Hartford Courant from Hartford, Connecticut • Page 61

Ar SECTION FRIDAY MAY 12, 1995 0.0-... eview ooiDau or Mai An arena that's all their own Will success come with the territory? The indoor game begins its inaugural season in Hartford By ROY HASTY Courant Staff Writer ommissioner Jim Drucker sounds both confident and cautious about the future of By DESMOND CONNER Courant Staff Writer The chances of an Arena Football League player making a name for himself in the National Football League aren't good. And no one knows that more than the Arena players themselves. Some have had a taste of the NFL, Canadian and World Football leagues. But a lot will never make it that far because they lack something height, weight, even skill x.lN level that the NFL demands.

That's fine with Arena Football League players, Connecticut Coyotes included. The Coyotes generally are resigned to developing an identity and standing out in a league of their own. ft 1 5i WW the Arena Football League. Drucker boasts that the AFL is better developed after eight seasons than the NBA, NHL or Major League Baseball were at that stage. At the same time, Drucker acknowledges that Arena Football is trying to find its niche.

"The things we have to develop are astronomical," Drucker said. Among them is having teams in larger cities. Drucker said that is the best way to attract network television and corporate sponsorship, two keys to any successful league. "The cities we play in com-, prise only 12.5 percent of the nation's population, which is about one-quarter of the NFL and NBA and one-third of the NHL," Drucker said. But in the past four seasons, the AFL has moved in and out of 1 1 cities, many of them large: Cincinnati; Cleveland; Columbus, Ohio; Dallas; Denver; Detroit; Fort Worth, Texas; New Orleans; Sacramento, San Antonio; and Worcester.

Seven of those teams lasted two seasons or less. The AFL, which begins its ninth season tonight, always has been a tale of two extremes. Success and failure. Four teams the Tampa Bay Storm, Arizona Rattlers, Milwaukee Mustangs and Orlando Predators had an average attendance of more than 14,000 last season. The Predators sold out the Orlando Arena nine times, including the playoffs.

In violation of local ordinances, tickets priced at $25 are sometimes scalped at twice that Tampa Bay has led the league in attendance the past four seasons, drawing an average of 18,211 last season in the Thunderdome. The Mustangs averaged 14,232 at the Bradley Center in their inaugural season despite an 0-12 record. But with the dizzying number of franchise starts and stops, only three of the current 13 teams have been in their respective cities for five seasons. Still, the AFL is mounting its largest expansion effort this season. The Connecticut Coyotes, who will play at the Civic Center, are one of five new teams, along with the Iowa Barnstormers, Memphis Pharaohs, St Louis Stampede and San Jose SaberCats.

Three of the new teams San Jose (fifth), St Louis Please see Can, Page G6 '4 Make no mistake, this is not a league for washed-up players who want something to do at night There are demands here, too. And in some ways, it's more challenging to play in the Arena Football League than it is in the NFL You need stamina, quickness and versatility. But unlike the NFL, size is not nearly as important Take the Coyotes' Tyrone Thurman. Players on the team call him termite, midget, smurf, itty-bitty midget even Meggett after Patriots running back -Dave Meggett. Thurman's favorite description came from Bob Hope in 1988 when he was named a first-team All-America kickoff returner at Texas Tech and appeared on Hope's Christmas special.

"He said you could always find me on the front of a bus as a hood ornament," said Thurman, busting with laughter. "I've heard a million of them but that's the one I like the best" Thurman, whose nickname on the field is "Smurf," is 5 feet 3, 150 pounds. He runs a 4.4-second 40-yard dash, spinning through defenses like a top and sometimes falling like one. Thurman was one of the most exciting players in the AFL last year with the Las Vegas Sting. He averaged 17.3 yards on kickoff returns to lead the league two for touchdowns and caught 85 passes for 883 yards and nine TDs.

He was acquired by Connecticut through a trade. Thurman played with the Dallas Cowboys in 1989 and was released before the season. He also played in the CFL with the Ottawa Rough Riders from 1989-90. Please see Life, Page G4 -y fv: W4X .0 Stephen Dunn The Hartford Courant With Its different style of play and Indoor setting, Arena Football offers fans a unique perspective of the sport. Eye on lie Insldo tlio indoor gomo A primer to the unique sport, with league rules, history, records and a rundown from Coyotes players on some of the game's finer points.

Fco G3 Despite one of the league's toughest schedules and an inexperienced offensive line, Coyotes coach Rick Buffington thinks his team will win. Pzo II iiI I M4 fc- tint 4. J(lw (K. it hb. PeM.