Don't wake the sleeping giant
Matt Eichenblatt
Monday July 9, 2007
If there was ever a chance for the underdog Philadelphia Soul to sneak up on the 14-2 Georgia Force, it was gone 40 minutes before kickoff, when Moten decided to get in the face of several Force players during a warm-up lap upon entering the field.
It was harmless at first, but his mouth kept going and going, and he kept getting closer and closer to the Force players. You just knew watching this that something was going to happen—and it did.
Within seconds, Force linebacker Umar Muhammad abruptly ended Moten’s trash talk, by physically engaging the Soul defensive back. Soon enough, it became a team affair, as both players from Philadelphia and Georgia rushed to the center of the squabble. After a few empty punches and a few threats, coaches from both teams as well as Ron Jaworski, stepped in to end the squabble. After the fight there was one thing for certain, Georgia was wide awake and ready to punish a team that tried to disrespect them on their own turf.
What ensued after the fight was a much more painful, one-sided affair that the Soul landed on the wrong end of—especially for Soul quarterback, Tony Graziani.
“I don’t know of another quarterback in the league that could sustain the beating that Tony Graziani sustained tonight,” asserted Georgia Head Coach, Doug Plank. “The pounding he took tonight was unlike any I have ever seen in the Arena Football League.”
The fact of the matter is, Georgia dominated the physicality battle Sunday night and it paid off. Force defensive lineman Mike Sutton, Ernest Allen and Jermaine Smith were having constant rendezvous’ at the quarterback, while Force quarterback Chris Greisen had enough time to sip lemonade before winding up and hurling one of his seven touchdown passes.
Once again, thanks Eddie for inspiring the home team to play like a pissed-off teenager; the raucous fans at Philips Arena really appreciate it.
With the number one seed in the National Conference, the Dallas Desperados, losing to Columbus Saturday night, the Force were excited to be playing for a chance to win the Conference title at home in Philips Arena, where they are now 9-0 on the season. But another thing the Force players and coaches might have gained was perspective on never overlooking a team, and never letting up.
“We learned last night that even though you’re up thirteen or fourteen points, it’s not over,” remarked Force quarterback Chris Greisen.
“Strangers things have happened. We took the experience and what we learned from last night and made sure we never took things for granted here.”
After the final seconds ticked off the clock and the cheers from the Force faithful were let out, the men with the blue and black jerseys didn’t try to show up the team that tried to do the same to them, the did exactly what they said they were going to at Friday’s practice: shake the opposing team’s hands, say a prayer, and head to the locker room.
Why? Because they know that bigger things lie ahead.
“This was a very satisfying win for our team,” said Plank. “For me and our team, there wasn’t a lot of celebrating in our locker room because everyone understands next week we have another game to play, and this one doesn’t mean anything unless we win next week.”
With former Force quarterback Matt Nagy leading the charge for the red-hot Columbus Destroyers, the Force have to heed the knowledge they retained from watching them defeat Dallas the night before their own playoff game: stay focused, and never take your opponent for granted. With the status of star receiver Troy Bergeron questionable for their contest Sunday, the Force are going to have to get another excellent week of practice from their players, and another great gameplan from the coaching staff.
Some advice for the Destroyers next week: don’t be Eddie Moten.
The Destroyers have enough on their hands trying to defeat a team that is 23-4 at home the past three years, boasts six All-Arena selections, and has a two-time coach of the year—the last thing they need to do is remind them why they are 15-2.
If you’re the Columbus Destroyers, remember: never let them never see you coming.
But for the Georgia Force, it’s so much simpler.
Never let them forget what came.
Matt Eichenblatt is a free-lance writer from the Atlanta area. He has followed Arena Football since 1999 and has been attending Georgia Force games since they moved from Nashville five years ago. As well as being a football enthusiast, he is also looking forward to graduating from the University of Alabama with a degree in Finance and Communications.
