Grand Rapids 2006 Season in Review
Randy Snow
Thursday June 8, 2006
After posting a 1-15 record in 2004, a 4-12 record in 2005 and a 5-11 record this past season, I know how frustrating it has been to follow the team. As a season ticket holder myself, I have been to every home game over the last three years. It was good to see the number of die-hard fans that still came out to the games each week to cheer on the team. But at the same time, many casual fans stayed away this season and that’s too bad because they missed out on some great games and great individual performances.
In weeks three and four of the season, Grand Rapids posted back to back wins over Los Angeles and San Jose before some of the smallest crowds in franchise history. Those were both great games to be at and it was very disappointing that so few people came out to see them. It was the first time I had ever seen San Jose in person because it was the first time they had even been to Grand Rapids in six years.
In week 8, Grand Rapids played host to the expansion Utah Blaze. I love seeing new teams for the first time and it was the first ever meeting between the two teams. It was also another win for the Rampage and a game where Rampage WR/DB Josh Bush, one of the smallest players in the league, had three touchdown catches and an interception on his way to being named Ironman of the Game.
And who could forget the drama of week 13 when kicker Peter Martinez nailed a 36-yard field goal as time expired to give the Rampage a 45-42 win over the Arizona Rattlers! Or the see-saw battle with the Nashville Kats in week 14 won by Grand Rapids 61-54. That game featured 10 lead changes and 110 total points scored. That’s the kind of game I have come to expect in this league!
There was the maturation of quarterback Chad Salisbury throughout the season and the power running of Chris Avery and Chris Ryan. Timon Marshall led the league in all-purpose yardage this year with 2,734 yards, the first Rampage player to ever do so. Sure, there were some great moments this past season, but a lot of people missed seeing them because they chose to stay home.
Detroit Lions fans have lived by the motto, "Wait until next year," for many years now and, unfortunately, Rampage fans are feeling the same way the last few years. The big difference is, I still have memories of Grand Rapids’ last championship season just five years ago in 2001. I wasn’t even born in 1957 when the Lions won their last championship.
My point is this, fans of any team, no matter what league or sport, are never guaranteed that their home team will make the playoffs, let alone win a championship from year to year, no matter how great the coach or the players are. What fans are guaranteed, however, year in and year out, are regular season games filled with incredible players and great plays. In football, every regular season game matters and you only have eight home games to enjoy your team in person.
Had the Rampage gotten a few more breaks during the regular season, things could have been different for the team this past season. Just look at the Chicago Rush, a team that went 7-9 in the regular season and had to beat Grand Rapids on the road in the final week to make the playoffs. They have advanced to ArenaBowl XX in Las Vegas this weekend, while the Dallas Desperados, the team with the best record in the regular season at 13-3, did not make it to the championship game. One team had a great regular season, but the other is playing for a championship. Go figure!
Since 2000, I’ve been to 55 Arena games including playoffs and an ArenaBowl. In that time, I’ve also seen several Arena teams come to Grand Rapids that aren’t around anymore. Teams like the Milwaukee Mustangs, Indiana Firebirds, Houston Thunderbears, Toronto Phantoms, Detroit Fury and Carolina Cobras. Thankfully, Grand Rapids is still here, bringing in teams from around the country for all of us to see in person.
It is a privilege to have an Arena Football League in Grand Rapids, not a right.
Each season brings renewed hope and fan optimism for the season to come. So don’t miss out on the few chances you have each season to experience the great game of Arena football, no matter what your home team’s record or recent history might be.
In Grand Rapids, Rampage fans can show their appreciation for having a team, at the very least, by selling out the 2007 home opener next year.
I hope I see you there.
Randy Snow covered the Grand Rapids Rampage of the Arena Football League for ArenaFan from 2003-2008. He also covered the Fort Wayne Fusion of arenafootball2 in 2007. From 2004-2008 and in 2010, he was a member of the Arena Football League Writer’s Association and, since 2011, has been a member of the Professional Football Researchers Association. Randy lives in Kalamazoo, Michigan but will travel just about anywhere for a football game or a great football story. He runs the web site www.theworldoffootball.com and hosts a podcast with his son, Adam, called “This Week in The World of Football.”
