ArenaFan Interview - George LaFrance
Joe Kauffman
Monday July 4, 2005
Over the course of his amazing career, LaFrance helped to define the offensive specialist and kick return positions. He completed his career with 629 receptions for 9004 yards and 197 touchdowns. He had over 1000 receiving yards in 1996 and 1997. Off the nets, LaFrance had 614 returns for 11,383 yards and 15 touchdowns.
LaFrance is also one of the most honored players in the AFL. He has twice been named the AFL Most Valuable Player for a season. He was named to the All-Arena First Team as a WR/DB in 1989 and as OS/KR in 1991. He played in the AFL's only All Star game in 1993 and was named to the AFL's 10th and 15th Anniversary teams.
In addition, LaFrance played in eight (yes "8") ArenaBowls during his careeer, winning five championships and earning three ArenaBowl MVP awards. He was named to the AFL's honorific All-ArenaBowl team as OS in 1999.
LaFrance currently lives with his family on the Navajo Reservation in Arizona. He is working for the Chinle School District as a teacher and is also a farmer. He was kind enough to take some time out of his busy schedule to answer a few questions.
Joe Kauffman (JK): How did you get started with the AFL? Who scouted you? What
kind of tryouts did you go through?
George LaFrance (GL): I went to a football workout for the CFL and AFL in Shreveport, LA. Ray Jauch scouted me. He was the AFL Scout. It was a very hard workout. There were over 200 players trying out. The CFL signed three wide receivers that day. I was fourth on their list. So Mr. Jauch sent me a contract for the AFL. I still have the letter he sent me.
JK What was your opinion of the AFL when you first started playing?
GL I thought this game was for me. I was not the fastest player but I knew how to catch and run good routes. And I was not afraid of the wall or catching the ball off of the nets.
JK Did any of your previous football experience prepare you for the AFL?
GL No. this is a different game.
JK What was it like playing for both of the AFL's premier dynasties (Drive and Storm)?
GL It was very tough. Because every week the team you played against played there best game against us. I enjoy playing with great teammates. We wanted to win hampionships. We had good teams and everyone had there responsibilities. No one player was the best. We all played together.
JK You did not play in the AFL in 1990. What were you doing that year?
GL I was rehabbing my right ACL. I hurt my knee in London, England. We played an exhibition game against Chicago Bruisers.
JK What was it like playing for Coach Marcum?
GL Great! He taught me the game. He was a father figure to me. I spent more time with coach then my own father. He was all was there for me. He protected me. I know that.
If you ever have the pleasure playing for Coach Marcum, pay attention to everything he does.
At film meetings I would ask every question I could think about my opponent. I wanted all my teammates to know what to do for every play. We did not give up on any players no matter what the defense was in. We had a play for it.
JK Any anecdotes or stories?
GL About coach? He told us no matter what you do in life for a job, be the best you can be. "If you are a ditch digger, be the best ditch digger you can be." He told us this in 1988. He told us "that great players make great coaches." All coach wants is that you give all you have every play. And the game is not over until it is 0:00 on the clock.
Coach is not a stats person. It is team wins that count.
JK Was there a difference between the way he coached in Detroit and in Tampa Bay?
GL Nothing different. We have the same plays. We work on execution of plays. We watched more of their offense then there defense. Because our offense had plays for the defense. However, we worked on studying what their offense liked to do.
JK Why do you think in the early years the Storm with inexperienced coaches were able to control the established Detroit Drive franchise?
GL We where overconfident as a team. Coach had us ready for the games. We just did not play well. And the other teams played great games.
JK You played in 8 ArenaBowls, winning 5 of them. You were named MVP of 3 of them. Which ArenaBowl is most memorable to you?
GL The games we lost. They still stick in my mind. I wish I could still play one more championship game.
JK Why?
GL Because I lost my last championship game. The games we won, we have rings for those. But the ones we lost…wow I can remember every play.
JK Talk about the Stevie Thomas kickoff return for a touchdown to beat Albany in the 1995 semifinals.
GL I did not touch the ball when it came off the net. The ball hit the bar and bounced around the 5 yard line. Then a player hit the ball back to the end of end zone. So I was running back and forth trying to get the ball. I got tackled to the ground and I saw Stevie running toward the end zone with the ball for a touchdown. All I could say was, "run Stevie, run." And we won the game.
JK You played with many fine quarterbacks in the AFL. Who was the best quarterback you played for and why?
GL Jay Gruden because he got the ball where it needed to be. We got open and he'd throw the ball to spots. We worked on that every day. He also played DB at practice. So I think that helped him have a better understanding of where to put the ball. And he also ran routes at practice. We played as a team. He can count on one hand how many balls I dropped that hit my hands.
JK What number(s) did you wear during your AFL career and did they have any personal significance?
GL Detroit Drive #27 1988-1993, Tampa Bay Storm #25 1994-1999, New Jersey Red Dogs #25 2000. I was number 27 in high school and at Baker University. I was number 25 at Eastern Arizona College. I just like those numbers.
JK What accomplishment are you most proud of in your AFL career?
GL Winning the championship games as a team. Every year we had different team. I want to thank my teammates for helping us win. In Detroit and Tampa.
JK What accomplishment are you most proud of statistically?
GL Over 20,000 all purpose yards. I was averaging 3000 yards a year. Again, with the help of my teammates. I want to thank them also for this.
JK Talk about your time with the San Diego Riptide. How did that opportunity come about?
GL Andy Lupusnak (former Riptide V.P. of Communications) told me about the job. He told them that I knew the game of Arena Football. We went to the playoff that year and lost to the af2 team that won the championship that year.
JK What position did you hold with the Riptide?
GL I was the General Manager.
JK How long were you there?
GL One year. I enjoyed being a GM because I know the game and know what kind of players you need to win.
JK Do you want to get back into the AFL in some capacity?
GL Yes I want to be a GM. I work with coaches and the league. I would like to also do TV commentary for Arena Football games. I know the game.
JK Do you follow the AFL regularly? Any specific players or?
GL Players I follow are Freddie Solomon of Tampa Bay and Siaha Burley of Arizona. The Teams I follow are Tampa Bay and Arizona
JK In what ways do you follow the league?
GL TV and internet. I was an expert for the league answering questions at one time. I enjoy it.
JK When you played, did you ever imagine the AFL getting this big?
GL Yes. That is why I played so long.
JK How did the AFL change while you were playing, and how has it changed since you retired?
First of all the return man had to have both feet in bounds when returning the ball and the kickers used to kick the ball out of play on purpose so I could not return the ball. The league started to penalize the kickers for kicking ball out of bounce in 1990. Now they are letting the return man have one foot in bounds.
They are playing more games now. All players are making more money and I think people are paying attention to the league now.
Joe Kauffman is President and Editor in Chief of Arenafan Online, having joined the staff in 2000. He graduated from Florida State University in 1998 with a degree in communications andbuilds ecommerce sites for a day job. Joe has enjoyed Arena Football since 1991 and has been a member of the Arena Football Internet community since 1995. Prior to Joining Arenafan, he was a co-founder and Technical Editor of the Storm Shelter, which covered the Tampa Bay Storm from 1996-99. Joe and his wife Erika live in Hackettstown, New Jersey with their two daughters.
