McDonald Criticized for Late Hit on Garcia
Mick Cornett
Friday June 30, 2000
Oklahoma Wranglers linebacker Travis McDonald is still under enemy fire for separating the shoulder of one of the league’s star quarterbacks. Iowa had won five games in a row behind the incredible play of quarterback Aaron Garcia when the two teams met in Oklahoma City. But midway through the second quarter of their game in the Myriad, Garcia threw a pass and McDonald knocked him to the ground. Garcia landed on his left shoulder, grabbed it in pain, and the official threw a flag indicating a late hit. The Wranglers say the video-tapes of the game clearly show that the official wasn’t going to throw a flag until the play was completely over, and he saw Garcia was injured.
While Wrangler head coach Bob Cortese maintains the tackle was ‘clean,’ you’ll get a vastly different view from Iowa.
"I had backed away after making the pass and the play was over as far as I was concerned," said Garcia to newspaper reporters in Iowa, "But he grabbed me anyway, and slammed me to the ground."
Garcia is the league’s top rated passer and tried to make sense of the play. "I don`t think he was trying to hurt me, but I don`t know," Garcia said. "He sure didn`t have to do what he did."
Reports from Des Moines say that Garcia will play despite the shoulder injury.
Wrangler Jeopardy
The answer: 58 long
The question: What is the coat-size of barrel-chested defensive end Andrew Mitchell?
Mick Cornett was a writer for ArenaFan Online from 2000 to 2001.
