- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 399,385
- Reaction score
- 43
Nick Davila, the Arizona Rattlers quarterback during the team's greatest winning stretch a decade ago, will be added to the organization's Ring of Honor before the season opener on Sunday, March 30.
The current Indoor Football League champions open against the Tucson Sugar Skulls at 3:10 p.m., at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale.
It was during their latter stage in the Arena Football League that Davila led the Rattlers to three straight ArenaBowl championships in 2012, 2013 and 2014.
He almost had two more. Jacksonville pulled out the 2011 title over the Rattlers on the last play of the game. In 2015, the San Jose SaberCats beat the Rattlers 70-67 in the National Conference championship game on a controversial play, keeping Arizona from reaching the title game.
"Just a great place to raise a family," Davila said, about making his home in the East Valley, after the Rattlers signed him in 2010. "They've treated me like family. It trickled down from there, and we decided to stay in Arizona."
The Rattlers would have put Davila into the Ring of Honor years ago, but Davila wanted to wait until his youngest kids were old enough to enjoy it with their dad. Davila, who is from Southern California, said he expects about 85 family members to be part of the special moment.
"We built this organization around Nick. He's not only just a great football player but a great human being,'' Rattlers coach Kevin Guy said, calling him "the best I ever coached."
Davila, who played collegiately at Cincinnati, left the Spokane Shock and joined the Rattlers early in Guy's coaching tenure in Arizona and immediately had an impact, after leading the Shock to an AF2 title in 2009.
Of Mexican descent, and nicknamed the "Latin Laser," Davila was the AFL MVP in 2011, 2014 and 2016. He was the AFL Offensive Player of the Year in 2014, the last of the Rattlers' three straight ArenaBowl championships.
He passed for 32,616 yards and 766 touchdowns with a 123.15 QB rating in his AFL career.
After helping coach the Rattlers in 2017, during their first year in the IFL, after breaking away from the AFL and capturing a championship, Davila tried to make an AFL comeback with the Washington Valor in 2018. But his career ended after suffering a dislocated neck and broken cervical spine that caused him to spend 18 hours in traction.
"I'm a walking miracle," Davila said. "It was a very dark, tough time for me. I was centimeters away from being paralyzed, the doctor said. I've had two surgeries since."
Davila said he still undergoes physical therapy for the injury. There are times when his left arm goes numb as he's tossing the ball to his sons, he said.
"I've got to slow down a little bit," Davila said. "It's very hard for my competitive mindset."
Davila still mentors young quarterbacks, such as Guy's son Kody, who will be graduating in May at Gilbert Williams Field High School before moving on to Fort Hays State University to play football. Davila also helps out at Gilbert Higley High varsity football, mostly on Fridays.
To suggest human-interest story ideas and other news, reach Obert at[email protected] or 602-316-8827. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter:@azc_obert
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Nick Davila going into Arizona Rattlers' Ring of Honor
Continue reading...
The current Indoor Football League champions open against the Tucson Sugar Skulls at 3:10 p.m., at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale.
It was during their latter stage in the Arena Football League that Davila led the Rattlers to three straight ArenaBowl championships in 2012, 2013 and 2014.
He almost had two more. Jacksonville pulled out the 2011 title over the Rattlers on the last play of the game. In 2015, the San Jose SaberCats beat the Rattlers 70-67 in the National Conference championship game on a controversial play, keeping Arizona from reaching the title game.
"Just a great place to raise a family," Davila said, about making his home in the East Valley, after the Rattlers signed him in 2010. "They've treated me like family. It trickled down from there, and we decided to stay in Arizona."
The Rattlers would have put Davila into the Ring of Honor years ago, but Davila wanted to wait until his youngest kids were old enough to enjoy it with their dad. Davila, who is from Southern California, said he expects about 85 family members to be part of the special moment.
"We built this organization around Nick. He's not only just a great football player but a great human being,'' Rattlers coach Kevin Guy said, calling him "the best I ever coached."
Davila, who played collegiately at Cincinnati, left the Spokane Shock and joined the Rattlers early in Guy's coaching tenure in Arizona and immediately had an impact, after leading the Shock to an AF2 title in 2009.
You must be registered for see images attach
Of Mexican descent, and nicknamed the "Latin Laser," Davila was the AFL MVP in 2011, 2014 and 2016. He was the AFL Offensive Player of the Year in 2014, the last of the Rattlers' three straight ArenaBowl championships.
He passed for 32,616 yards and 766 touchdowns with a 123.15 QB rating in his AFL career.
After helping coach the Rattlers in 2017, during their first year in the IFL, after breaking away from the AFL and capturing a championship, Davila tried to make an AFL comeback with the Washington Valor in 2018. But his career ended after suffering a dislocated neck and broken cervical spine that caused him to spend 18 hours in traction.
"I'm a walking miracle," Davila said. "It was a very dark, tough time for me. I was centimeters away from being paralyzed, the doctor said. I've had two surgeries since."
Davila said he still undergoes physical therapy for the injury. There are times when his left arm goes numb as he's tossing the ball to his sons, he said.
"I've got to slow down a little bit," Davila said. "It's very hard for my competitive mindset."
Davila still mentors young quarterbacks, such as Guy's son Kody, who will be graduating in May at Gilbert Williams Field High School before moving on to Fort Hays State University to play football. Davila also helps out at Gilbert Higley High varsity football, mostly on Fridays.
To suggest human-interest story ideas and other news, reach Obert at[email protected] or 602-316-8827. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter:@azc_obert
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Nick Davila going into Arizona Rattlers' Ring of Honor
Continue reading...
