Witthun joins Rush staff

by AFL Press Release
Published on October 31, 2001 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)

AFL Press Release

HEY, COACH
Former AFL lineman David Witthun has joined the Rush as special teams coordinator and FB/LB coach.... he spent the previous two seasons with arenafootball2's Macon Knights and Pensacola Barracudas... Witthun played Arena Football in Cleveland and Milwaukee (1994) and was a member of the ArenaBowl XI runner-up Iowa Barnstormers (1997), alongside Kurt Warner.

The Rush also promoted Walt Housman to assistant head coach/defensive coordinator while WR/DB coach Stan Davis added the role of director of player personnel to his list of duties.

The Florida Bobcats re-signed last year's head coach Dave Ewart to a two-year deal, after having accepted an assistant coaching role with the Toronto Phantoms just a few weeks ago... Ewart led the Bobcats to a 6-8 record last year, their best since 1996.

IN THE NFL
In his first NFL start, former Barnstormer and Dragons OS Kevin Swayne had 3 catches for 35 yards in the Jets' win at Carolina... in the Patriots' victory against Denver, former Firebird David Patten roped in 5 receptions for 62 yards, coming off his 4-TD effort the previous week...in the Chiefs' loss to the Colts, former SaberCat LB Mike Maslowski had 3 tackles and a sack for the Chiefs.

ARENA HEROES
Touched by Toronto -- With gifts of bandanas and tattoos, Phantoms FB/LB Jermaine Younger and assistant coach Mark Lazaruk shared Oct. 29 playing video games, billiards, and air hockey with kids at Toronto's Hospital For Sick Children.

Trick-or-Treat -- Rattlers lineman Joe Burch and the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury forward Jennifer Gillom are celebrating Halloween with students and teachers from Teen Choice Leadership Academy today. The athletes plan to switch uniforms and dress as each other to Trick-or-Treat with students in grades K-8 in South Phoenix.

Adopt-A-Player, or Coach -- About 60 sixth graders at Deerfield School in Mountainside, N.J. have "adopted" Gladiators head coach Frank Haege as part of the school's DARE program... New Jersey kicker Steve Videtich was adopted by Lincoln Elementary's (Rutherford, N.J.) fifth grade class in September and will meet with his new fifth grade family once a month until the end of the school year in June 2002.

Dragon Fire -- This Friday, Nov. 2, members of the New York Dragons football staff will be at Farmingdale High; they also plan to attend games at Friends Academy and Island Trees High on Saturday.

Fitness is Fun -- Well, so says AFL Hall of Famer and Orlando Predators Community Relations Director Herkie Walls, who continues to speak to students nearly every day as part of the Predators Adventure elementary school program, "Fitness is Fun." In addition, the Predators continue their tour of local Orange County high school football games; this Friday team members will be at Winter Park High.

RUMOR HAS IT
The first 100-TD passer in pro football history, New York's Aaron Garcia, worked out for the NFL's San Francisco 49ers recently (the 49ers signed Rick Mirer instead)... Lineman Aaron Hamilton got a look from the Jaguars; he played nine AFL games for the ArenaBowl XV runner-up Nashville Kats... World Champion Grand Rapids Rampage have released FB/LB Lincoln Coleman, who ranks No. 7 among AFL career rushing leaders.

Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from October 31, 2001

• Witthun joins Rush staff - OSC Original by AFL Press Release

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