Post by 50yardfan on Jul 24, 2010 22:27:11 GMT -5
Quarterback, who holds franchise record for passing yards and passing TDs, looks to avenge last year's loss
www.baltimoresun.com/sports/bs-sp-mariners-nemeth-0725-20100721,0,5017462.story
When the Mariners walked off the field and into the locker room last year after their season ended with a loss to the Reading Express, a team they had twice beaten during the regular season, they decided that the 2010 season would be different.
"We made a pact after losing last year to Reading in the playoffs," quarterback E.J. Nemeth said. "We said all of us are coming back, so nothing less than a league championship would be good enough. Now there's only one thing left to do, which is win [today]."
The Mariners have a chance to live up to their agreement. Today, they will play the Wyoming Cavalry at 1st Mariner Arena for the American Indoor Football Association championship.
"I think the players, coaches and general managers were all kind of left with a sour taste in their mouth in the offseason," coach Chris Simpson said. "We had a lot of unfinished business in our game plan. We wanted not just to get to [the] playoffs, but we wanted to win a championship."
The Mariners got to the championship in style. They stomped through an undefeated regular season, winning by an average of 32 points per game and clinching the regular-season Eastern Conference championship and a No.1 seed in the playoffs in June.
"Every week we go into the game to win that specific game. I think we've done a good job of not looking ahead and taking it one week or one game at a time. We've been able to win 15 games in a row, and Wyoming is next, and that's our focus now," Nemeth said.
The Wyoming Cavalry is 14-1 this season, but 0-3 all-time on the road in championship games. The Mariners have not faced the Cavalry this season, but Nemeth said Wyoming will certainly be a challenge.
"I don't personally know much about them, but they're 14-1 so they must be doing something right out there, too," Nemeth said.
Nemeth, who is in his second year with Baltimore, led the Mariners this year with 2,333 passing yards and 52 passing touchdowns. He also ran for an additional eight touchdowns. He holds the Mariners' record for passing yards and passing touchdowns.
"I think that I came in and had a year with the offense under my belt and felt more comfortable. It was a good experience for me. I've been throwing the ball a lot. When I'm on my game, it helps us keep control, but as a team I couldn't do it without them," Nemeth said.
Simpson said Nemeth has really emerged this season.
"There's a maturity that came out of E.J. and his leadership this year," Simpson said. "He understood what he needed to do as a quarterback and as a player — holding himself and the players accountable for their performances. He is definitely a spark plug; he will take the bull by the horns and go out there and make things happen."
Nemeth says the team sees itself as a family with a common goal.
"We love to have a good time, and that's the key to success and winning," Nemeth said.
Before beginning each game, Nemeth and the Mariners acknowledge that family dynamic by saying their team motto, "Family and rock out."
"And when we're on the football field we rock out," Nemeth said.
kaitlyn.carr@baltsun.com
E.J. Nemeth:
Second year with Mariners, fourth year in arena football
Played college ball for Sacred Heart
Birthday: May 23 1983
2010 statistics
Games Played: 14
PASSING:
Effic: 161.50 Cmp-Att-Int: 187-331-10 Yards: 2333 TD: 52
Mariners at a glance
15-0
Founded: 2008
Career Regular Season Record: 27-15
Career Playoff Record: 1-1
Total Career Record: 28-16
Head Coach: Chris Simpson
Cavalry:
14-1
Founded: 2000
Career Regular Season Record: 90-58
Career Playoff Record: 6-7
Total Career Record: 96-65
Head Coach: Dan Maciejczak
If you go:
When: 4 p.m. today
Where: 1st Mariner Arena
Tickets: baltimoremariners.com
www.baltimoresun.com/sports/bs-sp-mariners-nemeth-0725-20100721,0,5017462.story
When the Mariners walked off the field and into the locker room last year after their season ended with a loss to the Reading Express, a team they had twice beaten during the regular season, they decided that the 2010 season would be different.
"We made a pact after losing last year to Reading in the playoffs," quarterback E.J. Nemeth said. "We said all of us are coming back, so nothing less than a league championship would be good enough. Now there's only one thing left to do, which is win [today]."
The Mariners have a chance to live up to their agreement. Today, they will play the Wyoming Cavalry at 1st Mariner Arena for the American Indoor Football Association championship.
"I think the players, coaches and general managers were all kind of left with a sour taste in their mouth in the offseason," coach Chris Simpson said. "We had a lot of unfinished business in our game plan. We wanted not just to get to [the] playoffs, but we wanted to win a championship."
The Mariners got to the championship in style. They stomped through an undefeated regular season, winning by an average of 32 points per game and clinching the regular-season Eastern Conference championship and a No.1 seed in the playoffs in June.
"Every week we go into the game to win that specific game. I think we've done a good job of not looking ahead and taking it one week or one game at a time. We've been able to win 15 games in a row, and Wyoming is next, and that's our focus now," Nemeth said.
The Wyoming Cavalry is 14-1 this season, but 0-3 all-time on the road in championship games. The Mariners have not faced the Cavalry this season, but Nemeth said Wyoming will certainly be a challenge.
"I don't personally know much about them, but they're 14-1 so they must be doing something right out there, too," Nemeth said.
Nemeth, who is in his second year with Baltimore, led the Mariners this year with 2,333 passing yards and 52 passing touchdowns. He also ran for an additional eight touchdowns. He holds the Mariners' record for passing yards and passing touchdowns.
"I think that I came in and had a year with the offense under my belt and felt more comfortable. It was a good experience for me. I've been throwing the ball a lot. When I'm on my game, it helps us keep control, but as a team I couldn't do it without them," Nemeth said.
Simpson said Nemeth has really emerged this season.
"There's a maturity that came out of E.J. and his leadership this year," Simpson said. "He understood what he needed to do as a quarterback and as a player — holding himself and the players accountable for their performances. He is definitely a spark plug; he will take the bull by the horns and go out there and make things happen."
Nemeth says the team sees itself as a family with a common goal.
"We love to have a good time, and that's the key to success and winning," Nemeth said.
Before beginning each game, Nemeth and the Mariners acknowledge that family dynamic by saying their team motto, "Family and rock out."
"And when we're on the football field we rock out," Nemeth said.
kaitlyn.carr@baltsun.com
E.J. Nemeth:
Second year with Mariners, fourth year in arena football
Played college ball for Sacred Heart
Birthday: May 23 1983
2010 statistics
Games Played: 14
PASSING:
Effic: 161.50 Cmp-Att-Int: 187-331-10 Yards: 2333 TD: 52
Mariners at a glance
15-0
Founded: 2008
Career Regular Season Record: 27-15
Career Playoff Record: 1-1
Total Career Record: 28-16
Head Coach: Chris Simpson
Cavalry:
14-1
Founded: 2000
Career Regular Season Record: 90-58
Career Playoff Record: 6-7
Total Career Record: 96-65
Head Coach: Dan Maciejczak
If you go:
When: 4 p.m. today
Where: 1st Mariner Arena
Tickets: baltimoremariners.com