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Orlando Predators game notes

January 30, 2006 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Orlando Predators News Release


GAME DETAILS
Kansas City Brigade (0-1) at Orlando Predators (0-1)
Date: Friday, Feb. 3, 2006
Toe-To-Leather Time: 7:30 p.m. (EDT)
Site: Hummer Field/TD Waterhouse Centre (13,692)
Officials: Referee: Riley Johnson; Umpire: Rick
Podraza; Head Linesman: Julian Mapp; Line Judge:
Paul Engelberts; Back Judge: Bud McCleskey;
Supervisor: Buddy Ward
Radio: WQTM 740 AM (Marc Daniels and Dan Pearson)
TV: Sun Sports (Rick Peckham, James Bates, Terry Norville),
Tape Delay 10 p.m.; Fox Sports Network Midwest-Live
Series Streak: First Game in Series
Series Record: Series Tied 0-0-0
Coaches: Orlando: Jay Gruden (6th season, 64-38, .627);
Kansas City: Kevin Porter (1st Season, 0-1-0, .000)

PREDATORS LOOK TO REBOUND FROM SEASON OPENING DEFEAT
After a disappointing loss to the Georgia Force in the 2006 season opener in Atlanta, the Orlando Predators (0-1, 0-1) look to rebound against Southern Division foe Kansas City (0-1, 0-1) in the Predators 2006 home opener at Hummer Field.

The Predators will not be facing a typical expansion team in the contest, as the Brigade - who were slated to join the league in 2007 - came in a year earlier when the New Orleans VooDoo elected not to play because of Hurricane Katrina. As part of that arrangement, the VooDoo inherited all of New Orleans players that were under contract for the 2006 season. As a result, the expansion Brigade features proven veteran stars such as QB Andy Kelly, DS Chris Pointer and OL/DL BJ Cohen from the VooDoo roster, in addition to a fine group of AFL free agents - including former Philadelphia standout OS Steve Smith.

"Kansas City is a talented team, certainly not a typical expansion team," Orlando Predators head coach Jay Gruden said. "We need to come with our ‘A' game on Friday night."

Kickoff is slated for 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available by calling 407-44-PREDS, visiting the TD Waterhouse Centre Box Office or on-line at www.TICKETMASTER.com.
Orlando Predators (0-1-0) *All Times Eastern
Date Opponent W/L Score
Jan. 28 At Georgia L 31-48
Feb. 3 KANSAS CITY 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 11 PHILADELPHIA 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 19 At Tampa Bay 3 p.m.
Feb. 26 At New York 1 p.m.
Mar. 5 LOS ANGELES 12 Noon
Mar. 10 At Arizona 9 p.m.
Mar. 19 DALLAS 12 Noon
Mar. 25 At Austin 8 p.m.
Apr. 2 CHICAGO 12 Noon
Apr. 9 At Columbus 3 p.m.
Apr. 14 GEORGIA 7:30 p.m.
Apr. 22 TAMPA BAY 7:30 p.m.
Apr. 28 At Colorado 9 p.m.
May 6 At Kansas City 8 p.m.
May 12 AUSTIN 7:30 p.m.

Kansas City (0-1-0)
Date Opponent Result Score
Jan. 29 At Dallas L 44-58
Feb. 3 At Orlando 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 12 Austin 2 p.m.
Feb. 19 Columbus 2 p.m.
Feb. 24 At Georgia 7:30 p.m.
Mar. 5 Tampa Bay 4 p.m.
Mar. 13 Philadelphia 8 p.m.
Mar. 18 At Austin 8 p.m.
Mar. 24 At New York 7:30 p.m.
Apr. 1 Georgia 8 p.m.
Apr. 9 Los Angeles 1 p.m.
Apr. 16 Colorado 1 p.m.
Apr. 21 At Nashville 8 p.m.
Apr. 29 At Tampa Bay 7:30 p.m.
May 6 Orlando 8 p.m.
May 12 At Utah 9 p.m.

Front Page Quote
"I tried to get some separation and he reached out and grabbed my pads and pulled me down. I couldn't believe there wasn't a flag on the play, but sometimes you just don't get the calls on the road."

--Predators OS Jimmy Fryzel on a 4th and 10 play in final minute with Predators trailing by four.
THE COACHES
PREDS HEAD COACH JAY GRUDEN
Fifteen seasons in the Arena Football League. Fifteen seasons in the playoffs. Seven trips to the ArenaBowl. Six championship rings. An average of 10.8 wins per season. Whether as a head coach, player or offensive coordinator, Jay Gruden's name has been synonymous with success in the Arena Football League.

Gruden began his AFL career as a quarterback with the Tampa Bay Storm in 1991. A two-time All- Arena selection and the 1992 MVP, he led the Storm to six consecutive playoff appearances and an unprecedented four ArenaBowl titles under three different head coaches.

At age 30, he became the youngest head coach in the Arena Football League when the Orlando Predators hired him to replace the legendary Perry Moss - who retired after nearly 50 years in the coaching profession. Gruden's impact on the Predators was immediate. After a 9-5 regular season mark, Gruden guided the Predators to a pair of playoff wins to set up an ArenaBowl match-up with top-seeded Tampa Bay. Although the Storm came into the game with a 14-2 record and were prohibitive 14-point favorites, Gruden delivered Orlando 's first ArenaBowl championship with an incredible 62-31 win over the Storm.

During the next two seasons he would continue to set league history. Gruden became the first AFL coach to take a number eight seed to the ArenaBowl as Orlando recorded stunning road upsets in 1999 over top-seeded Tampa Bay (41-19) and second-seeded Iowa (48-41). The following season, the Predators started 7-0 and finished the 2000 campaign with an 11-3 record, capturing the second seed for the playoffs and winning a second ArenaBowl title.

In one of the most unusual moves in AFL history, Gruden announced his resignation as head coach of the Predators to return to the playing field as Orlando's quarterback after the 2001 season. In two years as Predators quarterback, Gruden compiled an impressive 20-9 record as a starter. Gruden returned to the Predators sideline as Head Coach and Director of Football Operations in July 2003. In his first season back, Gruden directed the Predators to his third 10-win season and upped his career record to 53-30-0 (.639) as an AFL head coach. In 2005, the Predators won 10 games again.

For his AFL career, Gruden has posted some truly remarkable numbers. As a head coach, he is 64-38-0 and ranks in the top 10 overall in coaching wins and winning percentage. He is one of only five AFL coaches with two or more ArenaBowl championships. In the playoffs, his 11-4 mark as a head coach ranks in the top five all-time in victories and winning percentage. As a quarterback, he ranks in the top ten with more than 20,000 passing yards and close to 400 touchdowns. He won 15 of 19 post-season starts with 4,761 passing yards and 77 touchdowns. Gruden was 84-25 (.770) as a starting quarterback. That mark, combined with his 10-5 record as Nashville's offensive coordinator and his 64-37 record as head coach, takes Gruden's all-time Arena Football League record to 158-67 (.702). As a player, assistant coach or head coach, Gruden has never failed to lead his team to the playoffs.

ORLANDO PREDATORS
HEAD COACHING RECORDS
Coaches, Years Record Pct.
Jay Gruden, 1998-2001, 2004-05 64-38 .627
Fran Papasedero, 2002-03 22-13 .629
Perry Moss, 1991-97 67-31 .684

KANSAS CITY HEAD COACH KEVIN PORTER
A former Orlando Predators assistant coach, KEVIN PORTER is in his first season as head coach of the Kansas City Brigade. Porter began his AFL coaching career with the Predators as secondary coach in 1999. He gained additional Arena experience as head coach of the Pensacola Barracudas (af2) in 2000 and the Macon Knights (af2) from 2001-2003. With Macon, Porter led his team to the championship game in 2003. He spent the last two years as defensive coordinator of the New Orleans VooDoo. A third round draft pick of the Kansas City Chiefs in 1988, Porter spent five years in the NFL - playing for the Chiefs and New York Jets. He was a three-year starter for the Chiefs at strong safety, recording 290 career tackles with six forced fumbles. He was a four-year starter at Auburn, where he was named honorable mention All-America as a senior.

COACHING MATCH-UPS
Gruden vs. Porter
This will be the first match-up ever between Gruden and Porter. Gruden brought Porter into the Arena Football League as an assistant coach in 1999.


SERIES HISTORY AND NOTES:
This is the first game ever between the Orlando Predators and the Kansas City Brigade...with Kansas City being placed in the South Division for at least the 2006 season, the teams will play at least twice this year...Orlando is scheduled to travel to Kansas City in Week 15 (May 6)...Although this is the first game ever between the two teams, there are a ton of connections between the two squads...in addition to the fact that Brigade head coach Kevin Porter began his coaching career with the Predators in 1999, the teams have the following connections: Brigade line coach Webbie Burnett played with the Orlando Predators from 1992-99 and was recently named one of the "Twenty Most Significant Predators Players" by www.orlandopredators.com; Brigade quarterback Chris Sanders played for the Predators last season; while Brigade lineman BJ Cohen broke into the Arena Football League with the Predators and was a standout lineman in Orlando from 1999-2002.

How The 2006 Predators Were Built
Veterans Retained From 2005 Season (12): RB/LB Idris Price, K Jay Taylor, FB/LB Marlon Moye-Moore, QB Joe Hamilton, WR/LB Jerrian James, DS Kenny McEntyre, OL/DL Justin Cleveland, OS Jimmy Fryzel, OL/DL Greg Krause, OL/DL Doug Miller, OL/DL Reggie Lee, FB/LB Kevin Nagle.

Veteran Free Agents Signed (4): DS Jeroid Johnson, WR/LB Scott Cloman, WR/LB Clif Dell, OL/DL Kevin Johnson

Veteran Obtained by Trade (1): OL/DL Henry Taylor

Veteran Activated from NFL Exempt List (1): WR/DB Lin-J Shell.

Rookie Free Agents (8): QB Jake Eaton, WR/DB DeAndrew Rubin, WR/DB Jermaine Mays, OL/DL Jim Sedano, OL/DL Greg White, OL/DL Charles Hill, WR/LB Javarus Dudley; OL/DL Sean Guthrie.

BY THE NUMBERS...ORLANDO PREDATORS
2006 Overall Record: 0-1-0
National Conference Record: 0-1-0
Against American Conference: 0-0-0
Southern Division Record: 0-1-0
At Hummer Field: 0-0-0
On the road: 0-1-0
When scoring first: 0-0-0
When other Team Scores First: 0-1-0
When leading after one quarter: 0-0-0
When trailing after one quarter: 0-1-0
When tied after one quarter: 0-0-0
When leading at the Half: 0-0-0
When trailing at the Half: 0-1-0
When tied at the Half: 0-0-0
When leading after three quarters: 0-0-0
When trailing after three quarters: 0-1-0
When tied after three quarters: 0-0-0
Overtime Games: 0-0-0
By Days of the Week:
Thursday: 0-0-0
Friday: 0-0-0
Saturday: 0-1-0
Sunday: 0-0-0
All-Time Home Record: 83-33-0
All-Time Road Record: 69-49-0*
Consecutive Seasons Winning Record: 14**
Consecutive Seasons In Playoffs: 14

*Includes neutral site away game at Lakeland, Fla. Against the Florida Bobcats in 1998.
**Includes playoff games. Team finished at .500 in 1999, but won two playoff games to finish with a 9-8 record.


PREDS NEWS, NOTES, QUOTES, AND TRENDS

SUN SPORTS TO BROADCAST GAME ON TAPE DELAY / WQTM TO CARRY GAME LIVE
Because of previous commitments, Sun Sports will televise Friday's Orlando-Kansas City game on a tape delay basis. For the second consecutive year, Rick Peckham will call the play-by-play on Predators broadcasts, with James Bates providing color commentary and Terry Norville doing sideline reports. The game broadcast will begin at 10 p.m. on Sun Sports. Satellite dish owners, who have purchased the regional Fox Sports package, can watch the game live on Fox Sports Midwest. Sun Sports has been a broadcast partner of the Predators for 14 of 16 AFL seasons.

For a 13th consecutive year, WQTM (740 AM) radio will broadcast every play of every Orlando Predators football game - home and away. Marc Daniels will call the play-by-play, with Orlando Predators Public Relations Director Dan Pearson providing color commentary. Daniels is in his 13th year as "Voice of the Predators," while Pearson is in his third season as a member of the broadcast team.

TICKET SALES STRONG
As of Monday, the Predators have sold 10,033 season tickets for the 2006 season. Counting single game sales, close to 11,000 games tickets have been issued for Friday night's opener. The Predators seat 13,692 for Arena Football at Hummer Field. The team is still selling both season tickets, as well as single game tickets, and they may be purchased by calling 407-44-PREDS or by visiting any TICKETMASTER outlet or the box office at the TD Waterhouse Centre.

HAMILTON MOVES INTO SOLE POSSESSION OF THIRD PLACE
With three touchdown passes against the Georgia Force last week, Joe Hamilton moved into sole possession of third place on the Predators all-time touchdown pass list. Hamilton, who is in his third year with the Predators, entered the game with 117 career touchdown passes - where he was tied with current Predators head coach Jay Gruden, who also threw for 117 touchdown passes from 2002-2003. Hamilton has played in 28 career regular season games for the Predators, while Gruden played in 26.

Predators Career Touchdown Passes
(Regular Season Game Only)

Name Years TD Passes
Pat O'Hara 6 166
Ben Bennett 5 162
Joe Hamilton 3* 120
Jay Gruden 2 117
Connell Maynor 7 101
Craig Whelihan 2 60

NEVER ON A SATURDAY
What is it about playing on Saturdays? With last week's loss to Georgia, the Predators have now lost six consecutive games on Saturday. On games played on any other day, the Predators have recorded a 20-6 record over the same time period.

GRUDEN CLOSING IN ON MOSS
With 11 wins in 2005, Orlando Predators Head Coach continues to close in on AFL Hall of Famer Perry Moss to become the winningest head coach in Orlando Predators history. Now in his seventh season as head coach, Gruden has 64 total victories and is just three short of Perry Moss' franchise record of 67 wins. Moss, the first head coach and general manager of the Orlando Predators, recorded a 67-31-0 record in seven seasons as the Predators head coach from 1991-97. The Moss/Gruden comparison:

Moss Gruden
Seasons 7 6+
Wins 67 64
Regular Season Wins 59 55
Playoff Wins 8 9
AFL Championships 0 2
Overall Winning Pct. .684 .627

TAYLOR PERFECT ON NIGHT
Orlando Predators kicker Jay Taylor is off to a great start in 2006. Taylor hit his only field goal attempt and all four of his extra points to account for seven points in Saturday's loss to Georgia. Taylor had a sensational season in 2004 for the Predators, hitting 18 of 25 extra points and 79 of 85 extra points to account for 133 points in winning AFL Kicker of the Year honors as a rookie. Taylor parlayed that season into a tryout and eventual job with the Tampa Bay Bucs (NFL). After going 4 of 5 on field goals and hitting all 11 of his extra points for the Bucs in 2004, he was released in April of 2005. He returned to the Predators but was injured in his second game back and spent the rest of the 2005 season on injured reserve. For his career, Taylor has hit 22 of 34 field goal attempts in the AFL for a club record 64.7% accuracy mark. He is 21 of 27 (77.8%) from inside 50 yards, and 20 of 23 (86.9%).

PREDATORS RUN THE ROCK
If week one was any indication, look for the Orlando Predators to be among the league leaders in rushing - again. The Predators rushed for 32 net yards against the Force on 10 attempts. The total was just one yard below the team's 2005 season average of 33 yards per game, which ranked second in the Arena Football League. As the chart below indicates, the Predators are usually one of the top teams in the league in rushing yards, finishing in the top five in 12 of 15 previous years.

Year Yards Per Game TD League Rank
2005 528 33.0 35 2nd *
2004 606 37.9 29 1st
2003 367 22.9 25 3rd
2002 215 15.4 16 11th
2001 194 14.1 14 15th
2000 551 36.8 24 2nd
1999 430 30.7 12 2nd
1998 433 35.7 18 3rd
1997 655 46.8 27 1st
1996 606 42.9 37 2nd
1995 406 35.8 26 3rd
1994 503 45.6 24 2nd
1993 447 37.2 15 3rd
1992 413 41.3 12 4th
1991 303 30.3 14 6th

GREG WHITE IMPRESSIVE IN DEBUT
The Orlando Predators were hoping that rookie lineman Greg White could be the "big play" defensive end who could help replace superstar EJ Burt, who recorded 24.5 quarterback sacks and 14 forced fumbles in his three seasons with the Predators. While it is way to early to predict whether White will become as productive as Burt, who signed with Philadelphia as a free agent after the 2005 season, he did have an impressive debut against Georgia last week. White recorded four tackles with a quarterback sack, a forced fumble and a batted down pass in his first game with the Predators. A former standout with Minnesota, White was a 7th round pick of the Houston Texans in 2002.

HAMILTON TIES McCLENTON FOR FIFTH PLACE
Joe Hamilton's four-yard touchdown run in the second quarter against Georgia was the 16th of his Orlando Predators career and tied him with fullback/linebacker Michael McClenton for fifth place on the Orlando Predators all-time list for rushing touchdowns. With three more rushing touchdowns this season, Hamilton can move into third place on the Predators all-time list and he needs nine to tie Rick Hamilton (25) for second place on the Predators all-time list. It is highly unlikely that Hamilton would ever get close to the Predators record, however, as Barry Wagner rushed for 69 touchdowns in his eight-year career with the Predators (1992-99).

Predators All-Time Rushing Touchdowns
Player Seasons Rush TD
Barry Wagner 8 69
Rick Hamilton 5 25
Connell Maynor 7 18
Tommy Dorsey 5 17
Joe Hamilton 3 16*
Michael McClenton 2 16

GEORGIA GAME: THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY
The Good: The Predators fought back from a halftime deficit and had a chance to win the game when they took a three-point lead at 34-31 in the fourth quarter...Kicker Jay Taylor hit 4 of 4 extra points and his only field goal attempt to record a perfect 5 for 5 night...Rookie lineman Greg White was a force, recording four tackles with a sack, forced fumble and batted down pass...The Predators defense recorded stops of five of nine Georgia possessions, holding the Force to just four touchdowns on nine offensive possessions and forcing three turnovers. The Bad: The Predators offense struggled in the game, as Georgia recorded seven defensive stops and returned two interceptions for touchdowns in the final minute of the game...Although Orlando's defense played extremely well overall, the defensive backs had four breakdowns in the game that resulted in three touchdown passes to wide open receivers and a 31-yard pass play to 4th wide-open receiver. The Ugly: Orlando probably had a legitimate beef with the officiating when OS Jimmy Fryzel was knocked to the ground on a key 4th and 10 play in the final minute when no flag was thrown for pass interference.

NOVELL RETURNS TO STAFF
Orlando Predators Head Coach Jay Gruden announced last week that Mark Novell has returned to the Predators coaching staff as special teams coach. Novell served the Predators in a similar capacity from 1991-1994 and 1997-2001. He also served the team as non-football General Manager in 2001. He has spent the last four seasons as an executive in the time share industry in both Orlando, Missouri and New Orleans.

PREDATORS TAKE 11-4 RECORD INTO HOME OPENERS
Friday night's game marks the 16th home opener in Orlando Predators history. Orlando is 11-4 in home openers, including a 39-36 win over Colorado in the 2005 season opener.

PREDATORS PRACTICE SCHEDULE
Tuesday 9-11:30 Thunder Field
Wednesday 9-11:30 Thunder Field
Thursday 9-10 TBA

2005 ROSTER MOVES
1/12 Waived OL/DL Derek Kennard

1/15 Announced FB/LB Bam Morris was leaving
camp.

1/19 Waived FB/LB Shurron Pierson, WR/LB
Manwell Talbert, DS Randee Drew, DS
Marcus Floyd, WR/LB Marquise Walker,
DS Levy Brown, OL/DL Derrick Crawford,
OL/DL Claude Harriot
1/21 Waived OL/DL Ron Warner and OL/DL
Delanio Taylor.

1/23 Placed on injured reserve OL/DL Sean Guthrie and OL/DL Kevin Johnson.

1/25 Placed on injured reserve WR/LB Javarus
Dudley, WR/LB Clif Dell, FB/LB Kevin
Nagle.

1/27 Declared inactive for Week 1 OL/DL Charles
Hill.

2006 US ARMY IRONMAN / OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME / ADT DEFENSIVE PLAYERS OF THE GAME (selected by media):
After each Arena Football League game, media in attendance select the "US Army Ironman of the Game" as well as the "ADT Defensive Player of the Game" and the "Offensive Player of the Game." For Week 1, victorious Georgia swept all three single game awards.


Week Opp. Player
1 Georgia
Ironman: Derek Lee (G)
Offensive: Chris Jackson (G)
Defensive: Kevin Aldridge (G)

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