Blizzard Rises In Ranks To #2
May 26, 2005 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Green Bay Blizzard News Release
The Green Bay Blizzard are having a record-setting season, and the hits just keep on coming. In this week's af2 Coaches Poll, the 6-1 Blizzard are ranked #2 â their highest-ever ranking in franchise history. In fact, when the Blizzard debuted in the #12 spot during the preseason, it was the first time that they had ever been ranked (they did not appear in the polls last season, which was the first year of the polls). Their standing had steadily improved from week to week before reaching the second spot this week.
The only team ranked higher than the Blizzard is the 7-1 Memphis Xplorers, who are inactive this week. Of the other 3 teams ranked in the top 4, the Xplorers are the only team that the Blizzard do not face in the regular season. Playing in the American Conference Eastern Division with the 3rd-ranked Manchester Wolves, the Blizzard traveled to Manchester to take on the 6-1 Wolves on April 16th, and it resulted in Green Bay's only loss of the season. The two teams will face off again on June 11th in Green Bay in what could be one of the biggest and most important games in the af2 all year. For their last home game of the 2005 regular season, the Blizzard will host the 4th-ranked â and defending af2 Champions â Florida Firecats (6-1), in another game that could have serious playoff implications.
While the Coaches Poll rankings help to identify which teams are on the rise, they are not necessarily an indicator of what will happen when teams face off. Blizzard Head Coach Bob Landsee feels that, while the polls are flattering, the games are what are important. "It's great to be ranked high [in the polls], but none of that matters until the season is over," he said. "The polls are mainly for the fans, to help them identify the teams that are playing the best football. But for the teams, we know that the games aren't played on paper, and the polls aren't going to help us on the field."
Defensive Coordinator Haywood Hill III agrees. "The polls really keep everything exciting for the fans. It's great to see that we are getting recognition, but we're just trying to be humble and stay focused on what we have to do to win games," he said. "We don't play to rise in the rankings, we play to win the games."
The Blizzard look to continue their winning ways this Saturday night, as they travel to Birmingham to take on the 0-7 Steeldogs. The Blizzard is in the midst of a franchise best-ever 5 game winning streak, and have already matched their record for most wins in a season (6 in 2004). They are also trying to win their 3rd straight game on the road, which would also set a franchise mark.
As for the rest of the top 4, the Xplorers are enjoying a bye week after their Week 8 victory over the Albany Conquest, the Wolves are in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton to play the 4-3 Pioneers, and the Firecats are at home against the 5th-ranked 5-2 Amarillo Dusters.
For more information, or to get your Green Bay Blizzard tickets, contact the Blizzard office at (920) 405-1264.
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