Same Game, Different Faces
Scott Reed
Sunday February 4, 2001
Why should Des Moines feel good about this announcement? Because football is football, is football. And when local players help represent your area, a sense of community pride begins to take over no matter what level.
Yes, football brings an extra pep in the step.
Before the press conference I had a chance to speak with Head Coach Art Haege, formerly a six-year defensive coordinator for the AFL Iowa Barnstormers and now the New York Dragons. The comment that got me excited about this team again was when coach said, “We are going to be a stronger, bigger, faster team than what we have been in the past.” I asked him about the size of our defensive lineup, which, in the past has been quick but at times not effective against the long ball. He winked at me and said, “Get people in the door and they will forget all about those days.”
How big do you want ‘em?
If you take a look at the recent press release (1/23/01) you will see prospective defensive lineman averaging 6’ 4” and 300 lbs. The secondary, to be coached by J. T. Smith a National Football League alum of 12 years, has the enviable task of critiquing prospects such as Jesse Beckom – LB (Iowa State), Derrik Clark – LB (Iowa State), Ryan Sloth – DS (Iowa State), Troy Dickey (U. of Arizona), Ben Krambeck – LB (Simpson) and Jesse Jones – LB (Chafee Community College).
Speaking of size, Mike Horacek, WR for the AFL Barnstormers and home crowd favorite, recruited his Hofstra roommate Nick Johnson for Coach Haege. Standing a mere 5’ 8” and 188 lbs. he is being mentioned in the same breath as Wayne Chrebet, WR for the NY Jets. “Great hands and faster than Mike,” Coach says with a smile.
Reflections
When asked about his parting relationship with former Iowa head coach John Gregory, he replied, “I had a chance to go with John to New York and make more money. I took a look at what I had here and just couldn’t leave my family. I’ve taken players and built them up ready to play. I have a wonderful opportunity here in Des Moines.”
A little frustration came out, however, when talking about the past stars. “Some of the players thought more of themselves than what they were capable of. They will soon learn that the NFL is beyond their reach. That is why you are not going to see much difference in talent between the AFL and af2. Remember, the AFL is an experienced league but the players are still coming from the colleges and tryout camps.”
Something that may come as a surprise is that Coach Haege named a probable starter at quarterback. Jason Murdock out of the University of Minnesota has the lead in pre-camp. Standing 6’ 3” and 220 lbs he has good evasive speed but throwing accuracy is a question mark. He is not going to be a Kurt Warner out of the gate but he will show glimpses with his running ability.
Home Cooked Rivalry
With son Frank coaching the Quad City Steamwheelers again this year, the intra-division rivalry is already in place. “The best thing that happened to Frank is to go 19 – 0 and not get the Coach of the Year Award.” OK, Coach, there are a lot of ways you could take that comment. For now, we will take it as a good father to son ‘That’s OK, I know you should have received it’ comment. We’ll see as the season progresses.
Des Moines and QC fans should be planning on packing the Barn April 21st when the teams meet for the ‘Stormers first home game. Both coaches know how to recruit and prep their players. Neither one wants to head into the rematch later in the season as the ‘underdog’. The rivalry has taken some shape with a Frank Haege sighting in Ames, Iowa, home of the Insight.com Bowl Champion Iowa State Cyclones (a fertile ground for Barnstomer inductees).
Give It a Chance, Des Moines
Listening to sports radio stations in the area over the off-season gives listeners mixed reviews, mostly negative, about how Des Moines has inherited the ‘Former Stormers’ or ‘Baby Stormers’. Jim Foster fans are few and far between. Most feel being given a team in a ‘lesser’ league has cheapened them.
Well, having experienced first hand the Quad Cities’ record breaking season and noticing a team from Peoria also in the same division (they too went undefeated, in the IFL), they couldn’t be further from the truth. The Barnstormers couldn’t be in a better position to prove those critics wrong. Jim Foster stated, “The af2 brand of football will give fans a college conference feel.” He went on to say that the make up of the regions will provide spirited contests and greater traveling fan support to away games.
Barnstormer fans had set the bar quite high with the likes of Kurt Warner running the show at QB. Local boy does good in local town sport team. Local boy advances to NFL, wins Super Bowl and is named MVP. Des Moines and Iowa never had it so good.
The proposition
Give the Barnstormers three home games packed to the rim with fans. If you don’t think that the quality or intensity is shown on the field then bid farewell. Coach Haege has enough experience in this sport to know what it takes to produce a good team. He has shown that he is committed in getting the best players possible. Come on out, I know you will like what you see!
Scott Reed was a writer for ArenaFan Online from 2000 to 2002.
