Rush Ready to Kick-Off 2008 Season

By Todd McClamroch in News on Mar 3, 2008 3:16PM

The Chicago Rush will kick off their eighth season in the Arena Football League with a primetime Monday Night Football match-up with the San Jose Sabercats. The League picked a great match-up for the first Monday Night Football game of the year. The game features the last two Arena Bowl Champions as the Sabercats took the title in 2007 and the Rush earned the title in 2006. The AFL "pre-season power poll" ranks San Jose first and the Rush second out of 17 teams. That same poll predicts that the Rush will take back the Arena Bowl title in 2008.

The Rush defense is led by all-Arena linebacker DeJuan Alfonzo and all-Arena defensive back Jeremy Unertl. The offense has some new faces, most notable is fall signing of QB Sherdrick Bonner, a 6'4" gunslinger. He will be playing catch with wide receiver Damian Harrell, another off-season signing, who needs to fill the big shoes of Bobby Sippio, who had over 1,700 yards and 53 touchdowns in 2007.

A few new faces aren't the only new looks for the Rush. The team which has worn blue and white for the first seven years will don a new third jersey which is black for their March 19th game. Fans can visit the Chicago Rush website to vote on which color helmet and pants they should wear for that game.

Tickets for Monday night's game can be purchased through Ticketmaster. The game is also being televised live on ESPN2 at 8pm as part of their Monday Night Football coverage.