Fire Benefit From Mr. Kight
Kevin Sedelmeier
Monday April 18, 2005
Down by one with seven seconds left, the Fire's Tony Stallings returned the kickoff past midfield, setting up Danny Kight's 42-yard attempt for the game winner. And with no time on the clock, it went through the narrow uprights, making the Fire 2-0 for the young season.
"If I did my fundamentals correctly, I'm probably not going to miss," said Kight, a former Indianapolis Colt. "That time I did it correctly, and it worked out. I had a good snap and a great hold, and it went through for me."
It’s ironic that South Georgia went for and got what seemed like the game-winning two-point conversion with seven seconds left, in large part because Wildcat kicker Danny Marshall had made only two of six PAT attempts during the game. As Kight noted, however, in a moment of placekicker solidarity, "We've all been on both side of the coin before." On this night, the Fire won the special team's battle, and it was vital to the victory. Kight kicked a 27-yard field goal at the end the first half to cut the South Georgia lead to 32-30. In the second quarter, Stallings went untouched for a kickoff return. "The team just blocked it perfectly, that's what it was. Give the credit to the blocking. All I had to do was run," said Stallings, who usually jukes and spins breaking tackles on his returns, but for this run he hit the hole and used his speed.
It is that speed which is helping Stallings and second-year player Cesare Manning come up big on the defensive side of the ball as well. Although Manning played a little defensive back in his freshman year at the University of Indianapolis, he is a receiver. He made an important interception on Friday night. Like, Stallings, however, he downplayed the greatness of the play. "They (South Georgia quarterback Bobby Pesavento) threw the ball right to me. It makes it kind of easy to pick it off" In the first half, the Fire secondary was having some problems, allowing Wildcat receivers to get wide open for touchdowns. That changed in the second half, as the defense played tighter coverage and did a good job of shutting down the Wildcat offense.
"We were giving them a lot of opportunities to keep drives alive," head coach Tommy Johnson said, referring to the Fire's inability to hold the Wildcats on some first half fourth downs. However, the second half was a different story. "We were trying to piece things together. We had to move Nate Green to DS because of Arkee leaving," Johnson said in reference to DS Arkee Thompson’s move back to the AFL last week. Manning, who played OS week one in place of injured James Scott (hauling in 10 catches for 198 yards and 5 TDs, not too shabby) moved back to both sides of the ball, and played well. Like Manning, Stallings has a better feel for defense this year. "I feel more comfortable this year," he said. After his two-interception game last week at Rio Grande, Stallings got a little anxious this game. "I kept trying to get more interceptions, and it was getting me beat. So, I just had to stop being selfish and control my man, and that's what I did in the second half."
The South Georgia offense was a dinking, albeit successful type. And although the Fire never gave up a big play, the Wildcats took what they could get, and it nearly worked. Offensively, the Fire was not spectacular, but they were effective. Quarterback Matt Sauk, who rewrote the Fire records books last year, is a steadying influence on the field and knows how to win. With an improved secondary, and key ingredients returning from last year's playoff team, the season looks promising for the 2005 team. "It's early, but we're solid," said WR/LB Dennis Fryzel. "I think we have potential to go places this year." However, Fryzel notes, that this may be an even tougher challenge than in years past because the quality of the af2 has improved every year. "The players are getting better. You see a bunch of division one guys and ex-NFL players trying to get up there."
Speaking of NFL, what did Fire owner and former NFL Pro Bowler Will Wolford think of the exciting finish that would have held its own with any of the old Alcoa Fantastic Finishes. "I haven't jumped that high in about six years," he said. "The last game I played, we won on the last play."
Wolford, Johnson, new GM Bill Glaser and assistant GM Chris West have assembled a good roster of players who seem to play well together. "It's beautiful," Wolford said of the dramatic finish. "We're pretty good if we can avoid injuries," Wolford added, looking ahead to the rest of the season. Next week's opponent is Wilkes-Barre-Scranton, and the 3-0 Pioneers won't be an easy task, but the Fire will be up for the challenge. It may not be as dramatic as this week's ending, but for the faint of heart, that might be a good thing.
INTO THE FIRE
During player introductions, Fire WR/DB Tony Stallings ran out holding a snake, which was draped around his neck. Animal Planet's King of the Jungle has a way with introductions. Last season, he did an Ozzie Smith-like flip during pre-game ceremonies after returning from his TV competition.
This season, the two teams' benches are no longer next to each other on the sidelines. Instead, they are in opposite corners of the same end zone. The assumption is that this was done to get in more premium seats, but it just doesn't seem like a good idea. The benefit of heckling the opposing team is lost. Season ticket holders in the lower part of the upper arena have been mercilessly hounding opposing players for the last four years. Now that edge is lost.
Just an observation, the gate in the end zone wall was opened by the mascots - the Fire's Axe and LG&E's Louie the bee—but they were never opened for the cheerleaders, who had to hurdle the padded wall like a shirtless guy hopping a chain fence as he runs from the police on an episode of Cops.
Dennis Fryzel, a Fire fan favorite, (what good is a column without alliteration?) was involved in the oddest play of the night. He was lined up as a wide receiver when South Georgia's LaRico Cole came up and blasted him before the ball was snapped. It looked like one of the most blatant unsportsmanlike conduct penalties anyone has ever witnessed. However, before Fire fans decide to plot a malicious "LaRico Suave" campaign complete with that 80’s song being piped over the PA system the next time he comes to Freedom Hall, Fryzel has the whole story. "He (Cole) came up after the game and apologized. It was actually a set play. It was a good play because I wasn't looking. If he had me about a half second later, everything would have been OK." A hard-nosed player like Fryzel can appreciate tough play, but from the stands it looked a lot more vicious than it was.
Season ticket holders are now guaranteed the giveaway item when they redeem it with a voucher in their ticket package. Hmmm and Norm MacDonald also guaranteed his last sit-com would be a hit. Well, the truth is by halftime, the Kentucky Derby Festival pins were all gone. Hopefully, this oversight will be remedied for future giveaways.
South Georgia quarterback Bobby Pesavento had a solid game for the Wildcats. His side armed delivery was effective for getting the ball in tight places in the Wildcats short passing game. That, however, is not the most impressive part of the University of Colorado product’s night. Not sure if records are kept for this sort of thing or not, but he awarded the fans with more souvenirs than any one player I can remember. The af2 office hasn’t verified this number, but he must have tossed at least eight footballs in the stands at the very least. From Fire fans, thanks Bobby.
The Fire's public address announcer is energetic and excitable. Those are good things. However, it's also helpful for PA announcers to generally correctly identify the players of their home team. For instance, four times in the second quarter, he misidentified Fire players. Not only was Ceasare Manning called Tony Stallings three times, but Manning's first name was mis-pronounced. It isn't Caesar as in beloved Batman villain Caesar Romero or former Reds centerfielder Cesar Geronimo. It's pronounced Ches-a-ray. Just for a helpful aid, Derrick Shepard and Marvin Constant really aren't Demetrius Forney, either. Maybe we should cut him some slack, though. After all, it was the first home game of the season.
Freedom Hall had a more comfortable environment–despite the chlorine-tinged soft pretzels. It was easier on the ears. The between plays music was more varied, and it wasn't turned up to 11 like in year's past. And the absence of Radio Disney dropped the decibel level a good 50 decibels alone.
A fourth quarter pass from Pesavento to Antwone Savage would have been a touchdown in other arena's end zones, but not at Freedom Hall. The hockey rink-like configuration meant, Savage had to jump for the ball and in the process, he went over the wall. It was ruled an incomplete pass. It just makes you wonder why the end zones are that way. There is a lot less real estate to work with in the end zone.
Fire rookie receiver Rob Mager got his first career reception Friday. It was a 21-yard gain, that saw him stumble out of what appeared to be a sure tackle and rumble into the clear before being dragged down. It was one of the most exciting plays of the night.
This week, University of Louisville fans in attendance got an extra treat when former basketball coach Denny Crum and former quarterback Stefan LeFors presided over the ceremonial coin toss. The coach looked relaxed and happy. LeFors also seemed genuinely happy to be there. It may have had something to do with the fact that he was a Fire intern last season. LeFors stayed for most of the first quarter talking with fans and signing autographs in the end zone. LeFors embodies all that is good with college sports. He is the epitome of team player. He's a great leader. He makes those around him better players. Oh yeah, and he led the country in three major passing categories last year. He will be drafted in the NFL draft this month, and you can bet he will make it. He has overcome the odds all of his life. Here's to Stefan for being a winner on and off the field. Here’s also hoping Lionel Gates, Robert McCune, Eric Shelton, Kerry Rhodes, J.R. Russell and the other Cardinal seniors will get a good look over draft weekend. The football Cardinals finished 6th in the AP polls this January, and the Final 4 basketball Cardinals finished 3rd in the polls earlier this month. In the past decade only a handful of universities have accomplished that feat. Fans will always remember Larry O'Bannon's game against West Virginia, and Ellis Myles' single-handedly keeping the Cards in the Illinois for three-fourths of the game. Few arenas in the af2 or AFL hold the history of the Fire and Cardinals' home, Freedom Hall.
Kevin Sedelmeier is a native Louisvillian. A graduate of the University of Louisville with a B.A. in Communication and M.A. in English, he works as a technical writer and has written fifteen screenplays and numerous short
stories. He lives with his wife Elizabeth, son Lukas, and their dog Springsteen.