| Professional Football Moderated. NFL, CFL, NFLE, Arena, Arena2, former Buckeyes all fair game. |
03-24-2007, 09:29 AM
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The Lizard King
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Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 28,473
Points: 209,965.24
Bank: 14,843.70
Total Points: 224,808.94
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Dispatch
Quote:
Ex-Buckeyes help Destroyers put fans in seats
Saturday, March 24, 2007 3:27 AM
By Bill Rabinowitz
The Columbus Dispatch
From a marketing perspective, it's a no-brainer.
Nothing is bigger in central Ohio than Ohio State football, so it's hard to argue with any football promotion associated with the Buckeyes.
That's part of the Destroyers' marketing for their home opener tonight. An hour before the 7 p.m. kickoff against the Chicago Rush, Buckeye Football Alumni Night will commence. Former Ohio State players such as Mike Vrabel, Mike Tomczak, Luke Fickell and Dustin Fox will be available to sign autographs.
Although the Ohio State promotion probably will lure some fans, it also speaks to the reality that in their fourth year in town, the Destroyers are still trying to establish their identity in the Arena Football League.
The Buckeyes represent a double-edged sword: They're a way to get wavering fans into the seats, but it would be nice to not need that linkage.
Continued......
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03-31-2007, 09:06 AM
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The Lizard King
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Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 28,473
Points: 209,965.24
Bank: 14,843.70
Total Points: 224,808.94
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Dispatch
Quote:
Destroyers 62Force 61
Nagy raises game, beats former team
Saturday, March 31, 2007 3:33 AM
By Bill Rabinowitz
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
When the victory was finally secured, quarterback Matt Nagy bounded off the Destroyers' bench, ran with arms extended like wings and slapped hands with fans in the front-row seats in Nationwide Arena.
For Nagy, a 62-61 Destroyers victory last night was particularly sweet, coming as it did against a Georgia Force team that traded him here. With 14 seconds left, Nagy threw touchdown and two-point conversion passes to Marcus Knight for the winning points.
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04-24-2007, 07:37 AM
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The Lizard King
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Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 28,473
Points: 209,965.24
Bank: 14,843.70
Total Points: 224,808.94
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Dispatch
Quote:
Arena football: Destroyers defense steals TV spotlight
Soul offense limited to two touchdowns
Tuesday, April 24, 2007 3:35 AM
By Bill Rabinowitz
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
 Mike Munden | DISPATCH
The Destroyers' Kelvin Kinney almost pulls the helmet off Soul quarterback Clint Stoerner on the final play of the game.
 Mike Munden dispatch
The Destroyers' Darcey Levy can't make a catch against the Soul's Brian Mance.
Defense is usually overlooked in the Arena Football League. The Columbus Destroyers took advantage of a national stage to showcase theirs.
Columbus limited the Philadelphia Soul to two touchdowns and rolled to a 44-21 victory in a game televised on ESPN2.
To mark the occasion, the Destroyers wore red jerseys and distributed red T-shirts to the announced crowd of 14,664 in Nationwide Arena.
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05-12-2007, 09:12 AM
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The Lizard King
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Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 28,473
Points: 209,965.24
Bank: 14,843.70
Total Points: 224,808.94
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Dispatch
Quote:
Special teams play seals Destroyers' fifth home win
Saturday, May 12, 2007 3:25 AM
By Dave O'Neil
FOR THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
 FRED SQUILLANTE | DISPATCH
Jim Tressel, left, with help from former Ohio State coaches John Cooper and Earle Bruce, tosses the coin before the game.
 FRED SQUILLANTE | DISPATCH
Columbus' Damien Groce has clear sailing to the end zone, and an official to witness, on his 56-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in the first half.
Even without a punter on either roster, the Destroyers special teams gave Ohio State football coach Jim Tressel a lot to love.
Damien Groce returned a kickoff 56 yards for a touchdown last night and Columbus recovered four kicks inside the Grand Rapids 12-yard line in a 59-56 victory in front of Tressel, former Ohio State football coaches Earle Bruce and John Cooper, and 12,014 others in Nationwide Arena.
"When you take a look at the scoreboard, you see how important plays like those are," Destroyers coach Doug Kay said. "What'd we have? Three or four onside-kick recoveries? That's a 28-point swing."
The Destroyers (6-4) scored touchdowns on each of their first eight possessions to build a 56-35 lead and never trailed.
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05-26-2007, 12:28 PM
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The Lizard King
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Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 28,473
Points: 209,965.24
Bank: 14,843.70
Total Points: 224,808.94
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Dispatch
Quote:
Arena football
Destroyers out to erase bad memory
Saturday, May 26, 2007 3:31 AM
By Bill Rabinowitz
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
The Destroyers need no reminding. The score -- 37-7 -- is seared into their brains.
They hear it, and it's like they've been zapped by a Taser gun.
"Let the record show my head has just fallen," receiver David Saunders cracked when reminded of the lead the Destroyers squandered in a 53-51 Arena Football League loss April 5 to the Dallas Desperados.
The Destroyers get their chance to make amends tonight when the Desperados come to Nationwide Arena.
With the season heading into the stretch run, Columbus would put itself in excellent position to make the playoffs with a victory. The top six teams in each conference make the playoffs, and the Destroyers (6-5) are two games ahead of the teams tied for seventh place in the National Conference.
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06-02-2007, 07:43 AM
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The Lizard King
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Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 28,473
Points: 209,965.24
Bank: 14,843.70
Total Points: 224,808.94
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Dispatch
Quote:
Arena football league
Destroyers try to stop breaking down on road
Saturday, June 2, 2007 3:24 AM
By Bill Rabinowitz
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
A step forward. A step backward. Two steps forward. Two backward.
Now the Destroyers are at a crossroads. They are 6-6 going into the Arena Football League game tonight against the Georgia Force (10-2) in Atlanta.
If the playoffs started now, the Destroyers would qualify for the first time since arriving in town in 2004.
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06-09-2007, 08:33 AM
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The Lizard King
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Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 28,473
Points: 209,965.24
Bank: 14,843.70
Total Points: 224,808.94
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Dispatch
Quote:
Ugly loss adds to skid
Five sacks, key injuries, offensive struggles dim fast-fading playoff hopes
Saturday, June 9, 2007 3:33 AM
By Bill Rabinowitz
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
 NEAL C. LAURON Dispatch
The Destroyers' Marcus Knight flips into the stands after making a touchdown reception against the Brigade in the first half. Columbus managed just 13 points in the first half on the way to its fourth consecutive loss.
The Destroyers can look at the standings and retain hope for making the Arena Football League playoffs.
The announced crowd of 13,803 last night in Nationwide Arena would have to scoff at the idea of the Destroyers belonging in the post-season after watching a horrid performance in a 47-34 loss to the Kansas City Brigade.
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