Native American Tribe To Sponsor Rattlers

The Arizona Rattlers have secured new sponsorship from the Ak-Chin tribe, which will see its home venue renamed Ak-Chin field.

The native American community, which has nearly 1,000 members, owns a casino and other entertainment properties in Arizona but did not reveal how much it was investing in the sponsorship.

“We are excited about the partnership we are fostering with the Arizona Rattlers,” said Ak-Chin tribal chairman Louis J. Manuel Jr.

“We respect the Rattlers’ commitment to community and know that our children will really enjoy the programmes this relationship will foster.”

Ak-Chin's tribal seal will be displayed at both ends of the Rattlers' field, while the agreement also includes plans for a series of activation events at the Ak-Chin-owned UltraStar Multi-tainment Center, which features cinemas, bowling, restaurants and live entertainment.

Arizona Rattlers Announce Second Open Tryout

The Arizona Rattlers have announced a second open tryout for any athletes interested in showcasing their skills for a chance to join the 2013 squad. The open tryout will take place on Saturday, February 9 from 9:00am until 12:00pm at the Gene Autry Sports Complex located at 4125 E. McKellips Road, in Mesa.
Cost to participate is $80.00 and must be paid in the form of cash or money order (no personal checks will be accepted). Registration will begin at 8:00am and end at 8:55am. Players must be registered to participate in the tryout.
General Manager and Head Coach Kevin Guy along with his coaching staff will be testing players in 40's, short shuttles and positional drills.
Participants should bring cleats, shorts and accessories and show up ready to go, no locker room facilities will be made available. Camp activity is non-contact therefore no pads or helmets are required.

Arizona Rattlers Sign Kevin Guy Through 2014

The Arizona Rattlers signed General Manager and Head Coach Kevin Guy to a contract extension that will keep him with the franchise through the 2014 season.
“I have a great relationship with Coach Guy and instill a lot of trust in him,” Arizona Rattlers Majority Owner, Ron Shurts, said. “Collectively we have a vision to bring back Arena Football like it was in the 90s. Coach Guy has made this vision come true and I am glad to have him with our organization for another two years to continue this growth.”
The Arena Football general manager and coaching veteran began his career with the Rattlers in 2008. Guy starts his 13th season coaching in the Arena Football League, his ninth as a General Manager/Head Coach and his fifth in that position with the Arizona Rattlers. In his eight years of head coaching experience, Guy holds a 71% winning percentage (104-43).
“We started the process four seasons ago of building something special for the fans and the players” Guy said. “It has been a privilege to represent the Rattlers organization and I am honored to be able to continue this journey for the next two years. There is no doubt in my mind that leadership starts at the top and ownership has made the difference. We are proud to have brought a championship back to our community and we will continue to build on this in the future.”
In 2012, Guy led the Rattlers to 16 wins, guiding the team to back-to-back West Division championships and National Conference championships along with back-to-back appearances in the ArenaBowl. This year was deemed the “redemption tour” and was finally made complete by winning ArenaBowl XXV. The Rattlers’ 2012 offense averaged 62.1 points per game and scored 158 touchdowns during the regular season while the defense held opponents to 48.9 points per game and forced 45 turnovers. With Guy’s leadership, six Rattlers players received All-League honors this season with quarterback Nick Davila garnering the AVITAE ArenaBowl XXV MVP.
In 2011, Guy was named the NFL Network Coach of the Year award in due to his guidance of the record-breaking squad.

ArenaBowl XXV Matchup Is Set

After a 75-69 victory over the Utah Blaze in the National Conference championship game, the Arizona Rattlers (13-5) are headed to New Orleans for a meeting with the Philadelphia Soul (15-3) in AVITAE ArenaBowl XXV.
One of the League’s most storied franchises, the Rattlers are primed for their second consecutive ArenaBowl appearance and seventh championship game in franchise history. After winning the West Division for the second consecutive season, Head Coach KEVIN GUY aims to bring the Foster Trophy back to the Valley for the first time since 1997.
The Soul were crowned ArenaBowl champions the last time New Orleans hosted an ArenaBowl. Four years later, the Big Game is back in the “Big Easy” and Head Coach Doug Plank has his sights set on bringing another pro football championship back to Philadelphia. Guided by Offensive Coordinator Clint Dolezel, the Soul offense put up eye-popping numbers in 2012, becoming the first team in AFL history to begin a season with eight straight 60+ point games. In the 2012 postseason, the Soul took down the New Orleans VooDoo (8-10), 66-53, in the opening rounds and scored an AFL postseason-record 89 points against the defending-champion Jacksonville Sharks (10-8) in the American Conference championship game. Their 55-point margin of victory over the Sharks also represents the largest in AFL postseason history.
The Soul and Rattlers will clash for the first time this season in New Orleans on August 10. Kickoff for AVITAE ArenaBowl XXV is set for 10:30 p.m. ET.

Arizona Rattlers players juggle day jobs with football careers

By Mike Sunnucks (Phoenix Business Journal)

In a sports world where New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees holds out for a $20 million per year contract, the landscape for arena football players is quite a bit different.
Arena Football League players — including those for the Arizona Rattlers — are well down the financial food chain from the likes of Brees, LeBron James, Larry Fitzgerald and Albert Pujols.
Most AFL players started the season making $400 per game and have day jobs to supplement their incomes while they play. A new labor deal will bring those game paychecks up to at least $800 by 2017. Still, arena players work day jobs just like the fans in the stands.
That includes players for the Rattlers, who will be in the AFL playoffs starting Saturday. The Rattlers will host the rival San Jose SaberCats in Phoenix.
Trandon Harvey, a Rattlers wide receiver, is also a customer service representative with Verizon Wireless. He’s in his fifth season with the Rattlers and his second year with Verizon.
Harvey, who played college football at Washington State University, works full-time with Verizon while also practicing and playing for the Rattlers, one of the AFL’s most successful franchises.
“I juggle both jobs with little sleep and both employers are very accommodating,” said Harvey.
Harvey said he will go to Rattlers practices in Mesa from 7 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. on weekdays then work at Verizon from noon to 11 p.m.
Verizon allows him some schedule flexibility to accommodate travel during the arena season, which runs from March into August.
Rattlers Offensive lineman John Booker is a program coordinator at Phoenix Day’s Central Park neighborhood and youth services center in Phoenix.
Booker will practice during weekday mornings at the Rattlers facility in Mesa, and then head straight to work at Central Park in south Phoenix.
Phoenix Day is a nonprofit that runs summer camps, after school programs and offers other services in the city of Phoenix.
“The biggest challenge is turning the switch on and off. One minute I am talking football. The next it is homework and behavior charts,” said Booker, a 6-foot-4-inch, 315-pound lineman who was in the San Francisco 49ers training camp in 2008.

Rattlers Announce Canned Food Drive & Ticket Special

The Arizona Rattlers in partnership with the Arizona National Guard will host a canned food drive at US Airways Center inside the Casino Arizona Pavilion on Tuesday, March 13 and Wednesday, March 14 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. to celebrate the team's home opener on Saturday, March 17.
For each food item donated, fans will receive one complementary upper level ticket to the home opener March 17 at US Airways Center, courtesy of the Arizona National Guard. Fans can receive up to four tickets per household. Tickets are limited and based on availability. Complimentary tickets can be used for $10 towards any upgraded seat at the US Airways Center box office.
The event will kick off Tuesday, March 13 at 9:00 a.m. and last thru Wednesday, March 14 or for theduration of the ticket supply. Tickets are expected to go quickly based on last year's food drive success so individuals interested in participating are encouraged to make their donations as early as possible.

Arizona Rattlers Hire GM, Bring Back Coach, Quarterback

The Arizona Rattlers have made a number of offseason moves. The arena football team has re-signed Kevin Guy as coach and will bring back key quarterback Nick Davila and defensive lineman Anttaj Hawthorne.

Trey Medlock was named general manager, coming to the Rattlers from the Tulsa Talons.

The Rattlers finished 10-6 this season, losing in the first round of Arena Football League playoffs.

The future of stand-out wide receiver Rod Windsor and long-time Rattlers coach and executive Danny White are not as clear. Windsor is playing in the minor league United Football League for a team led by former Arizona Cardinals coach Dennis Green. Rattlers spokesman Scott Harkey said he expects White to continue to have a substantial role with the football team.