Local Products Lead SaberCats into 2004 Season
Published on January 13, 2004 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
San Jose SaberCats News Release
SAN JOSE, Calif. (Jan. 13, 2004) â Quarterback controversy is an unknown term in San Jose as the SaberCats prepare for the 2004 season. Mark Grieb, the 2002 Arena Football League Offensive Player-of-the-Year, enters his sixth season in San Jose as the team's all-time leader in every passing category.
The UC Davis graduate comes to training camp healthy after a full off-season. Despite setting team records for completions (310), yards (3,966) and touchdowns (72) in 2003, Grieb never felt in the groove last year following a season-ending clavicle injury late in the 2002 season.
"Toward the end of the season, I thought I felt pretty good," Grieb expl ained. "I never really felt 100%. If you feel sort of off at the beginning of the season, it's hard to get it back by the end of the season. I don't make any excuses. Last year was what it was and hopefully this year will be better."
The highest rated quarterback in AFL history (122.0), Grieb currently ranks 13th among the league's all-time leaders in passing yardage (13,876 yards) and is 27 touchdown passes away from 300 for his career (273).
Backing up Grieb will be newcomer Nick Rolovich. Born in Daly City and a product of Marin Catholic High School in Kentfield, the 24-year-old has previous professional experience having attended training camp with the Denver Broncos in 2002 and 2003. Rolovich averaged 37 touchdowns and over 3,700 yards as a two-year starter at the University of Hawaii. Playing in a wide-open, pass-first offense in college has helped him quickly adapt to Arena Football.
"It's a similar mindset â scoring every play instead of playing for field position, which I really like. I just need to learn it a little better," Rolovich said.
Both Grieb and Rolovich will be most affected by the AFL's switch to a new Spaulding football in 2004. Neither quarterback seemed too concerned with the change.
"Leather is leather," Rolovich said. "It's still a weird shape and still has laces."
"It's a little bit weird in the beginning, but I'm not concerned with it," added Grieb. "You can sit there and find reasons for why things aren't going well, but if the other guy's using the same ball, then you can't make excuses. It's part of the game."
Grieb, Rolovich and the rest of the SaberCats open their season February 5th, on the road, against the Detroit Fury. San Jose's home opener is scheduled for Sunday, February 28th, vs. the Grand Rapids Rampage at HP Pavilion. Individual tickets are available for all SaberCats' home games at all TicketMaster outlets, on-line at www.ticketmaster.com, or in-person at the HP Pavilion at San Jose box office. For season- or group ticket information, contact the SaberCats at (408) 573-5577, or on-line at www.sanjosesabercats.com.
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from January 13, 2004
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