Opening Weekend with the Wranglers
Mick Cornett
Thursday April 13, 2000
“These people know their football.” With that comment, Wranglers Head Coach Bob Cortese placed his seal of approval on the 8700 fans that showed up for his team’s first exhibition game against San Jose.
Statistically, the Wranglers suffered at quarterback, blew several scoring opportunities, and lost to San Jose 37-30. But they never lost the crowd.
“I thought it was interesting,” said media director Wes McKenzie, “that the crowd went crazy at a couple of instances that are totally unique to Arena Football. It was as if they had seen several games.”
“They were great,” said offensive specialist Kenyatte Morgan, who played with the franchise last season in Portland, Oregon. “Last year, a lot of people in the crowd just sat there. These people were into it.”
Morgan was injured in the exhibition opener against San Jose when he received a ‘borderline late-hit’ in the small of his back. He sat out Sunday’s game in Los Angeles and won’t play this week against Buffalo. He is among the team’s best receivers and could return for San Jose’s return trip to the Myriad on April 21st.
Wranglers starting quarterback Ron Lopez spent some time last month with the San Diego Chargers, arrived late to the Wranglers camp, and sat out the exhibition opener. He did play Sunday in Los Angeles and will start Saturday night in the regular season opener. Loyal University of Oklahoma football fans remember Lopez from Utah State. USU came to Norman back in 1991 and Lopez was the starting quarterback. Cale Gundy led the Sooners to a 55-21 victory. Lopez is in the upper tier of AFL quarterbacks and, perhaps more than any other player, he is the key to the Wranglers success, or lack of success, this season.
Lopez was nothing short of sensational in the exhibition game at Los Angeles. In six first half possessions, Lopez threw five touchdown passes and ran for another.
Speaking of the Sooners, the early play of former OU defensive back Anthony Fogle has been one of the bright spots of training camp. Fogle started last year in the Canadian Football league and the Wrangler coaches were wondering how he’d adapt to the drastically smaller field. So far, so good. It’s extremely difficult for anyone to start in their first season indoors, but Fogle is on the way. Another local who’s impressed the coaches is wide receiver Wes Caswell from the University of Tulsa. Caswell has quick feet and his ability to abruptly change direction has caught Cortese’s eye.
Mick Cornett was a writer for ArenaFan Online from 2000 to 2001.
