The Northeast Division Preview

by Jim Ducibella
Published on March 28, 2001 under arenafootball2 (af2)

by Jim Ducibella, Norfolk Virginian-Pilot

Most of what was the American Conference of af2 in 2000 is back as the Northeast Division in 2001. If last year's inaugural race is any indication, the Northeast will be as strong and balanced a division as any in this rapidly expanding league.

Here's a quick look at the competition, in the predicted order of finish.

Norfolk Nighthawks
2000 record: 10-6
Coach Deatrich Wise welcomes back one of the league's most versatile and exciting players in OS Anthony Stringfield, the league's 10th-leading receiver last season with more than 1,300 yards and 21 touchdowns.

The quarterback will be Steve Fill, an experienced af2 player with the Pensacola Barracudas. Fill beat out IFL veteran Ryan Swailes during training camp.

Helping Stringfield will be Gary Briggs from West Liberty College and Henry "Shake" Baker, formerly of Maryland.

The linemen and linebackers have no af2 experience, so it's on-the-job training for them. One of the pass-rushers Wise hopes will step forward Marvin Davis. He played with the Florida Bobcats of the AFL a year ago and looks to be the most versatile of what Wise has said is a talented group.

Another possible star is Ezell Powell. He's the only Nighthawk to top 300 pounds, but played for the Division II national champions at Delta State University. Ezell has good bloodlines. He is related to former Alabama lineman Ozell Powell, who spent three training camps with the Washington Redskins.

Carolina Rhinos
2000 record: 9-7
Oscar Davenport, starting quarterback for the University of North Carolina a couple of years ago, agreed to play for the Rhinos a couple days before camp opened, and a bright outlook got even sunnier. Davenport would appear to be the ideal af2 quarterback, just the right combination of passing and running ability.

But the most pleasant surprise in camp may have been receiver Mike Holaren of tiny Geneva College. He caught three TD passes in a recent scrimmage, a performance indicative of the way he's practiced. Diah Young and Jarvis Davis give the Rhinos a formidable receiving corps.

Meanwhile, kicker Stan Whitlock, a former camp invitee by the Dallas Cowboys, has been nailing his kicks. He converted 8 extra points and three field goals of 30 yards or more during a recent scrimmage.

Lineman Ronnie Washburn anchors the lines, which says a lot considering the Rhinos' roster sports 350-pound Eric Chandler, another pleasant surprise.

Richmond Speed
2000 record: 7-9
The Speed might want to change their nickname to the Killer Bees this season, especially if quarterback Bob Bees continues the sparkling play he exhibited upon joining the Speed midway through the 2000 season.

Richmond was 0-6 when Bees joined the club from the AFL's Arizona Wranglers. The Speed took off after his arrival, winning 7 of their final 10 to just miss making the playoffs.

Despite playing just 10 games, Bees finished as the league's sixth-leading passer with 2,252 yards and seventh in completion percentage at 55.3.

Who will he throw to? Start with Bobby Phillips of Virginia Union, the team's offensive specialist and former Minnesota Vikings receiver.

Fullback/linebacker Al Ford and Bees lead the returning players from a year ago. George Strother, a 6-4, 310-pound mountain of a lineman, may be the Speed's best two-way player. Steven Haynes, a lineman who scored the Speed's first touchdown, then was hurt in the third game, also returns.

Kicker Geoff Groshelle holds the Montana State record with a 53-yard field goal. He kicked last season for the Minnesota Purple Rage of the IFL.

Charleston Swamp Foxes
2000 record: 4-12
When the Swamp Foxes took the field for their 2000 season opener, only two players on the roster had ever played indoor football. The results were predictably depressing.

Coach Jimmy Dunn, who came to Charleston after a 45-year career that included stints with the NFL's Tampa Bay Bucs and the Arena Football League's Orlando Predators, Charlotte Rage and Miami Hooters, has reason to believe better days are ahead. There's the return from injury of QB Ray Issaac, who started the first five games last season before blowing out a knee. Charleston was on a 3-game winning streak at the time, and they never recovered.

Mike Chandler of Kansas and Anthony Jones of Winston-Salem State join Kenyatta Spruill as the team's top candidates at offensive specialist. That group is short on experience.

Both lines are anchored by one of the league's most versatile players, 6-3, 240-pound Darren Nosal. He is equally adept at offensive line, defensive line and at linebacker.

"I think one of our greatest strengths this season is our knowledge of the game," Dunn said. "Unlike last year, we have some."

Greensboro Prowlers
2000 record: 3-13
Actually, the Prowlers could have the makings of the surprise team in the Northeast Division. Their lackluster record is offset a bit by the fact that they won two of their last three games in 2000. They were just coming around when the season ended. Can the momentum carry over?

That's new coach Gary Tufford's toughest assignment. He was hired in early December after a stint with Erie Invaders of the IFL. Tufford, who scouted for NFL, Canadian Football League and World League of American Football teams, has as much returning talent as any team in the division Who knows if it's the right stuff?

There are four competitors at quarterback, the most polished of the bunch likely being Travis Pender. He started six games last season before the team signed former North Carolina star Oscar Davenport (now with Carolina). Pender also played defensive back and wide receiver, testimony to his versatility, but also his overall athletic prowess.

Others worth watching include offensive/defensive lineman Orlando Atwater. Talk about dedication. Atwater got married the morning of the season finale, attended his reception, then drove to the game to face Arkansas. Brought the whole wedding party with him, too.

Nose tackle Marcus Dow cut his teeth at North Carolina. At 310 pounds, he's hard to move. Cranston Johnson played both receiver and defensive back, though some say his best position is the latter. Fullback/linebacker John Lewis spent most of the season among the league's rushing leaders before an injury sidelined him.

Roanoke Steam
2000 record: 3-13
The franchise finished last in attendance a year ago, and continued foundering for most of the offseason. One general manager resigned. A coach was fired as team vice-president. A managing partner quit after selling off his interest in the team.

Things haven't been a whole lot better lately. Former coach Pete Shaw recently sued the team for breach of contract. The quarterback new coach Steven Jerry hoped would help turn things around _ former Virginia Tech starter Al Clark _ spent all training camp with his wrist in a cast. That won't come off until after the season opener.

That leaves another Hokie _ Michael Vick's backup Dave Meyer _ and Hampton University's Roy Johnson battling for the starting slinger's position. And Jerry has said he will excuse Meyer from practice if and when NFL scouts want to give him a tryout.

Jerry, who was offensive coordinator for the Norfolk Nighthawks, but joined the Steam after working for William and Mary, looks to have some talent. Willie Tillman, who played at Purdue, is a receiver candidate. Ty Evans, who played at San Diego State, is in the mix at running back.

Anthony Drakeford is a talented wide receiver/linebacker candidate. There is a new general manager in Terri Neilsen, one of five female GMs in the league. She grew up rooting for the Kansas City Chiefs and dreaming of an NFL job. She knows the indoor game, having come to the Steam from a position as vice president of the IFL.

Getting Roanoke turned around could be her biggest triumph.

Rochester Brigade
Expansion team
There's nothing tougher than being an expansion team in any sport _ unless it's being an expansion team in a league where teams have three weeks to get ready for the season and little, if any, opportunity to hit someone other than themselves.

That's the job new coach Mark Saunders took on with the Brigade. Saunders spent the previous eight seasons with North Carolina A&T sidelines as an assistant. He played collegiately at Johnson C. Smith, where he holds the school record with a 98-yard run from scrimmage. Once into coaching, one of his stops was at the University of Virginia, where he helped handle the defensive line.

With a coaching staff short on af2 experience, Saunders at least has a roster dotted with players who have experienced the game through the IFL and af2.

Quarterback Mike Carruba is expected to be the offensive leader, along with offensive specialist Doby Howard. Jeff Guy is the mainstay among the offensive/defensive line set.

Carrying out Saunders' aggressive defensive philosophy will be Larry Long, a receiver/defensive back, Chaka Thomas (defensive specialist) and Raheem Miller (OL/DL).

arenafootball2 Stories from March 28, 2001

• The Northeast Division Preview - OSC Original by Jim Ducibella

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