VooDoo Home Mojo Too Much for Austin
Robert Carver
Wednesday June 2, 2004
The team ignored such expectations, finishing 7-1 at the Graveyard, as well as making AFL history with their 11 total wins, the new high-water mark for an expansion team. This team had great support from owner Tom Benson and his management staff as well as an excellent mix of veteran players and talented new comers. As an observer of this team from preseason through their final regular season home game, one of the keys to the VooDoo’s success this year was without a doubt the Ninth Man.
Despite playing the final home game on a Memorial Day weekend, the Graveyard held a record 17,030 rabid VooDoo fans. That brings the home game average to an amazing 15,240. Throughout the season, Head Coach Mike Neu, the coaching staff and the players have been effusive in their praise for the support they receive at the Graveyard.
Looking back at the many post game columns on the VooDoo home games, you will almost always find a player or coach commenting on the intimidating atmosphere opposing teams find at the Graveyard thanks to the great support of New Orleans’ fans. That has made a huge difference in the Jekyll and Hyde performance of the VooDoo when you compare their home and away records.
The second decisive factor for the VooDoo’s success this year has been in the leadership of Neu. His drive and determination has been reflected in the overall play and demeanor of his players. It is a cliché to say that coaches hate to lose. This is one cliché that is taken to the next level by Neu. Frustration oozes out of his pores over each loss. While some coaches make an accommodation with a loss and move on, Neu takes them personally and pushes himself and his players just that much harder to insure that defeat doesn’t occur again due to a lack of effort or preparation. With such a volatile mixture, it is no surprise to those who have watched this team all season that they have been so successful in their first year of play.
Sunday’s record crowd got to see a rare low scoring, defensive AFL game. New Orleans was hampered by injuries on the offensive side, which kept several players out of the game, including the star power of OS Aaron Bailey. Those who normally play a secondary role were asked to step up and contribute. OS Jacques Rumph did so in spectacular fashion as he made a circus catch for a 48-yard gain that should have made the SportsCenter highlight reel. Unfortunately, Rumph left the game during the first half with an injury.
WR/DB Lamont Moore made sure that the offense would do their part with his pair of TD catches and his one TD via a run, which earned him the Baby Ruth Real Deal Offensive Player of the Game award. While the VooDoo offense wasn’t setting any records, they were able to capitalize on the strong play of their defense to win easily over the Wranglers and gain at least one home game for the AFL playoffs. Given their stellar play at home, having at least one playoff game at the Graveyard was a must for the VooDoo.
While it is clear that the fans and the team are thrilled with the success of the regular season in winning the Southern Division title, there is hunger for more. Another record crowd is expected at the Graveyard next Sunday as the VooDoo host their first ever AFL playoff game as the Colorado Crush come to town. There it will be decided if this Cinderella season for the VooDoo will continue. Stay tuned.
Neu Quotes
On Moore and the other receivers: “He (Moore) is a warrior; he is a true iron man; he is as tough as nails. I thought Ira (Gooch) stepped up and made some big plays. I thought that Anthony Collins and Tremaine Neal stepped up and did a nice job when called upon. Jacques Rumph, before he got his injury on the hamstring, he did a nice job and made a great catch on the ‘go’ route which really was a touchdown. He was untouched and got himself into the end zone. But you can’t say enough about those guys. We lose Bailey and (WR/DB Calvin) Spears and then those guys come out and play the way they did. They played inspired, and they played hard.”
On the Ninth Man: “Great atmosphere at home. I can’t say thanks enough to our fans. This is definitely an advantage when we play at home. We need our fans to get where we want to go in the playoffs. This is a great way to end the season with that kind of momentum. We know we’re going to be back here next week, we need our fans and I can’t say thanks enough to them. Guys from a visiting team, #5 (Austin DS) Cedrick Walker, I’ve got a past with Cedrick, he came over in the middle of the game and said ‘Hey man, you all got something special going on here, these fans are unbelievable here, you guys have a great atmosphere and you guys got it going on right now.’ For guys to say that, that’s a credit and that credit goes to our fans, they make this atmosphere unbelievable. Forth down situation, they are up on their feet, it’s as loud as can be and our players feed off that man, they live for that stuff. To know the fans are behind them like that, I can’t say enough about what these fans do for us here.”
On the playoffs: “You’ve got a tough uphill battle if you go on the road in the playoffs and usually the teams in the past that have had success in the playoffs, they have had veteran teams that have been together for several years. We’re a young team, we’re an expansion team, we need to play at home in order to do some damage in the playoffs.”
Big Man Talking
New Orleans Executive Director Mike Feder has been a key player behind the scenes the success of the VooDoo this year. He was clearly thrilled with today’s victory and getting to host a playoff game next week. He spoke briefly about this successful season. “I don’t know if in my wildest dreams I would have told you that (hosting a playoff game) would happen. All the credit goes to Mike Neu, the coaching staff and the players. They set a goal and they knew what they wanted to achieve and next Sunday at 2 p.m. we are playing the Colorado Crush. The fans are tremendous. Mike Neu said it after the game, ‘The fans have been unbelievable all year.’ You could see by the crowd today, on a Memorial Day weekend, for us to average over 15,000 people in our first season is just a tremendous tribute to the fans of New Orleans.”
Robert Carver is a historian residing in New Orleans. He is married and has recently returned to the Big Easy. He loves the NFL and is a die-hard Saints fan. Robert also follows the SEC closely, cheering on his home state Tennessee Volunteers. He has also had the opportunity to attend the af2's Tennessee Valley Vipers games while living in Huntsville. Robert feels that New Orleans will embrace the wide-open energy of the AFL experience.
