arenafootball2 – No 2nd Fiddle Here!
Joseph Lenard
Wednesday April 18, 2001
The arenafootball2 league, steps up play for its second season by adding 13 new franchises. This years 28 ArenaCup contenders include the Arkansas Twisters, Augusta Stallions, Baton Rouge Blaze, Birmingham Steeldogs, Bossier City Battle Wings, Carolina Rhinos, Charleston Swamp Foxes, Florida Firecats, Greensboro Prowlers, Iowa Barnstormers (moved over from the AFL), Jacksonville Tomcats, Lafayette Roughnecks. The Lincoln Lightning, Louisville Fire, Macon Knights, Memphis Xplorers, Norfolk Nightwawks, Pensacola Barracudas, Peoria Pirates, (ArenaCup Champion) Quad City Steamwheelers, Richmond Speed, Roanoke Steam, Rochester Brigade, Tallahassee Thunder, Tennessee Valley Vipers, Tulsa Talons, and the Wichita Stealth, comprise the rest of the challengers.
Greensboro Coliseum in North Carolina was the sight of my first, in the seats for an in person, view of the “Ironman Jr.” and “Rock-n-Roll football” action. The Tallahassee Thunder were in town to take on the native Prowlers on the Coliseum turf, and the place was hopping. The Coliseum and surrounding structures, this evening, were host to a flurry of activities. The carpet was down and the nets hung for our contest, George Jones was set to take the stage next door in Memorial Auditorium, Olympic Gymnastic hopefuls were competing for an opportunity to advance to Regional competition, a Flea market occupied yet another portion of the Coliseum area, yet even more activities were taking place in 2 other sections of the building, and outside was the traditional Arena Football Tailgate extravaganza complete with Live music. If you thought “small stadiums in the middle of Farm country” when you pictured the af2, think again!
I arrived early in anticipation of the fun filled evening to come. The Prowlers Fan Club readily, and with smiling faces, greeted game attendees. For just $25 I signed up for the Prowlers Fan Club and proudly switched shirts so as to adorn their Club Polo, and anxiously looked forward to the chance to cheer on the Cats. The band was in full swing (no, not “swing” music, they have Pop/Rock stations and bands in af2 cities). Many were in the parking lot for the traditional tailgate barbecuing and pre-game partying.
As for inside the stadium, the Prowlers organization owner and CEO Art Donaldson clearly is looking to turn the Prowlers first year record of 3-13 completely around in the other direction with President and Head Coach Gary Tufford. Tufford, whose list of credentials include the AFL, CFL, IFL, NFL, and the WLAF, was quoted in the Aril 4th edition of the Entertainment Sports and Previews news as looking to “win the division.” He means it, and he believes it, and the opener was a giant step in the right direction.
The Prowlers started off the season on the right foot scoring a 24-15 victory. The game saw a safety in each end-zone and putting up 2 of each squads points. Prowlers Offensive Specialist Demeco Archangel scored both of Greensboro’s touchdowns in this game. Archangel brought the hometown crowd to its feet with a 55 yard MFG (Missed Field Goal) return for TD and a 7 yard TD reception. Kicker Bruce Reinecker tied an af2 record with 8 Field Goal (3 point) attempts, converting on 3 which also tied the Prowlers record for most 3 pointers in a contest. Reinecker also converted PAT kick to round out the Cats 24 points.
Greensboro Prowler Dee Jefferson (DS) was name Co-Player of the Week for his efforts against the Thunder. Dee shares his title with Richmond Speed’s Jeff Townsley (OS). Jefferson tied an af2 record held by four other players having corralled in 3 interceptions. The Prowlers Defensive Specialist also deflected 5 passes, had 1 sack backing up the Thunder for 12 yards, and tallied 6 unassisted tackles as well as 1 additional assisted bring down.
Tufford infused the 2001 Masked Cats with a mix of veteran players and new talent. The Prowlers Game Notes highlight QB Shawn Snyder, the “speed” of OS Domeco Archangel, and the presence of Duke standout Orlando Adwaters. The Greensboro squad adds some local flavor to their mix with the return of OL/DL Marcus Dow from UNC, FB/LB John Lewis from Wake Forest, and the addition of High Point native Eric Alford (FB/LB) who played at the University of Nebraska.
The Prowlers feel they have the talent to win over the long haul, and only time will tell. The af2 as a whole clearly maintains a high degree of football talent with 32 players making AFL rosters this year, and having had 7 players sign with the NFL. All this just after 1 year of high octane and potent play!
Here is a complete list of the 32 players who made Arena Football League rosters:
af2 Players who made AFL Final Roster
Players/af2 Team /AFL TEAM
1. OL/DL Kerwin Hairston/Roanoke/Buffalo Destroyers
2. QB Damone Scott/Norfolk/Buffalo Destroyers
3. QB Aaron Sparrow/Augusta/Buffalo Destroyers
4. WR/DB Carl Bond/Tallahassee/Carolina Cobras
5. OL/DL Silas Demary/Norfolk/Carolina Cobras
6. FB/LB Jason Lawson/Augusta/Carolina Cobras
7. OL/DL Matt Norwood/Tenn. Valley/Carolina Cobras
8. QB Billy Dicken/Quad City/Chicago Rush
9. OL/DL Voncellius Allen/Augusta/Detroit Fury
10. WR/DB Brent Burnside/Tulsa/Houston T’Bears
11. FB/LB Matt Kinsinger/Augusta/Houston T’Bears
12. FB/LB Chris Avery/Norfolk/Grand Rapids Rampage
13. WR/DB Charles Butler/Norfolk/Grand Rapids Rampage
14. OL/DL Sam Maverick/Carolina/Grand Rapids Rampage
15. DS Cornelius Coe/Quad City/Indianapolis Firebirds
16. K Brian Reaves/Pensacola/L.A. Avengers
17. QB Kahlil Carter/Arkansas/Milwaukee Mustangs
18. OL/DL Lawrence Lewis/Richmond/Milwaukee Mustangs
19. FB/LB C.J. McClain/Arkansas/Nashville Kats
20. WR/DB Danny Thomas/Tenn. Valley/New Jersey Gladiators
21. WR/DB Shon King/Quad City/New York Dragons
22. QB Brent Petrus/Carolina/New York Dragons
23. K Jeremy Alexander/Tulsa/Oklahoma Wranglers
24. OL/DL Demetrius Crowder/Tulsa/Oklahoma Wranglers
25. OL/DL A.J. Blum/Augusta/Orlando Predators
26. QB Chris Wallace/Carolina/Orlando Predators
27. DS Nick Rawls/Augusta/Orlando Predators
28. QB Shane Stafford/Tallahassee/Tampa Bay Storm
29. OS R.J. Anderson/Augusta/Tampa Bay Storm
30. WR/DB Deumaine Reeder/Charleston/Toronto Phantoms
31. QB Bryan Snyder/Tenn. Valley/Toronto Phantoms
32. OL/DL Heath Springer/Tenn. Valley/Toronto Phantoms
source: af2.com
The af2 is not just an opportunity to showcase talents in the hope of jumping to parent AFL teams, however. The Prowlers have had 2 players successfully move to other leagues. Kawasak Penn signed with the Detroit Lions in January and Jason Gibson is going to the Toronto Argonauts of the CFL. Gibson was reported as saying “I always knew I was going to get to the CFL and now here I am.” Penn became the af2’s second active player on an NFL roster, and seventh to sign with an NFL franchise overall. Both Gibson and Penn credited the af2 for giving them enhanced techniques, experience, and exposure needed to make the move up the football pay scale.
You really should get out and see this first hand! The af2 has high impact players and plenty of excitement. “Don’t Blink” here either!
If you’re a resident of the Greensboro area, contact Dave King at 336-218-5428 to get your season tickets. For football fans anywhere else in the country, to get into the Arena action, check with the Official league sites arenafootball.com and arenafootball2.com or ArenaFan and follow the Team links for Stadium and Ticket information and phone numbers for a af2 or AFL team in your area.
Joseph Lenard was a writer for ArenaFan Online from 2000 to 2001.
