Gowins, Polk, Dolezel and Baker Also Honored at 2001 ArenaBall Awards
Grand Rapids, MI - The Arena Football League on Friday bestowed honors upon five members of the Grand Rapids Rampage during the 2001 ArenaBall Awards, held at the Amway Grand Hotel in downtown Grand Rapids.
After leading the Rampage to the league's best regular season record (11-3), their first Central Division title and a berth in ArenaBowl XV, Head Coach Michael Trigg was chosen as the AFL's Coach of the Year.
Under Trigg's tutelage the Rampage took the league by storm, showing a confidence and resiliency that mirrored the personality of their coach. Seven of Grand Rapids' 11 victories came by way of a fourth quarter rally, and the Rampage won four games on their final offensive play. The Rampage were at their best in difficult situations, winning nine games by eight points or less and posting a 4-1 record when trailing after three quarters.
In his fourth season at the helm, Trigg transformed his squad into one of the league's offensive powerhouses, as the Rampage ranked in the league's top four in scoring offense, total offense and pass offense. His team's unparalleled preparation was exhibited by its 8-2 record (including playoffs) against Central Division foes.
The Rampage's reformation from a 6-8 campaign in 2000 began during the offseason, when Trigg relinquished his offensive coordinator position and constructed a new staff consisting of Sparky McEwen, Robert Smith and Marshall Foreman. He signed such top free agents as Clint Dolezel, Lincoln Coleman and Lucas Yarnell, and his staff uncovered budding AFL stars like Ricky Ross, Willis Marshall, JoJo Polk and Chris Avery.
With a 60-54 win at Nashville on June 8, Trigg became just the sixth coach in AFL history to accumulate 50 career wins, and his current total of 56 victories places fifth on the league's all-time list. If his team can repeat its success against Nashville in ArenaBowl XV this Sunday at Van Andel Arena, Trigg would become only the seventh coach in AFL annals to lead his team to an ArenaBowl championship.
Brian Gowins cemented his status as one of the top kickers in professional football by winning Kicker of the Year honors, and was named a Second Team All-Arena selection. In his second AFL season Gowins established himself as Mr. Clutch, twice lifting the Rampage to a last-second victory. He nailed a 39-yarder on May 19 at Chicago (54-52) and clinched the division title with a 42-yard effort versus Oklahoma on July 14.
The former Northwestern star finished second in the league in PAT percentage (96.0) and third in field goal percentage (57.7), in the process setting a plethora of franchise records, including most points by a kicker (141), longest field goal (56 yards) and most consecutive field goals made (9).
Gowins' career PAT percentage of 92.3 is the second-highest in league history. He is five field goal attempts shy of qualifying as the league's most accurate kicker of all-time, having made 40 of 70 career attempts (57.1%). Even if he would miss each of those next five tries, Gowins would still boast the best career percentage.
Defensive specialist JoJo Polk was presented with the league's Most Inspirational Award, following his miraculous recovery from an injury suffered last summer while playing for the Tulsa Talons of arenafootball2. He also earned a spot on the AFL's All-Rookie Team.
On July 15, 2000, in a game against the Charleston SwampFoxes in South Carolina, Polk jumped to break up a pass and landed head-first into the sideline barrier. He broke his neck upon impact, and doctors speculated that Polk was paralyzed from the waist down and would never walk again.
After spending just under two weeks in a local hospital, Polk was released without having undergone any major surgery. The doctors installed a halo to limit the movement of his neck, and he began what was expected to be a five-month rehabilitation at the Tulane University Medical Center in New Orleans.
Determined to walk and play football again, he sped through his rehabilitation in just two weeks and completed his physical therapy just over two weeks later. A little more than five weeks after the accident occurred, and two months earlier than doctors had initially speculated, his halo was removed. By the end of October, Polk had amazed his doctors, family, friends and teammates with a full recovery.
Upon reuniting in Grand Rapids with defensive coordinator Marshall Foreman this season, Polk became one of the AFL's top rookies and a valuable part of the Rampage defense. He led his team with three interceptions during the regular season, and placed among the league leaders with a team-high 23 pass deflections (4th) and 72 tackles (12th).
Finally, Clint Dolezel and Michael Baker also earned Second Team All-Arena mention at the quarterback and wide receiver/linebacker positions, respectively.
Dolezel set an AFL mark with 574 passing attempts and established Rampage records with 3,952 passing yards, 80 touchdown passes and 364 completions. He became the only QB in league history to throw 80 touchdown passes in three different seasons, and set team single-game records for passing yards (402), completions (35), attempts (50) and TD passes (8, tied on three occasions).
Baker, one of three original members of the Rampage, led the team with 77 receptions and 1,489 all-purpose yards, while placing second in receiving yards (721), tackles (49) and interceptions (2, tied). The Rampage's nominee for the Built Ford Tough Player of the Year award became one of five players in league history to amass both 5,000 receiving yards and 5,000 return yards on his career.
Over the course of the season, Baker also crossed the 10,000 all-purpose yard and 500 reception plateaus, joining nine other men who have accomplished either of those feats.
