Dragons Can`t Lose for Losing
David Holusha
Monday March 10, 2003
That is the distinct impression I get, even after another last-second, heart-breaking loss for the New York Dragons. This time coming at the hands of the LA Avengers, 65-61.
“It seems like we’re inventing new ways to lose,” said hulking lineman Sean Tremblay. “It’s all the little things. On one play I jumped offsides. Fortunately we still went on to score the touchdown after that, so it didn’t actually hurt us there, but you still can’t make those kinds of mental mistakes.”
But is it mental mistakes, or just a black cloud and bad luck hanging over the Dragons? At this point one might be inclined to think so. However, the players continue to remain upbeat. “We’ve still got 10 games to go,” said Tremblay. “If we go 10-0 the rest of the way, not only have we turned it around, but we most likely make the playoffs as well. I give a lot of credit to LA, however. I know that coaching staff well – they were mine when I played in Albany.”
Lineman Elliot Fortune echoed the positive outlook, despite their record. “Sure I’m disappointed. But we could just as easily be 5-1. The games have been that close. This is a topsy turvey game, but we will get this turned around”.
On the final play of the game, and the Dragons defense desperately trying to hold LA out with a valiant goal-line stand, Kevin Clemens was ultimately awarded the touchdown.
It was a very close play. Did the Dragons actually make the stop? “Yeah, I thought we had him there,” said Fortune. “But with everyone pushing, all he had to do was fall forward. It happens like that sometimes in this game. But like I said, we’re going to turn the officials around to our way as well”
If the Dragons players need any additional motivation to play hard, it might come from the knowledge that you never know who is watching. In attendance at this game was New York Jets head coach Herman Edwards. As he made the media rounds, I inquired whether he was an actual fan of the Arena game.
“Sure, I’m a fan of this game. I was a fan back in my days at Tampa Bay. The thing I love about this game is the scoring. It’s such a fan friendly game,” said the energetic Edwards.
However, the head coach calling the plays on this day wasn’t Edwards, but newly hired Todd Shell. “This team’s defense still has a long way to go,” said the obviously concerned Shell. “We played a lot of zones today, but we just didn’t get it done. When discussing the play of defensive safety Donvetis Franklin, the coach said, “we all know it’s the toughest spot on the field in this league, but I can’t say I was happy overall with his game”. However, the coach wasn’t putting the blame solely at the feet of his often outstanding, but occasionally suspect defensive back. “Our kicking game still has to improve. Yes, we made a change this week because I wasn’t happy with quality of our kickoffs. This week was better because it afforded our special teams more time to get down the field and make the plays. But we still missed a key extra point and that really cost us.”
Fullback/linebacker Rodney Filer looked good earlier in the game when he converted a nice rushing touchdown to open the second half. “That felt real good at that point,” said Filer. “I wish I could do more of that. But the bottom line now is I’m very disappointed in the results. We’ve simply got to find a way to win these games. We’re still not discouraged, though. There’s still way too much football yet to be played this season.”
As amazing as it seems, I’m nearly inclined to believe these guys. Their quiet enthusiasm and never-say-die attitude is infectious. Faced with a season full of losses, they continue to show confidence in their new coaching staff as well as each other.. Are we really looking at a pitiful season? At this moment it would seem almost absurd to argue otherwise. However, there just yet might be a puff of “magic Dragon”, ready to explode.
David Holusha was a writer for ArenaFan Online from 2003 to 2004.
