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Best And Worst
Of The 2000 Roanoke Steam
Best Game:
Pensacola @ Roanoke
Yes the first half was sloppy, the Steam had 2 fumbles, an interception returned for a touchdown, and a botched missed field goal. But the 4th quarter was classic arena football. Seven lead changes, four in the final two minutes of the game. Roanoke wins the game on a perfect Will Burch to Charles Briggs post pattern with 8 seconds left to go.
Worst Game:
Richmond @ Roanoke
Roanoke suffered some bad losses at home this season, but this was the only game where I can truly say that the opponent did not win the game, the Steam lost it. From a 10 point lead (26-16) in the third quarter, all facets of the Steam team choked. The offense fumbled and bumbled, the defense turned into a seive, and the special teams failed to cover a crucial onside kick. All this lead to a 51-26 Richmond lead before the Steam scored a meaningless touchdown at the finish.
Best Team Performance:
Charleston @ Roanoke
At the time the Steam was 0-6 and desperate for a breakout performance. What they got in this game was an offensive show probably rivalling the best in the league this season. Not counting Moe Cooper’s kickoff return touchdown, the offense had the ball 11 times. They scored 10 touchdowns. Will Burch set an arena football record with 10 td passes. Charles Briggs had 6 touchdown receptions on 6 catches (probably a record for the best touchdown percentage). The defense shut down Charleston in the third quarter to take control of the game as the offense pulled away.
Worst Team Performance:
Richmond @ Roanoke
This was a tough call, but I will have to go with the second half of the Richmond game. The team started strongly with two Burch to Briggs touchdowns and after a Moe Cooper kickoff return, led the game 26-16. However it was all downhill after that. Cooper got burned for a touchdown, Mancel Johnson got burned on an onside kick. Joe Shin struggled to even hike the ball to Will Burch, the defensive backs stopped covering anybody, and then couldn't even tackle them. No one really played well and Richmond quickly led 51-26.
Best Moment: This one was easy. Immediately following the final gun of the Steam first win against Charleston, WR/DB Jeff Higgins was seen kissing the Civic Center astroturf like a the worlds biggest monkey had been lifted. See the picture page for the photo.
Worst Moment: The 4th quarter safety against Richmond. After 7 3/4 somewhat frustrating home games, I have to admit I was sort of angry over the teams lackluster performance in the second half against the arch-rivals from Richmond. Still in the game, the team needed a spark to stop the Richmond rally, but instead Joe Shin snapped the ball over Burch’s head. Burch recovered, but was tackled in the endzone. Most of the remaining fans got up and left. What really galled me was they botched the center-qb snap about 5 times in that game. After that many games it should have been routine.
Play of the Year: In a game known for offense, I have to pick a great defensive play, Moe Cooper’s 49 yard fumble return in the fourth quarter against Greensboro. Seemingly about to go down by 2 touchdowns early in the 4th quarter against the leagues worst team, the Steam pulled off their biggest heist of the season. The Prowler runner swept right from the 1 yard line and was stuffed at the goal line, the ball squirted straight up and Cooper snagged it and ran untouched 49 yards for the tying score. To me it was simple, if the Prowlers had scored, we lose. That play sparked the team to victory.
Offensive Play of the Year: There are so many offensive plays to choose from, but only one was the game winner at the final gun. Will Burch's 30 yard touchdown pass to Charles Briggs who perfectly screened off the defensive back to beat Pensacola. A picture perfect post route.
Anti-Play of the Year: The one that stands out in my mind is Greensboro’s interception return for a touchdown. A very poor decision by Will Burch, he threw it right to the guy. Honorable mention: About every other extra point attempt.
Best Catch: Take your pick from the Briggs file: The alleyoop against Tulsa (see picture on photo page), the game winner versus Pensacola, or one of his catch and runs against Charleston or Pensacola. All spectacular. But I have to give this one to an opponent. Tulsa Talon Trent Alexander’s off the end zone nets, off Brandon Burnside, off Kevin Allen, touchdown catch.
Best Run: Charles Briggs on his second touchdown against Pensacola, catches the ball on the right sideline, breaks a tackle, cuts back across the field, avoids another lunge, and turns the corner for the score.
Best Hit: Charles Briggs laying out Birmingham’s Wayne Thomas. Thankfully Thomas wasn't hurt (he was out on the field for about a minute), but you had to question his sanity in coming back into the game. He was probably feeling that one into the next week.
Best Opponent: Birmingham Steeldogs, they were a class act. No trash talking, they just went about their business and didn't try to run up meaningless touchdowns in the 4th quarter. They have the classiest fans too, from those I have met on the web.
Worst Opponent: Norfolk Nighthawks, The team jerk, Doug Siedenstricker, squirted water from a squeeze bottle on Will Burch as he went back to talk to the coach. The team behaved like a bunch of fools. Also have to give anti-props to Jacksonville (well at least OS Bobby Williams) and Pensacola QB Bobby Clayton for flipping off the Roanoke bench, and then getting steamrolled like a cockroach by two linemen on the Cudas two turnovers (LOL).
Best Promotion: None, the lack of promotion was the biggest problem for this team. But the reduced cost kids tickets for the final game showed that the management may have started to get a clue.
Worst Promotion: Or non-promotion, the failure to secure radio broadcast rights. Guys, the Salem Avalanche baseball team has their games broadcast. So does the Roanoke Express hockey team. You think that additional exposure might be why they sell more tickets?
Best Game-time Gimmick: Pitch a pigskin. That one really caught on, especially when they stopped letting us go into the parking lot to sneak a brew during halftime.
Worst Game-time Gimmick: Sing for your supper. Some fan (I think only one person this year had any singing talent at all) gets to sing a few lines of a song over the loudspeaker to win a dinner for two. That one just calls for a restroom break. Can it now. And did anyone really open the frozen tshirt without cheating.
Best Song: "Cotton Eye Joe", the fans love it. Honorable mention to "Ready To Go" cause thats my favorite.
Worst Song: Any winner of the fans choice song. Why? Because the fans have no taste, and we only get to here two seconds of the choice anyway. Some reward.
And finally, my picks for the Players of the Year.
Offensive Player of the Year: Charles Briggs, a big time threat on the deep route and absolutely deadly on the alley oop, 67 catches, 30 were for touchdowns.
Defensive Player of the Year: Kevin Allen, he was a solid player when healthy, the team defense struggled when he was out hurt. 7 interceptions, 16 pass breakups
Special Teams Player of the Year: Moe Cooper, hands down best kickoff returner in the league. Returning kicks for the final 10 games of the season, he scored 5 touchdowns (2nd in the league), and twice brought the ball down to the one yard line.
