Up To The Challenge
April 24, 2002 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Los Angeles Avengers News Release
Greg Hopkins won an ArenaBowl world championship in 1999. Since then and the dawning of the new millennium, he has caught more passes than anyone else in the Arena Football League. Quite simply, Hopkins is the kind of guy you want on your team and he wants to win more than anything else.
"I took the challenge with Coach (Ed) Hodgkiss to come out to L.A. and win," Hopkins says. "If it weren't for coach I wouldn't be out here. He has assembled a team loaded with talent and our goal is to win a championship. I have been working with him for five years now and he's an offensive genius. I get called 'Coach's Pet' by the guys, but it's only natural since we understand each other so well after working together for so long."
The first-year Avenger head coach sees it the same way.
"Greg has been with me for so long that we have a mutual understanding of each other and what we are trying to do on offense," Hodgkiss says. "He is my 'go to' guy in critical situations because I know who he can beat and how he can beat them."
Hopkins had never won a championship on any level until ArenaBowl XIII, when the 1999 Albany Firebirds won the world title with some assistance from Hodgkiss, who was in his first of three seasons as the team's offensive coordinator.
"My whole life I wanted to win a championship so badly," Hopkins says. "The feeling was so great, but after three days all the celebrating was over and the feeling was gone. Now that I know how great it feels, the desire to win another one is even greater."
That goal is something that will be worked on throughout the 2002 season as the Avengers go through a grueling regular-season schedule and hopefully a long run in the playoffs. L.A.'s first two seasons in the AFL saw the Avengers go through a couple coaching changes and a few problems on and off the field.
"Everyone knows the Avengers got off to a shaky start in the first couple years, but the organization as a whole has been tremendous to me since I have arrived and it's definitely a championship caliber franchise," Hopkins says. "The chemistry that is building with the guys in the locker room is tremendous, and while we have a long way to go, I am excited about our chances."
That kind of chemistry was lacking on Avenger squads of the past that were searching for an identity. At the age of 30, Hopkins is a seasoned veteran in the prime of his career with his best years ahead of him. He is the well-grounded, good character type guy that the Avengers can begin to build their identity around. Within the team, he leads by example and helps foster unity and chemistry.
"Greg is a vocal leader who leads by example as well," Hodgkiss says.
And for those who think that is not enough and want production -- not just a "good guy" -- Hopkins' numbers speak for themselves. He has amassed 5, 422 receiving yards and 108 touchdowns since beginning his AFL career in 1996. Over the past three seasons, Hopkins leads the league with a total of 219 catches for 2,590 yards. He caught 111 passes in 2000 and then followed that up last season with 102. In his first game with the Avengers last week, Hopkins had six receptions for 69 yards against the New York Dragons.
One of the most coveted free agents in the recent off-season, Hopkins' decision to sign with the Avengers started a journey from his tiny hometown of Nineveh, Penn., which has a population of 88, to the big city lights of Los Angeles.
"Greg was the No. 1 guy on my free-agent list," Hodgkiss says. "Not only does he put up huge numbers, but he is a great character guy. And with his vast experience in this league, he's like having another coach out on the field."
Thankfully for Hopkins, the transition to the fast lane here on the West Coast has been gradual.
"I made a progression, starting out in Albany and then to Indianapolis," says Hopkins, referring to the relocation of the Firebird franchise prior to the 2001 season. "But Los Angeles ... I can't believe it. I really want to hit the beach, but I haven't gotten that chance yet because of how busy I've been with football."
Hopkins has been fortunate enough to see a lot for a "small town guy." Playing football has given him that opportunity and he is grateful for it.
"I've had the best of both worlds," he says. "I love the peace and quiet of my hometown, but I've also been able to see how life is in so many different places. Not many people get that chance."
As much as he enjoys his fast-paced life as a star football player, Hopkins always goes back to Nineveh during the off-season and plans to live there when his playing days are over.
"My life in the off-season is probably a lot different than every other football player," Hopkins says. "I work on the farm, milking cows and throwing hay bales around. I also do a lot in the community. We built a recreation center for the youth and I really pride myself on the work I put into that."
But Hopkins hasn't reached the shape he's in by throwing hay bales around. He has a tremendous work ethic and vigorous off-season workout program, which has allowed him to develop his body into the chiseled state it is in.
"What Greg does in the off-season is a testament to his work ethic," Hodgkiss says. "He is the strongest and the smartest player out there. His mental understanding of the arena game has developed so much that it really gives him an advantage over everyone else."
Playing college football at Slippery Rock University, Hopkins didn't always have access to the finest training facilities and workout programs, which is something he feels is the biggest difference between NCAA Division I athletes and NFL players compared to those who go to smaller schools and don't get to play in the NFL.
"Going to Slippery Rock, we didn't have the facilities they have at the big time schools and we weren't being groomed for the NFL like those guys are," he says. "At this point in my career, I feel like I could play in the NFL, but because of my age that opportunity probably won't present itself."
Hopkins was on his way to transferring to West Virginia after his first two seasons at Slippery Rock. The paperwork was all filled out and he was set to go, but a last minute change of heart kept him at "The Rock."
"I have no regrets with respect to playing Division I football or playing in the NFL," he says. "The relationships I've made and the experiences I've had in my life are too valuable to me to say that I wish I would have done anything differently."
An extremely successful two-sport athlete at Slippery Rock, Hopkins did get a chance to compete at the Division I level as a two-year letterman on the wrestling team.
"I credit my parents and wrestling for instilling the work ethic in me and giving me the drive to succeed on the field and keep me in shape during the off-season," Hopkins says. "Football is a team game, but every individual is responsible for certain things on every play and every individual has to prepare themselves to make those plays. Wrestling is the backbone for my work ethic because in wrestling you have no one to count on but yourself."
Hopkins also has what you could call a side career. He has dabbled in modeling and acting, and understands that playing in the shadow of Hollywood could present him with opportunities to further pursue those avenues.
"I'm a football player, make no mistake about it. But if the opportunities present themselves, either while I'm still playing football or after my career is over, I would be stupid not to pursue them," he says. "I've also become a big fan of 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' and watch it religiously."
In case "Buffy" is wondering ... he's single.
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