AFL announces 2006 schedule
October 25, 2005 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I) News Release
NEW YORK - The Arena Football League's historic 20th Season commences the weekend of January 27-29, 2006 with nine games, including rematches of the 2005 American and National Conference Championship Games and the debut of expansion teams in Kansas City and Utah. The season concludes in Las Vegas for the second consecutive year when ArenaBowl XX is played at the Thomas & Mack Center on Sunday, June 11.
WEEK 1 MATCHUPS
(All times ET)
Friday, January 27 Las Vegas at Austin 8:30 PM
Saturday, January 28 Orlando at Georgia 7:00 PM
Saturday, January 28 Nashville at New York 7:00 PM
Saturday, January 28 Utah at San Jose 10:30 PM
Sunday, January 29 Tampa Bay at Philadelphia 3:00 PM
Sunday, January 29 Arizona at Los Angeles 3:00 PM
Sunday, January 29 Chicago at Colorado 3:00 PM
Sunday, January 29 Kansas City at Dallas 3:00 PM
Sunday, January 29 Grand Rapids at Columbus 3:00 PM
The defending ArenaBowl champion Colorado Crush kick off their title defense at home at 3 p.m. ET on Sunday, January 29 against the Chicago Rush, their Central Division rival and the team they defeated in "The Confetti Game." The two teams will meet in Week 7 as well.
Regarded as one of the most exciting games in AFL history, "The Confetti Game" provided an exhilarating finish. Crush DS RASHAD FLOYD intercepted a pass in the end zone on the last play of regulation to apparently seal the 2005 American Conference championship for Colorado. Celebratory confetti showered the field at Pepsi Center, but a penalty flag had been thrown for defensive pass interference. Undaunted by the remaining confetti on the field, Rush kicker KEITH GISPERT kicked a 17-yard field goal to tie the game and force overtime.
But it was not to be for Chicago. On their second possession of overtime, Colorado WR/LB ANDY MC CULLOUGH caught a 22-yard TD pass to send the Crush to their first ArenaBowl appearance.
"I guess its kind of like jumping right back on that horse that bucked you," says Rush head coach MIKE HOHENSEE about the Week 1 rematch. "We were the team they were able to get by to get to the ArenaBowl last year and they will be celebrating that championship before the game right in front of us. It should certainly help to add to the rivalry between the teams and we are looking forward to the challenge."
The game also has a 20th Season tie in. The second AFL game ever played took place on June 20, 1987 in Chicago between the Chicago Bruisers and the Denver Dynamite, who won 52-44 in overtime.
The National Conference produced a heart-stopping climax in its 2005 Championship Game as well, and its two participants -- the Georgia Force and Orlando Predators - will meet in Week 1 at Phillips Arena on Saturday, January 28 at 7 p.m. ET.
Leading 60-58 with no time remaining in regulation, Georgia's defense stopped Orlando's two-point conversion attempt, which would have tied the game and forced overtime. Instead, the Force advanced to the first ArenaBowl in their history. The teams also meet in Week 12.
Week 1 marks the first game in the history of two new AFL teams -- Kansas City (whose nickname will be revealed shortly) and the Utah Blaze. Although Kansas City and Utah will not meet each other in a battle of expansion teams until Week 16, they both have interesting Week 1 matchups.
Utah, who is led by head coach DANNY WHITE and assistant coach HUNKIE COOPER, will take on the San Jose SaberCats and head coach DARREN ARBET. A fierce rivalry existed between the SaberCats and the Arizona Rattlers when both White and Cooper were in Phoenix. Now a new rivalry will be born between San Jose and Utah.
Kansas City and their starting quarterback ANDY KELLY travel to Dallas to take on the Desperados and their new quarterback, CLINT DOLEZEL. Kelly and Dolezel rank No. 2 and 4, respectively, for all-time career TD passes.
The first game of the AFL's historic 20th Season kicks off on Friday, January 27 when the Austin Wranglers host the Las Vegas Gladiators at 8:30 p.m. ET. Other Week 1 highlights include:
- Former Ironman of the Year and University of Tennessee great CORY FLEMING reunites with his hometown Nashville Kats when they travel to New York to face the Dragons and QB AARON GARCIA.
- Two of the AFL's most prolific passers meet when SHANE STAFFORD and the Tampa Bay Storm travel to Philadelphia to take on TONY GRAZIANI and the Soul.
- Three of the last four Ironman of the Year winners clash in Los Angeles as GREG HOPKINS (2002) and KEVIN INGRAM (2005) of the Avengers look to hold off RANDY GATEWOOD (2003) and the Rattlers.
- New Columbus head coach DOUG KAY will have a hard-fought debut when the Destroyers host the Grand Rapids Rampage.
A comprehensive television schedule including both NBC and Fox Sports Net games will be released shortly. All 18 teams will play 16 regular-season games over 16 weeks. The playoff system has been revised with 12 teams advancing to the postseason (instead of eight in 2005). In each conference, the top two seeds will receive byes the first weekend.
Following is the playoff schedule (all times ET):
PLAYOFF ROUND DATE TIME
Wild Card Sunday, May 21 3:00 PM
Divisional Saturday, May 27 3:30 PM
Sunday, May 28 3:30 PM
Conference Championship Games Saturday, June 3 3:00 PM
Sunday, June 4 3:00 PM
ArenaBowl XX Las Vegas Sunday, June 11 3:00 PM
Other 2006 schedule highlights include:
- A rematch of ArenaBowl XIX takes place Week 2 when the defending champion Colorado Crush travel to Georgia to face the Force. Crush kicker CLAY RUSH kicked a 20-yard field goal as time expired to give Colorado a 51-48 win and their first ArenaBowl championship in last year's title game.
- In Week 2, the Utah Blaze play their inaugural home opener when they host the Dallas Desperados.
- Two Offensive Player of the Year winners clash in Week 3 when OS DAMIAN HARRELL (2005) and the Colorado Crush host OS MARCUS NASH (2004) and the Las Vegas Gladiators. Both players tied for second in the AFL in 2005 with 41 receiving TDs. The two will also meet in Week 13.
- One of the AFL's fiercest rivalries gets a new look when longtime Rattlers executive but rookie head coach GENE NUDO leads Arizona against San Jose in Weeks 3 and 10.
- Kansas City makes its home debut in Week 3 against the Austin Wranglers.
- In Week 4, Danny White -- who served as head coach of the Arizona Rattlers for 13 seasons, compiled 141 wins, and led the team to five ArenaBowls including two wins -- returns to Phoenix for the first time as head coach of the Utah Blaze. Under White's leadership in Salt Lake City are many former Rattlers players and coaches. The two teams also meet in Week 11 in Utah.
- The AFL's oldest, most fierce and arguably most entertaining rivalry -- the War on I-4 -- renews in Weeks 4 and 13 when the Orlando Predators and Tampa Bay Storm clash. The two teams split the season series in 2005.
- The scoreboard should light up in Weeks 4 and 14 when New York and Philadelphia meet. The Dragons Aaron Garcia, who is the AFL's all-time career TD passer with 725, and the Soul's Tony Graziani both tied for second in the AFL in 2005 with 90 touchdown passes each.
- New Dallas starting QB Clint Dolezel takes on his former team for the first time when the Desperados host the Las Vegas Gladiators in Week 5. Dolezel and Gladiators OS Marcus Nash were one of the league's most prolific duos for two seasons.
- Rock and Jock are at it again in Week 5 when JOHN ELWAY'S Colorado Crush travel to Philadelphia to take on JON BON JOVI'S Philadelphia Soul. The Crush hold a 3-0 series advantage.
- The AFL's top two all-time TD passers meet in Week 9 when Andy Kelly and his Kansas City teammates travel to New York to face Aaron Garcia and the New York Dragons. Garcia ranks No. 1 all-time with 725 TD passes, while Kelly ranks No. 2 with 717. Kelly, however, led the league in 2005 with 96 scoring strikes while Garcia tied for second with 90.
- Utah's SIAHA BURLEY (45) and Las Vegas' Marcus Nash (41) combined for 86 receiving touchdowns in 2005 and the two meet in Week 9. Burley's output led the league, while Nash finished tied for second. The two will meet again in Week 14.
- One of the AFL's newest and most unique rivalries hits the field in Week 12 when Philadelphia travels to Nashville. Following a 59-48 Soul win at home in 2005, controversial comments were made by both teams about the game' s style of play providing significant bulletin-board material for this year' s game. The 2005 contest also featured Soul QB Tony Graziani's famous touchdown pass from his knees.
- One of pro football's greatest rivalries exists between the cities of Denver and Kansas City. A new chapter in the rivalry will be born when the defending ArenaBowl champion Colorado Crush travel to face the expansion team from Kansas City in Week 12.
With the addition of Kansas City and Utah, the 2006 divisional alignment is as follows:
2006 DIVISIONAL ALIGNMENT
AMERICAN CONFERENCE NATIONAL CONFERENCE
WESTERN CENTRAL EASTERN SOUTHERN
Arizona Rattlers Chicago Rush Columbus Destroyers Austin Wranglers
Las Vegas Gladiators Colorado Crush Dallas Desperados Georgia Force
Los Angeles Avengers Grand Rapids Rampage New York Dragons Kansas City
San Jose SaberCats Nashville Kats Philadelphia Soul Orlando Predators
Utah Blaze Tampa Bay Storm
***
Optimal Planning Solutions Inc. (www.optimalplanning.com) assisted the AFL in producing the 2006 schedule. OPS is the leading provider of optimization-based professional sports-league scheduling.
WEEK-BY-WEEK SCHEDULE
(All times are Eastern; Subject to change.)
DATE WEEK 1 TIME
Friday, January 27 Las Vegas @ Austin 8:30 PM
Saturday, January 28 Orlando @ Georgia 7:00 PM
Saturday, January 28 Nashville @ New York 7:00 PM
Saturday, January 28 Utah @ San Jose 10:30 PM
Sunday, January 29 Tampa Bay @ Philadelphia 3:00 PM
Sunday, January 29 Arizona @ Los Angeles 3:00 PM
Sunday, January 29 Chicago @ Colorado 3:00 PM
Sunday, January 29 Kansas City @ Dallas 3:00 PM
Sunday, January 29 Grand Rapids @ Columbus - 3:00 PM
DATE WEEK 2 TIME
Friday, February 3 Tampa Bay @ Grand Rapids 7:30 PM
Friday, February 3 Kansas City @ Orlando 7:30 PM
Friday, February 3 Columbus @ Nashville 8:00 PM
Friday, February 3 New York @ Chicago 8:30 PM
Friday, February 3 Austin @ Arizona 9:00 PM
Saturday, February 4 Dallas @ Utah 9:00 PM
Sunday, February 5 Los Angeles @ Philadelphia 1:00 PM
Sunday, February 5 Colorado @ Georgia 1:00 PM
Monday, February 6 San Jose @ Las Vegas 10:30 PM
DATE WEEK 3 TIME
Friday, February 10 Georgia @ Tampa Bay 7:30 PM
Saturday, February 11 Dallas @ Columbus 7:00 PM
Saturday, February 11 Philadelphia @ Orlando 7:30 PM
Saturday, February 11 New York @ Utah 9:00 PM
Sunday, February 12 Austin @ Kansas City 2:00 PM
Sunday, February 12 Los Angeles @ Grand Rapids 2:00 PM
Sunday, February 12 Las Vegas @ Colorado 3:00 PM
Sunday, February 12 Nashville @ Chicago 3:00 PM
Sunday, February 12 San Jose @ Arizona 8:00 PM
DATE WEEK 4 TIME
Friday, February 17 Austin @ Dallas 8:30 PM
Friday, February 17 Georgia @ Las Vegas 10:30 PM
Saturday, February 18 Colorado @ Nashville 8:00 PM
Saturday, February 18 Utah @ Arizona 9:00 PM
Saturday, February 18 Chicago @ Los Angeles 10:30 PM
Sunday, February 19 New York @ Philadelphia 1:00 PM
Sunday, February 19 San Jose @ Grand Rapids 2:00 PM
Sunday, February 19 Columbus @ Kansas City 2:00 PM
Sunday, February 19 Orlando @ Tampa Bay 3:00 PM
DATE WEEK 5 TIME
Friday, February 24 Arizona @ Columbus 7:00 PM
Friday, February 24 Kansas City @ Georgia 7:30 PM
Saturday, February 25 Austin @ Tampa Bay 7:30 PM
Saturday, February 25 Grand Rapids @ Nashville 8:00 PM
Saturday, February 25 Las Vegas @ Dallas 9:00 PM
Saturday, February 25 Utah @ Los Angeles 10:30 PM
Sunday, February 26 Colorado @ Philadelphia 1:00 PM
Sunday, February 26 San Jose @ Chicago 1:00 PM
Sunday, February 26 Orlando @ New York 1:00 PM
DATE WEEK 6 TIME
Friday, March 3 Columbus @ New York 7:30 PM
Saturday, March 4 Austin @ Georgia 12:00 PM
Saturday, March 4 San Jose @ Utah 9:00 PM
Saturday, March 4 Nashville @ Arizona 9:00 PM
Sunday, March 5 Dallas @ Chicago 12:00 PM
Sunday, March 5 Los Angeles @ Orlando 12:00 PM
Sunday, March 5 Grand Rapids @ Colorado 3:00 PM
Sunday, March 5 Tampa Bay @ Kansas City 4:00 PM
Sunday, March 5 Philadelphia @ Las Vegas 6:00 PM
DATE WEEK 7 TIME
Friday, March 10 Georgia @ Columbus 7:00 PM
Friday, March 10 Colorado @ Chicago 8:30 PM
Friday, March 10 Nashville @ Utah 9:00 PM
Friday, March 10 Orlando @ Arizona 9:00 PM
Friday, March 10 Grand Rapids @ Las Vegas 10:30 PM
Sunday, March 12 Dallas @ Tampa Bay 12:00 PM
Sunday, March 12 Los Angeles @ San Jose TBD
Sunday, March 12 New York @ Austin 3:00 PM
Monday, March 13 Philadelphia @ Kansas City 8:00 PM
DATE WEEK 8 TIME
Thursday, March 16 Utah @ Grand Rapids 7:00 PM
Friday, March 17 Chicago @ Nashville 8:00 PM
Friday, March 17 Arizona @ Las Vegas 10:30 PM
Friday, March 17 Georgia @ San Jose 10:30 PM
Saturday, March 18 Philadelphia @ Columbus 7:00 PM
Saturday, March 18 New York @ Tampa Bay 7:30 PM
Saturday, March 18 Kansas City @ Austin 8:00 PM
Sunday, March 19 Dallas @ Orlando 12:00 PM
Sunday, March 19 Colorado @ Los Angeles 6:00 PM
DATE WEEK 9 TIME
Friday, March 24 Kansas City @ New York 7:30 PM
Friday, March 24 Las Vegas @ Utah 9:00 PM
Friday, March 24 Los Angeles @ Arizona 9:00 PM
Saturday, March 25 San Jose @ Nashville 8:00 PM
Saturday, March 25 Orlando @ Austin 8:00 PM
Saturday, March 25 Philadelphia @ Dallas 8:00 PM
Saturday, March 25 Columbus @ Colorado 9:00 PM
Sunday, March 26 Tampa Bay @ Georgia 3:00 PM
Sunday, March 26 Grand Rapids @ Chicago 3:00 PM
DATE WEEK 10 TIME
Friday, March 31 Austin @ Philadelphia 7:00 PM
Saturday, April 1 Grand Rapids @ New York 7:00 PM
Saturday, April 1 Utah @ Tampa Bay 7:30 PM
Saturday, April 1 Columbus @ Dallas 8:00 PM
Saturday, April 1 Georgia @ Kansas City 8:00 PM
Saturday, April 1 Nashville @ Colorado 9:00 PM
Sunday, April 2 Chicago @ Orlando 12:00 PM
Sunday, April 2 Arizona @ San Jose TBD
Sunday, April 2 Los Angeles @ Las Vegas 6:00 PM
DATE WEEK 11 TIME
Friday, April 7 San Jose @ Tampa Bay 7:30 PM
Friday, April 7 Arizona @ Utah 9:00 PM
Saturday, April 8 Colorado @ Grand Rapids 7:30 PM
Saturday, April 8 Nashville @ Las Vegas 10:30 PM
Sunday, April 9 Dallas @ New York 1:00 PM
Sunday, April 9 Chicago @ Philadelphia 1:00 PM
Sunday, April 9 Los Angeles @ Kansas City 1:00 PM
Sunday, April 9 Orlando @ Columbus 3:00 PM
Sunday, April 9 Georgia @ Austin 4:00 PM
DATE WEEK 12 TIME
Friday, April 14 New York @ Columbus 7:00 PM
Friday, April 14 Georgia @ Orlando 7:30 PM
Friday, April 14 Philadelphia @ Nashville 8:00 PM
Friday, April 14 Las Vegas @ San Jose 10:30 PM
Saturday, April 15 Tampa Bay @ Austin 8:00 PM
Saturday, April 15 Grand Rapids @ Dallas 9:00 PM
Saturday, April 15 Los Angeles @ Utah 9:00 PM
Saturday, April 15 Chicago @ Arizona 10:00 PM
Sunday, April 16 Colorado @ Kansas City 1:00 PM
DATE WEEK 13 TIME
Friday, April 21 Columbus @ Philadelphia 7:00 PM
Friday, April 21 Kansas City @ Nashville 8:00 PM
Friday, April 21 Utah @ Colorado 9:00 PM
Saturday, April 22 Tampa Bay @ Orlando 7:30 PM
Saturday, April 22 Dallas @ Georgia 7:30 PM
Saturday, April 22 Austin @ San Jose 10:30 PM
Saturday, April 22 New York @ Los Angeles 10:30 PM
Sunday, April 23 Arizona @ Grand Rapids 2:00 PM
Sunday, April 23 Las Vegas @ Chicago 4:00 PM
DATE WEEK 14 TIME
Friday, April 28 Orlando @ Colorado 9:00 PM
Saturday, April 29 Chicago @ Georgia 7:00 PM
Saturday, April 29 Philadelphia @ New York 7:00 PM
Saturday, April 29 Kansas City @ Tampa Bay 7:30 PM
Saturday, April 29 Nashville @ Grand Rapids 8:00 PM
Saturday, April 29 Columbus @ Austin 8:00 PM
Saturday, April 29 Arizona @ Dallas 8:00 PM
Saturday, April 29 San Jose @ Los Angeles 10:30 PM
Saturday, April 29 Utah @ Las Vegas 10:30 PM
DATE WEEK 15 TIME
Saturday, May 6 Georgia @ New York 7:00 PM
Saturday, May 6 Tampa Bay @ Columbus 7:00 PM
Saturday, May 6 Dallas @ Philadelphia 7:00 PM
Saturday, May 6 Orlando @ Kansas City 8:00 PM
Saturday, May 6 Utah @ Chicago 8:00 PM
Saturday, May 6 Las Vegas @ Arizona 10:00 PM
Saturday, May 6 Nashville @ Los Angeles 10:30 PM
Saturday, May 6 Colorado @ San Jose 10:30 PM
Sunday, May 7 Grand Rapids @ Austin 3:00 PM
DATE WEEK 16 TIME
Friday, May 12 Austin @ Orlando 7:30 PM
Friday, May 12 Arizona @ Colorado 9:00 PM
Friday, May 12 Kansas City @ Utah 9:00 PM
Saturday, May 13 Philadelphia @ Georgia 7:00 PM
Saturday, May 13 Chicago @ Grand Rapids 7:30 PM
Saturday, May 13 New York @ Dallas 8:00 PM
Saturday, May 13 Tampa Bay @ Nashville 8:00 PM
Saturday, May 13 Columbus @ San Jose 10:30 PM
Saturday, May 13 Las Vegas @ Los Angeles 10:30 PM
• Discuss this story on the Arena Football League (1987-2008) message board...
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from October 25, 2005
- Crush release 2006 schedule - Colorado Crush
- Pair of AFL veterans added to Destroyers roster - Columbus Destroyers
- Storm Release 2006 Schedule - Tampa Bay Storm
- Destroyers release 2006 schedule - Columbus Destroyers
- Rampage release 2006 schedule - Grand Rapids Rampage
- Gladiators announce 2006 schedule - Las Vegas Gladiators
- San Jose to host expansion Utah Blaze in season opener - San Jose SaberCats
- Dragons open at home January 28 versus Nashville - New York Dragons
- Avengers announce 2006 schedule - Los Angeles Avengers
- Soul home debut set for January 29 - Philadelphia Soul
- Rattlers announce 2006 schedule - Arizona Rattlers
- Wranglers kick of season January 27 - Austin Wranglers
- Blaze open season against two time ArenaBowl champion, San Jose - Utah Blaze
- Kats announce schedule for 2006 season - Nashville Kats
- Rush 2006 season schedule announced - Chicago Rush
- AFL announces 2006 schedule - AFL I
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.
