Preview to ArenaCup
Keith Murphy
Saturday July 27, 2002
The first time these two teams met, in week three, the Vipers used a late field goal to slip past Macon 50-47 and spoil John Rayborn’s debut as Knights’ quarterback. This time around, Macon Offensive Coordinator Tres Sullivan says that the Knights have to regain the intensity and consistency they showed earlier in the season. “We haven’t been as consistent in the last couple of weeks as we were in the middle part of the season. Obviously, with these guys, we’ve got to hang on to the football and do a better job of playing pitch and catch because they are a very good football team.”
Last week, the Knights had a chance to clinch both a divisional championship and home field advantage in the playoffs. However a flat performance against a tough Birmingham squad resulted in Macon’s third loss of the season and a very interesting week of practice. “It was good. I don’t want to say it’s been more focused but I think there’s just more of a sense of urgency. It’s been a long time since we went through a loss, so they had a bad taste in their mouth and their eager to get back out there to work.”
Sullivan anticipates that the team will try to get back what they have done best this season, focusing on the fundamentals, in an attempt to return to what has worked. Macon will be forced to rise to the occasion because, without doubt, the Vipers are the class of the National Conference. “They’ve got a great group of athletes on their team. They’re really good up front. Probably the best team we’ve faced up front. Obviously that causes problems for the quarterback, which, in turn, helps the defensive backs out quite a bit. And they’ve got some good backs. They’ve got a guy who leads the league in interceptions. But I think it all starts with their strength up front. Athletically, they’re probably the best team we’ll face this year.”
When asked if this could be a preview of the Arena Cup, Sullivan responded, “Hopefully. Obviously they are considered one of the best teams in the league and as are we. I would hope that it is a preview of the Arena Cup. If it is, then it means that we both have done our jobs, and made it through the playoffs. It wouldn’t be a bad thing to have happen.”
If Macon wins, or Augusta loses, the Knights will host Augusta in the first round of the playoffs. A loss could send them on the road. Sullivan says that while home-field advantage is important, “we’ve been successful both at home and on the road. We’d like to play at home, obviously, but that doesn’t mean that we can’t go on the road and win.”
Kickoff is set for 8:30 pm (Eastern) at the Von Braun Center in Huntsville, Alabama.
Dr. Murphy has nearly 20 years of media experience ranging from radio to the Internet. He has served as webmaster for two AF2 teams and the football team at Fort Valley State University. He is a professor at FVSU and directs www.bunniwerks.org, a non-profit rabbit rescue organization. He has been commissioned as a Kentucky Colonel. Murphy is also serving as a first party editor of af2 stories for ArenaFfan. For more information about Dr. Murphy see: www.keithmurphy.info
