Firebirds Boost Egos with Helmet-Popping, Lunch-Losing Win Over Detroit
Matthew Pickut
Sunday June 16, 2002
Head coach Mike Dailey knew the win made a big difference for the team both in terms of the standings and psychologically. “It stops the bleeding. If you’re not on the inside sometimes you don’t realize how sports can affect your self-esteem, and when you’re losing it hurts. And now with a win you can start to feel good about yourself and start looking at some positives.”
After the Firebirds’ first drive ended in a WR/DB Jay Jones’ fumble, one might have gotten the feeling that the breaks would go against Indiana. On the next drive, however, QB Raymond Philyaw rushed for a TD and ‘Birds took control of the game for good. The team effort impressed Coach Dailey.
“We played hard last week but I thought we really played well together, with everyone flying around and trying to make plays,” Dailey said. “We’ve played hard, even in the losing we played hard. Sometimes as a coach that’s a concern but tonight we came out and gave a good effort and got a win.”
Motivated by the fans, Philyaw’s game MVP performance showed his determination. “Honestly I think we’re playing for the fans. With what we gave them last year, I think they expected more. We’re trying to get the fans back on our side,” said Philyaw. “We played as a team tonight. We came out with a mistake but we came back and played together for 60 minutes. I think it’s the first time we played together for 60 minutes and it paid off.”
The Firebirds seemed much more coordinated in this game, especially on defense. In the first quarter Detroit caught Indiana with several wide-receiver screen, but by the time the second half came the Firebirds made the changes necessary to stop the play. “It’s just repetition. When you see things a lot, they went to [the same place] a lot, especially on first downs and we just got our selves into positions to stop it.”
The Big Uglies up front gave a strong effort with two sacks, one tackle for a loss, as well as a goal line stand. “Even though we’ve been struggling, we’ve been playing hard,” said Dailey. “We thought if we could continue to play hard we’d win and we got a good effort from the guys up front.”
OL/DL Chris Snyder knew that the play on the line would make a difference as he contributed a sack and helped hurry Detroit QB Scott Semptimphelter. “Detroit is tough and they have their back up against the wall, and so are ours, so we’re all out there scrapping,” said Snyder. “There’s not much you can do. You can’t be fancy. It’s always tough when you go up against R-Kal Truluck, and [Kelvin] Kinney and all their big guys that can rush the passer.”
The play in the trenches provided the key to the game`s intensity. Numerous times hits removed helmets by force and one player even lost his pregame meal during play. “When the helmets come off, that’s a good feeling,” said Snyder. “I kind of laughed when Ricky Williams’ helmet came off and then he threw up. I told him that he shouldn’t have had the Chinese buffet. I had that a couple days ago and didn’t feel too good.”
The return of OS Eddie Brown gave Philyaw another target in the redzone as Brown pulled down two TD in only six receptions. “I was starving before tonight, but now I am pretty full,” said Brown. “I spent the last three weeks learning how to walk and run. It all came back tonight. Mainly I wanted to bring enthusiasm to the team, and did. It felt good to be able to run, catch the ball and concentrate without worrying about it. My goal is to get out of the brace in the next two weeks. It’s not sore anymore, and I think it’s healed up.”
Looking ahead, the Firebirds’ next games pit them against what would be the top four seeds if the playoffs started today. That’s a far cry from Detroit, a 1-7 team, but if Indiana can keep injury-free and maintain its intensity, they stand a good chance of making the playoffs.
Matthew Pickut is a pastor in northern Indiana and a long time AFL fan. He also writes for his own website: The Brown Paper Blog. He graduated from Taylor University in Upland Indiana (class of `96) with degrees in Biblical Literature and Sociology as well as a healthy respect for the medicinal properties of coffee.
