VooDoo Notes

Published on March 3, 2004 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
New Orleans VooDoo News Release


* SAINTS PLAYERS SCHEDULED TO SIGN AUTOGRAPHS ON SUNDAY: Four New Orleans Saints players will sign autographs prior to this Sunday's 11 am matchup with the Tampa Bay Storm. Pro Bowl running back Deuce McAllister, Pro Bowl guard LeCharles Bentley, defensive tackle Kenny Smith and safety Mel Mitchell will sign autographs for fans prior to the game inside the New Orleans Arena. The players will be signing autographs at separate tables in the South Concourse from 10:15-11:00 am. Fans will be allowed to obtain one autograph per player. The VooDoo will also be giving away an autographed Deuce McAllister jersey to one lucky fan selected at the game.

* WHAT A RUSH: For the fourth consecutive game, FB/LB Dan Curran rushed for a pair of touchdowns. One of the VooDoo's first acquisitions in the offseason, Curran was signed by the VooDoo from the Georgia Force, where he established himself the past two seasons as one of the AFL's top fullbacks. Curran is currently the leading rusher in the Arena Football League with 20 carries for 96 yards with a league-high eight TDs. The University of New Hampshire product is also tied for seventh in the AFL in scoring among non-kickers with 48 points. At his current pace, Curran would score 32 touchdowns in a 16-game season. The AFL record for rushing touchdowns is held by Bernard Hall of the St. Louis Stampede, who scored 26 in 1996. Curran has scored 21 touchdowns in his four-year AFL career.

* DEFENSE NEVER RESTS: The VooDoo defense is currently ranked second in the Arena Football League's National Conference, composed of teams from the league's Southern and Eastern divisions. New Orleans has been led by a strong pass defense that has only surrendered 218.5 passing yards in its first four games and is ranked first in the conference. Even more impressive: The VooDoo secondary is manned by two first-time starters in Monty Montgomery and Chris Pointer. Montgomery, a five-year NFL veteran, has quickly adjusted to the indoor game, recording 20 tackles, one interception and three passes defensed. Pointer, who competed for a roster spot in training camp with the Carolina Panthers in 2003, currently leads VooDoo defenders with 22 tackles.

* IMPACT PLAYER: OS Aaron Bailey has made an immediate impact on the VooDoo offense. Bailey, a four-year AFL veteran who came to the VooDoo from the San Jose SaberCats after spending his first two seasons playing under VooDoo coach Mike Neu in Carolina, is among the AFL's leading receivers. Through four games Bailey has 24 receptions for 339 yards with seven touchdowns. For his efforts, Bailey was selected the Baby Ruth Player of the Game for the first three games of the season. Bailey is on pace to surpass his finest AFL season, when he caught 89 balls for 1,102 yards and 18 touchdowns under Neu with the Carolina Cobras in 2002. A five-year NFL veteran, Bailey played for the Indianapolis from 1994-98 and is the Colts' career leader with 3,501 kickoff return yards and is tied for the team's all-time lead with two touchdown returns.

* COMING THROUGH IN THE CLUTCH: QB John Fitzgerald has been a steadying presence to the VooDoo offense, completing 65-of-129 passes for 832 yards, with 14 touchdown passes and two interceptions. The fourth-year veteran has played his best when it matters most, as he has posted a third down passer rating of 130.5, which ranks first in the AFL. On third-down plays, Fitzgerald has completed 18-of-28 passes for 237 yards and five TD passes.

* PHOTOS AVAILABLE TO MEDIA: Action photos of the Orleans VooDoo are available for use by local, opponent and national media by contacting Justin Macione of VooDoo Media Relations at (504) 731-1848 or at macionej@saints.nfl.com.

* VooDoo ON THE AIRWAVES: VooDoo and AFL fans will enjoy plenty of chances to watch the newest team in New Orleans both live and on various on radio and television programs throughout the 2004 season.

Every VooDoo game will be broadcast on WWL 870-AM or WSMB 1350-AM. The Voice of the VooDoo, Chris Kenyon, will handle the play-by-play. Various local celebrities and selected Saints coaches, players and front office personnel will serve as color analysts. Saints special teams ace Fred McAfee will be the color commentator for this Sunday's game, which will be broadcast on WSMB. WWL will broadcast The Mike Neu Show with VooDoo Head Coach Mike Neu each Tuesday from 9-10 pm as Kenyon and WWL's Kenny Wilkerson co-host. Fans can call into the show or submit questions for Coach Neu through the club's official web site, GoVooDoo.com. Due to a scheduling conflict, this week's show will air on Thursday from 8-9 pm.

Ten of the VooDoo's 16 regular season games are scheduled to be telecast by NBC (WDSU-TV 6 in New Orleans), including this Sunday's contest vs. Tampa Bay (11 am CT), and will be seen regionally in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, southern and southeastern Texas, western Tennessee, southern Arkansas and Florida. Cox Sports Television will telecast the remaining six VooDoo games on regional cable, with each telecast starting with a 30-minute pre-game show. Cox will air Inside VooDoo with Mike Neu, a 30-minute show, each week. Inside VooDoo with Mike Neu will air this week on Thursday, March 4 from 5:30-6:00 pm and will be replayed on Sunday, March 7, prior to the Tampa Bay game from 10:30-11:00 am.

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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from March 3, 2004


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