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Championship!!!!
PRESEASON GAME #1
ARIZONA CARDINALS at MINNESOTA VIKINGS
Saturday, August 14, 2004
5:00 PM (PT) –H.H.H. Metrodome
THIS WEEK’S GAME
The Cardinals open the 2004 preseason this Saturday at Minnesota. It will mark the team’s first game under new head coach Dennis Green, who spent 1992-2001 at the helm of the Vikings and led Minnesota to eight playoff berths in those 10 seasons. Saturday’s game will also be the pro debut of WR Larry Fitzgerald, not only a Minneapolis native but also a one-time ballboy for the Vikings. He was selected by the Cards in the first-round of the 2004 NFL Draft (third overall). Lastly, Saturday will mark the first game for both teams since the memorable season finale last Dec. 28 at Sun Devil Stadium. That game ended when Josh McCown’s 28-yard TD pass to Nate Poole on the game’s final play gave the Cards the 18-17 win and knocked the Vikings out of the playoffs.
TELEVISION
Station: AZTV
Play-by-Play: Dave Pasch
Color Analyst: John Mistler
Sideline: Jody Jackson
CARDINALS RADIO NETWORK
Flagship: 1060 KDUS (AM)
KSLX 100.7 (FM)
Play-by-Play: Kent Derdivanis
Color Analyst: Ron Wolfley
Sideline: Mike Jurecki
SPANISH RADIO
Play-by-Play: Gabriel Trujillo
Color Analyst: Luis Zendejas
THE SERIES
In preseason action, these teams have met 12 times and the Vikings lead that series 7-5. The most-recent game took place last August 28 in Minnesota when the Cardinals won 31-27. The teams have met in neutral sites in the preseason on three occasions: 1964 in Atlanta, 1969 in Memphis, and 1983 in London. The Cardinals and Vikings have met 17 times in regular season action and the Cards hold a one-game series lead (9-8). The last match-up between the teams was the memorable 2003 regular season finale when the Cardinals knocked the Vikngs from the playoffs with an 18-17 win that ended with a 28-yard TD pass on the game’s final play. The two franchises have met twice in postseason action and the Vikings wee victorious in each. They recorded a 30-14 win over the Cardinals in the 1974 Divisional Playoff at Metropolitan Stadium in Minnesota and won 41-21 in the 1998 NFC Divisional Playoff at the Metrodome. Based on the NFL schedule rotation in place through 2009, the Cardinals are next scheduled to play in Minnesota in 2006 and will next host the Vikings in 2009.
CARDINALS-VIKINGS CONNECTIONS
• Cardinals head coach Dennis Green spent 10 years (1992-2001) as Vikings head coach, leading the team to a 97-62 record (.610),eight postseason appearances, four NFC Central titles and two NFC Championship Game appearances.
• Cardinals offensive coordinator Alex Wood was the Vikings quarterbacks coach from 1999-2002 and helped QB Daunte Culpepper develop from a rookie to a Pro Bowler.
• Arizona defensive backs coach Richard Solomon was an assistant with the Vikings from 1992-2001, overseeing the team’s linebackers and secondary. He also assumed responsibilities as director of pro personnel for the Vikings in 2001.
• Cardinals strength and conditioning coach Steve Wetzel spent the 1991-2003 seasons as Minnesota’s head strength coach.
• Cardinals assistant strength and conditioning coach Daryl Lawrence held the same position with the Vikings in 1997 and from 2000-03.
• First-year Cardinals FB Obafemi Ayanbadejo signed with Minnesota in 1997 as an undrafted rookie free agent out of San Diego State.
He played in a total of three games with the Vikings (1 in 1998 and 2 in ’99) before moving on to the Ravens (1999-01) and Dolphins (2003).
• Another first-year Cardinal is cornerback Robert Tate, who began his NFL career as a sixth round draft pick of the Vikings in 1997. He went on to play five seasons with Minnesota before going to the Ravens in 2003. He signed with the Cardinals this past February.
• Rookie WR Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona’s first round selection and the draft’s third overall pick in 2003, is a Minneapolis native and a former Vikings ballboy. He attended Academy of the Holy Angels High School where he was a two-time all-state selection and prep All-America choice in football.
• Offensive lineman Everett Lindsay, who signed with the Cardinals on July 29, was drafted by the Vikings in the fifth round of the 1993 draft out of Mississippi. He spent the 1993-98 seasons with Minnesota and after stints with Baltimore (1999) and Cleveland (2000) returned to the Vikings for the 2001-03 campaigns. He is a former teammate of Vikings head coach Mike Tice, played under him as an assistant and head coach and now will play against him.
• Ted Cottrell is in his first year as Minnesota’s first-year defensive coordinator after previously holding that position with the Jets and Bills. He spent five seasons as an assistant with Cardinals, coaching the defensive line from 1990-93 and linebackers in 1994.
• Minnesota safety Corey Chavous was drafted by the Cardinals in the second round of the 1998 draft (33rd overall) out of Vanderbilt. He spent the 1998-01 seasons with Arizona before signing with the Vikings in 2002.
• Minnesota secondary coach Chuck Knox, Jr. was a running back at the University of Arizona from 1984-88.
• Vikings offensive line coach Steve Loney was an assistant offensive line coach with the Cardinals in 1993.
• Cardinals linebacker Karlos Dansby and Vikings linebacker Donatarrious Thomas started beside each other last season at Auburn and were each selected in the second round of the 2004 draft. Dansby was selected 15 slots ahead of Thomas (they went 33rd and 48th respectively).
CARDS & VIKINGS– The Last Time
CARDINALS 18, Vikings 17
December 28, 2003 – Sun Devil Stadium – (52,734)
The Cardinals snapped their seven-game losing streak in dramatic fashion, scoring touchdowns on their final two possessions in the game’s final two minutes, including the last TD as time expired to knock Minnesota out of the playoffs. Arizona took a 6–0 halftime lead on two Neil Rackers field goals (22, 26 yards), its first first-half shutout in 25 games, then watched the Vikings tally the second half’s first 17 points. Facing a 17–6 deficit, the Cards drove 60 yards in 14 plays midway through the fourth quarter, a march highlighted by wide receiver Nate Poole’s 37-yard reception and capped by tight end Steve Bush’s two-yard
touchdown reception on fourth-and-one from Minnesota’s two-yard line. Only 1:54 remained. Rackers’ onsides kickoff was recovered by Damien Anderson at Arizona’s 39-yard line. A 30-yard pass interference penalty on the ensuing play gave the Cards a first-and-10 at Minnesota’s 31-yard line. Arizona’s next three plays gained 22 yards. The Cards were facing a second-and-six from the nine-yard line with 39 seconds to play but QB Josh McCown was sacked on the next two plays. Without a timeout and the clock ticking toward 0:00, McCown took the final snap from the Vikings’ 28-yard line with four seconds remaining. He lofted a pass toward the corner of the end zone that Poole caught for the game-winning touchdown as he was
forced out of bounds by Minnesota defenders as time expired. Rookie wide receiver Anquan Boldin’s five receptions raised his season total to 101, equaling the Cardinals’ single-season record of fullback Larry Centers (1995) and bettering David Boston’s 98-catch wide receiver best (2001).
STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE
The 2004 Cardinals schedule ranks as the fifth toughest based on the 2003 win percentage of their opponents. Arizona plays eight teams that were .500 or better a year ago and has five games against teams that made the playoffs last season.
http://www.azcardinals.com/press/pressdetails.php?sid=2092
ARIZONA CARDINALS at MINNESOTA VIKINGS
Saturday, August 14, 2004
5:00 PM (PT) –H.H.H. Metrodome
THIS WEEK’S GAME
The Cardinals open the 2004 preseason this Saturday at Minnesota. It will mark the team’s first game under new head coach Dennis Green, who spent 1992-2001 at the helm of the Vikings and led Minnesota to eight playoff berths in those 10 seasons. Saturday’s game will also be the pro debut of WR Larry Fitzgerald, not only a Minneapolis native but also a one-time ballboy for the Vikings. He was selected by the Cards in the first-round of the 2004 NFL Draft (third overall). Lastly, Saturday will mark the first game for both teams since the memorable season finale last Dec. 28 at Sun Devil Stadium. That game ended when Josh McCown’s 28-yard TD pass to Nate Poole on the game’s final play gave the Cards the 18-17 win and knocked the Vikings out of the playoffs.
TELEVISION
Station: AZTV
Play-by-Play: Dave Pasch
Color Analyst: John Mistler
Sideline: Jody Jackson
CARDINALS RADIO NETWORK
Flagship: 1060 KDUS (AM)
KSLX 100.7 (FM)
Play-by-Play: Kent Derdivanis
Color Analyst: Ron Wolfley
Sideline: Mike Jurecki
SPANISH RADIO
Play-by-Play: Gabriel Trujillo
Color Analyst: Luis Zendejas
THE SERIES
In preseason action, these teams have met 12 times and the Vikings lead that series 7-5. The most-recent game took place last August 28 in Minnesota when the Cardinals won 31-27. The teams have met in neutral sites in the preseason on three occasions: 1964 in Atlanta, 1969 in Memphis, and 1983 in London. The Cardinals and Vikings have met 17 times in regular season action and the Cards hold a one-game series lead (9-8). The last match-up between the teams was the memorable 2003 regular season finale when the Cardinals knocked the Vikngs from the playoffs with an 18-17 win that ended with a 28-yard TD pass on the game’s final play. The two franchises have met twice in postseason action and the Vikings wee victorious in each. They recorded a 30-14 win over the Cardinals in the 1974 Divisional Playoff at Metropolitan Stadium in Minnesota and won 41-21 in the 1998 NFC Divisional Playoff at the Metrodome. Based on the NFL schedule rotation in place through 2009, the Cardinals are next scheduled to play in Minnesota in 2006 and will next host the Vikings in 2009.
CARDINALS-VIKINGS CONNECTIONS
• Cardinals head coach Dennis Green spent 10 years (1992-2001) as Vikings head coach, leading the team to a 97-62 record (.610),eight postseason appearances, four NFC Central titles and two NFC Championship Game appearances.
• Cardinals offensive coordinator Alex Wood was the Vikings quarterbacks coach from 1999-2002 and helped QB Daunte Culpepper develop from a rookie to a Pro Bowler.
• Arizona defensive backs coach Richard Solomon was an assistant with the Vikings from 1992-2001, overseeing the team’s linebackers and secondary. He also assumed responsibilities as director of pro personnel for the Vikings in 2001.
• Cardinals strength and conditioning coach Steve Wetzel spent the 1991-2003 seasons as Minnesota’s head strength coach.
• Cardinals assistant strength and conditioning coach Daryl Lawrence held the same position with the Vikings in 1997 and from 2000-03.
• First-year Cardinals FB Obafemi Ayanbadejo signed with Minnesota in 1997 as an undrafted rookie free agent out of San Diego State.
He played in a total of three games with the Vikings (1 in 1998 and 2 in ’99) before moving on to the Ravens (1999-01) and Dolphins (2003).
• Another first-year Cardinal is cornerback Robert Tate, who began his NFL career as a sixth round draft pick of the Vikings in 1997. He went on to play five seasons with Minnesota before going to the Ravens in 2003. He signed with the Cardinals this past February.
• Rookie WR Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona’s first round selection and the draft’s third overall pick in 2003, is a Minneapolis native and a former Vikings ballboy. He attended Academy of the Holy Angels High School where he was a two-time all-state selection and prep All-America choice in football.
• Offensive lineman Everett Lindsay, who signed with the Cardinals on July 29, was drafted by the Vikings in the fifth round of the 1993 draft out of Mississippi. He spent the 1993-98 seasons with Minnesota and after stints with Baltimore (1999) and Cleveland (2000) returned to the Vikings for the 2001-03 campaigns. He is a former teammate of Vikings head coach Mike Tice, played under him as an assistant and head coach and now will play against him.
• Ted Cottrell is in his first year as Minnesota’s first-year defensive coordinator after previously holding that position with the Jets and Bills. He spent five seasons as an assistant with Cardinals, coaching the defensive line from 1990-93 and linebackers in 1994.
• Minnesota safety Corey Chavous was drafted by the Cardinals in the second round of the 1998 draft (33rd overall) out of Vanderbilt. He spent the 1998-01 seasons with Arizona before signing with the Vikings in 2002.
• Minnesota secondary coach Chuck Knox, Jr. was a running back at the University of Arizona from 1984-88.
• Vikings offensive line coach Steve Loney was an assistant offensive line coach with the Cardinals in 1993.
• Cardinals linebacker Karlos Dansby and Vikings linebacker Donatarrious Thomas started beside each other last season at Auburn and were each selected in the second round of the 2004 draft. Dansby was selected 15 slots ahead of Thomas (they went 33rd and 48th respectively).
CARDS & VIKINGS– The Last Time
CARDINALS 18, Vikings 17
December 28, 2003 – Sun Devil Stadium – (52,734)
The Cardinals snapped their seven-game losing streak in dramatic fashion, scoring touchdowns on their final two possessions in the game’s final two minutes, including the last TD as time expired to knock Minnesota out of the playoffs. Arizona took a 6–0 halftime lead on two Neil Rackers field goals (22, 26 yards), its first first-half shutout in 25 games, then watched the Vikings tally the second half’s first 17 points. Facing a 17–6 deficit, the Cards drove 60 yards in 14 plays midway through the fourth quarter, a march highlighted by wide receiver Nate Poole’s 37-yard reception and capped by tight end Steve Bush’s two-yard
touchdown reception on fourth-and-one from Minnesota’s two-yard line. Only 1:54 remained. Rackers’ onsides kickoff was recovered by Damien Anderson at Arizona’s 39-yard line. A 30-yard pass interference penalty on the ensuing play gave the Cards a first-and-10 at Minnesota’s 31-yard line. Arizona’s next three plays gained 22 yards. The Cards were facing a second-and-six from the nine-yard line with 39 seconds to play but QB Josh McCown was sacked on the next two plays. Without a timeout and the clock ticking toward 0:00, McCown took the final snap from the Vikings’ 28-yard line with four seconds remaining. He lofted a pass toward the corner of the end zone that Poole caught for the game-winning touchdown as he was
forced out of bounds by Minnesota defenders as time expired. Rookie wide receiver Anquan Boldin’s five receptions raised his season total to 101, equaling the Cardinals’ single-season record of fullback Larry Centers (1995) and bettering David Boston’s 98-catch wide receiver best (2001).
STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE
The 2004 Cardinals schedule ranks as the fifth toughest based on the 2003 win percentage of their opponents. Arizona plays eight teams that were .500 or better a year ago and has five games against teams that made the playoffs last season.
http://www.azcardinals.com/press/pressdetails.php?sid=2092
