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Rush with the Colorado Crush | |
Personal information | |
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Born: | (1973-10-27) October 27, 1973 (age 51) Riverview Gardens, Missouri, U.S. |
Height: | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) |
Weight: | 220 lb (100 kg) |
Career information | |
High school: | Riverview Gardens (St. Louis) |
College: | Missouri Western |
Position: | Kicker |
Career history | |
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Clay Rush (born October 27, 1973) is a former American football kicker who played in the Arena Football League (AFL) from 1999 to the original league's folding in 2008.
Early years
At Riverview Gardens High School in St. Louis, Missouri, Rush was a three-sport star in football, soccer, and baseball. He threw a no-hitter his senior season against Normandy High School. He also played basketball early in his high school career though he didn't play varsity.
Rush attended Missouri Western State University, where he was named to the Mid–America Intercollegiate Athletics Association All-Conference Team four times, and was an NCAA Division II All-American as a senior.
Professional career
Rush attended NFL training camp with the Detroit Lions (1998), Atlanta Falcons (1999), Washington Redskins (2000), and New York Jets (2003).
Rush played for the Shreveport Knights in the short-lived Regional Football League in 1999.
Arena Football League
Rush was named First Team All-Arena in 2000 and 2003. He was also named Second Team All-Arena in 2005 and 2006. Rush was named AFL Kicker of the Year in both 2000 and 2003. In 2001, Rush made an AFL-record 110 extra-points, including a record 13 made PATs vs. Carolina on July 7, 2001. Rush made the game-winning field goal as time expired during ArenaBowl XIX. In 2005, Rush converted a 62-yard field goal and lead the AFL in touchbacks.
In 2008, Rush sustained a series of hits to the head in two games two weeks apart. Rush was removed from the game in Kansas City following positive signs of concussion. Following the second concussion, Rush wasn't properly evaluated or monitored. Team physicians cleared Rush to return to play after resting for a week. When Rush played again on about April 25, 2008, his symptoms worsened and he suffered permanent brain damage.
References
- "Clay Rush" at Arena Fan.com. Retrieved July 5, 2024
- "Arena Football League Transactions". www.oursportscentral.com. OurSports Central. March 20, 2002. Retrieved July 22, 2017.
- "November Team-By-Team Update - OurSports Central". www.oursportscentral.com. Retrieved October 2, 2016.
- "Clay Rush Signs with New York Jets - OurSports Central".
- "Crush's hero may fit Titans to a tee – The Denver Post". Retrieved October 2, 2016.
- "Clay Rush Signs with New York Jets - OurSports Central". www.oursportscentral.com. Retrieved October 2, 2016.
- "Crush's hero may fit Titans to a tee – The Denver Post". Retrieved October 2, 2016.
- McCloskey, John (May 17, 1999). "Knights Report". The Times. Shreveport, Louisiana. p. 17. Retrieved January 24, 2019 – via newspapers.com.
- "Crush sign two-time Kicker of the Year Clay Rush - OurSports Central".
- "ESPN.com: NFL - Wednesday roundup: Bruce Smith acquitted in DUI case".
- "Crush sign two-time Kicker of the Year Clay Rush - OurSports Central". www.oursportscentral.com. Retrieved October 2, 2016.
- "Crush's hero may fit Titans to a tee – The Denver Post". Retrieved October 2, 2016.
- Schwarz, Alan (March 18, 2010). "Ex-A.F.L. Player's Lawsuit Cites Mishandling of Concussions". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved October 2, 2016.
Further reading
- http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/clay-rush-signs-with-new-york-jets/n-1996644
- https://www.nytimes.com/1998/07/24/sports/transactions-052418.html
- http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/crush-sign-two-time-kicker-of-the-year-clay-rush/n-3089743
- http://www.denverpost.com/2005/06/20/crushs-hero-may-fit-titans-to-a-tee/
- http://a.espncdn.com/nfl/news/2003/0604/1563080.html
External links
Colorado Crush ArenaBowl XIX champions | |
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- 1973 births
- Living people
- Players of American football from St. Louis County, Missouri
- American football placekickers
- Missouri Western Griffons football players
- Iowa Barnstormers players
- New York Dragons players
- Indiana Firebirds players
- Colorado Crush players
- Arizona Rattlers players
- Kansas City Brigade players
- Regional Football League players