Rampage enjoying a magical ride

Fri, Jul 11, 2008    to del.icio.us

Grand Rapids — Center Nick Steitz had an offer for Steve Thonn as he walked past the Grand Rapids Rampage coach following practice.

Steitz thought of a play to run, perhaps one to spring on the San Jose SaberCats. Thonn smiled and said he'd listen.

The play might be called when the surprising Rampage (8-10) bid for another upset in the Arena Football League playoffs and a berth in Arena Bowl XXII.

Hard-charging Grand Rapids, which is on a five-game winning streak, plays at the San Jose SaberCats (12-5) in the American Conference championship game today. Kickoff is 3:30 p.m.

The 46-year-old Thonn quickly has earned the trust and confidence of his players in his first season as head coach. He's a big reason why the Rampage swiftly turned around their season, quarterback James MacPherson said.

"Some coaches won't talk to you. They say 'Just call the plays I send in,'" MacPherson said. "We communicate quite a bit, and that's a big part of having success on offense.

"He's got enough faith in us."

Rampage players could have doubted Thonn not so long ago.

On June 1, Grand Rapids held a 3-10 record after a 63-56 loss to the visiting Utah Blaze at Van Andel Arena.

The defeat threatened the Rampage's playoff chances in a conference where six of eight teams reach the postseason. Injuries and untimely miscues had piled up, seemingly sending the team to a familiar subpar season.

Thonn, however, never panicked, Rampage receiver Cole Magner said.

The players fed off Thonn's calm and determined demeanor, Magner added.

"A lot of people would have panicked and started changing stuff," Manger said. "He knew the system he had in place would work if he had the right team. He knew we were a brand-new team with brand-new coaches.

"It just took time."

It's been a complete rebuilding job.

The Rampage brought back only five players from a 2007 roster that produced a 4-12 record. They hired Thonn to be Head Coach and Director of Football Operations.

Thonn held a reputation as an offensive mastermind in Arena football. He had been the offensive coordinator for the Georgia Force for three seasons.

Six months later, he turned the Rampage into one of the AFL's hottest teams.

Four wins on their streak have come on the road, including three in the playoffs. The biggest victory came Sunday in a 58-41, nationally televised upset of the top-seeded Chicago Rush.

Thonn said he tried to stay positive despite the team's early misfortunes.

"The biggest thing is you knew if we put things together we would be in the playoffs," Thonn said. "The other thing was that everyone was so new and still learning.

"It's easy to keep going when we are improving."

Thonn's steady hand resurrected the franchise known for losing, other than a 2001 ArenaBowl title.

The Rampage are two wins away from claiming another championship.

Thonn likes his team's chances because of how they're executing on the field.

"It's always a great feeling at the end of the year to be playing your best football," he said.