Riptide Prepares For Quick Start

April 5, 2002 - arenafootball2 (af2)
San Diego Riptide News Release


By Matthew Kennedy, sandiegoriptide.com

A new brand of football is coming to San Diego. Fast.

Arena football, one of America's fastest growing sports, arrives here this April as the expansion Riptide of the af2's fledgling West division launches its inaugural season. Curious spectators will be treated to their first live display of the offensive outbursts and frenzied pace that have become trademarks of the sport. At the same time, many of the Riptide players will be making their Arena football debuts, moving inside after competing at various levels of the outside game.

"The biggest difference is the quickness and speed of the game," said QB Kane Claunch, whose experience playing last year for the af2's Rochester Brigade makes him one of the few Riptide players with Arena league seasoning. "You don't have time to think."

FB/LB Melvin Blue, who grew accustomed to the Arena game while leading the 2001 Iowa Barnstormers in rushing, agrees the orientation process can be tricky. "There are different rules to learn" and—because the roster is restricted to nineteen active players—"offensive players [like myself] have to play both ways...defense is a different mentality."

In the Arena league that "mentality" often demands resiliency, as the fast-break offenses tend to dominate the show. Offenses benefit from playing on a short (50 yard), fast track and from rules that promote a downfield attack and restrict defenses. Punting is outlawed and points are expected on each possession. "This game is made for the fans," said Claunch, "it's fun to watch and it's high-scoring."

In a town no stranger to legendary air attacks, San Diego football fans should expect the Riptide to put up points as rapidly as the "Air Coryell" Chargers of the late-seventies and early-eighties. While Claunch to WR/LB Rico Curtis might not replace Fouts to Winslow in their hearts, the Riptide does hope to quickly inspire a healthy body of support from the local pigskin-loving populace. And while Blue might not be able to predict how successful the team will be toward this aim, he can guarantee with a smile that "[they'll] put on a good show." In other words, expect the scoreboard operator and the visiting team trainer to remain busy.

Despite their lack of Arena league experience the Riptide enter their first season with lofty expectations. Blue believes "[the team] has an edge because of location alone," referring to San Diego's respected reputation as a hotbed of football talent. Accordingly, Head Coach Cree Morris, who attended SDSU himself, has stocked the 21-man roster with 15 players who have San Diego connections either by birth, schooling or professional football experience. Homegrown talent and the tight arena setting mean that San Diegians will be close to their Riptide in more ways than one.

While Saturday nights at the San Diego Sports Arena promise to deliver fast-faced entertainment to the fans, the team has more on its mind than scoring lots of points. The expansion San Diego Riptide see no reason why they can't compete for and win ArenaCup III during this, their first, season. "We can contend right now," insists Blue, "we're in it for the [championship] ring right off the bat." Like everything else in Arena League Football, goals develop quickly.



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