Columbus Wild Dogs (IFL)

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

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......

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

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.

Continued.....

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

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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[osugrad21]

Merge this one later after it makes the rounds..

Link


Columbus Destroyers to host Buckeye Coaches Night on Friday, May 11

Monday May 7, 2007



The Ohio State University football coaches Bruce, Cooper and Tressel to host Q&A Session for fans in attendance

COLUMBUS, Ohio ? The Columbus Destroyers, presented by Germain, will host Buckeye Coaches Night on Friday, May 11 when the club hosts the Grand Rapids Rampage. The evening will feature appearances by The Ohio State University football coaches Earle Bruce, John Cooper and Jim Tressel prior to the game, which is set for a 7 p.m. (ET) kickoff on Huntington Field at Nationwide Arena.

Doors will open at 4:45 p.m. and beginning at 5 p.m. Coach Bruce and Coach Cooper will sign autographs on the Bud Light Terrace (limited to the first 300 fans). The coaches will be joined by Coach Tressel for a question and answer session on the Bud Light Terrace from 6:15-6:45 p.m. All three coaches will be a part of the coin toss ceremony prior to kickoff.

Cont...

 

[BuckBojangles]

Interesting...

I certainly do not mean this question as a critique, but I wonder why JT is not going to sign autographs too.

 

[MililaniBuckeye]

I certainly do not mean this question as a critique, but I wonder why JT is not going to sign autographs too.

Because the NCAA will throw a hissy-fit since he's an active coach...

 

[Bleed S & G]

Because the NCAA will throw a hissy-fit since he's an active coach...

Its harder to get JT autographs than others.. i know Grandpa has autographed helmets from Woody, Earl, Cooper, and then when JT came around we were told he wouldn't do it.. then my uncle sold his secretary a house and she got it done for his birthday.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

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.

• Read what's on the minds of Dispatch sports reporters at dispatch.com/sportsblogs

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.

Continued....

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

Arena football
Destroyers out to erase bad memory

Saturday, May 26, 2007 3:31 AM
By Bill Rabinowitz


THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

• Read what's on the minds of Dispatch sports reporters at dispatch.com/sportsblogs

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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[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

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.

Continued......

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

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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[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

Destroyers seek fresh start, playoff spot
Despite 6-9 record, Columbus has shot at the postseason
Saturday, June 23, 2007 3:45 AM
By Mike Price


THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH




The playoffs are still on the Destroyers' minds as they enter their season finale tonight with a 6-9 record.
After losing five straight games, the Destroyers need a win at the New York Dragons to qualify for the Arena Football League playoffs for the first time since the franchise moved from Buffalo, N.Y., to Columbus in 2004. If they lose, and the margin is eight points or fewer, they still might get in, but they'll need help.
The Destroyers are in sixth place in the Arena Football League's National Conference. The top six qualify for the playoffs. The Dragons (5-10) are in seventh place, but the Destroyers won the first meeting this season, 51-42 on May 4 in Nationwide Arena.

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[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

Arena football: Qualifying for playoffs rejuvenates Destroyers

Monday, June 25, 2007 3:30 AM
By Bill Rabinowitz


THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
The five-game losing streak? History.

The sub-.500 record? Irrelevant.
Only one thing matters to the Destroyers. The Arena Football League playoffs start this week, and they're in them. The
Destroyers clinched the sixth and final playoff spot in the National Conference playoffs by defeating the New York Dragons 74-43 Saturday.
The Destroyers (7-9) will play its first postseason game since the team moved from Buffalo in 2004 when it travels to Tampa Bay to face the Storm (9-7) on Saturday.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

Arena Football
Destroyers: Groce shoulders his pain to catch a spot in playoffs

Destroyers receiver Damien Groce was told his separated shoulder would take six to eight weeks to heal.
He returned last week after missing only two weeks.
Yes, the shoulder hurts. Yes, he's a bit limited.
But physical pain isn't a match for mental anguish, and the prospect of sitting on the sideline with an Arena Football League playoff spot on the line made a few winces worth it. So Groce gutted it out, and his 11 catches and two touchdowns helped the Destroyers rout the New York Dragons in the regular-season finale.

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[OHSportsFan]

Congrats to the Destroyers! They just beat the Tampa Bay Storm @ Tampa in their wild-card match up.

56-55