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AFL I Arena Football League (1987-2008)

Anything But a Piece of Cake for Arbet

July 11, 2002 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I) News Release


SAN JOSE (July 11, 2002) – Coaching can sometimes be taken for granted and is usually unappreciated. Considering the high demand for winning in sports today, it is a difficult profession to master. But during the 2002 season, San Jose SaberCats' head coach DARREN ARBET has been making it look like "a piece of cake."

Already tabbed by some as "the greatest team in AFL history", the San Jose SaberCats (12-0) will continue their quest toward immortality when they travel to play the Arizona Rattlers (9-3) at the America West Arena, this Friday at 10 p.m. ET.

What's so tough about coaching a talent-laden undefeated team? Anybody can do that, right? Think again. Managing player egos, staying healthy, and maintaining a balanced offensive and defensive attack is a pretty daunting task – but one that Arbet and his coaching staff has mastered.

How difficult is it to go undefeated? No team has ever gone undefeated in the Arena Football League's 16-year history. On a larger scale, only three teams have gone unbeaten and untied in the regular season during the NFL's 82 years – and only one of those teams (Miami Dolphins, 1972) won the championship. With two more victories, Arbet would join an elite club of football coaching legends for regular season perfection – a group that includes the likes of DON SHULA, PAUL BROWN, and GEORGE HALAS. He can also become the first African American coach in professional football history to accomplish such a feat.

"Those guys are coaching legends," Arbet said. "Just to be mentioned in the same sentence with those coaches is an honor."

The SaberCats have already clinched home-field advantage throughout the playoffs, a first round bye, and have set the league mark with victories to start a season with 12. One more victory would set a league mark for most victories for a regular season.

The Western Division champions are on pace to threaten the team scoring record (64.1 PPG, New York in 2001). The top-ranked offense, which is led by Offensive Player of the Year candidate QB MARK GRIEB, is currently leading the league in scoring with a 64.0 average. The four-year AFL veteran is the league's top-rated passer (125.6) and is at the controls of this AFL scoring machine. Offensive Player of the Year candidate OS JAMES HUNDON (31 TDs) leads a corps of receivers (WR/LB BARRY WAGNER, WR/DB JERRY REESE, and WR/LB SHALON BAKER) that may be considered the best in the league by combining for 213 receptions and 73 total touchdowns.

On the defensive side, the SaberCats have a deadly combination of strength and speed that has them currently No. 2 in total defense (241.3 yards per game). The strength of one of the best defensive lines with the likes of SAM HERNANDEZ, JOE JACOBS, MIKE ULUFALE, and JAMES WILLIAMS leading the way. The speedy, ball-hawking defensive secondary – led by Rookie-of-the-Year candidate CLEVAN THOMAS, OMARR SMITH, and ANTHONY COBBS – is No. 1 in the league in passer rating defense (94.8).

Arbet has a career record of 42-16 (.724) is second all-time in winning percentage to former Tampa Bay and Cincinnati head coach FRAN CURCI (17-6, .739). He became the first San Jose coach to win AFL "Coach of the Year" honors after leading his squad to a league record-tying 12 regular season victories in 2000 and the first postseason win in team history. With four wins to start the 2001 campaign the SaberCats set the current AFL record with 15 consecutive regular season victories, bettering the mark of 14 set by the 1995 and 1996 Tampa Bay Storm.

Arbet began his coaching career in 1990 when he was named an assistant at his alma mater, California State University, Sacramento. During his three-year tenure with the Hornets, Arbet coached the tight ends, special teams and served as the team's academic advisor. Arbet and current San Francisco 49ers offensive coordinator GREG KNAPP were both members of the Hornets' coaching staff in the early 1990's.

Arbet's ties to the AFL date back to the late 1980s when he played two seasons as a fullback/linebacker with the Los Angeles Cobras (1988) and Maryland Commandos (1989) before a wrist injury that required three surgeries ended his career.

What's the coach's secret to success?

"We just come to practice everyday and focus on the task at hand," said the fourth-year head coach. "We take one game at a time. The biggest thing is that the guys came back this year focused. Their intensity level – even at practice – is at a record high."

The former player perspective has allowed this rising coaching star to remain disciplined and stay focused on the long-term goal of an ArenaBowl championship.

"Our main goal is to win the ArenaBowl," said Arbet. "Right now the focus is to take it one day at a time and go about our business and hopefully we will get to the ArenaBowl."

An ArenaBowl title "a piece of cake?" Arbet would be the first one to tell you the opposite. But, a title for the SaberCats would be the icing on the cake for a perfect season.



Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from July 11, 2002


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.


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