Bayou Shootout at high noon on NBC
February 16, 2005 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I) News Release
NEW YORK â A possible National Conference Championship preview with two of the Arena Football League's best arms takes center stage when QB TONY GRAZIANI (6-3, 210, Oregon) and the Eastern Division-leading Philadelphia Soul (2-1) travel to New Orleans Arena to play QB ANDY KELLY (6-3, 220, Tennessee) and defending Southern Division champion New Orleans VooDoo (2-1) this Sunday at noon ET on NBC.
Both Graziani and Kelly have thrown 20 touchdowns in the first three games of the season and are on a record-setting pace of 106 touchdown passes for 2005. While Soul WR/LB SEAN SCOTT (6-2, 200, Millersville) and VooDoo OS AARON BAILEY (5-11, 190, Louisville) have been the go-to guys for their respective squads.
New York Giants All-Pro RB TIKI BARBER will join AFL on NBC studio host AL TRAUTWIG and analyst GLENN PARKER in the studio for halftime commentary and postgame wrap-up interviews.
In the Western Division, the defending ArenaBowl champion San Jose SaberCats (1-2), led by former Offensive Player of the Year QB MARK GRIEB (6-3, 208, Cal-Davis), hope to get back on track against QB JOHN KALEO (6-0, 210, Maryland) and the rival Los Angeles Avengers (2-1) at Staples Center this Sunday at 6 p.m. ET on NBC.
Under the individual spotlight will be former ADT Defensive Player and Rookie of the Year DS CLEVAN THOMAS (5-10, 197, Florida State), who will try to outshine rising star and Rookie of the Year candidate DS ANTUAN SIMMONS (5-9, 200, USC). Simmons leads the Avenger secondary with 18.0 total tackles and two interceptions.
Elsewhere, head coach JAY GRUDEN and defending U.S. Army Ironman of the Year WR/LB CORY FLEMING (6-2, 218, Tennessee) lead the AFL's lone remaining undefeated team and the AFLWA's No. 1-ranked Orlando Predators (3-0) into American Airlines Center this Thursday to take on "Mr. Versatile" WR/DB WILL PETTIS (6-0, 200, Midwestern State) and the Dallas Desperados (2-1) in a National Conference matchup on Fox Sports Net and Sun Sports at 8:30 p.m. ET.
Games slated for Week 4 include: Orlando at Dallas (FSN Southwest, Sun Sports, NASN-Europe) on Thursday; Nashville at New York, (FSN New York*-9 p.m., FSN South*-9:30 p.m.), Chicago at Columbus, (FSN Chicago, FSN Ohio), Austin at Grand Rapids (AFL Net-www.arenafootball.com), Colorado at Arizona (FSN Arizona, FSN Pittsburgh, FSN Rocky Mountain*-11:30 p.m., INHD, NASN-Europe) on Saturday; Philadelphia at New Orleans (NBC, The Score-Canada), San Jose at Los Angeles (NBC) and Georgia at Las Vegas on Sunday. The Tampa Bay Storm have a bye.
ARENA FOOTBALL LEAGUE WRITERS' ASSOCIATION (AFLWA) POLL
RANK TEAM RECORD VOTES (FIRST PLACE)
1 Orlando Predators 3-0 111 (13)
2 Chicago Rush 1-2 77
3 Tampa Bay Storm 2-1 70
4 Philadelphia Soul 2-1 68
5 New Orleans VooDoo 2-1 50
6 Georgia Force 2-1 44 (1)
7 Las Vegas Gladiators 2-1 25
8 Dallas Desperados 2-1 19
Also receiving votes: Los Angeles Avengers 17, Colorado Crush 11, San Jose SaberCats 7, New York Dragons 4, Arizona Rattlers 1.
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from February 16, 2005
- Philadelphia Soul game notes - Philadelphia Soul
- Bayou Shootout at high noon on NBC - AFL I
- Race to 100 heads to New Orleans on NBC - AFL I
- Kats Make Trade For Lineman Clayton - Nashville Kats
- Colorado Crush game notes - Colorado Crush
- Columbus Destroyers game notes - Columbus Destroyers
- Kats Game To Air On WKDF On Saturday - Nashville Kats
- Chicago Rush game notes - Chicago Rush
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