Aaron LeSue brings excitement, ironman mentality to Blaze

Don Eisenbarth
Friday April 27, 2012

Unlike many others who come to this website, I started following the original AFL rather late in game, I watched the games as I'd see them on NBC, but I didn't really follow the sport until it was in my own backyard. Once I experience my first Utah Blaze game at the Delta Center, I was hooked on the sport and I have enjoyed following this team and this league ever since.

The Utah Blaze's first season was the last season before the Elway rule took effect. As such, there was only one season to really see ironman football the way it as meant to be. I saw some players play both ways, Orshawonte Bryant was really the most noticeable iron man on the original Blaze. It wasn't a good game for him unless he got a touchdown pass and an interception. It was also amazing to see former BYU lineman Hans Olsen give snaps to Joe Germaine, and then lead to multiple sacks on the defensive end. However, since those days I've never really felt like I saw ironman Arena Football in the way that I've heard it described. That is until last week.

Aaron LeSue was really the one of the only good things to come out of the 2010 Utah Blaze season. LeSue made his mark with his backflips off of the Maverick Center wall and with his high flying over the wall touchdown catch. He was an energetic, highlight generating receiver in a year where there was no energy or highlights on the Blaze.

Before the 2011 season, Ron James said that LeSue was one of the players that were going to "set the mold" of the future Blaze players (other players of that mold were WR Aaron Boone and DL Caesar Rayford) 2011 was a good year for LeSue. Although it was shortened by an ankle injury LeSue had 912 yards and 27 touchdowns on 77 receptions and an engagement at midfield at the last game of the season. At the end of last season, I asked him if he was planning to come back this season, considering he just (barely) got engaged, already had an injury and isn't getting paid his worth. He said he didn't know.

In the 6 games so far this season LeSue has 617 yards and 23 touchdowns on 59 receptions. He's averaging 103 yards and 3.8 touchdowns per game. In the game against Iowa last week LeSue went for 166 yards and 4 touchdowns on 11 receptions. He also was on the field for most of the 4th quarter after two DB went out on the same play in the game. While playing offense and defense, he also got this catch:


"It was fourth, and we needed to score on that possession," he said. "You know it's going to hurt, but you know it'll hurt less if you get the catch." That catch earned LeSue the AFL Playmaker of the Week, and the Cutters Catch of the Week. He didn't win the Iron Man of the Week, probably because the league believes that being an Iron Man means playing special teams. (The award went to Pittsburgh Power's PJ Berry who recorded four receptions for 44 yards and a touchdown as the WR, nine kick returns for 242 yards and a touchdown and he also threw a passing touchdown. A great effort to be sure) LeSue not only was on the field for most of the 4th quarter but he also provided the team with the mold that led to their win."

"Aaron LeSue is the epitome of ironman football, whatever you ask him to do he does 100%," said Head Coach Ron James. He did just that during the game and was a large reason the Blaze won against the Barnstormers. "Aaron LeSue looks like one the best players in the league this year"

So while the true ironman may be gone, a casualty of rule changes in the AFL. However, in the place of the old ironman who plays all game long, there's a new kind of ironman, the kind that leaves everything on the field. One that will do whatever is needed to get the win. This new ironman is inspiring to see, especially knowing that they put it all out on the field not for pay (because... well, they get paid so little) but for their team, for the victory. Aaron LeSue is one of these new ironmen, and his heart is helping the Blaze reach new heights this season.