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Colorado Crush

Colorado Crush is an Arena Football League team that began play as a 2003 expansion team. The Crush play in the Central Division of the American Conference.

History

The team is based in Denver, Colorado and play at Pepsi Center, which also serves as the home to the National Lacrosse League's Colorado Mammoth, the National Hockey League's Colorado Avalanche and the Denver Nuggets of the National Basketball Association. The principal owner of the franchise is Denver Broncos legend and Hall of Famer John Elway (Co-Owner and Chief Executive Officer), with Stan Kroenke, owner of the Nuggets, the Avalanche, Pepsi Center, the Altitude Sports network and the majority Broncos owner Pat Bowlen as a minority owner. The Crush compete in the Central Division of the American Conference. After a horrendous 2003 inaugural season, in which they finished 2-14, the Crush rebounded to go 11-5 and make the playoffs in their second year. On June 12, 2005 they won ArenaBowl XIX (19) in Las Vegas' Thomas & Mack Center over the Georgia Force 51-48, in only their third year of existence.

In their fourth year, the Crush ended up 11-5, with the American Conference Central title for the second year in a row. In the Divisional Round however, the Crush lost in an upset to the fifth-seeded (and eventual ArenaBowl champion) Chicago Rush 63-46.

The team's mascot is an anamorphic bull named "Crusher."

Highlights

On Sunday, June 12, 2005, the Crush hosted the American Conference Championship game against their division rival, the Chicago Rush. Colorado had the lead late in the game 43-40 and Defensive Back Rashad Floyd managed to intercept a touchdown pass from Quarterback Matt D'Orazio, but it turns out that he was called for holding. Chicago would tie the game with kicker Keith Gispert's 17-yard field goal. In overtime, the Crush would get the win with Quarterback John Dutton completing a 22-yard touchdown pass to WR/LB Antowone 'Andy' McCullough, sending them to ArenaBowl XIX (where they would eventually win). On the AFL's 20 Greatest Highlights Countdown, this game is at #20.

On Friday, February 6, 2004, in a Week 1 contest against the Las Vegas Gladiators, the Crush were still looking for their first home win in franchise history. In the final 12 seconds of the game, the Crush would have Quarterback John Dutton complete a seven-yard touchdown pass to Wide Receiver Damian Harrell (with a failed two-point conversion), recover an onside kick, and have Dutton complete a 33-yard pass to Harrell. With 12 points in 12 seconds, Colorado would win 43-42 and get their first-ever win at home. On the AFL's 20 Greatest Highlights Countdown, this is at #15.

On Saturday, February 5, 2005, in a Week 2 home game against their division rival, the Grand Rapids Rampage, Quarterback John Dutton would throw a franchise-best 8 touchdowns in a 72-56 win, yet this was overshadowed by Rampage Quarterback Michael Bishop becoming the very first player in AFL history to run for 100 yards in a single game. On the AFL's 20 Greatest Highlights Countdown, this is at #12.

Season-by-season

|- |2003 || 2 || 14 || 0 || 4th AC Western || -- |- |2004 || 11 || 5 || 0 || 2nd AC Central || Won Week 1 (New Orleans)
Lost Semifinals (Arizona) |- |2005 || 10 || 6 || 0 || 1st AC Central || Won Week 1 (San Jose)
Won AC Champioship (Chicago)
Won ArenaBowl XIX (Georgia) |- |2006 || 11 || 5 || 0 || 1st AC Central || Lost Week 2 (Chicago) |- |2007 || 8 || 8 || 0 || 3rd AC Central || Won Wild Card (Kansas City)
Lost Division (San Jose) |- |2008|| 6 || 10 || 0 || 2nd AC Central || Won Wild Card (Utah)
Lost Divisional (San Jose) |- !Totals || 54 || 52 || 0 |colspan="2"| (including playoffs) |}

Current Roster

Crush roster as of June 10, 2008

Uniform #	Player	Position	Height	Weight (lb)	Experience	Acquired
2	Delvin Lamar Hughley	DB	5' 11"	215	5	2003/05
4	Rashad Floyd	DB	5' 9"	180	6	2003
5	Brandon Kirsch	QB	6' 2"	213	1	2007
6	Brad Pyatt	WR	5' 11"	187	1	2007
8	John Dutton	QB	6' 4"	225	8	2002
10	Deric Yaussi	K	5' 11"	197	R	2008
11	Kevin Nagle	FB/LB	6' 1"	255	3	2007
13	Aaron Hosack	WR	6' 5"	210	R	2007
15	Wendall Williams	WR/DB	5' 11"	190	2	2008
17	Jon Beutjer	QB	6' 5"	220	R	2008
20	Antonio Malone	DB	5' 11"	200	R	2008
21	Dion Byrum	DB	5' 11"	190	R	2008
25	Jason Harmon	DB	5' 11"	209	1	2007
52	Brett Huyser	OL	6' 4"	310	1	2006
59	John Syptak	DE	6' 2"	250	R	2008
66	Joey Hollenbeck	OL	6' 4"	320	1	2006
67	Chris Watton	OL	6' 3"	291	13	2004
80	Willie Quinnie	WR	6' 2"	176	1	2006
81	Ben Nelson	WR	6' 3"	191	2	2007
91	Aaron McConnell	DL	6' 3"	295	3	2008
94	Nick Rogers	DL	6' 2"	270	R	2008
96	Kyle Moore-Brown	OL	6' 4"	310	13	2003
97	Lauvale Sape	DL	6' 1"	296	R	2008
98	Charrod Taylor	DL	6' 2"	286	R	2007
IR	Chad Owens	WR	5' 8"	180	R	2008
IR	Clay Rush	K	6' 3"	220	9	2004/07
IR	Robert Thomas	FB/LB	6' 1"	252	4	2007