New Orleans VooDoo News & Notes
May 28, 2004 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
New Orleans VooDoo News Release
• VooDoo RANKED FIFTH IN WEEKLY POLL: The VooDoo’s 10-5 record has impressed the Arena Football League Writers Association enough to have them ranked at #5 in the weekly writers poll. The VooDoo fell one spot to fifth this week following their loss to the Tampa Bay Storm on Sunday. The weekly poll, which is based on a vote of AFLWA members, ranks the top eight teams in the AFL. The AFLWA is a national organization made up of media members who cover the AFL. New Orleans received 74 votes.
• VooDoo HAVE A CHANCE TO CLINCH HOME PLAYOFF GAME ON SUNDAY: The VooDoo will have an opportunity to be guaranteed to host at least one playoff game with a victory over the Austin Wranglers this Sunday. The first round of the ArenaBowl XVIII playoffs will begin on the weekend of June 5-6. If New Orleans wins and clinches a home game, the game would be scheduled for Sunday, June 6 at 2 p.m. Below are the scenarios for New Orleans to achieve the second through sixth seeds in the AFL playoffs. In a weekend when four teams with the top five records in the Arena Football League play each other, the Arizona-San Jose game and the Colorado-Chicago contest, will greatly impact New Orleans’ playoff seeding.
Second Seed - The VooDoo will be a second seed if New Orleans win, Arizona wins, and Chicago wins
Third Seed - The VooDoo will be the third seed if New Orleans wins, Colorado or Chicago wins, and San Jose wins
Fourth Seed - The VooDoo will be the fourth seed if New Orleans wins, Arizona wins, and Colorado wins.
Fifth Seed – The VooDoo will be the fifth seed if New Orleans loses, Arizona loses, Colorado or Chicago wins and Los Angeles wins.
Sixth Seed – The VooDoo will be the sixth seed if New Orleans loses, Arizona loses, Colorado loses and Orlando wins or if New Orleans loses, Arizona wins, Colorado wins and Orlando wins, or if Arizona wins, Colorado loses and Los Angeles wins.
• EXPANSION TEAMS IN THE PLAYOFFS: The VooDoo have become the 17th team in AFL history to advance to the postseason as an expansion club. In addition, they have become the second expansion team to win 10 games in their inaugural season. The 1997 Nashville Kats were the other team to win 10 games, finishing 10-4. Below is a list of expansion teams that have made the playoffs, their regular season records and postseason results.
YEAR TEAM REG. SEASON RESULT
1988 Detroit Drive 9-3 Won ArenaBowl II
1988 Los Angeles Cobras 5-6-1 Lost in Semifinals
1990 Dallas Texans 6-2 Lost ArenaBowl IV
1992 Sacramento Attack 4-6 Lost in First Round
1992 Cincinnati Rockers 7-3 Lost in First Round
1993 Charlotte Rage 6-6 Lost in First Round
1994 Fort Worth Calvary 5-7 Lost in First Round
1994 Las Vegas Sting 5-7 Lost in First Round
1995 Memphis Pharaohs 6-6 Lost in First Round
1995 St. Louis Stampede 9-3 Lost in First Round
1995 Iowa Barnstormers 7-5 Lost in Semifinals
1997 Nashville Kats 10-4 Lost in First Round
1997 New Jersey Red Dogs 9-5 Lost in First Round
2001 Chicago Rush 7-7 Lost in Quarterfinals
2001 Detroit Fury 7-7 Lost in First Round
2002 Dallas Desperados 7-7 Lost in Quarterfinals
2004 New Orleans VooDoo ??? (Currently 10-5) ????
• VooDoo ON THE AIRWAVES: VooDoo and AFL fans will enjoy plenty of chances to watch the newest team in New Orleans both live and on various on radio and television programs throughout the 2004 season.
Every VooDoo game will be broadcast on WWL 870-AM or WSMB 1350-AM. The Voice of the VooDoo, Chris Kenyon, will handle play-by-play. Selected Saints coaches, players and front office personnel will serve as color analysts. Saints Special Teams Coordinator Al Everest will handle color for the Austin Wranglers match up. Kaare Johnson will handle sideline duties. SundayÂ’s game will be broadcast on WSMB. WWL will broadcast The Mike Neu Show with VooDoo Head Coach Mike Neu each Tuesday from 9-10 pm as Kenyon and WWLÂ’s Kenny Wilkerson co-host. Fans can call into the show or submit questions for Coach Neu through the clubÂ’s official web site, GoVooDoo.com.
A Spanish language broadcast can be heard on WFNO, LaFabulosa 830 AM, also the Spanish flagship radio station of New Orleans Saints. Marco Garcia and Hector Pineda, who handle the Saints broadcasts, will do play-by-play and color commentary. As part of an agreement between the VooDoo and the station, LaFabulosa will serve as the teamÂ’s official Hispanic radio broadcast partner for the VooDooÂ’s last home game and all 2004 post-season home games.
Eight of the VooDooÂ’s 16 regular season games as well as all playoff games are scheduled to be telecast by NBC (WDSU-TV 6 in New Orleans). This SundayÂ’s contest amongst New Orleans and the Austin Wranglers will not be on television. Cox Sports Television will air Inside VooDoo with Mike Neu, a 30-minute show, each week. Inside VooDoo with Mike Neu will air this week on Thursday, May 27 from 5:30-6 pm and will be replayed on Sunday, May 30 at 11:30 am.
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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from May 28, 2004
- SaberCats Face Rival Arizona For Home-Field Advantage Through Playoffs - AFL I
- First Annual AUSTIN WRANGLERS ROUND-UP - Austin Wranglers
- Desperados Activate Canonico - Dallas Desperados
- New Orleans VooDoo News & Notes - New Orleans VooDoo
- Preds face tough battle - Orlando Predators
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