Georgia Firebirds set to open season at Columbus

ALBANY — Georgia Firebirds head coach DJ Daniels has mixed feelings about his team’s season opener today at the Columbus Civic Center against the Columbus Lions.

While he’s excited that after months of training, preparing and making roster cuts, the Firebirds’ season opener is finally here.

He just wishes his first game wasn’t against a team he spent many years coaching.

“They gave me my first start a long time ago,” said Daniels, whose Firebirds meet the Lions in the American Indoor Football season opener at 4 p.m.

“I’m very familiar with their whole organization, their ownership, and I’m familiar with how the city (of Columbus) does things.”

After the Firebirds defeated the Capital City Cobras 42-22 in an exhibition game last Wednesday at the Albany Civic Center, the team made its final cuts and finalized their 20-man roster. Daniels said Marcus Brooks will earn the start at quarterback after showing strong leadership.

He pointed out two early standouts have been linebacker Zack Brown from Tifton and offensive lineman D’Andre Williams who played high school at Dougherty.

“Zack has been a catalyst and been strong for us since the first tryouts,” Daniels said. “D’Andre has also been strong for us.”

One player that has impressed Daniels is quarterback Clay Ferguson, who isn’t on the 20-man roster but is on the team’s practice squad.

“He doesn’t have any experience but he’s shown that he can dream big and get things done,” Daniels said. “He’s shown he can play this game, and it’s a testament to the coaching staff for helping develop him.”

After today’s game, the Firebirds will return to the Albany Civic Center for their home opener against the Atlanta Vultures on March 26 at 7:05 p.m. They will remain at home and play the Savannah Steam on April 2.

Daniels said the team didn’t want to show much during the exhibition game but that will change today.

“We showed everybody what we were about from the basic standpoint,” he said. “But it’s going to be interesting to see how these guys come together and handle adversity.

“If people don’t have anything to do Sunday after church and they don’t mind a little drive, it’s going to be good football at a nontraditional time.”