2000 Predators voted 10th greatest team in AFL history
May 17, 2006 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Orlando Predators News Release
ORLANDO, Fla. (May 16, 2006) -- The 2000 Predators, which began the season 7-0 and eventually claimed Orlando's second Arena Football League championship, has been selected as the 10th greatest team in league history. The team finished the regular season at 11-3 and then defeated Tampa Bay and Arizona in the playoffs. In ArenaBowl XIV, the team beat Nashville, as David Cool became the first player in league history to score the game-winning points on the final play of the game.
As a tribute to the AFL's 20th anniversary season, a historical committee formed by the Arena Football League selected the 20 Greatest Players, Games, Moments and Teams in league history. The results have been released throughout the season.
The 2000 Predators were one of three Orlando teams named to the list. Tying the 2000 team for 10th place was the 1992 Orlando club that went 9-1 in the regular season and advanced to the ArenaBowl before losing to Detroit, the 6th ranked team on the list.
Checking in a tie for 15th was the 1994 Orlando Predators, who came within 15 seconds of becoming the first and only Arena Football League team from recording an undefeated, untied regular season. That team finished at 13-2 after being upset by Arizona in the ArenaBowl. The '94 Rattlers has lost twice to the Predators in the regular season and tied the '94 Predators for 15th place on the list.
In all, only four non-ArenaBowl champions made the list, including the '92 Predators, '94 Predators, '94 Albany Firebird and '96 Iowa Barnstormers. Good teams may possess a great offense or a great defense. But the best team in Arena Football history - the 2002 San Jose SaberCats -- possessed both and used them to dominate the League like no team ever has.
The 2002 'Cats became the first team to begin the season 12-0, lost only one game by a single touchdown and executed the most dominating win in ArenaBowl history, 52-14, over the Arizona Rattlers despite the loss of their starting quarterback for the season in Week 13. They were also the first team to score at least 50 points in every game and the defense held seven of its final eight opponents to under 50 points.
As with any list of this nature, it will spark controversy. Orlando Assistant Head Coach Les Moss, who coached with Chicago and Detroit before joining the Predators in 1991, felt that the 1996 Tampa Bay Storm "may have been the best team ever." He added that the 1988 Chicago Bruisers, who won their first ten games of the season, "deserved a spot on the list" and the '94 Predators "probably should have been ranked a little higher."
"The 1994 team won its first 11 games but lost its starting quarterback for the final two regular games and then lost Paul McGowan to injury in the semifinals and had another starter quit over a salary dispute. There's no question in my mind that if those things wouldn't have happened, the '94 team would have run the table and finished 15-0," Moss said. "Still, it's about winning championships and the list is pretty solid."
Orlando's 1998 championship team, which started the season 5-4 but won seven of its final eight games and recorded a 62-31 rout of top-seeded Tampa Bay in ArenaBowl XII to claim its first title, was not named to the list.
The esteemed Historical Committee consists of a diverse mix of AFL personalities all with a strong knowledge of the league and its history. The members are: HOWARD BALZER, a journalist who has covered the AFL since its inception; HUNKIE COOPER, a former player and current assistant coach who retired with the record for career all-purpose yards; DARRYL HAMMOND, an active player who played in his 16th season this year; MIKE HOHENSEE, head coach of the Chicago Rush, who has been involved with the AFL for all 20 seasons; JOE KAUFFMAN, the president of ArenaFan Online; GEORGE LAFRANCE, a former player who won five ArenaBowl championships; BILL NIRO, an AFL founder; and GENE NUDO, head coach of the Arizona Rattlers, whose career has spanned 19 of the AFL's 20 seasons.
Here are the poll results, with first place votes in parenthesis:
RANK TEAM POINTS
1 2002 San Jose SaberCats 114 (2)
2t 1996 Tampa Bay Storm 97 (1)
2t 1997 Arizona Rattlers 97
4 1993 Tampa Bay Storm 83 (1)
5 1999 Albany Firebirds 75
6 1992 Detroit Drive 72
7 1995 Tampa Bay Storm 63 (1)
8 2003 Tampa Bay Storm 59
9 2004 San Jose SaberCats 56
10t 1992 Orlando Predators 54 (1)
10t 2000 Orlando Predators 54
12 2001 Grand Rapids Rampage 52
13t 1988 Detroit Drive 41
13t 1994 Arizona Rattlers 41
15t 1994 Orlando Predators 40
15t 1994 Albany Firebirds 40
15t 2005 Colorado Crush 40
18 1996 Iowa Barnstormers 38
19 1989 Detroit Drive 37 (1)
20 1991 Tampa Bay Storm 34
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from May 17, 2006
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- Austin, Philadelphia make playoff debuts - AFL I
- White and Burley Return to Arizona; Baron Faces Former Rush Teammates - AFL I
- 2002 SaberCats named AFL's best ever - San Jose SaberCats
- Philadelphia Soul DS Eddie Moten and OL/DL Ernest Allen receive All-Arena honors - Philadelphia Soul
- Lee and Smith named to All-Arena first team - Georgia Force
- Major Milestones Set During Regular Season - AFL I
- Gatewood Selected to AFL "All-Arena Team" - Arizona Rattlers
- Preds' Taylor tabbed First-Team All-Arena - Orlando Predators
- Destroyers' defensive specialist Jerald Brown named First Team All-Arena - Columbus Destroyers
- Chicago Rush game notes - Chicago Rush
- Dallas Places Three on First Team - Dallas Desperados
- Gladiators Marlion Jackson earns Second Team All-Arena honors - Las Vegas Gladiators
- Siaha Burley: Just your 'regular' superstar - Utah Blaze
- 2000 Predators voted 10th greatest team in AFL history - Orlando Predators
- 2006 All-Arena Teams announced - AFL I
- 20 Greatest Teams in AFL history revealed - AFL I
- Force Playoff Viewing Party - You're Invited - Georgia Force
- Rampage's Marshall Finishes as AFL All-Purpose Yardage Leader - Grand Rapids Rampage
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
