Drummer Drums Out Loud
     
Home Page

About Page

Photo Page

Favorite Links

Custom Page

Custom2 Page

Guest Book Page

  

The Fan Power Can Be Felt

Read the comments of one of our most die hard fans
  DRUMMER DRUMS IT OUT

I'll tell you what I remember. If anyone remembers things differently or wants to add something please chime in.

It all began in 1995 when a team called Atlanta Ruckus joined the A-league. At that time the A-league was the top level for football in the USA and received some notoriety after the World Cup was played in the US in 1994. I still have a copy of FIFA 1995 which on which you can play Atlanta Ruckus against Manchester United and other top level teams.

The 1995 team had a fair amount of talent. National team midfielder Bruce Murray was probably the best player of that squad. They played at Adams Stadium which is a very narrow high-school gridiron football field with a very pronounced "crown" along the length of the field. It was like playing on a small hill! The team colors was blue, white, and red and the kit sponsor was "Red Dog Beer". I still have an away kit from that team.

That 1995 team managed to get all the way to the televised league final (all US leagues decide the champion through a playoff system). Mo Suri could have won it for Atlanta that year when he had a shot on an open net but was denied by the post. The Seattle Sounders went on to win the game and that was the best finish Atlanta has ever had.

1996 saw the birth of Major League Soccer. With no chance of promotion for a team that was not getting local financial support, Atlanta's owner (Immerman?), decided to cut his losses. He sold off all the good players and was prepared to fold the entire franchise. Our play went to the toilet and we were losing every game.

It looked like Atlanta and the entire state of Georgia was doomed to be without professional football. Now I had only gone to a few games and felt like I had not done enough. This is when I made the commitment to do whatever I could help the team. (Perhaps I should have been committed!)

I bought a small drum and took it to a game against New York Centaurs. I hoped to add some atmosphere, which was so lacking at our games. My first drumming experience was attended by a crowd of about 650. I began to bang away as the rain fell. We lost 0-5 but all was not lost, a new owner had appeared.

Many people do not have fond memories of second owner Vincent Lu. The next two years (1997 and 1998) were bad ones but Lu managed to keep the team afloat until better times came along.

Things started promising enough. We played in an old high school stadium in Roswell which was surrounded by spanish-speaking immigrants who turned out in droves for each match. There were plans for building a new stadium at the same location and we had a fine coach in Mr. Angus McAlpine. Parmalat was a sponsor and we wore an attractive kit that was a copy of the Italian team Parma. There was even talk of Parmalat buying the team and using it as a reserve squad for Parma. I had bought a much bigger drum and practiced all winter while watching games on TV. During the off season between 1997 and 1998 I spent over 200 man-hours making a large banner (about 6 meters by 6 meters) with the old logo on it. I still have it in my garage.

However, it was obvious from early that first season there was going to be problems. McAlpine quickly resigned and things went down hill rapidly. Parmalat lost interest too. There were rumors of unpaid bills and unpaid players. I think he even neglected to get a business license.

By the middle of 1998 game operations were being handled by Mr. Lu and his family. They actually sold tickets themselves, ran concessions, etc. I remember him bringing pizza to me in the stands and talking about his troubles. He worried about all the money he was losing and his relationship with league officials was deteriorating rapidly. So it was no surprise when Mr. Lu decided not to pay to send the team to an away game in New York. That's right, we simply did not show up for the game!

Well, that was the last straw and the league stepped in and took the franchise away. Once again I found myself hoping and praying that some savior would step in and save the team. Once again, my prayers were answered.

Two gentlemen named Robert Glustrom and John Latham bought the team, promising the new club would be well managed. Because of the negativity surrounding the old club name, we finished the season under the moniker, "A-league Atlanta".

Now I think it was that off season that a number of things happened. First, the new management began a cross-promotional agreement with the local zoo, whose prime attraction was a silverback gorilla named "Willie B". Thus, our new name was to be "Atlanta Silverbacks." Second, and possibly more significant, the old A-league merged with the USISL so the league Atlanta played in went from something like 8 teams to about 30!

The colors changed again. Now we were to wear black, white, and silver. New players were brought in and we got a talented new coach named Nuno Piteria. Also, the games were moved from the awful Adams Stadium to our current home, Memorial Stadium. There was a certain excitement as the team was reborn and the first game was attended by nearly 10,000! (I believe that a lot of tickets were given away however as a pomotional.)

Although Atlanta was competetive again, both on an off the field, we failed to make the playoffs that year by only one point. In 2000 we failed again to make the playoffs by a point. But things were clearly looking up. This was the year that I met Athena and she became a big fan. She is a professional level musician and helped me take my drumming to a new level.

We would have made it the second year, but a winning goal at home against Charleston was disallowed by what can only be described as the worst call I've ever seen by any official in any sporting contest I've ever seen!

Late in the game, a shot bounced off the goal and straight to the feet of an Atlanta player who slammed home what appeared to be the winning goal. However, the linesman waved his flag, and after a long consultation with the match official it was ruled that the ball had left the field, bounced off the grid-iron (helmet-ball) upright which stood off the playing field. The goal was disallowed and Charleston was awarded a goal kick! Video tape recordings show that the ball never left the field and did indeed bounce off the goal. Charleston went on to win the game and we again failed to make the playoffs.

That was enough for the owners and they sacked Nuno at the end of that season and hired John Dugan. We then changed our colors again to a copy of a uniform worn by Manchester United. (Yes, this makes me sick too but it was hinted that this was not our choice but forced upon us by Umbro.) Coach Dugan brought in all new players and once again we were starting over again.

In 2001 we had our best year since 1995. This was the year that Cheaton, Emma, and Blaise started comming to games and the Silverbackers was formed. We made the playoffs but an early exit and some less than stellar performances caused Mr. Dugan to be shown the door after just one season. That was not the only change.

The ownership would be shook up again. I am not privy to all the goings on but it appeared to me that Mr. Glustrom sold his interest in the club to Boris Jerkunica and Stephen Pratten.

During the offseason between 2001 and 2002 we received our current coach, Brett Mosen, who once again brought in all new players. We also received a new kit which is pretty cool and doesn't appear to be a rip off of anyone else. Our colors are still red, white, and black. It appears we will build some type of facility for training which may or may not include a field with stands for 5000 or so fans.

What will happen next? Who knows? But I believe the worst is over and that the future is bright. Bullen, you are coming in at a great time.


Silverbacks' Co-Chairman, John Latham, Dr. Maple, Charlie Horton and the sculptor at the Willie B. Ceremony.
  COME ALONG AND FEEL THE PASSION
Our fans have a lot of passion, we feel everyone should be a part of this.

So please come a long and join us, Most games are 15 bucks a ticket but there are a lot of deals going on and a whole marketing structure is being figured out for the up and coming 2003 season.

Hope to see you then.


Socrates' in the Jungle.
  The clubs now passed away mascot willie B. I think the locals miss him and he is a great mascot for what is a great club.

We hope all the players play with the heart of Willie B inside them. "strong and proud, with yet graceful movement".


The Willie B. Cup: A formidable mascot deserves a hefty trophy!