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'The Deuce Scoop' - Notes from Around af2

April 3, 2002 - arenafootball2 (af2) News Release


OUTTA SITE: The official Web site of arenafootball2 (www.af2.com) has undergone some exciting changes for the upcoming season. Fans can access live webcasts straight from the main page. In the Gamecenter area, fans can link to each day's league news release. And for those who crave even more information, team game notes are available on each team's page.

GAMES GALORE: There will be 15 games played in Week 2, the most af2 games ever played in a single week.

HOME SWEET HOME: After back-to-back ArenaCup championships, the locals are calling Quad City "Titletown QCA." The Steamwheelers' success has started at home - Quad City is a perfect 22-0 at "The MARK," including six playoff wins. Bossier City faces the tough task of visiting the Steamwheelers Saturday night.

HOME SWEET HOME, PART II: The Tulsa Talons have made the Tulsa Convention Center an especially tough place for visitors to win in their first two seasons. The Talons boast an all-time home record of 13-3, including a perfect 8-0 regular season record last season that featured a 49-47 win over Quad City, the Steamwheelers' only loss in team history.

HOME ON THE RANGE: Rochester was 3-5 at home last season, and looks to improve upon those numbers in 2002. The Brigade will play five of its first six games at the Blue Cross Arena, all of which are against divisional opponents. Head Coach/General Manager Mark Saunders has deemed the Blue Cross Arena the "Black Hole of the af2" because of its low ceiling and darkness around the boards. "It's an arena that no team looks forward to visiting during the season," Saunders said.

LONG IS THE ROAD: Mobile opens the season with four consecutive road games. After Saturday's visit to Estero, Fla., to play the Firecats, the Wizards' travels continue on April 12 at Birmingham. On April 20, the Wizards fight the war of north Alabama vs. south Alabama when they travel to Huntsville to play the Tennessee Valley Vipers. The "Battle of the Bays" with Pensacola's Barracudas on April 26 ends the month of road trips. The Wizards' first home game, against Memphis, is May 4.

SNAKE EYES: Former Oakland Raiders' QB Ken Stabler will be pacing the sidelines of Florida's TECO Arena Saturday, but not as a player. He is a minority operator for visiting Mobile as well as the Wizards' director of operations. Stabler was NFL Player of the Year in 1976 and led the Raiders to a Super Bowl XI victory over the Minnesota Vikings.

FIELDS OWNS af2 RECORDS: Tennessee Valley OS Kelly Fields is a dominant figure in the af2 record book. He ranks first in career receptions (258) and in receiving yards (3,085). He is second in receiving touchdowns (53), but the honor stays in the state as Birmingham's Wayne Thomas has 73.

HAT TRICK HARVEY: In last week's 50-21 victory over Roanoke, Richmond WR/LB Kevin Harvey scored three touchdowns on two rushes (5, 1) and one reception (16). Including the 2002 playoffs, he has scored at least one touchdown in seven straight games. Harvey is the defending af2 Ironman of the Year.

NO DOUBTING THOMAS: Birmingham OS Wayne Thomas is the league's all-time leader in touchdown catches with 73, and Tulsa (this week's opponent) is one of his favorite victims. In two career games against the Talons, he has caught 16 passes for 333 yards and seven touchdowns.

THE PLAYMAKER: One look at Tennessee Valley OL/DL Andy Fuller's career numbers and you see how he got the name "Playmaker." In two seasons, he has caught 25 passes - 17 for touchdowns. Two of his receptions last season were game winners for the Vipers . with no time left against Birmingham and with :06 left at Arkansas, this week's opponent. His TD against the Twisters capped a 35-point fourth-quarter comeback for a 56-55 Tennessee Valley win. What's more, Fuller's lone interception in his two pro years was returned for a touchdown against Arkansas.

STROMAS STALKING RECEIVING RECORDS: Pensacola WR/DB Robert Stromas, who already ranks as the leading tackler in Barracudas' franchise history with 140 stops in his career, is now closing in on several receiving marks as well. Stromas is 196 yards away from the team's all time receiving mark set by Rodney Woodham in 2000 (1,074 yards). Stromas' 18 career receiving touchdowns leave him just five shy of Woodham's career mark, and his 72 career receptions are only 13 back of Woodham.

EARLY STARTERS: Birmingham Head Coach Bobby Humphrey hopes one trend continues this season: the quick start. Last year, the Steeldogs outscored their opponents 512-357 in the first half of play.

UP IN THE AIR: The Bakersfield Blitz quarterback position remains up in the air as former Syracuse University QB Chad Elliott and Ft. Hays State alum Jason Brown battle for the starting slot. Blitz Head Coach James Fuller will have to make the tough decision of picking a starter for the season opener.

CLAYTON BACK IN THE FOLD: After sitting out the 2001 season, Pensacola QB Bobby Clayton can add to his career passing totals - already club records - this week. Clayton is the team career leader in passing yards (3,223) and passing touchdowns (50). "It's a thrill to have him back with us at quarterback," Barracudas' Head Coach Mike Buck said. "He makes coaching that much easier for me."

X FACTOR: Xavier Patterson has a new address this season, joining the Wichita Stealth after two years in Quad City. Patterson was the af2 Ironman of the Year in 2000. He was named to the All-af2 team that year and was a second-team all-league selection in 2001.

BUICH READY TO ROLL: QB Anthony Buich, who played last year with the Iowa Barnstormers, will be making his first start for the Tulsa Talons against Birmingham on Saturday. Buich will be the third different opening-day starting quarterback in Talons' team history.

XPLORERS ADD SUPER BOWL PLAYER: After spending a six-year NFL career with the Buffalo Bills, Memphis OS Russell Copeland hopes to spark the Xplorers' offense this season. Copeland caught 103 passes during his NFL career, including 42 for Buffalo in 1995. Copeland appeared in a Super Bowl while playing for the Bills.

THEY CALL HIM BRUCE: Bruce Cowdrey returns to the Peoria Pirates as head coach this season. Cowdrey was the head coach in Peoria during the Indoor Football League's 1999 and 2000 seasons, going 29-2.

BACK IN THE FOLD: Former Roanoke WR/DB Anthony Drakeford, who retired during training camp this season, has rejoined the Steam as a member of the coaching staff. Drakeford, who played locally at Ferrum College, is the new wide receivers coach. Offensive Coordinator Mike Weneta will continue to coach the quarterbacks.

EXPERIENCE COUNTS: Cape Fear has six players with af2 experience. DS Kenton Rickerson enters his third season in the af2 after stints with Jacksonville, Tallahassee and Augusta. WR/DB Norman Mason played with the Augusta Stallions in 2000 and set the club record for most touchdowns in a single game (4, twice). WR/LB Troy Esprit was the Macon Knights' leading receiver in 2000 and has 31 touchdowns in 22 career af2 games. WR/LB Seth Gutz caught six touchdown passes in eight games with Lincoln last year. DS Kelvin Suggs played four games with the Louisville Fire last year, and FB/LB Charles Gunnings played with the Nighthawks in 2000.

WITH "WILL" THERE'S A WAY: Norfolk QB Will Burch comes to the Nighthawks in 2002 with two years of af2 experience. With the Nighthawks having one of the top defenses over the past two seasons, Norfolk hopes Burch will add the potent offensive component the Nighthawks need to make it back to the af2 playoffs.

CALIFORNIA DREAMIN': Saturday's expansion battle between Bakersfield and San Diego pits two coaches with ties to the host city. Bakersfield Head Coach James Fuller played in the NFL from 1992 to 1996, including a stint with the San Diego Chargers as a defensive back. Riptide Head Coach Cree Morris played collegiately at San Diego State and St. Mary's College in nearby Moraga. Playing locally at Orange Glen High School, he finished second in the state in passing in 1988 and earned all-conference player-of-the-year honors. In addition, eight Riptide players played at San Diego State and 15 have connections to the San Diego area.

THE GREAT EIGHT: The Albany Conquest has eight players on their roster from the Patriot League. Brandon Tinson, Ryan Vena, Jason Mattes, Alexander Houston, and Corey Hill played at Colgate University. Adriel Linyear, Elijah Beamon, and Stafford Levy played at Lafayette University. Most of these players competed against each other and some for Patriot League titles. As friends and teammates, they are destined to show af2 that the Patriot League is competitive and produces some of the best talent in the country. Offensively, Baker tallied 19 receptions for 173 yards and 2 touchdowns.

NUTMEG NITCH: Of the 21 players on New Haven's roster, eight have ties to Connecticut. Seven of those eight played their college ball in Connecticut, four are natives, and all eight currently reside in state.

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