Gladiators have no Choice but to Start Off Strong
Marc Viquez
Thursday April 18, 2002
Head coach Frank Haege takes over the reigns left by Lary Kuharich who guided the club to a 2-12 mark, while Haege lead the Quad City Steamrollers of the Af2 to a 15-1 record and a second Arena Cup championship. In fact that one loss is the only setback in the head coach’s two seasons.
The team will have two bonafied studs at quarterback with former New York Jet Glen Foley and Jay McDonagh, who tossed 73-touchdowns for Haege in Quad City last season. Their preseason numbers have been impressive. Foley went 17-27 for 192-yards and 2-touchdowns in his first ever game against New York, while McDonagh tossed 5-touchdowns in the second half against Indiana last weekend.
“Jay McDonagh is a good quarterback and really played crisp and threw a lot of good footballs. He did a great job and led the team down the field, so it was nice to come out better in the second half," said Haege. He has not decided who will start the season opener, but with the release of Todd Bankhead the team will go with just two quarterbacks for now.
The quarterbacks will have a slew of targets to throw to, but will be without team MVP Coco Blalock who is currently on injured reserve. However, having 2000 League MVP Mike Horacek, James Bowden, George Williams, Jeremy Wilkinson and old fan-favorite Alvin Ashley should soothe the pain of an absent Blalock. Ashley was recently signed after spending last season with Milwaukee and hauling in 20 touchdowns. Williams lead the team in preseason with 9 receptions for 140 yards and 3 touchdowns.
Horacek returns to the league after playing his first four seasons with Iowa and looks to continue his onslaught after setting a season record with 46-touchdown receptions in 2000. Bowden had a strong season with Tampa Bay last season with 26-touchdowns and looks to make a mark in New Jersey. Wilkinson enjoyed two seasons in Quad City where he averaged 18-touchdowns a season.
These men will also bring in something more than their talent and history of playing for championship teams. "All of these guys have all stepped in and have become good leaders," said Haege, who sees the team coming along nicely on both sides of the ball.
The Gladiators will get to strut their stuff against Buffalo, who also spent the off-season acquiring some needed talent. QB Fred McNair, OS Lemont Cooper, FB/LB Jason Bratton, and WR/LB Thomas Bailey all made a trek to Northwestern New York.
"They have a fantastic receiving corps and an experienced quarterback," said Haege. McNair is coming off a season with Carolina where he tossed 63-touchdowns and Cooper hauled in 22-touchdowns on 111-receptions for Oklahoma in 2001, while picking up his second AFL "Don`t Blink" Player of the Year award.
"They have a very dangerous offense and a good solid line on both sides," said Haege.
This game will most likely be one of many in the talent-laden eastern division. New York and Toronto have made additional moves in their roster and we may see even more parity than last season. The Gladiators will be a much-improved team and will have seasoned experience and Arena Football 2 graduates that will make 2002 a promising season at the Meadowlands.
A fan of the sport since 1990 Marc has covered both the New Jersey Gladiators and Cincinnati Swarm (Af2) for Arenafan Online. Marc now resides in Indianapolis after graduating with a Masters in Sports Management from Indiana State University in Terre Haute, Ind. When not at a Firebirds game Marc can be found traveling the Midwest covering sports for various Internet and print publications.
