Twyner Shines In Buffalo Debut
February 5, 2003 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Buffalo Destroyers News Release
(BUFFALO, NY)- When Buffalo Destroyers offensive specialist Gunnard Twyner signed with the Destroyers in the off-season, the transaction didn't make much noise around the league. Twyner, a veteran of both the National Football League and the Arena Football League, wasn't even planning on playing football in 2003. He left the Tampa Bay Storm with a bitter taste in his mouth after last season. It was a phone call from an old coach who asked him to give football one more shot this year. After his eight reception, 134 yard, three touchdown performance in his Destroyers debut, Twyner may finally have found a home where he can showcase his talents.
"Why did I come to Buffalo? That's easy, Ron Selesky," Twyner said. "I would have never thought about coming to play for Buffalo. I was ready to put my college degree to work, but Ron asked me to give it another chance. I'm still playing because Coach Selesky was the first person to recruit me to the AFL.
As the director of player personnel for the Storm, Selesky recruited Twyner in 2000 to the AFL's most storied franchise. Before he signed with the Storm, Twyner had spent the previous four seasons trying to make a name for himself in the NFL with the Cincinnati Bengals (1996-97), New Orleans Saints (1997-99) and Jacksonville Jaguars (2000).
In 2000, he was a back-up offensive specialist for the Storm and saw action in seven games. He caught 39 passes for 560 yards and 15 touchdowns, including five on July 7 vs. Houston. Twyner also lead the team in missed field goal returns with four for 113 yards. Twyner re-signed with the Storm after week six last season and only played in four games for the Storm in 2002 catching nine passes for 128 yards and two touchdowns. He ranks seventh in Storm history with 17 receiving touchdowns in just 11 games played.
"I thought I had done enough in 2000 to prove what I could do," Twyner said. After Tampa released me this past off-season, I didn't get any calls from other teams, so I stopped working out. I didn't think anyone would call me.
Little did Twyner know that events almost 1,500 miles away from his Florida home were about to affect his football life. On November 6, 2002, Selesky was introduced as the Destroyers new head coach and one of the first people he called was Twyner.
"After he took the Buffalo job, I got a phone call from Ron saying âget ready to play'," Twyner said.
Twyner came ready to play and his first week totals put him the top five of almost every receiving category in the AFL.
Twyner and company host the Carolina Cobras Sunday, February 9 at 3:00 p.m. at the HSBC Arena. Season and group tickets are on sale now! Call 881-4444!
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