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Las Vegas Gladiators game notes

February 1, 2005 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Las Vegas Gladiators News Release


GLADIATORS VS. SABERCATS: THE FACTS

Date: Saturday, February 6, 2005
Kickoff: 6:00 PM PT
Site: HP Pavilion (San Jose, CA)
Officials: Referee: Terry Brown, Umpire: Rick Lowe, Head Linesman: Rusty Baynes, Line Judge: Gary Caveletto, Back Judge: Scott Helverson


THE GAME CAN BE HEARD...
On ESPN RADIO 920 in Las Vegas with John Hanson handling play-by-play and Mike Pritchard with expert analysis.

THE GAME CAN BE SEEN...
On FOX Sports Net West/Bay Area with Randy Hahn and Mike Pawlawski on the call.


THE SERIES – GLADIATORS VS. AVENGERS
SaberCats lead 2-1
This will be the fourth meeting between the teams. The last meeting between the teams was in Week 15 of 2004, when the Gladiators came back from a 21-12 halftime deficit at the Thomas & Mack Center in Vegas to knock off San Jose 44-35.

WHAT'S AT STAKE

If the Gladiators win, it would
· Give the Gladiators a 2-2 record vs. the SaberCats
· Give Las Vegas a 2-0 overall record
· Give Las Vegas a 1-0 road record

SCHEDULES


LAS VEGAS GLADIATORS (1-0)
Date Opponent Time Result Score
Jan. 30 Los Angeles 12:00 W 46-37
Feb. 5 @ SanJose 6:00
Feb. 11 New York 7:00
Feb. 20 Georgia 3:00
Feb. 26 @ Nashville 5:30
March 4 Austin 7:00
March 12 @ Columbus 4:00
March 19 @ Arizona 6:00
March 28 San Jose 7:00
April 3 @ Colorado 12:00
April 8 Grand Rapids 7:00
April 17 @ Philadelphia 10:00 AM
BYE
May 1 @ Chicago 10:00 AM
May 7 Dallas 7:00
May 14 @ Los Angeles 7:30
May 22 Arizona 12:00
All times PST


SAN JOSE SABERCATS (0-1)
Date Opponent Time Result Score
Jan. 30 @Tampa Bay 3:00 L 33-63
Feb. 5 Las Vegas 6:00
Feb. 13 @ New Orleans 12:00
Feb. 20 @ Los Angeles 3:00
BYE
March 6 @ Orlando 9:00 AM
March 11 Philadelphia 7:30
March 18 Grand Rapids 7:30
March 28 @ Las Vegas 7:00
April 3 Arizona 6:00
April 10 @ Chicago 10:00 AM
April 15 Dallas 7:30
April 22 @ Colorado 6:00
April 29 Nashville 7:30
May 7 Los Angeles 7:30
May 14 @ Arizona 7:00
May 21 Georgia 7:30
All times PST

GLADIATORS VS. SABERCATS
BY THE NUMBERS

Statistical GLADIATORS SABERCATS
Category (2004 Per Game) Rank Stat Rank Stat
Scoring Offense 6 46.0 14 33.0
Scoring Defense 4 37.0 16 63.0
Total Offense 8 280.0 4 306.0
Total Defense 1 202.0 8 281.0
Pass Offense 7 244.0 3 297.0
Pass Defense 1 189.0 11 269.0
Rushing Offense 3 36.0 11 9.0
Rushing Defense 7 13.0 6 12.0
Pass Rating 10 84.2 14 68.2
Pass Defense Rating 6 85.0 17 137.8
Turnover Margin 4 +1 14 -2
Sacks By 2t 2 3t 1
Sacks Against 2t 1 3t 2
3rd Down Conversion % 13 14.3 11 30.0
Opponent 3rd Down Conversion % 12 62.5 5 42.9
Red Zone Offense Scoring Percentage 6t 80.0 10t 50
Red Zone Defense Scoring Percentage 9t 66.7 15t 100

GLADIATORS LAST WEEK

GLADIATORS WIN SEASON OPENER VS. LOS ANGELES 46-37

Las Vegas, NV, January 30, 2005 – Frank Carter rushed for three touchdowns and Clint Dolezel threw for three more as the Las Vegas Gladiators held on to defeat the Los Angeles Avengers 46-37 at the Thomas and Mack Center on Sunday. The win is the first season opening win for the Gladiators since they moved to Las Vegas prior to the 2003 season.

Dolezel finished the game 18-30 for 251 yards in the win, although he had two passes picked off. Marcus Nash, who garnered Offensive Player of the Game honors caught seven passes for 116 yards and a score.

Los Angeles took a 31-26 lead into the fourth quarter but the Gladiators recovered an onside kick following a Carter touchdown run, and four plays later, Dolezel hit Junior Lord for a score, giving Las Vegas a 40-31 lead.

Avengers quarterback John Kaleo finished the day 19-34 for 197 with five touchdowns, but threw two interceptions. Greg Hopkins led Los Angeles with 11 receptions for 110 and two touchdowns.

The Gladiators hit the road in week two as they travel to San Jose to take on the SaberCats on Saturday, Feb. 5. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:00 PM and the game can be heard on ESPN Radio 920 in Las Vegas. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased by calling the 739-FANS or logging onto unlvtickets.com.

THE COACHES


Ron James (First Season, 1-0)
Ron James enters his first season as the head coach of the Gladiators. He spent the previous three seasons as assistant head coach/offensive defensive line/special teams coach.

James previously served as line coach for the Houston ThunderBears and Director of Player Personnel from 1999-2001. He is entering his seventh season in the Arena Football League.

Prior to his time in the AFL, James served as the Assistant Football coach, offensive line coach and Admissions Support Officer at Army in 1998 and 1999. Army captured two Collegiate Sprint Football League (CSFL) rushing titles during his stint, averaging more than 257 yards per game.

James spent five seasons at Kentucky Wesleyan College, where he served as associate head coach for the final four years. James began his stay at Kentucky Wesleyan in 1993 as offensive coordinator in addition he managed the offensive line. In 1994, James was promoted to associate head coach at Kentucky Wesleyan and added defensive coordinator/secondary coach to his repertoire.

James coached a combined fourteen years at the collegiate level. In 1992-93, he served as defensive coordinator/secondary coach at Hartwick College. From 1989-1991, James was defensive coordinator/linebacker coach at St. Lawrence University. He began his coaching career in 1986 as a linebacker coach at Siena College (New York) and served as head coach of the junior varsity team.

James was a four-year starter at offensive tackle at Siena College. An N.C.F.A All-America First Team and two-time First-Team All-Conference selection, James also saw action at defensive tackle. He earned a BA from Siena and a MPA from Rockefeller College, which is a subsidiary of the State University of New York at Albany. Earle Bruce (Fourth Season, 19-24, 0-1 in playoffs)

Darren Arbet (Seventh Season 64-25, 9-3 playoffs)
Coming off an ArenaBowl championship season and another year of double-digit victories, two-time Coach of the Year Darren Arbet enters season seven as head coach of the SaberCats in 2005. The success San Jose has enjoyed during his tenure has vaulted the franchise to elite status in the AFL.

Last year the SaberCats claimed their second ArenaBowl title in the last three years and posted a league-high regular season win total for the third straight year. San Jose's 11 victories in 2004 also marked the fifth consecutive season the team has won 10 or more regular season games matching an AFL record.

Arbet enters the 2005 campaign tied with John Gregory for 7th place in career coaching victories with 73 and his .730 (73-27) overall winning percentage is tops among coaches who have been involved in at least 25 games. Arbet also has the highest playoff winning percentage of any AFL coach (.750) and ranks fourth in playoff wins with nine. Last year's ArenaBowl victory at Arizona was the 100th game of Arbet's AFL career.
Along with his duties as head coach, Arbet will also continue as the team's director of player personnel, a position he has held the past nine seasons. In that capacity he works with negotiating player contracts and has a decision in all personnel moves.

An original member of the team's coaching staff, Arbet became the SaberCats second head coach and ninth former Arena Football League player to be named head coach of an AFL franchise on January 13, 1999. Arbet joined the SaberCats for their inaugural season in 1995 as a defensive assistant and special teams coordinator. He was named the team's player personnel director the following season.

Prior to joining the SaberCats, Arbet spent one year with the Albany Firebirds as an assistant to their defensive coordinator, and former Carolina head coach, Doug Kay. His duties at Albany included working with the fullbacks and linebackers, breaking down game film and handling the players' living arrangements. His previous year of head coaching experience came in 1993 when he guided the semi-pro River City Gamblers to a league championship.

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 and special teams, and served as the athletic department's academic advisor. Arbet and Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator Greg Knapp were both members of the Hornets' coaching staff in the early 1990's.

A four-year letterwinner at Sacramento State, Arbet played defensive end for the Hornets between 1981 and 1985, and graduated with a Bachelors degree in Criminal Justice in 1985. He also was a member of the school's track team where he competed in the decathlon, discus and shot put.

Arbet attended Edison High School in his hometown of Stockton where he competed in both football and track. He is the father of two sons, Lamarr and Dominick, and resides in San Jose. His nephew, Kevin Arbet, and Sam Baker, son of AFL Commissioner David Baker, were teammates on the 2004 USC football team.

GLADIATORS' NOTES AND TRENDS

THE MACK
FB/LB Frank Carter rumbled his way into the end zone three times against the Avengers and tied the Gladiators' rushing record for the second time. Last season, he rushed for three touchdowns on May 2, 2004, against the now defunct Indiana Firebirds and tied the record set by former Gladiators' quarterback Jay McDonagh.

ANOTHER 100
OS Marcus Nash continued were he left off from last season in the receiving category by catching seven passes for 116 yards and one touchdown. Last season, he led the League with eight games of more than 100 yards receiving.

TOP OF THE CHARTS
Las Vegas finished the 2004 season with the second ranked defense in the AFL, giving up an average of 243.1 yards per game. After one game into the 2005 season, the Gladiators are ranked number one, allowing 202 yards of total offense.

TWO AND TWO; RIGHT BACK AT'CHA
Clint Dolezel has faced the SaberCats four times in his career and he has a record of 2-2. He has won both games at home and has lost both games in the HP Pavilion at San Jose. In his away games, Dolezel has combined to complete 50-of-80 passes for 700 yards with 16 touchdowns and three interceptions. In his home games against San Jose he has completed 57-of-95 for 608 yards passing with 11 touchdowns and five interceptions.

CEDRIC THE "FORMER" ENTERTAINER
San Jose SaberCats OL/DL Cedric Pitman will face the Gladiators for the first time since playing for them last season. With Las Vegas, he had five and a half total tackles with one sack and one fumble recovery.

FIRST TIME FOR EVERYTHING
The Red and Black won their first ever season opener with a 46-37 victory over the Los Angeles Avengers last week at the Thomas & Mack Center. Since the team's debut in the Arena Football League in 2001, the Gladiators had previous lost four season openers (vs. Carolina 21-52 in 2001; @ Buffalo 51-53 in 2002; @ Los Angeles 48-60 in 2003; @ Colorado 42-43 in 2004).

THE OLD OUTLAW
San Jose SaberCats QB Mark Grieb is a former member of the Las Vegas Outlaws of the now defunct XFL. Grieb played four games for the Outlaws in 2001, making two starts. He completed 37-of-78 passes for 408 yards and three TD's.

THE WATER BOY
Head coach Ron James got dosed with the Gatorade cooler after notching his first win as a head coach last week over the Avengers 46 – 37 at the Thomas & Mack Center.

NO BEGINNERS
Las Vegas is the only team in the Arena Football League without a rookie on its roster to start the 2005 season.

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