Al Lucas Award
Arena Football Player of the Year

Clint Dolezel, Dallas Desperados

Clint Dolezel has found a home in the Arena Football League. He was a star at East Texas State University and he spent a summer in training camp with the Chicago Bears, but he has enjoyed his greatest success – and happiness – playing quarterback in the AFL.

“Going to camp with the Bears (in 2000) helped me,” Dolezel said. “I learned some things there. But I missed that (arena) season. I missed it with all my heart. I’m back and happy to be back.”

The 6-5, 205-pound Dolezel is the winner of the Al Lucas Award as the Arena Football Player of the Year. He also was voted Player of the Year by the Arena Football League Writers Association for his standout 2006 season with the Dallas Desperados.

Dolezel set a league record by throwing 105 touchdown passes, breaking the mark of 104 set by Aaron Garcia of the New York Dragons. He also tied his own league record by throwing 11 touchdown passes in one game, an 87-62 rout of Orlando. He completed 24 of 30 attempts in that game for 353 yards.

Dolezel finished the 2006 season with 4,623 passing yards and a completion percentage of 65.6. He led the Desperados to a 13-3 regular season record, tops in the AFL.

“It’s always an honor to be awarded for your accomplishments, especially when there are so many talented guys in this league,” Dolezel said. “It all starts up front with the line and the protection they give me. Our receivers, you can’t say enough about those guys and what they’ve done. This is truly a team award.”

“We had high expectations for Clint when we first signed him,” Dallas head coach Will McClay said. “He performed at a high level, bringing experience and leadership to the team. Clint is an integral part of our plan to win a championship. He is the type of player any coach would want because of what he does on and off the field.”

Dolezel was born and raised in a tiny Texas town called Lorena (population 1,400) but his football talent has taken him from one side of the country to the other. In 11 seasons of Arena Football, the 36-year-old Dolezel has played for the Milwaukee Mustangs, the Texas Terror, the Grand Rapids Rampage, the Las Vegas Gladiators and now the Dallas Desperados.

In 2001, he led Grand Rapids to the AFL championship. He is only the second quarterback in league history to top 37,000 career passing yards. He is one of only three quarterbacks with more than 700 touchdown passes.

“I don’t think you can find a better Arena football quarterback,” said Michael Trigg, who coached Dolezel in Grand Rapids. “He’s mastered this game pretty well.”

The Al Lucas Award

The Maxwell Football Club named its Arena Football League Player of the Year Award in honor of Al Lucas, who died in April 2005, after suffering a spinal cord injury in an AFL game. Lucas, 26, was a lineman for the Los Angeles Avengers. He was injured in a game against the New York Dragons.

 A Troy State product, Lucas played for the Carolina Panthers in 2000 and 2001.

“He was always a fun-loving guy,” said Brenson Buckner, his former Carolina teammate. “When I heard about it, knowing Al and knowing what kind of person he is, it was heartbreaking to me.”

Lucas is survived by a wife and daughter.