TRENCH OF FAME 2002 NOMINEES The 'rules' to get in are explained here. The current Trench of Fame is here. As this is the inaugural class of the Trench of Fame, only past players and coaches are considered. At least one player who was active in each year of the league since 1991 is considered. 1. 1991, FS, Dan Crossman, London Monarchs. The Amsterdam Admirals did not exist, instead we had The London Monarchs, the NY/NJ Knights and the Montreal Machine. As a foretaste of things to come we also had the Birmingham Fire and the Orlando Thunder. The nominee for 1991 is the star of the Defense of the London Monarchs and the First ever World Bowl MVP. Dan won WB 1991 almost singlehanded with 2 interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown. 2. 1992, DE, Michael Sinclair, Sacremento Surge. The first WLAF player other than a kicker (Darren Bennett, Ams 1995) to be named to the Pro Bowl. Michael achieved this whilst playing with the Indianapolis Colts in 1996. 3. 1995, DT, Gary Howe, Amsterdam Admirals. Gary (& Will Furrer - see later) is directly responsible for the formation of the Trench Crew. In 1996 the Admirals had to beat the Galaxy in Amsterdam to go to the World Bowl - we didn't, but Frankfurt got its just desserts by losing to Scotland the next week. However in the run-up to the game the two original Admirals contributors to the WLAF e-mail list discussed various banner options. Ton opted in the end for the apt, "Where there´s a Will there's a Way", whilst Velcro showed true Trench Crew Spirit with "Howe about a Sack." All joking aside the strength of the early Admirals defenses was its play against the run and that was largely down to the run stopping ability of Gary Howe. Gary just looked like a DT: big and low slung. If the offense needed a yard you just knew it wasn't coming through the middle where Gary was occupying blockers. He was no mean pass rusher either, contributing well in that aspect of the Admirals defense in 1995. 4. 1995, P, Darren Bennett, Amsterdam Admirals. Darren Bennett, the ultimate in what was known in 1991 and 1992 as Operation Discovery. A former pro Aussie Rules Player was sent to the Admirals to learn how to punt. And Darren learned to great effect. After some early season problems he punted exellently. From there Darren went to the San Diego Chargers where he averaged 44 yards per punt and was named as a Pro Bowl Player for the first time at the end of the 1995 season. To our knowledge he is also the only ex-Admiral with his own website (not counting Warner!) http://www.nflaussie.com. See http://www.afl.com.au/home/factarchive_265.htm for Darren's career in the AFL. 5. 1996, OT, Marcus Spears, Amsterdam Admirals. Marcus has consistently been a class performer for the Kansas City Chiefs since his stint in Amsterdam. Marcus was a great big friendly man who made the best use of his time here in Europe. A true example of what the League is all about - helping players to develop so that they can return to the NFL with the experience they need for a chance in the league. 6. 1996, QB, Will Furrer, Amsterdam Admirals. The returning man from 1995. Famous for one great play in a game filled with great plays. A 40 yard touchdown run down the right hand sideline of the Olympic Stadium against the Scottish Claymores - the eventual World Bowl Champs that year. In the NFL 1995 Season Will started one game for the Houston Oilers. Since that Time Will has spent a large amount of time designing the plays that you see every year in the Madden series of games. 7. 1997, OT, Jerry Crafts, Amsterdam Admirals. Big Daddy just keeps on going. His list of professional football teams is second to none. He is still active with the Oakland Raiders as of December 2001. Jerry's most famous moment came when he pronounced Europe a great place since he could say, "shit" on TV. And yes, American Television bleeped the comment. Jerry has one ball carrying stat returning a blocked punt 4 yards in 1996. Jerry also played with the Orlando Thunder in 1992, the Buffalo Bills & Philadelphia Eagles as well as teams in the XFL (LA Extreme 2001), CFL (Toronto in 2000) and Arena League (Buffalo Destroyer 2001, New Jersey 2000). As such Jerry is regarded as the only player to have played in all these leagues, and once played 30 games in a calendar year. 8. 1998, C, Tom Nutten, Amsterdam Admirals. Everybody always talks about how great Kurt Warner is, but in 1998 the real heroes of the team were on the Offensive Line, and the largest portion of the accolades must go to Center Tom Nutten. Kurt Warner got banged up with bruised ribs early in the season and missed one game. From then on the onus was on the offensive line to keep the running game going forwards and opposing pass rushers backwards away from Warner´s ribs. Tom has since gone on with Warner to start on the Rams Superbowl winning squad of 1999, although as Left Guard rather than Center. 9. 1998, QB, Kurt Warner, Amsterdam Admirals. The rags to riches story that keeps NFLE in NFL money every five minutes, and it nearly wasn't. In 1999 just before Trent Green's knee was blown out Kurt Warner was exposed in the expansion draft for the Cleveland Browns. Typifying the efforts Al Luginbill went to to find players for the Admirals, he persuaded Dick Vermiel to sign Kurt to a minimum contract with the Rams and then allocate him to the Admirals as a 'favour' prior to the 1998 season. Kurt distinguished himself as a good NFLE quarterback, and became one of only two people to sign Velcro's 1995 Admirals shirt at the Marriott Hotel Bar, along with TE Josh Wilcox ( son of the 49ers Hall of Fame Linebacker ). Since his elevation to starter with the Rams Kurt has won more NFL Awards than any other ex-NFL Europe Player. In 2001 he has joined up with Jamie Martin ( Ams 1995 ) and Paul Justin ( Fra 1995 ) to form an all WLAF QB squad. Warner has won his first Superbowl Ring aided and abetted by other ex-Admirals Tom Nutten and Jay Williams. 10. 1999, C, Ben Fricke, Amsterdam Admirals. At slight less than 300 pounds Ben was a draft pickup by the Admirals before the 1999 season. At first the hopes were that he would turn into a player who would anchor the Admirals line for several years, but the Dallas Cowboys picked Ben up after gathering film on him from the Admirals season. He has started several games in Dallas at both Guard and Center and has proved that he is a pro caliber player. Ben was one of the players who took the trouble to thank the three (yes: three) fans who traveled to Barcelona in week one of 1999. 11. 1999, WR/PR, Joe Douglass, Amsterdam Admirals. The diminutive Joe Douglass who was a part of Kurt Warner's receiving corps in '98 returned in '99 to prove that he is one of the best punt returners ever in NFL Europe. Joe, wearing number 8, played the slot wide receiver position as well, often getting involved in blocking down field for Malcom Thomas and other more established stars on the Admirals Offense. In many ways he is likened to Dwight Clark in NFLE as he was drafted low and performed as if every snap was his last. Since leaving NFLE Joe has won a championship ring with the Orlando Raptors of the Arena League, and scored 31 TDs in 2001 with the Chicago Raptors. Whenever Joe was on the field to return a punt, the ArenA held its breath. 12. 2000, OL, Oliver Ross, Amsterdam Admirals. Now fulfilling his promise with the Pittsburgh Steelers opening big holes for Jerome Bettis and allowing Kordell Stewart time to pass. Oliver Ross was one of the two Rosses in 2000 together with TE Jerry Ross. (BTW if anyone has either of these guys 2000 jerseys Velcro will part with cash for them). Ross played well on an Admirals team that ultimately disappointed in many areas. However, we in the Trench Crew are at our happiest when we have an Offensive Lineman to cheer for, and Oliver certainly was well cheered by us that year. 13. 2001, DT, Jonathan Kirksey, Amsterdam Admirals. Big Jon first played for the Admirals in 1995 and played his final snap of the 2001 season against the Berlin Thunder. This was his final game with the Admirals as he then announced his retirement. Kirksey was third in the League in sacks with 7 in 1995. Played in 1998 with the Oakland Raiders alongside fellow Admiral Chuck Osbourne until ending up on injured reserve with a broken ankle. The longest serving Admiral, widely recognized by the fans over the years and a great fellow to boot. 14. Big Bad Al / Suzie. He finally won his big one in the only year the XFL existed and without key injuries to Jamie Martin and Ralph Dawkins he would undoubtably have taken World Bowl 1995 for Amsterdam. Not someone who could ever be accused of keeping his emotions in check on the sideline and you knew that he left everything on the field. His famous speech to the Defense against Scotland in 1996 is the stuff of legend. He must share this nomination with his wife who was as large in life as Al was. Together the Luginbills were the original heart and soul of the Admirals.