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Siaha Burley: Just your 'regular' superstar

May 17, 2006 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Utah Blaze News Release


SALT LAKE CITY - Utah Blaze OS SIAHA BURLEY (5-10, 185, Central Florida) was named to the Arena Football League All-Arena Second Team today - but that only scratches the surface.

Standing next to him, you wouldn't suspect the offensive specialist to be the cornerstone for the high-scoring offense of the Utah Blaze. Siaha, (pronounced SIGH-ah) stands at 5-foot-10 and 185 pounds, and looks like anybody else in street clothes. But, once he puts the helmet on, you can see why head coach and general manager DANNY WHITE, who coached him in his last season with the Arizona Rattlers in 2004, absolutely had to acquire last season's Offensive Player of the Year as voted by the Arena Football League Writers' Association.

Last season, Burley hauled in 117 catches for 1,542 yards and a league-leading 46 touchdowns. Entering his sixth AFL season this year, he shattered ROBERT GORDON's expansion records of 125 receptions for 1,630 yards and 42 touchdowns in a single season by finishing with 136 receptions, a league-leading 1,934 yards (the second-highest ever) and 44 touchdowns.

"I want to win games," Burley said when asked about breaking AFL records. "We still control our own destiny. That is my main focus, and the rest I could care less about right now."

Burley has had to play under three different quarterbacks this season - JOE GERMAINE, JASON GESSER and newly acquired ANDY KELLY, the AFL's all-time prolific passer - and he has stayed consistent, despite the rollercoaster of a season that saw a three-game win streak plus a three- and four-game losing streak, but ended up with a playoff berth and a Wild-Card matchup against his former team, the Arizona Rattlers.

"Especially with the season going the way it has been, I can't commend them enough for them to stick with us through a rough season like this," Burley said after hearing the Blaze led the AFL in attendance. "It says a lot about their character and the true support they are giving us."

Burley knows what it is like to play with talent around him. In both of his season playing for the University of Central Florida Golden Knights, Burley led the team in receiving yards with passes thrown from Pro Bowl QB DAUNTE CULPEPPER.

"It was a blast. It made my job easy," Burley said. "We had a Pro Bowl QB like that making throws 60 yards down the field. It allowed me to have a lot of highlights. We set records as far as completion percentage. It was almost like Arena Football when we were playing college. We threw the ball almost every down with four or five wideouts. I had a blast playing college with him."

Culpepper once appeared on the cover of the Madden Football video game by EA Sports. This year, EA Sports has helped the AFL celebrate its 20th season by creating the first version of AFL football for video gamers at home. Burley has enjoyed scoring touchdown both on the field and on the screen.

"This is the second time I have been able to play myself on a video game, because I was on NCAA Gamebreaker in 1999. It is fun because the graphics are so much better now than they were back then. My kids get a kick out of it."

Overall, Siaha has enjoyed the change on scenery from the hot desert of Arizona, where he played junior college football with Mesa Community College and the last two seasons with the Rattlers, to the Wasatch Mountains.

"It's been a nice change from Arizona. We have enjoyed the cold, like a vacation for us because we have been in Arizona so long." Burley said. "The people are great out here. We've been treated well. I've been surprised at how comfortable we have been here. This organization has made it a real family-oriented environment."

During the offseason, Burley returns home to Arizona where he coaches high school football, raises his two children with his wife, Sheryl, and enjoys playing games.

"I have been coaching high school football in Mesa, AZ for the last three years. I am big on playing games. I have a game room. I'll play foosball, Playstation, bowling. You name it, I play it," he said.

Blaze fans hope that Burley keeps his game-breaking abilities on the field for several seasons to come, as the Blaze locked up the core nucleus of players for the next few seasons by re-signing Germaine, OL/DL HANS OLSEN, WR/DB JUSKIN SKAGGS and WR/DB ORSHAWANTE BRYANT to multi-year deals.

This season, ArenaBowl XX will be played in Las Vegas at the Thomas & Mack Center on June 11 at 1 p.m. (MT). Individuals interested in information regarding tickets to the Wild-Card Round game in Phoenix, can contact KEVIN JAMES (kevinj@utahblaze.com or 801.257.3492) in the Blaze ticket office.

2006 ALL-ARENA FIRST TEAM

POSITION PLAYER, TEAM

Quarterback Clint Dolezel, Dallas

Fullback/Linebacker Duke Pettijohn, Dallas

Offensive/Defensive Lineman Colston Weatherington, Dallas

Offensive/Defensive Lineman Henry Taylor, Orlando

Offensive/Defensive Lineman Jermaine Smith, Georgia

Wide Receiver/Linebacker Derek Lee, Georgia

Wide Receiver/Defensive Back Randy Gatewood, Arizona

Offensive Specialist Damian Harrell, Colorado

Defensive Specialist Jerald Brown, Columbus

Defensive Specialist Eddie Moten, Philadelphia

Kicker Remy Hamilton, Los Angeles

2006 ALL-ARENA SECOND TEAM

POSITION PLAYER, TEAM

Quarterback Joe Hamilton, Orlando

Fullback/Linebacker Marlion Jackson, Las Vegas

Offensive/Defensive Lineman Khreem Smith*, Chicago

Offensive/Defensive Lineman Ernest Allen, Philadelphia

Offensive/Defensive Lineman Joe Minucci, Nashville

Wide Receiver/Linebacker Lawrence Samuels, Tampa Bay

Wide Receiver/Defensive Back Kevin Ingram, Los Angeles

Offensive Specialist SIAHA BURLEY, UTAH

Defensive Specialist Rashad Floyd, Colorado

Defensive Specialist Clevan Thomas, San Jose

Kicker Clay Rush, Colorado

*Rookie

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