Mustangs Look to Finish Disappointing Season on High Note
John Hoh
Friday July 20, 2001
A preseason favorite to contend for the division crown, the Mustangs lost their initial eight games before stunning Grand Rapids at home and Orlando on the road. A set back at Indiana further put the Mustangs on the edge, but a home victory over Detroit’s Fury seemed to renew hope.
However, before that weekend was over, enough teams had six victories to effectively knock Milwaukee from the playoff picture. And while the Mustangs still had a chance to pull out a victory last week in Chicago, they fell short.
Compounding the season’s woes were injuries, especially to quarterbacks Craig Kusick and Donnie Davis in the first four weeks. Kevin McDougal also showed signs of fatigue from playing last season, a full season in the eXtreme Football League (XFL), and then returning to the Mustangs.
Off-field concerns no doubt distracted the team. While the coaches won’t use the excuse, the use of the EpiCenter in Waukesha, Wisconsin, hurt with its low ceiling. They do admit that over the past two years, Kevin McDougal has played better once practice moved outdoors. Draw your own conclusions.
Probably the greatest concern hanging as a cloud over the team is its future. The season started on an ominous note as the Valozzis were told by the Bradley Center operatives that renovations would displace the horses from the stable they called home for their eight year existence. It was interesting that the week before the Mustangs played across the street at the smaller U.S. Cellular Arena (formerly the MECCA). A foreboding?
While the news didn’t affect the atrocious outcome of 2001’s inaugural game for the Mustangs—the news broke after the Firebirds had already mopped up the Bradley Center carpet with horse tails—the uncertainty it created added to the distractions the team faced. With no resolution appearing, the worst fears snowball into large rumors.
Which brings us to Friday’s game against the Rattlers. Will this be the final Mustangs game in the Bradley Center? Will the Mustangs find a new pasture to call home?
Sources from Arenafan’s own Kevin Sheller and the Tenesseean have the moving vans in place already for the Mustangs. Even the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, unable to get a response from the Valozzis, reported some ominous quotes from Arena Football’s Director of Communications, David Cooper. Of course it was all speculation, but it fuels rumors and doubts.
And that’s what has Mustang fans puzzled. I have spoken with several who have received season ticket order forms for next year two weeks ago. But they are unsure of how to respond. As one gentleman put it, “Sure, I give them my money, then they declare bankruptcy. What should I believe?” The lack of closure to the arena issue, as well as uncertainty around the team, make for a fragile situation. If the season ticket order forms were sent to gauge interest, it may backfire as fans are too uncertain to respond in a positive way without any feedback.
Let’s hope that Friday’s game isn’t the last Arena Football League game I cover for Arenafan.
John L. Hoh, Jr., is a free-lance writer from Milwaukee who grew up in Appleton, Wisconsin, as an avid Dolphins fan. He followed Arena Football since its inception, at one point watching tape-delayed games on low-powered WAV-TV in Waukesha. His happiest day was when Milwaukee was awarded the Mustangs franchise; his saddest when the Mustangs were contracted out of the league. John is married to his wife Maija (13+ years) and has a young son, Matthew. John pines for the return of the Arena Football League to Milwaukee.
