Riptide update
April 30, 2004 - arenafootball2 (af2)
San Diego Riptide News Release
LAST WEEK: The Riptide reached the quarter-way mark last week, finally showing signs that they might contend for a division crown. Two former teammates faced off as Kane Claunch threw five touchdown passes to top former Riptide signal caller Wesley Phillips and the Central Valley Coyotes, 59-34, earning the 'Tide's first win of the season.
Claunch ruined the homecoming of former coach Cree Morris by completing 13 of 23 passes for 221 yards and throwing five touchdowns for the third straight game. He also ran for another, taking home Offensive Player of the Game honors. Rico Curtis added a receiving score and recovered a fumble for another, while racking up six tackles and Dwight Carter caught a touchdown pass and returned a kickoff for a score as well. Nakoa McElrath also hauled in the first three af2 touchdowns of his career to help propel Mouse Davis and the Tide to their first victory of the year. Phillips finished the game 16 of 30 for 171 yards and two scores.
THIS WEEK: The Tide take the weekend off for their first bye week of the 2004 season, but will return to action on May 8 at the Sports Arena when they take on the division-leading Hawaiian Islanders.
The Islanders lead the National West Division by one game over the Bakersfield Blitz and are two games ahead of the Riptide. Hawaii is also the defending division champions, taking home the National West title in 2004. They are led by former Utah quarterback Darnell Arceneaux, who is often as dangerous with his legs as he is with his arm, breaking the af2 rushing records for yards in a season and touchdowns in a season in 2002.
Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at the Sports Arena with Riptide long-sleeve t-shirts going to the first 3,000 fans, courtesy of Channel 4 San Diego. Fans who arrive before the game and purchase their tickets using the special Riptide Breast Cancer Night voucher will receive a free bratwurst, courtesy of the Clever Cleaver brothers and Johnsonville Brats. In addition, 50 percent of the price of those tickets will go to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.
STANDINGS: The Riptide currently sit in third place in the National West Division, two games behind Hawaii and one behind Bakersfield. A win for San Diego next week, however, could pull them to within a half-game of first place in the division if the Islanders were to also fall to Bossier-Shreveport this weekend.
RIPTIDE JOIN FIGHT AGAINST BREAST CANCER
Portions of May 8 Ticket Sales to Go To Komen Foundation
SAN DIEGO The San Diego Riptide will join the fight against breast cancer when they team up with the Susan G. Komen Foundation in the first-ever Breast Cancer Awareness Night at the Sports Arena, when the Tide take on the Hawaiian Islanders on May 8.
The first 2,000 fans that use the Breast Cancer Night voucher to purchase their tickets will be treated to free brats, courtesy of Johnsonville Brats and the Clever Cleaver Brothers. Brats will be served in the Sports Arena V.I.P. parking lot before the game. Fans can download the voucher by going to the Riptide website at www.sandiegoriptide.com and clicking on the Susan G. Komen Foundation logo.
The number of new cases of breast cancer has increased by about one percent per year in the United States since about the 1940s and has only recently shown signs of leveling off. An estimated 216,000 new cases of breast cancer will be diagnosed in American women in 2004 alone. For more than 20 years, however, the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation has been a global leader in the fight against breast cancer through its support of innovative research and community-based outreach programs. Working through a network of U.S. and international Affiliates and events like the Komen Race for the Cure®, the Komen Foundation is fighting to eradicate breast cancer as a life-threatening disease by funding research grants and supporting education, screening and treatment projects in communities around the world. Fans can find out more about the Komen Foundation by going to www.komen.org.
TIDE TRIVIA
Q: In 2003, the Riptide had one player take home Offensive Player of the Week honors, one win Defensive Player of the Week, and one win the Ironman of the Week. Name two of the three.
(answer at the bottom)
RIPTIDE GRAB WIN #1, 59-34 OVER COYOTES
Two former teammates squared off Friday night at the Sports Arena as Riptide quarterback Kane Claunch threw five touchdowns to top former Riptide signal caller Wesley Phillips and the Central Valley Coyotes, earning the Tide their first win of the season, 59-34.
The Riptide jumped out to a quick 14-0 lead, scoring on two long passing plays from Claunch. San Diego scored on their first drive, a 25-yard Claunch to Curtis bomb, then got the ball right back when Ryan Smith picked off Phillips. The interception turned into a 38-yard touchdown pass from Claunch to Marty Graham.
San Diego led by 21 to start the fourth quarter when Carter took the kickoff and returned it 49 yards for a score. It was the first kick return touchdown of the game for the Tide and the second score of the game for Carter.
After Claunch ran in a score for his sixth touchdown of the game, Central Valley returned a kickoff for a touchdown of their own, but it wasnt nearly enough to overcome the Tide onslaught. San Diego continued to pound away as backup quarterback Tony Corbin came in to add another touchdown. McElrath hauled in the pass, his third touchdown of the game. The Coyotes added a late score, but it was too little too late as the Riptide garnered win number 1, 59-34.
Get Your 2004 Riptide Tickets Now
Riptide football is underway for 2004 and with seven exciting home games left, fans still have plenty of opportunities to catch the action!
This Fridays game against the Central Valley Coyotes will feature the return of former Tide members, Cree Morris, Wesley Phillips and Zach LaMonda, as well as Riptide t-shirts to the first 4,000 fans, courtesy of AFRC.
MAKE YOUR NEXT COMPANY/GROUP OUTING A RIPTIDE FOOTBALL GAME
Are you ready for a helmet poppin, heart stoppin, 50-yard Indoor War? We will assist your group in every way possible to make this an unforgetable and carefree experience. You will experience football so close you can feel the action!
Our games are filled with action packed entertainment. Don't blink!
Group Benefits (must be 20 or more):
FREE Ticket for group leader $3 off per ticket Public Announcement at game Group name on scoreboard Ask about groups of 50 or more!!
RIPTIDE UNVEIL NEW HOME PAGE
First came the new ownership group. Then came the new head coach. Then new players and new uniforms. The changes continued today when the San Diego Riptide unveiled their brand new website at www.sandiegoriptide.com.
The new site features all the same great articles, team information and interactive fun but boasts a whole new look and feel to make navigating through all the great Riptide info even easier for fans.
Riptide faithful can find in-depth bios on all their favorite players, coaches and cheerleaders, plus find access to schedules, statistics, boxscores, standings and much, much more. The site also features game previews and summaries, releases regarding breaking news, plus great feature articles on Riptide players, coaches and more.
The Tide home page will also contain interactive polls where fans can voice their opinion on pressing Tide issues as well as vast galleries of photos from games and community events. Additionally, the site features a calendar of upcoming Riptide events, detailed descriptions of group, season and individual ticket packages and a link to listen to all the Riptide games live at www.WorldTalkRadio.com.
Coming soon to www.SanDiegoRiptide.com will be links for fans to purchase great Riptide merchandise and more great in-depth articles and interviews.
The San Diego Riptides website is powered by Infinity Pro Sports with content updated daily. The site also offers many great marketing opportunities for members of the San Diego corporate community. To find out more about how your business can become a corporate partner with the Riptide, please contact Alan Friedman at afriedman@sandiegogulls.com.
RIPTIDE PLAYER PROFILE
After starring on defense for four years at San Diego State University before becoming one of the Riptides most recognizable players, fans may think theyre already pretty familiar with Rico Curtis. But heres a few facts about the Tide star you might not know
Name: Rico Curtis
Position: WR/LB
Years with Riptide: 3
College: San Diego State
Favorite TV Show: Law and Order SVU or Criminal Intent
Favorite musician: King Kelly
Favorite Food: French Fries
Least Favorite Food: Salad
Favorite Sports Team Growing Up: Chicago Bears & Chicago Bulls
Greatest Fear: Missing a tackle
Person in History Youd Most Like to Meet: Martin Luther King
Football hero growing up: Walter Payton
Favorite Hobbies: Playing video games, cars and music
You can learn more about all of the Riptide players by visiting www.sandiegoriptide.com, the internets home for Riptide football.
The Riptide website features all the latest news and notes youll need to stay up to date on your 2004 San Diego Riptide. Check out the training camp rosters, news stories, articles on your favorite players and coaches, and even purchase your tickets - all at www.sandiegoriptide.com.
RIPTIDE CONTINUE TO ADJUST ROSTER
After a disappointing 0-3 start to the 2004 season, head coach Mouse Davis continued to adjust his roster, a move that paid off in Week 4 when San Diego finally found the win column with a decisive victory over the Central Valley Coyotes. Prior to the game, the league assigned San Diego veteran OL/DL Henry Stephens and kicker Chris Arnce this week, while kicker Scott Collins and defensive back Samaji Akili were reassigned.
Stephens, who spent much of 2003 with the Riptide, is an af2 veteran who was part of the 2002 Tulsa Talons that finished with a league-best 14-2 record. Hes also spent time with the Wichita Stealth during his career. Last season he played in 10 games with San Diego, accumulating 17 tackles, eight quarterback hurries, three pass deflections and two sacks.
The Tide also made a change at kicker, one week after Davis chose to go for the touchdown on fourth-and-goal with under a minute to play, down by three in Bakersfield. Gone is former University of Delaware kicker Scott Collins. Replacing him will be Purdue alum Chris Arnce.
Arnce was a two-year letterman at Purdue (1996-97) where he served primarily as a kickoff specialist. He had a 30-percent touchback rate during 1997 and was three of nine in his collegiate career on field goal attempts and was 15 of 16 on point-after tries. He has also spent time in training camp with the Los Angeles Avengers.
BECOME A RIPTIDE CORPORATE PARTNER
The Riptide offer many exciting and unique opportunities for members of the San Diego corporate community to market their products through the hard-hitting, fast-paced sport of arena football.
For more information on Riptide sponsorship packages or to become a corporate partner, contact Alan Friedman at afriedman@sandiegoarena.com or call the Riptide offices at 619-224-4625 x327.
RIPTIDE IN THE COMMUNITY
Here's where you can find the Riptide players and dancers this month...
May 11: Old Pros Monthly Meeting
The Old Pros will be holding their monthly meeting with Lee Hamilton as their keynote speaker. Lee will be discussing Riptide football and the Riptide girls will be on hand as well to greet group members and promote the Riptide.
May 21: Sempra Fit Health Fair
Ripper and the Dance Team will be on hand for the Sempra Fit Athletic Department of the Militarys Health Fair to promote healthy living to more than 1,000 attendees. The event will last from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the Sports Complex in Miramar.
SPICE UP YOUR NEXT EVENT WITH THE RIPTIDE GIRLS
Looking to take your event to the next level? When the San Diego Riptide Dance Team attend, it will be special! We are there for photo opportunities and autographs - all within most budgets.
This elite group of professional dancers will definitely add some pazzaz to the event! Create memories with the Riptide Dance Team - they will certainly bring something special to your group!
In addition to their many community appearances, the Riptide Girls also head up the Junior Riptide Dance Team, which teaches youngters how to dance like the pro's and even gives them a chance to dance at an actual Riptide home game!
CATCH THE ACTION LIVE ON WORLD TALK RADIO
The San Diego Riptide announced today that they would air all 16 regular season games over the internet at www.WorldTalkRadio.com. The site, which also covers the Major Indoor Soccer Leagues San Diego Sockers, will also archive each game so that fans can enjoy the hard-hitting action of Riptide football anytime.
Mark Rogondino will be calling the play-by-play for all of the Riptides home games, and, along with Riptide Public Relations Director David Hale, will also provide commentary for each San Diego road game.
Fans can access the World Talk Radio site directly from the San Diego Riptide homepage at www.SanDiegoRiptide.com by simply clicking on the World Talk Radio logo.
TRIVIA ANSWER:
A: QB Kane Claunch took home the af2s Offensive Player of the Week Award in Week 14 after completing 16 of 19 passes for 289 yards and six touchdowns in the Tides win over Wichita. In Week 18, Kenny Haslip recorded a season-high 11 tackles en route to ADT Defensive Player of the Week Honors. And Marty Graham won the Ironman of the Week Award in Week 1 of 2003, tallying 200 all-purpose yards and racking up seven tackles.
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