Hawks Prepare for Exhibition Game
Dallas Dunn
Friday March 17, 2006
The Warriors arrived earlier in the day from Japan and went through a light workout at the Everett Events Center. The workout consisted mostly of stretching and passing drills in sweats and t-shirts. I spoke with Coach Shinzo Yamada about the trip and the upcoming game. Coach Yamada said that "I brought 24 players from all over Japan to play in this game. This is our third year doing this so we are hoping for better results. Back in Japan we play the outdoor game so when we come here we must adapt to the arenafootball2 rules. The first year we lost to the team from Louisville in the final quarter and last year San Diego just played better than us but this year we feel that playing a new team we have an advantage of having played together longer, but again this is their game so we hope to just do well." Coach Yamada is no stranger to the game. He was a linebacker and played with the Amsterdam Admirals of NFL Europe, the Memphis Maniacs of the now defect XFL, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the NFL in 2003.
The Hawks then hosted a Meet and Greet for the public. They also issued season ticket holders their tickets. This was the public first chance to see their new team. I spoke with Walt and Sandy Ewing who are board members for the Hawks 9th Man Club. They said they are very excited about this year. "Mr. Adams has brought in some great coaches and watching the try-outs we think we are going to have a great team again this year." The Hawks were in the NIFL last year and went undefeated in the regular season, losing in the second round of the playoffs.
The doors opened at 6 PM and there was a long line outside waiting to get in. Once the fans were let in the team had the player’s setup with table so that they could meet them and give autographs.
I spoke with Joe and Corinna Lipczynski who were picked up their season tickets. Joe has been an Arena Football fan since he first went to a Detroit Drive game back in 1988. Joe’s obsession with the Arena Football League and af2 has lead him to collect a helmet from every team in the history of the AFL and af2. "I bought one at a Portland Forest Dragons game for $10 and it just went from there I found most of them on one website but I have spent close to $2000 to complete my set." Joe and Corinna were so excited that the hawks joined af2 that he said "I bought season tickets this year the second they became available, I have waited a long time to live near a team and I cannot wait for the season to start."
A father and son team Joe Laughlin and Joe Fitzsimons came dressed in Hawks jerseys with hockey masks painted with the Hawks logo on. "We are with the 9th man fan club and we are the biggest fans for this team, I make these hockey masks, it is a hobby of mine" said Joe Laughlin. "We sit on the 20-yard line 4 rows up. I like it because it is up-close physical smash mouth football. It like a combination of football and hockey played indoors, it’s just something that we love."
After the meet and greet the team went to the locker room and changed into their uniforms and came out in preparation for Sunday’s game. Coach Foggie and Mr. Adams ran them through the entire game day routine. They started with pre-game warm ups, went back to locker room and came out with full introductions of the expected starting line up and then lined up for the National Anthem. After they did this several times they went through a practice that included three-on-three drills and then a full timed scrimmage that included referees calling penalties and the normal moving of the chains. Coach Foggie used this time with the field set up to his advantage and really put his players through a full practice for Sunday’s game.
They even had the Hawks Dance Team on the field doing routines for the fans. I spoke with Crissy and Traci of the dance team. "We have 3 girls returning from last year, the two of us and Leslie. We are going to have a great year, tell all of the fans to come out and see us; they will have a lot of fun at the game."
The team will be hosting a tour of Seattle on Friday for the Samurai Warriors that will include Pikes Place Market and the Space Needle, and then both teams will practice on Saturday for Sunday’s game. If you are in the area come out for this unique opportunity to see the Hawks play a team of all stars from Japan. Game time is 2 PM here in Everett Washington.
Dallas Dunn has been an Arena Football League enthusiast since he
first attended a Tampa Bay Storm game in 1991. He graduated from Nova
Southeasten University with a Bachelor's Degree in Management. He has
spent the last 18 years in the Army and is currently stationed at Fort
Lewis, Washington with his wife Stephanie. He covered the Columbus
Wardogs during their inaugural season of 2001 for Arenafan and is now
covering the Everett Hawks.