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AFL I Arena Football League (1987-2008)

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May 15, 2003 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I) News Release


AND IN THIS CORNER: The Los Angeles Avengers (11-4) and San Jose SaberCats (11-4) play this Saturday at 10:30 p.m. ET (Fox Sports West 2, WB-20 San Jose) with the winner earning the top seed for next week's playoffs. In the AFL's previous 16 seasons, the No. 1 seed has hosted the ArenaBowl 14 times. No seed below No. 3 has ever hosted the championship game and the host teams are 8-8 in the ArenaBowl. The site of the AFL's title game is awarded to the highest remaining seed.

SEED OF ARENABOWL HOSTS
YEAR HOST SEED
1987 Pittsburgh 1
1988 Chicago 1
1989 Detroit * 1
1990 Detroit * 1
1991 Detroit 1
1992 Orlando 1
1993 Detroit 1
1994 Orlando 1
1995 Tampa Bay * 1
1996 Iowa 1
1997 Arizona * 1
1998 Tampa Bay 1
1999 Albany * 3
2000 Orlando * 2
2001 Grand Rapids * 1
2002 San Jose * 1
* Won the ArenaBowl that season

MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION: With the last week's victory over Las Vegas, the Detroit Fury (8-7) has tied the biggest season-to-season improvement in AFL history. The Gladiators improved seven games in 2002 while in New Jersey.

TOP TWO-SEASON TURNAROUND
TEAM IMPROVEMENT YEAR BEFORE NEXT SEASON
Detroit Fury * 7 games 1-13 in 2002 8-7 in 2003
New Jersey Gladiators 7 games 2-12 in 2001 9-5 in 2002
San Jose SaberCats 6 games 6-8 in 1999 12-2 in 2000
Iowa Barnstormers 6 games 5-9 in 1998 11-3 in 1999
Milwaukee Mustangs 6 games 4-8 in 1995 10-4 in 1996
Orlando Predators 6 games 3-7 in 1991 9-1 in 1992
* One game remaining in the regular season

LIKE A FINE WINE...: The Los Angeles Avengers are the only team in AFL history to post four consecutive improving seasons. The Avengers struggled to a 3-11 mark in their inaugural 2000 season, got a little bit better in 2001 with a 5-9 record, reached the playoffs with a 8-6 campaign in 2002, and are now 11-4 with one game remaining in the 2003 regular season. There have been eight instances of teams improving (regular-season winning percentage) for three consecutive seasons.

TEAM CONSECUTIVE SEASONS
Albany Firebirds 1997 (6-8); 1998 (10-4); 1999 (11-3)
Arizona Rattlers 1992 (4-5); 1993 (7-5); 1994 (8-4); 1995 (7-5); 1996 (11-3); 1997 (12-2)
Buffalo Destroyers 1999 (1-13); 2000 (5-9); 2001(6-8)
LOS ANGELES AVENGERS 2000 (3-11); 2001 (5-9); 2002 (8-6); 2003 (11-4)
Nashville Kats 1999 (8-6); 2000 (9-5); 2001 (10-4)
Portland Forrest Dragons 1997 (2-12); 1998 (4-10); 1999 (7-7)
Orlando Predators 1995 (7-5); 1996 (9-5); 1997 (10-4)
Tampa Bay Storm 1994 (7-5); 1995 (10-2); 1996 (12-2)

ALL IN THE FAMILY: Arizona Rattlers WR/LB HUNKIE COOPER, WR/LB TOM PACE and WR/DB RANDY GATEWOOD lead the AFL with a 78.0 catch-percentage. Here is a look at the top five catch-percentages through 15 games.

TOP 5 CATCH-PERCENTAGE *
(Minimum 30 receptions)
PLAYER TEAM REC CHANCES PCT
Hunkie Cooper Arizona 67 86 78.0
Tom Pace Arizona 32 41 78.0
Randy Gatewood Arizona 65 89 78.0
Jarrick Hillery Georgia 52 69 75.0
Barry Wagner San Jose 48 64 75.0
Willis Marshall Grand Rapids 73 98 74.0
Will Pettis Dallas 69 95 73.0
Lawrence Samuels Tampa Bay 75 104 72.0
Ty Grovesteen Detroit 49 68 72.0
Damien Groce New York 43 60 72.0
*Through 15 games



Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from May 15, 2003


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