Darren Arbet has the SaberCats Positioned Once Again

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SABERCATS HEAD COACH LOOKS TO ADD TO HIS ALREADY IMPRESSIVE RESUME
By Gregg Hayim

Darren Arbet and the San Jose SaberCats host the Chicago Rush in the AFL American Conference Championship on Saturday July 14, 4:00 PM ET on ESPN

The next time you’re asked the question as to who was the first African American Head Coach to win a professional football championship, you may want to think for a minute before blurting out your answer. Contrary to popular belief, the correct response is not Tony Dungy. Rather, it is Darren Arbet of the Arena Football League’s San Jose SaberCats.

Arbet, who for the past two seasons has doubled as the team’s General Manager, is in his ninth season as Head Coach. Under his guidance, the SaberCats have reeled off eight consecutive winning seasons, along with an equal number of playoff appearances. Not to mention the five Western Division titles and two ArenaBowl Championships that nicely compliment his two Coach of the Year honors (00’, 02’). A coaching tenure that has solidified the SaberCats place as the most dominant team of the decade.

To the mild-mannered Arbet, who earned his 100th career victory in May, the task at hand still remains the focus of his efforts. The SaberCats know all to well how dangerous Bobby Sippio and the Chicago Rush can be. A similar stage was set a year ago when the Rush stepped onto the HP Pavilion field and squeaked out a 59-56 point victory, ending the SaberCats season and catapulting Chicago to the ArenaBowl. Despite the bitter taste left from last seasons defeat, quarterback Mark Grieb maintained to the San Jose Mercury News that the team won’t be using revenge as a motivational tool. “I don’t think it’s about redemption. It’s about getting to the ArenaBowl and winning it.”

With an ArenaBowl berth a mere 60 minutes away, Darren Arbet couldn’t have hoped for any more momentum. His SaberCats haven’t lost since April, a streak of 11 in a row. In fact, the team has not had an unsuccessful offensive possession since week 17; successfully converting on all 11 of their offensive possessions in last weeks Divisional Round playoff game.

Unfortunately for the SaberCats, their opponents sport the league’s number one ranked defense; a unit that yields an average of just 44.9 points per game. An interesting scenario that should make for an incredibly exciting Saturday afternoon.

Be sure to check out the American Conference Championship game on Saturday July 14, 4:00 PM ET on ESPN.