AFL quick hitters: divisional round
May 26, 2005 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I) News Release
A FIRST TIME FOR EVERYTHING: This season the Georgia Force finished with a League-best 11-win season, won the Southern Division and earned the No. 1 seed in the 2005 AFL playoffs for the first time in franchise history. In the 18 years of the ArenaBowl, 11 teams have finished the regular season with at least 11 wins and the No. 1 ranking, with eight of those teams making it all the way to the ArenaBowl.
ALL-TIME NO.1 PLAYOFF SEEDS
YEAR NO. 1 SEED REG. SEASON PLAYOFF RESULT
2005 GEORGIA FORCE 11-5 ???
2004 Arizona Rattlers 11-5 Lost in ArenaBowl XVIII
2003 San Jose SaberCats 12-4 Lost in Semifinals
2002 San Jose SaberCats 13-1 Won ArenaBowl XVI
2001 Grand Rapids Rampage 11-3 Won ArenaBowl XV
2000 San Jose SaberCats 12-2 Lost in Semifinals
1999 Tampa Bay Storm 11-3 Lost in First Round
1998 Tampa Bay Storm 12-2 Lost ArenaBowl XII
1997 Arizona Rattlers 12-2 Won ArenaBowl XI
1996 Iowa Barnstormers 12-2 Lost ArenaBowl X
1995 Tampa Bay Storm 10-2 Won ArenaBowl IX
1994 Orlando Predators 11-1 Lost ArenaBowl VIII
1993 Detroit Drive 11-1 Lost ArenaBowl VII
1992 Orlando Predators 9-1 Lost ArenaBowl VI
1991 Detroit Drive 9-1 Lost ArenaBowl V
1990 Detroit Drive 6-2 Won ArenaBowl IV
1989 Detroit Drive 3-1 Won ArenaBowl III
1988 Chicago Bruisers 10-1 Lost ArenaBowl II
1987 Pittsburgh Gladiators 4-2 Lost ArenaBowl I
ARE SAN JOSE & NEW ENGLAND ON PARALLEL TRACKS?: The defending ArenaBowl champion San Jose SaberCats have put together a four-game winning streak and are now tied with Los Angeles for first place in the Western Division. San Jose is attempting to win their third ArenaBowl championship in the last four years, which would duplicate the achievements of another pro football team -- the New England Patriots of the NFL, who have won three of the last four Super Bowls. In every year that New England has won the Super Bowl, San Jose has won the ArenaBowl. Will the pattern hold this year?
SLAYER OF DEFENDING CHAMPIONS: During the 19 seasons of the Arena Football League, defending champions have played 214 games and are 144-70 (.673 winning percentage) during their follow up seasons. The following is a list of the Top 10 head coaches with the most victories against defending champions. Colorado head coach MIKE DAILEY is currently tied at No. 2 with six wins and looks to climb the ladder this Sunday at 3:30 pm ET on NBC as the Central Division Champion Colorado Crush (10-6) host the Defending ArenaBowl champion San Jose SaberCats.
ALL-TIME VICTORIES AGAINST DEFENDING CHAMPIONS
RANK COACH VICTORIES
1. MIKE HOHENSEE 8
2t. MIKE DAILEY 6
2t. Perry Moss 6
4. John Gregory 5
5. Babe Parilli 4
5t. ED HODGKISS 4
7t. TIM MARCUM 3
7t. MICHAEL TRIGG 3
7t. PAT SPERDUTO 3
10t. Rick Buffington 2
10t. Dave Ewart 2
10t. JAY GRUDEN 2
10t. John Hufnagel 2
10t. Marty Lowe 2
10t. MIKE NEU 2
10t. Danny White 2
CAPS = Active coach
MR. RELIABLE: Colorado OS DAMIAN HARRELL has caught a touchdown pass in a League-record 49 consecutive games. Harrell, who has appeared in four playoffs games in his seven-season career, has caught at least three touchdown passes in each game. While with the Toronto Phantoms in 2001, Harrell caught four touchdown passes in a 64-57 win over the New York Dragons and three touchdown passes in a 38-45 loss to the Nashville Kats. Harrell has also caught three touchdown passes in both of his postseason appearances with the Crush.
LETS DO IT AGAIN: In the 18 years of the ArenaBowl, six teams have been in position to repeat as ArenaBowl Champions, but only two have succeeded. The Detroit Drive won ArenaBowl II, III & IV and the Tampa Bay Storm won ArenaBowl IX & X. The San Jose SaberCats, who won ArenaBowl XVIII, could become the seventh team to reach the ArenaBowl the season following their Championship.
THE DRIVE TO LAS VEGAS: Home-field advantage has always played a crucial roll in the road to the ArenaBowl. In the 18-year history of the ArenaBowl, 34 of the 36 teams to compete in the championship game started on their respective journies with a home playoff game, including all 18 ArenaBowl Champions.
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from May 26, 2005
- AFL quick hitters: divisional round - AFL I
- Roe named to All-Ironman Team - San Jose SaberCats
- Force's Jackson and Lee earn player of the month honors - Georgia Force
- Nash named AFL Offensive Player of the Month - Las Vegas Gladiators
- AFL honors five players with monthly awards for May - AFL I
- VooDoo OL/DL B.J. Cohen named to AFL's All-Ironman Team - New Orleans VooDoo
- Molden named All-Ironman - Chicago Rush
- Cornelius White named to AFL's All-Ironman Team - Columbus Destroyers
- AFL must-see matchups: divisional round - AFL I
- Arena Football League names All-Ironman Team - AFL I
- Marcus Owen Earns First AFL Award - New York Dragons
- Hammond Named To All-Ironman Team - Nashville Kats
- Avery named to All-Ironman team - Grand Rapids Rampage
- Destroyers re-sign receiver/defensive back Jeremy Unertl - Columbus Destroyers
- AFL stars Bishop, Hamilton and Molden to compete in ArenaBattle Celebrity Skills Challenge - AFL I
- Soul quarterback Tony Graziani's bobbleheads arrive...finally - Philadelphia Soul
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.
