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Rampage sign two ArenaBowl XIX champions

October 11, 2005 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Grand Rapids Rampage News Release


The Grand Rapids Rampage have announced the signing of two key members of the ArenaBowl XIX champion Colorado Crush: lineman Bryant Shaw and quarterback Jose Davis. Also, the Rampage have signed lineman Alex Bell and 2006 ArenaCup champion fullback/linebacker Lavante Epson.

Shaw (6'03" 290 lbs., Mississippi College) started all 19 games, including the playoffs, last season for the Crush. He was originally scouted and signed by Sparky McEwen prior to the 2001 AFL season with the Rampage. Shaw spent two seasons on the Rampage exempt list while playing in NFL Europe. He played with the Rampage in the final three games of the 2002 season before being traded to Colorado for the rights to the 11th and 12th pick in the 2003 AFL Expansion Draft (picks used for Sean Riley & Lamar Grant).

In the past three seasons, Shaw has been an essential component in the Crush's progression from expansion team to ArenaBowl champions. He is known as one of the better protectors in the AFL as evidence of the Crush allowing a league-low ten sacks over the last two seasons. In contrast, the Rampage have allowed a league-high 49 sacks during that timeframe. Shaw has also spent time with the NFL's Dallas Cowboys and the Scottish Claymores and Berlin Thunder of NFL Europe.

Davis (6'01" 195 lbs., Kent State) served as John Dutton's backup for the last two seasons. He threw for 110 yards and two touchdowns in five games last season with Colorado and had his best season in 2003 when he threw for 613 yards and eight scores with Indiana.

A three-year starter at Kent State from 1997-99, Davis is the school's second all-time leading passer (6,722 yards). His 2,702 yards and 32 scores in 1997 still ranks as the most in school history. He held 18 different school records after his senior season and is the school's all-time leader in pass efficiency and touchdown passes (57). Davis also set a school and Mid-American Conference record with 551 passing yards in a 1997 game against Central Florida and threw for seven touchdowns that same year against Central Michigan.

Bell (6'04" 340 lbs., Hobart) was a two-time Division III All-American and did not allow a single sack in four years at Hobart College. He was signed out of college and spent the 2005 mini-camp with the New York Giants.

Epson (6'00" 245 lbs., Tennessee-Martin) has spent the past two seasons with the Memphis Xplorers of arenafootball2. In 19 af2 games, he scored eight rushing TDs on offense. Defensively, he posted 45.5 stops, including 11.0 for loss, and 4.5 sacks.

Rampage 2006 season tickets are now on sale. To reserve your season tickets for hard-hitting, high scoring, non-stop Rampage football on Centennial Wireless Field at Van Andel Arena, call the Rampage offices at 1.888.595.4878 or log on to RampageFootball.com.

The 20th season of Arena Football and fourth on NBC kicks off the weekend of Sunday, January 29, 2006. Tune in on WOOD-TV channel 8 in the Grand Rapids area all season long for the Rampage's drive to ArenaBowl XX.

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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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