 |
 Rush with the Colorado Crush | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born: | October 27, 1973 |
| Career information | |
| High school: | Riverview Gardens (St. Louis) |
| College: | Missouri Western |
| Position: | Kicker |
| Career history | |
| |
Clay Rush (born October 27, 1973) is a former American football kicker who played in the Arena Football League (AFL) from 1999 to the original league's folding in 2008. [2]
At Riverview Gardens High School in St. Louis, Missouri, Rush was a three-sport star in football, soccer, and baseball. He threw a no-hitter his senior season against Normandy High School. He also played basketball early in his high school career though he didn't play varsity.
Rush attended Missouri Western State University, where he was named to the Mid–America Intercollegiate Athletics Association All-Conference Team four times, and was an NCAA Division II All-American as a senior.
Rush attended NFL training camp with the Detroit Lions (1998), Atlanta Falcons (1999), Washington Redskins (2000), and New York Jets (2003). [3] [4] [5] [6]
Rush played for the Shreveport Knights in the short-lived Regional Football League in 1999. [7]
Rush was named First Team All-Arena in 2000 and 2003. He was also named Second Team All-Arena in 2005 and 2006. Rush was named AFL Kicker of the Year [8] in both 2000 and 2003. [9] In 2001, Rush made an AFL-record 110 extra-points, including a record 13 made PATs vs. Carolina on July 7, 2001. [10] Rush made the game-winning field goal as time expired during ArenaBowl XIX. In 2005, Rush converted a 62-yard field goal and lead the AFL in touchbacks. [11]
In 2008, Rush sustained a series of hits to the head in two games two weeks apart. Rush was removed from the game in Kansas City following positive signs of concussion. Following the second concussion, Rush wasn't properly evaluated or monitored. Team physicians cleared Rush to return to play after resting for a week. When Rush played again on about April 25, 2008, his symptoms worsened and he suffered permanent brain damage. [12]
The Colorado Crush were an arena football team based in Denver, Colorado. They began play as a 2003 Arena Football League expansion team. The Crush played in the Central Division of the American Conference until the Arena Football League suspended operations in 2009. They were last coached by Mike Dailey and owned by a coalition of Denver sports figures led by John Elway.
The Chicago Rush were a professional arena football team based in Rosemont, Illinois. The team played at the Allstate Arena from 2001 to 2013. They were a member of the Central Division of the National Conference of the Arena Football League (AFL). Founded in 2001, the team qualified for the playoffs 11 out of 12 seasons and won one AFL championship, ArenaBowl XX in 2006. During their history, the Rush won five divisional titles and competed in the AFL Conference Championship six times, including four consecutive appearances from 2004 to 2007. They also had the largest market in the AFL.
The Georgia Force was an Arena Football League (AFL) team based in Gwinnett County, Georgia, United States that played in the South Division of the American Conference. The team was owned by Doug MacGregor and Donn Jennings.
The Nashville Kats were an Arena Football League team, located in Nashville, Tennessee. They were last coached by Pat Sperduto, who coached the team's original incarnation to two ArenaBowl appearances prior to the original franchise's move to Atlanta in 2002. Sperduto also coached the second incarnation of the Nashville Kats following their return to the Arena Football League as an expansion team in 2005.
Adrian Jamal McPherson is a former gridiron football quarterback. McPherson played the majority of his professional career for the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League. He was drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the fifth round of the 2005 NFL Draft. He played college football at Florida State before being dismissed from the team as a result of a November 2002 arrest. As a professional, McPherson has also been a member of the Indiana Firebirds, Utah Blaze, Austin Wranglers, Grand Rapids Rampage, Tampa Bay Storm, Calgary Stampeders, Los Angeles KISS and Toronto Argonauts.
Lawrence 'Law Dogg' Samuels is an arena football coach and former wide receiver/linebacker. He played his college football at the Livingston University, and was an AFL wide receiver/linebacker from 1994 to 2010. He received both his Bachelor of Science degree in industrial technology and Master of Science degree in education from The University of West Alabama. He was head coach of the Tampa Bay Storm of the Arena Football League (AFL) from 2014 to 2016.
Kyle Moore-Brown is a former Arena Football League offensive lineman/defensive lineman for the Albany/Indiana Firebirds and the Colorado Crush. He is currently the offensive line coach for the Vegas Knight Hawks of the Indoor Football League (IFL). He was the head coach of the Cedar Rapids Titans of the Indoor Football League.
Shane Boyd is an American football quarterback who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the Tennessee Titans as an undrafted free agent in 2005. He played college football for the Kentucky Wildcats.
George "Duke" Robinson is a former American football guard. Robinson played college football for the University of Oklahoma, and was recognized as an All-American twice. He was selected by the Carolina Panthers in the fifth round of the 2009 NFL Draft.
Larry Brackins is a former American football wide receiver. He was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the fifth round of the 2005 NFL Draft. He played college football at Pearl River Community College. Brackins has also been a member of the New York Jets, New York Sentinels, Philadelphia Soul, Dallas Vigilantes, Orlando Predators and Cleveland Gladiators.
The Wheeling Wildcats were a professional indoor football team located in Wheeling, West Virginia. The team began play in the Continental Indoor Football League during the 2009 season as an expansion team. The Wildcats were the second indoor football team to be based in Wheeling. The team filled the void left by the demise of the Ohio Valley Greyhounds, who played their final down of football in 2007. The owner of the Wildcats was Dave Bender. The Wildcats played their home games at WesBanco Arena in Wheeling.
John Moyer is a former American football defensive lineman known mostly for his time with the Chicago Rush of the Arena Football League. He played college football at Eastern Illinois. As a member of the Rush, Moyer was a four-time All-Arena selection from 2002 to 2005, while also twice earning All-Ironman Team honors and being named the Lineman of the Year in 2004.
Darron Varnell Thomas is a former American football quarterback. He was the starting quarterback for the University of Oregon football team that reached the 2011 BCS National Championship Game and won the 2012 Rose Bowl.
Wayne Daniels is an American football defensive end who is currently a free agent. He played college football at TCU. Daniels was a 2010 College All-American selection by the Football Writers Association of America.
Alex Carder is an American football quarterback for the West Michigan Ironmen of American Arena League. He was signed as a free agent by the Detroit Lions of the National Football League. He was formerly the starting quarterback at Western Michigan University.
Wayne Luis Tribue is an American football guard who is currently a free agent. He played college football at Temple. He was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Denver Broncos in 2012.
Jason J. Raterink is an American football coach and former quarterback, who is the current Quarterbacks Coach at the University of Northern Colorado. He played college football at Wyoming. He went undrafted during the 2005 NFL Draft.
Lee Johnson is an arena football coach and former offensive lineman and defensive lineman. He played his college football at the University of Missouri, and was an AFL offensive lineman and defensive lineman from 1995 to 1996. He has been a football coach since 1997. After being the defensive coordinator for the Orlando Predators from 2010 to 2011, he became the San Antonio Talons head coach in 2011.
Shane Austin is a former American football quarterback. He played college football at University of Hawaiʻi. Austin went undrafted in the 2012 NFL Draft and signed with the Everett Raptors of the Indoor Football League (IFL) after the draft. After starting the Raptors final games of the season, Austin was able to gain the attention of the Pittsburgh Power of the AFL. Austin was named the starting quarterback for the Power, but a broken hand caused him to miss two months of the season. Austin then was assigned to the Cleveland Gladiators where he was named the backup to Chris Dieker. With Dieker struggling for the Gladiators, Austin was given the opportunity to start and lead the Gladiators to a 14–1 record as a starter and a berth in ArenaBowl XXVII. The Gladiators lost to Arizona Rattlers in the ArenaBowl, but Austin was named Second Team All-Arena.
Kendrick Ings is an American football wide receiver for the Fayetteville Mustangs of the National Arena League (NAL). He has also been a member of the Dodge City Law (CPIFL), Detroit Lions (NFL), BC Lions (CFL), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (NFL), Baltimore Brigade (AFL), Atlantic City Blackjacks (AFL), and Carolina Cobras (NAL).
