AFL Postseason Kicks Off Today
Published on July 26, 2002 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I) News Release
CHICAGO (July 25, 2002) -- The Arena Football League playoffs begin this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, July 26-28, with first-round action. On Friday, the Buffalo Destroyers play at the Orlando Predators at 7:30 p.m. (The New TNN, tape-delay). On Saturday, the Indiana Firebirds visit the Dallas Desperados at 2:00 p.m. on The New TNN. On ESPN2 Saturday night, the Tampa Bay Storm play at the Los Angeles Avengers at 7:30 p.m. ET. On Sunday, the playoff action continues on ESPN with the Carolina Cobras at Grand Rapids Rampage, kicking off at 1:30 p.m. ET.
The following week, the San Jose SaberCats, Arizona Rattlers, Chicago Rush, and New Jersey Gladiators host quarterfinal games against first-round winners. Of teams that advance to the semifinal round, the highest remaining seed will host the lowest remaining seed. The other two teams will play at the site of the higher seed. Semifinal winners advance to ArenaBowl XVI, played at the site of the highest-seeded team on Sunday, August 18 at 3:00 p.m. ET on ABC.
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ALL-TIME POSTSEASON
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The Orlando Predators and the Indiana Firebirds (11) remain tied for the second-most playoff appearances by one team. The Tampa Bay Storm holds the record, appearing in all of the AFL's 16 postseasons (includes 1987-90 as Pittsburgh Gladiators).
When Tampa Bay takes the field on Friday, they will increase their league-record for most postseason games played to 29. Behind the Storm are the Orlando Predators (24), the Arizona Rattlers (20), and the Indiana Firebirds (17). All will add at least one more game to their total team tally.
If Orlando defeats Buffalo on Friday night, they will tie Tampa Bay for most victories in postseason history with 17. On Saturday, Tampa Bay, not to be outdone, can recapture the all-time lead with a win at Los Angeles. Arizona owns the third-most wins with 13.
The San Jose SaberCats are participating in their sixth postseason, creating a three-way tie for the No. 5 spot on the all-time playoff appearance list. The New York Dragons (also Iowa Barnstormers) and the four-time ArenaBowl champion Detroit Drive also have 6 postseasons to their credit.
Orlando has the best playoff winning percentage among 2002 postseason competitors with .667, also good for No.2 all-time. The Predators are second only to the four-time champion Detroit Drive (.813).
COACHES
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Tampa Bay Storm head coach TIM MARCUM will take the sideline for his record-15th playoff game this Saturday, boasting a .750 postseason winning percentage (21-7). He has won 6 ArenaBowl championships with 3 different teams, including the first-ever in 1987 as head coach of the Denver Dynamite. Interestingly, Marcum's postseason winning percentage ranks second all-time to current QB and former head coach of the Orlando Predators, JAY GRUDEN, who compiled a record of 8-2 (.800) before resuming his playing career this season.
FRESH FACES: Four rookie AFL head coaches â Los Angeles' ED HODGKISS, Dallas ' JOE AVEZZANO, New Jersey's FRANK HAEGE, and Orlando's FRAN PAPASEDERO â look to join the list of TIM MARCUM (Denver, 1987), FRAN CURCI (Tampa Bay 1991) and JAY GRUDEN (Orlando, 1998) as the only rookie head coaches to take their teams to ArenaBowl titles.
PLAYERS
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FIRST-GAME JITTERS: New Jersey's JAY MCDONAGH went 9-5 as the Gladiators' starting quarterback this season. TONY GRAZIANI won 8 of his 14 starts for the Los Angeles Avengers and Carolina's JOHN FITZGERALD had a 2-5 starting record (played in 12 games). All three quarterbacks will be making their playoff debut this year.
RUSHING KINGS: Los Angeles FB/LB CHAD DUKES rushed for league highs of 223 yards and 12 touchdowns, the third time in his career he finished at the top of the circuit in yardage. He also led the league in 1997 and â98. He will make his return to the playoffs after a three-year stint in the NFL.
SCORING BINGE: Rookie receivers ANTONIO CHATMAN of Chicago and STEVE SMITH of defending champion Grand Rapids are both making their postseason debuts. They both finished in the top 10 in scoring this season. Although he's not a rookie, CHRIS JACKSON of Los Angeles is making his first appearance in the postseason. He ranked No. 5 with 182 points.
CATCH THIS: Arena Football's third-leading receiver in the playoffs, with 1,562 career yards, is Indiana's EDDIE BROWN, who is making his eighth appearance. Chicago's ANTONIO CHATMAN and Los Angeles' CHRIS JACKSON, both ranked in the top 10 in receiving yards this season, are making their postseason debuts.
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from July 26, 2002
- Keys To SaberCats Success - San Jose SaberCats
- No Sunshine In Orlando For Destroyers - Buffalo Destroyers
- Vipers, Knight Battle for Position - AFL I
- AFL Postseason Kicks Off Today - AFL I
- Arena Football League Transactions - AFL I
- Rush Players to Join Jim McMahon - Chicago Rush
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