Arizona Injuries give Wranglers a Chance
Mick Cornett
Friday May 11, 2001
Even without Bonner and Schexnayder, the Rattlers were able to beat Houston 53-38. However, the ThunderBears gave Arizona a legitimate `scare` by leading at the half 26-24. Plus, the game was played in Phoenix where the Rattlers typically border on the `unbeatable.` If Bonner can`t go, this is an excellent time for the Wranglers to be playing Arizona.
Hanging Chads
Last week, Arizona started former Kansas State quarterback Chad May at quarterback but he completed only two of his ten passes and fumbled once in the end-zone for a safety. Head coach Danny White then inserted Chad DeGrenier at quarterback and the difference was immediate. DeGrenier completed 15 of 22 passes for five touchdowns.
Cooperville
The game will feature two of the Arena Football League`s all-time best kick-returners. Arizona`s Hunkie Cooper and Oklahoma`s Lamont Cooper rank first and third respectively on the league`s all-time list of kick-returns for touchdown.
May Day
This will be the Wranglers only home game in the month of May. Oklahoma will play at Toronto (2-2) on May 19 and at Los Angeles (0-4) on May 26. Strangely, Toronto has lost both of its home games and won both of its road games. Los Angeles has already fired head coach Stan Brock. It was Brock who first lured Wranglers head coach Bob Cortese to the Arena Football League. When Brock was hired as the head coach of the Portland franchise, he brought in Cortese as his offensive coordinator. After the 1999 season, Brock was hired away by Los Angeles and Cortese became the head coach of the Portland franchise, which immediately moved to Oklahoma City.
Mick Cornett was a writer for ArenaFan Online from 2000 to 2001.
