A Special Saturday Night For Harrell
Jeff Sims
Tuesday March 25, 2008
For one, it was his first game against his former employer. Harrell had been the star wideout for the Colorado Crush since their inception into the AFL in 2003.
Second, in what would be a milestone in his career, Harrell surpassed “Touchdown” Eddie Brown for the all-time touchdown lead in AFL history with a scoring grab in the second quarter. The Rush would secure a solid victory over the visiting Crush 70 – 35.
Harrell had five spectacular seasons with the Crush. He had been named Offensive Player of the Year in both 2005 and 2006 and broke the single season touchdown record in 2006 with 61. He was the staple of the team and the big name that anyone thought of when the Colorado Crush was mentioned. But in a move all too common in professional sports today, Harrell left Colorado this past off-season as a free agent and signed with the division rival Chicago Rush.
“He is a great receiver, no question about that,” said Colorado head coach Mike Dailey. “But it is a part of pro sports. Free agency is big now.”
So Saturday’s game against the Crush meant a whole lot to Harrell.
“It was rough,” he said “I was fighting the emotions. I am just happy that I didn’t have a nervous breakdown out there. I felt that coach Hohensee did a great job with helping me to keep my composure by not going to me early.”
But it is not as if Harrell was walking into the complete unknown. Rush head coach Mike Hohensee had brought in Harrell as a rookie with the New England Sea Wolves in 1999, so the two of them do have a history together and Harrell is happy with his current surroundings.
“That was part of my goal coming over here with coach Hohensee,” said Harrell. “I was trying to extend my career and get better at the same time and I think that I am on the right page with that.”
With Harrell having been on the opposing side of many a Colorado versus Chicago game, it was a different feel prior to this game than any other before.
“It is kind of disappointing that we didn’t have to prepare for him this time,” said Rush Defensive Coordinator Brian Schwartze. “Don’t get me wrong, I like having him here, but you get so used to him being on the other side and preparing for him, it was strange this week.”
The Big Moment
The 16,036 fans that flocked into the Allstate Arena on Saturday night knew that it was inevitable. Harrell came into the game needing just two touchdowns to break the all time AFL touchdown record. There was an electricity that even for the Allstate Arena was out of the ordinary. But there was no push by the team to ensure that the event would take place.
“That’s something that we didn’t talk about all week,” said Hohensee “We knew it was on the program, but we didn’t talk about that. He had five catches, so it wasn’t like we were trying to get the football just to him.”
With the effort that Harrell brings each night and the type of player that he is, everyone knew that the inevitable would occur. That moment came in the second quarter when Rush quarterback Sherdrick Bonner found him in the endzone for a seven yard touchdown reception and the 304th of his career.
Harrell immediately ran to the opposite endzone to interact with some of the Rush faithful.
“I was talking to some of the fans early on and one of them had a post it board and he asked that when you break the record, you need to come down here and change it for me,” said Harrell. “So you know, I’m a man of my word.”
And that is one of the great things about this league. One of its greatest stars breaks a record and the first thing he does is go to interact with a fan. Where else can you find that?
It was a special moment for all that were involved and even for those on the other side of the football that played with or coached Damian for those five years in Colorado.
“It is a great (record),” said Dailey. “He certainly deserves it and I want to wish him the very best.”
Even John Dutton, quarterback for the Colorado Crush and former teammate of Harrell’s, took pride in seeing his former teammate record such an accomplishment.
“I told him that I wish I could have thrown it to him,” stated Dutton. “But at least I was here to witness it. I have seen a number of records broken by him and I have been on the other end of many of them. So to be here to witness it is the next best thing.”
Even under these special circumstances and in the glow of his accomplishments, Damian Harrell could not help but make mention of his teammates and the overall goal of this Chicago Rush team; win games and hopefully be able to win a championship this season.
“It still hasn’t registered yet,” said Harrell in a mellow tone. “I’m not a big stat guy, so it probably won’t register until after I retire to be honest with you. I am just trying to enjoy the moment.”
It was a moment that many will remember; his family, friends, coaches, and current and former teammates alike. With the atmosphere, the excitement, the opponent, and his place in AFL history set, there was no other way that Damian Harrell would have wanted this to play itself out.
“I don’t think that it could have played itself out any better. With Colorado coming in and me breaking the record against those guys, it is a great feeling. It is a really great feeling.”
Game Notes
Sherdrick Bonner completed 24 of 29 passes for 211 yards. He is 55 yards shy of moving into second place on the all time passing yards list ahead of current Dallas Desperados QB Clint Dolezel. Back-up QB Russ Michna continues to see a lot of action around the goal line for the Rush. Michna ran for two touchdowns and threw two others as he leads the Rush “big package”. Coach Mike Hohensee states there is no two quarterback system and he will not be doing so anytime soon.
Jeff has been writing for ArenaFan.com since 2004. Originally from New York, Jeff has been living in the Chicago area for the past ten years and is an avid football fanatic. He holds a BA in communications from Hofstra University in New York and a sports management certificate from Loyola University in Chicago.