scores. He also has contributed seven catches for 53 yards on offense and nine tackles on defense.

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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from February 18, 2003


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