With games against division rival Chicago and playoff-qualified Dallas in the final two weeks of the Arena Football League schedule, it might seem the Colorado Crush is facing an easy part of the schedule over the next three weeks.
Far from it, said coach Mike Dailey as the Crush completed a light workout Thursday in preparation for tonight’s 7 p.m. game against Columbus at the Pepsi Center. After playing the Destroyers, the Crush travels to Grand Rapids and to Utah before playing the Chicago Rush in a June 18, Monday night game at the Pepsi Center.
“Columbus is 6-4 and probably is better than its record,” Dailey said. “Grand Rapids already has beaten us and is really playing well. I know Utah coach Danny White is one of the best coaches to ever coach in this league, and he’ll have them heading in the right direction.”
Dailey said last week that the playoffs had to be slipping into his players’ thinking. Probably another thing on their minds is a crushing 65-21 loss to Columbus last year at the Pepsi Center that left Colorado at 6-3 heading into the final seven games of the regular season.
The Crush (7-4) remains in contention for a home playoff game, but it would need to finish with one of the top four records in the conference.
“For us right now, and this far out, it’s important for us to just get into the playoffs,” Dailey said. “There aren’t any guarantees that we’ll make it. You can’t put the cart before the horse.”
Irv Moss can be reached at 303-954-1296 or imoss@denverpost.com.
Crush tonight
Who: Columbus Destroyers (6-4) vs. Colorado Crush (7-4)
What: Arena Football League game
When: 7 p.m.
Where: Pepsi Center
TV/radio: FSN (taped, 10 p.m.) / KKZN 760 AM
