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AFL I Arena Football League (1987-2008)

ArenaBowl XX quick hitters

June 8, 2006 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I) News Release


MOVING ON UP: Head Coaches JAY GRUDEN (Orlando Predators) and MIKE HOHENSEE (Chicago Rush) are two of the AFL's all most successful postseason coaches. While Hohensee is making his first ArenaBowl appearance as a head coach, he still is tied for fifth in League history with 10 playoff wins.

Gruden is tied for third on the list with 11 postseason wins including three ArenaBowl appearances as a head coach. With a win on Sunday, he will pass his former head coach, PERRY MOSS, for sole-possession of third place on the all-time career list. He passed Moss on the Orlando career coaching victories list earlier this season.

Gruden can also tie Tampa Bay Head Coach TIM MARCUM for most ArenaBowl Championship victories with a win over Chicago on Sunday. Marcum currently leads with seven championship rings, while Gruden won four as a player and two as a head coach.

ALL-TIME POSTSEASON VICTORIES (HEAD COACHES)
NAME WINS
1. Tim Marcum, Tampa Bay Storm 25
2. Danny White, Utah Blaze 20
3T. Perry Moss 11
3T. Jay Gruden, Orlando Predators* 11
5T. Darren Arbet, San Jose SaberCats 10
5T. Mike Hohensee, Chicago Rush* 10
6. Mike Dailey, Colorado Crush 9
*Active in 2006 playoffs

DYNAMIC DUO: Predators Assistant Coach LES MOSS worked under Gruden in 1998, 1999, 2000, and 2006. The Predators have appeared in the ArenaBowl in each of these seasons, winning two in 1998 and 2000.

WHITE OUT: Rookie OL/DL GREG WHITE of the Orlando Predators has proven to be an asset this season. He has been active in 13 games this season for the Predators and in those contests the team is 11-2. In the five games in which White has not appeared, Orlando is 1-4. White will be active this week for ArenaBowl XX.

HAMILTON VS. DA RUSH: Orlando Predators QB JOE HAMILTON has played in four career games against the Chicago Rush. Following are his career numbers versus Chicago.

G COMP ATT PCT YDS TDs INTs RATING RUSHING ATT YDS TDs
4 54 83 65.1% 728 12 4 108.9 13 89 4

UNUSUAL MATCHUP: For the first time in AFL history, both road teams were victorious in the Conference Championship Round. In the National Conference, Orlando defeated Dallas, 45-28. In the American Conference, Chicago defeated San Jose, 59-56.

FLIGHT OF FEET: Chicago Rush QB MATT D'ORAZIO and Orlando Predators QB JOE HAMILTON rank first and second this postseason in rushing yards with 63 and 50 yards, respectfully. D'Orazio also leads all postseason participants with three rushing touchdowns. Furthermore, Orlando and Chicago rank first and third in the postseason for rushing yards per game with 38.5 and 25.7.

20/2 CLUB: Only two players in the 2006 postseason have notched at least 20.0 tackles, while also grabbing two interceptions. Both players roam in the Chicago Rush secondary. DS JEREMY UNERTL and WR/DB DENNISON ROBINSON have 22.0 and 20.0 tackles respectively and two interceptions apiece. Unertl also leads all postseason players with six passes defended.

DAZZLING D'ORAZIO: Chicago Rush QB MATT D'ORAZIO has led the team to three consecutive road victories en route to ArenaBowl XX. In his wake, D'Orazio had gone 62-of-99 for 742 yards with 15 touchdowns and one interception. He has also rushed for 63 yards and three touchdowns. Most recently, D'Orazio was named Conference Championship Offensive Player of the Week.

MARGINS OF EXCELLENCE: The Chicago Rush and Orlando Predators rank first and second in point differential per game and turnover margin during the playoffs. The Rush leads the way for turnover margin with a +5 differential, while Orlando has a +3 differential. Orlando's average margin of victory is ahead of Chicago's, 10.50 points per game to 9.33 points per game.

GRUDGE MATCH: Gruden currently leads the all-time series against Chicago Rush Head Coach Hohensee 7-6, as a player and coach. Hohensee holds the edge against Gruden in the postseason 2-1.

ON DA ROAD: The Chicago Rush is seeking to become the second team to win the ArenaBowl with a losing record on the road during the regular season. The only other team to accomplish this feat was the 1994 Arizona Rattlers, who were 2-3. The 2005 Colorado Crush went 4-4, the 2004 San Jose SaberCats went 4-4, and the 1998 Orlando Predators went 3-3 on their way to ArenaBowl victories. No other ArenaBowl Champion has finished with more than two road losses during the season. The Rush may have had a losing record on the road during the regular season, but has won four in a row on the road.

HOME FIELD DISADVANTAGE: This will be the first postseason since 1995 where the combined record of all home teams is lower than .500. Back in 1995, home teams went 3-4 during the playoffs. This postseason home teams have gone 4-6.



Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from June 8, 2006


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