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Utah Blaze Take Home Best Support Staff Award

July 28, 2007 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Utah Blaze News Release


NEW ORLEANS - Following an extremely successful season - both on and off the field - the Utah Blaze were recognized with a prestigious award, the Best Support Staff Award, during the ArenaBall Award Ceremony last night. This award is given annually to the team that exemplifies the most productive and efficient support staff, which includes all football operations, training and equipment personnel.

The Blaze support staff, led by Director of Football Operations TOM GOODHINES, Head Athletic Trainer KEVIN SEMANS, and Head Equipment Manager DARIN FEATHERSTONE, earned the Support Staff Award for the second consecutive season.

"Winning the Best Support Staff Award is a tremendous honor for our entire organization," said Blaze President JASON JONES. "It's a great way of acknowledging the dedicated and passionate efforts of our football operations staff."

In competition, the Blaze ended the regular season with a 8-8 mark and advanced to the postseason for the second consecutive year. The Blaze also finished their regular season by establishing several team and individual records. .

This season also brought new individual records for SIAHA BURLEY (5-10, 176, Central Florida) and JOE GERMAINE (6-2, 220, Ohio St.).

Burley finished the 2007 regular season by shattering league records for receptions (166) and receiving yards (2,129). The previous marks were 154 (MARCUS NASH in 2004) and 1,982 (CALVIN SCHEXNAYDER in 1998), respectively. Burley also finished with 49 receiving touchdowns (No. 2 in AFL).

Burley, who was All-Arena First Team this season, became the first player in United States professional football history to reach 2,000 receiving yards in a single season. The six-year veteran achieved the mark in just 15 games. His record-setting, 2,000-yard ball was sent to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.

The career record book also took a hit when Germaine surpassed San Jose SaberCats QB MARK GRIEB's record of 4,841 yards set in 2006. The former Rose Bowl MVP finished the 2007 regular season by leading the AFL in completions (422) and passing yards (5,005), while finishing No. 2 in touchdown passes (107) and attempts (617). His record-setting, 5,000-yard ball was also sent to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.

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