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Orlando Predators Playoff Game Notes

June 3, 2003 - Arena Football League (AFL)
Orlando Predators News Release


Orlando Predators (13-4-0) at Tampa Bay Storm (13-4-0)
Date: Saturday, June 7, 2003
Toe-to-Leather Time: 3 p.m. (EDT)
Site: St. Pete Times Forum (19,758)
Officials: Referee: Bill Athan; Umpire: Rick Lowe; Head Linesman: Mike McCabe; Line Judge: Art Lucky; Back Judge: Rob Vernatchi; Alternate: Bill Ward
Radio: WQTM 740 The Team (Marc Daniels and Tom Morgan)
TV: NBC (Mike Breen and Ray Bentley-Booth; Dave Burns and Marty Snyder, Sidelines)
Streaks: Orlando has won seven games in a row, Tampa Bay has won two games in a row.
Series Record: Orlando leads all-time series 17-15-0
Coaches: Orlando: Fran Papasedero (2nd Season, 22-12-0, .647); Tampa Bay: Tim Marcum (15th Season, 156-55-0, .739).

THE STAKES: A trip to ArenaBowl XVII and another shot at a World Championship awaits the winner of Saturday's semifinal game between the Orlando Predators (13-4-0) and the Tampa Bay Storm (13-4-0). The game is also the 33rd edition of the longest-running, most-intense and arguably Arena Football's best rivalry. The two most successful franchises in Arena Football League history, the Predators and Storm have accounted for more than 250 wins, 11 ArenaBowl appearances and six championships over the last 11 seasons and once again will account for one of the teams in the championship game. Orlando and Tampa Bay have not only played each other more times than any other two teams in AFL history, but they have met more times in the playoffs (6). Orlando holds a 4-2 edge in playoffs games against Tampa Bay, including winning the last three meetings (see playoff history and series history for details). "Other than playing them in the ArenaBowl, this is perfect," Head Coach Fran Papasedero said. "One of these two teams is going to the ArenaBowl and they are going at the expense of their arch-rival. I know our players are excited and about this match-up and I know their guys are too. They call this game the War on I-4 for a reason."

GAME TICKETS/BUS TRIP: -- In an effort to provide more of an Orlando Predators presence at Saturday's Arena Football League semifinal game in Tampa, the Predators have made arrangements to sell tickets to the game from the Predators office.

"We'd like to encourage all of our fans that are going over to the game on Saturday to purchase their tickets from our office," Predators owner Brett Bouchy says. "We'll have all our fans in the same general area and hopefully they will provide vocal support and help our team get to ArenaBowl XVII."

Game tickets available from the Predators office are priced from $18.75 to $43.75 and may be purchased by calling 407-44-PREDS.

In a related announcement, the Predators said that if interest warrants it, the team will put together a trip package that will include round trip bus transportation to the game and game ticket. For information on the bus trip, call Stephanie Banning at 407-447-3332.

THE COACHES: This game will feature a Head Coaching match-up of the new guard vs. the old guard. Second-year Head Coach Fran Papasedero retired as an AFL player (Albany-St. Louis-Nashville) after the 1997 season, joining rookie Head Coach Jay Gruden in Orlando. In four seasons as Gruden's assistant, Fran held a variety of jobs including line coach and assistant head coach. When Gruden elected to return to the playing field, Papasedero was his hand-picked successor. Papasedero has now led the Predators to the semifinals in his first two years as a Head Coach. His .647 winning percentage already ranks in the top 10 in AFL history. Under Papasedero, the Predators are 21-8 in their last 29 games.

The old guard is represented by Tampa Bay coaching legend Tim Marcum. No single coach has had as much success coaching in the Arena Football League than Marcum. Already in the AFL Hall of Fame, Marcum has led three different teams (Denver, Detroit and Tampa) to a total of six ArenaBowl championships. He is the AFL career leader in coaching wins, playoff wins, games coached, winning percentage and championships won. Marcum's all-time coaching record stands at an extremely impressive 156-55 (.739).

Both Marcum and Papasedero received votes this year for AFL Coach of the Year. Marcum has won that award twice. In head to head competition, Marcum and Papasedero have split four regular season games. This is the first time they have met in the playoffs.

IF's:

If the Orlando Predators defeat the Tampa Bay Storm on Saturday, it would:
*Give the Predators eight straight wins
*Give the Predators a 14-4-0 record and drop Tampa Bay to 13-5-0
*Give Orlando an 18-15 all-time series lead over the Storm
*Give Orlando a 5-2 advantage in playoff games vs. the Storm
*Propel Orlando to a seventh AFL championship game
*Mark Orlando's fourth straight playoff win over Tampa Bay
*Give Fran Papasedero a 23-12-0 record as an AFL head coach
*Give the Predators a 20-9-0 record in the post-season
*Give Orlando 13 wins in last 16 road games (.813)
*Give the Preds an all-time road record of 61-37-0
*Give the Preds an all-time record of 133-66-0
*Give quarterback Jay Gruden an all-time AFL playoff record of 25-6-0 as a player, head coach an assistant.

VOICES:

"I felt we had to score 70 points in order to win. New York's offense is outstanding and they came in with a lot of confidence. Garcia is a great quarterback and they definitely had us on our heels in the fourth quarter. Fortunately we had the big lead early."

--Predators WR/LB Cory Fleming

"There's a sense that we owe these guys one. They slapped us around pretty good a couple of weeks ago and embarrassed us. Hopefully we can go down there and show them that the Predators team they saw in Week seven isn't the same team they are going to get this week."

-Predators OS Travis McGriff

"I have always felt that big leads in Arena Football League games are dangerous when you are playing a good team. You tend to let up a little thinking the game is over and then the momentum shifts. New York made a hell of a run at us and because of Garcia's mobility our line was dead tired at the end of the game. But the important thing is that we won and we are now two games away from our goal. Tampa presents a whole new series of challenges to our football team. In my opinion this game is going to be won in the trenches. Which team gets that extra stop or turnover or makes the play at the end of the game will determine the outcome. I don't think this is going to be a classic offensive scoring battle. It will probably be in the 40's or may even be in the 30s. It should be a classic game against two great franchises."

--Predators Head Coach Fran Papasedero

"To many respects, it doesn't mean as much to me now as it did in 1998. For one thing, I spent six years of my career with the Tampa Bay Storm, but I now am finishing my sixth year with the Predators organization and have spent almost as much time here as I did over there. The other thing is that the history just doesn't mean anything in relationship to this game. It isn't going to help us win and the fact that I played there doesn't really mean a whole lot to their players. It's not like I'm going to be going up against a lot of former teammates from 1996."

--Predators quarterback Jay Gruden on facing the Tampa Bay Storm, a team he led to four AFL titles from 1991-96.

THE NEW YORK GAME: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly: The Good—Most importantly, the Predators kept the 2003 season alive with a 69-62 win over the New York Dragons...the Predators defense and defensive special teams were outstanding in the first quarter, getting three interceptions and forcing a safety on a kickoff return...Cory Fleming remained the hottest receiver on the Predators team with 102 yards and three touchdowns on just four receptions (25.5 average)...Rookie of the Year Travis McGriff also had a huge game with 180 all-purpose yards, including a 32-yard touchdown reception and a 57-yard kickoff return for touchdown...Orlando won the turnover battle by a 4-0 margin, the key stat in the victory. The Bad – As almost an inconceivable as it is, the Predators were just a couple of plays away from totally collapsing against the Dragons...Orlando led 42-18 at halftime and was getting the ball first in the second half...the Preds pushed the lead back to 49-26 with just 10 minutes remaining, only to see New York go on a 36-13 run in the final minutes and make a close game out of what appeared to be a blowout..New York's 62 points scored against the Predators marked the first time in seven weeks the Predators had allowed more than 40 points in a game. The Ugly-- By the end of the game, the Predators defense was helpless against New York, as quarterback Aaron Garcia threw for 397 yards, the most ever against a Predators defense...the Predators kicking game continues to struggle...Orlando was 0 for 3 in field goal attempts and had three extra points blocked on Sunday...had Orlando converted the extra points and made two of the field goals, there would have been no chance of a New York comeback.

SERIES HISTORY: The Predators lead the all-time series 17-15-0. As mentioned earlier, no other teams in the Arena Football League have a longer continuous series than the Predators and Tampa Bay. This week's game marks the 33rd meeting between the two teams, dating back to the 1991 season. The teams have played in the same division since Orlando joined the league in 1991. The series has featured two regular season games each year and the Predators have met the Storm six times in the post-season. In addition, the Predators have played the Storm in five pre-season games (results not included in series records). In a testament to how evenly matched these two teams are, it should be noted that the Storm and Predators have split 26 regular season games (13-13), with the Predators holding a 4-2 edge in post season games. Orlando has won the last three post-season contests between the Storm and Predators, sending their arch-rivals packing for three consecutive years from 1998-2001. The all-time series scores between the Predators and Storm follow:

ALL-TIME SERIES RESULTS AND NOTES:

DATE ORL TB ATTENDANCE
June 1, 1991 (A) 51 38 10,354
July 27, 1991 (H) 16 26 13,680
May 29, 1992 (H) 32 39 11,312
July 2, 1992 (A) 48 33 20,091
August 15, 1992 (H) 24 21* 13,680
May 21, 1993 (H) 46 34 13,720
June 19, 1993 (A) 46 45 28,746
August 14, 1993 (H) 52 55* 13,720
July 1, 1994 (H) 61 40 14,015
August 13, 1994 (A) 39 40 20,819
July 14, 1995 (H) 34 51 15,638
July 29, 1995 (A) 20 44 24,055
August 14, 1995 (A) 35 48& 20,087
May 18, 1996 (A) 42 63 25,087
July 19, 1996 (H) 40 39 16,444
May 17, 1997 (A) 43 17 16,236
June 27, 1997 (H) 54 30 14,179
June 12, 1998 (H) 34 42 16,529
June 27, 1998 (A) 30 56 15,948
August 23, 1998 (A) 62 31$ 14,125 June 12, 1999 (H) 37 63 15,101
July 11, 1999 (A) 28 47 11,777
Aug. 7, 1999 (A) 41 19% 10,706
May 12, 2000 (H) 44 43 13,342
July 1, 2000 (A) 36 50 14,047
August 8, 2000 (H) 34 24% 13,122
June 10, 2001 (H) 57 45 13,691
July 1, 2001 (A) 46 38 17,634
June 9, 2002 (H) 45 48 12,855
July 7, 2002 (A) 55 48 11,784
Feb. 10, 2003 (H) 54 51 13,521
March 16, 2003 (A) 32 52 15,054
Series Totals 1318 1320 501,099

*AFL Semifinals
&ArenaBowl IX
$ArenaBowl XII
%AFL Quarterfinals

SERIES NOTES:

Orlando leads the all-time series, 17-15...Incredibly, only two points separates the two teams as Orlando has scored 1,318 points in the series, while Tampa Bay has scored 1,320 ...Orlando is averaging 41.18 points per game in the series, while Tampa Bay is averaging 41.25...the visiting team won the first four games of the series and 15 of 32 games overall... Orlando is 9-7 at home and 8-8 on the road in the series...the longest winning streak in the series is five games (Tampa Bay, Aug 13, 1994 through May 18, 1996)...Orlando has won five of the last seven in the series...Orlando has won four in a row on two occasions...the largest regular season crowd (28,746) and largest ArenaBowl crowd (25,087) came during this series (both games played in Thunderdome...now Tropicana Field)... the series has been witnessed by more than 500,000 fans (15,659 average)...the teams have met six times in the playoffs, with Orlando holding a 4-2 series edge... both teams have won an ArenaBowl championship game at the other's expense.

THE JAY FACTOR: No discussion of the Orlando / Tampa Bay series would be complete without re-hashing the "Jay Factor." For those new to Arena Football, Gruden was Tampa Bay's "Golden Boy" quarterback of the early ‘90's, leading the team to four AFL championships in six years. Gruden left the game as a player in 1997 to assume the offensive coordinator's job with the expansion Nashville Kats. After helping that team to an AFL expansion-record 10 wins that season, Gruden came on the radar screen of the Predators Search Committee that was attempting to find a new Head Coach. The Predators shocked Storm fans a few months later by announcing that at age 30, Gruden would become the new Head Coach of the Orlando Predators. In his first season, the Storm thumped the Predators twice by an average of 17 points. Those games led up to the third contest between the two in ArenaBowl XII. Tampa entered the game as prohibitive 15-point favorites over the Predators by racing to a 14-2 mark; while Orlando needed a miracle comeback in the dessert against Arizona to keep its championship hopes alive. After a close first half, everything that could possibly go wrong for a team went wrong for Tampa Bay in the first six minutes of the third quarter as the Predators would claim their first AFL championship, 62-31, on the home floor of its arch-rivals with their former hero leading the Predators charge. The following season would once again have a surreal ending for the Storm. After another outstanding season, Tampa Bay entered the playoffs as the league's number one seed (11-3) and would host Gruden and his #8 seeded Orlando team (7-7). After jumping out to a 10-0 lead at halftime, it looked like Tampa Bay would get its much sought-after revenge, only to see the Predators outscore them 41-7 in the second half and become the first and only last-seeded AFL team to take-out a top-seeded team in the playoffs. To add insult to injury, Gruden knocked his former team out of the playoffs for a third consecutive season in 2000, as the #2 seeded Predators took a 34-24 win in the TD Waterhouse Centre. In his final season as Head Coach, Gruden again put a hurting on the Storm, sweeping the regular season series. Coming back last year as a player, Gruden lost a close three-point game at home, but guided the Preds to a 55-48 win on the road in 2002. Gruden added a second victory against his former team as a player, with a 54-51 win over the Storm back on Feb. 10 of this year, but did not participate in the rematch – suffering an ankle injury in Week four and missing six games. Since joining the Predators, Gruden has guided Orlando to an 8-6 record against his former team, including a 3-0 mark in the playoffs. Adding more juice to the Gruden/Tampa Bay situation was the fact that the Storm "retired" Jay Gruden's jersey in a ceremony a few years ago and then unceremoniously "un-retired" his jersey last year and re-issued it to a player right before an Orlando-Tampa Bay game.

FAMILIAR FACES: Tampa's roster is dotted with former Predators players. Quarterback Pat O'Hara is the back-up at Tampa Bay after playing for most of the mid and late 90's with the Predators. Lineman BJ Cohen had a super year with Tampa Bay after spending the first four seasons of his career (1999-2002) with the Predators. Clif Dell, who finished third on the Storm in receiving with 38 grabs for 531 yards and nine touchdowns, was a Predators fan favorite from 1999-2002 and was Orlando's leading receiver last year.

TEN MEMORABLE MOMENTS IN PREDS/STORM SERIES: No set of game notes on the Orlando –Tampa Bay game would be complete without a recap of the biggest and most-important games in this series.

Orlando 51, Tampa Bay 38 (June 1, 1991) In the first game in franchise history for both teams, Reggie Collier threw for seven touchdowns, three each to Reggie Smith and Herkie Walls, as the Predators prevailed 51-38. Tampa Bay would get the last laugh, however, beating Orlando in the rematch; post an 8-2 season and win the ArenaBowl under first-year quarterback Jay Gruden.

Orlando 24, Tampa Bay 21 (August 15, 1992) After splitting a pair of games in the regular season, the Preds and Storm hooked up in the AFL semifinals. After playing to a 21-21 draw through four quarters, Jorge Cimadevilla won it for Orlando with a 17-yard field goal in overtime.

Orlando 46, Tampa Bay 45 (June 19, 1993) The rivalry was at an all-time high when an AFL record 28,746 fans jammed the Thunderdome to watch two of the league's best teams square off. Jay Gruden's two-point conversion attempt fell incomplete with 2:29 remaining as the Predators held on for a 46-45 win and a regular season series sweep.

Tampa Bay 55, Orlando 52 (August 14, 1993) The league's two best teams met in the semifinals for the second consecutive year. This time, the Predators trailed for most of the game but tied the score at 38-38 on a 4th quarter Billy Owens' touchdown. Momentum appeared on the Predators side when they held Tampa Bay to a field goal on the next possession, but Arden Czyzewski's ensuing kickoff bounced off the net frame and was recovered by Jeff Mayes for a touchdown and 10-point Storm lead.

Tampa Bay 40, Orlando 39 (August 13, 1994) This one was an especially bitter pill for the Predators to swallow. After running off 11 consecutive wins, the Orlando Predators missed an opportunity to become just the seventh team in modern day professional football to record a perfect regular season when Mike Lazecki booted an 18-yard field goal with 31 seconds remaining to give the Storm a 40-39 upset win. Orlando still had a chance to win, until quarterback Duke Tobin's fifth interception fell in the hands of Storm defensive back Eddie Brown in the Tampa Bay end zone with 10 seconds remaining.

Tampa Bay 48, Orlando 35 (Sept. 1, 1995) Although Orlando completed the regular season at a shaky 7-5 and barely qualified for the playoffs, the Preds fought their way through the playoffs with a pair of road upsets to meet the Storm in the ArenaBowl for the first time. But two much Jay Gruden resulted in a relatively easy 13-point win for the Storm.

Orlando 40, Tampa Bay 39, July 19, 1995 In one of the hardest hitting, nastiest and controversial finishes in series history, back-up quarterback Brad Lebo completed an 11-yard touchdown pass to Alex Shell at the buzzer to pull the Predators back to within one point at 39-38. Electing to go for the win, Barry Wagner's two-point conversion pass to Jeff Parker was ruled incomplete, but Tampa was called for an illegal defense. Following an unsportsman-like penalty on Tampa Head Coach Tim Marcum, the Predators lined up from inside the one and ran a sweep to Michael McClendon, who tripped at the one and then bounced into an end zone for the two-point conversion. Tampa would claim that McClendon was down "by contact" and would later protest the game claiming clock irregularities, but Orlando held on for the win.

Orlando 54, Tampa Bay 30, June 27, 1997 In a game labeled as "Pizza Gate," new Predators owner Will Meris backed Barry Wagner's win guarantee by promising a free large Papa John's Pizza to each fan in attendance if Orlando failed to win. Staring a bill of $82,348.75 in the face (Papa John's quoted the Predators a price of $5.50 + tax per pie in the non-sponsored promotion), Meris was relieved when Mac Cody scored four touchdowns and Orlando crushed the Storm by 24.

Orlando 62, Tampa Bay 31, August 23, 1998 After being crushed by the Storm twice in the regular season, the Predators pulled off the biggest and most-unlikely upset in ArenaBowl history with a 62-31 win over 14-2 Tampa Bay. Rookie head coach Jay Gruden watched on as his Predators used six interceptions (three by Chris Barber) and a record rushing performance by Rick Hamilton (82 yards, 3 touchdowns) to defeat their archrivals and claim their first ArenaBowl championship. Leading 24-17 at the half, the Predators scored 36 second half points without completing a pass!

Orlando 41, Tampa Bay 19 (August 7, 1999) Orlando became the first #8 seed in AFL history to knock off a #1 seed, as the 7-7 Predators shocked the 11-3 Storm, 41-19 in the playoffs. Orlando trailed 10-0 at the half, but dominated every aspect of the second half. Orlando would go on to become the first #8 seed to ever make it to the ArenaBowl, after upsetting #2 seeded Iowa the following week, 48-41.

Orlando 34, Tampa Bay 24 (August 8, 2000) For an unprecedented third consecutive year, the Predators and Gruden would send Tampa Bay packing in the playoffs. This time, it was more difficult, as Orlando led by just three (20-17) in the third quarter, but Joe Douglass scored on a 33-yard pass from Connell Maynor and Maynor then ran over from the 9-yard line as the Preds took a 34-17 lead late in the 4th quarter.

A TALE OF TWO CITIES: Orlando and Tampa Bay:

Orlando Tampa Bay
Joined AFL 1991 1991$
All-Time Record 131-66 140-56
Winning Percentage .665 .714
Regular Season Record 112-58 122-48
Winning Pct. .659 .717
Post Season Record 19-9 18-8
Winning Pct. .679 .692
Post Season Appearances 12 13*
Consecutive Appearances 12 13*
Cons. Winning Seasons 12* 11 (1991-02)
Post Season Games 28* 26
Post Season Wins 19* 18
Semifinal Appearances 9* 9*
ArenaBowl Appearances 6* 5
AFL Titles 2 4**

Notes:
$: Tampa Bay entered league as relocation franchise (formerly the Pittsburgh Gladiators);
*Indicates AFL Record;
**Indicates tie for AFL record (Detroit Drive also won four AFL titles from 1988-93).

TAMPA vs. ORLANDO: COMMON OPPONENTS Looking for any clues to tip off who might have the advantage on Saturday. Looking at the results between common opponents gives us absolutely no clue. Here's how Orlando and Tampa faired against common opponents this year:

Opponent ORL TAMPA
Georgia 1-1 2-0
Carolina 2-0 2-0
Las Vegas 1-0 0-1
Detroit 1-0 2-0
Buffalo 1-0 1-0
Indiana 1-0 1-0
Arizona 0-1 1-0
Colorado 1-0 0-1
New York 2-0 1-0
Dallas 1-0 1-0
Totals 11-2 11-2

KICKING WOES TROUBLE BOTH TEAMS: Although Orlando and Tampa Bay tied San Jose for the best overall record in the Arena Football League this season, both teams have had some troubles in the kicking department. The Predators Brian Schmitz, who has been with the team all season long, has made just three of his last 23 field goal attempts and has also missed or had blocked nine extra points in the last five games. Tampa's main kicking problems center around consistency combined with injury. The Storm have used six different kickers this year. Although a solid 12 of 25 on field goals, that group has missed 26 extra points this season, accounting for the revolving door at that position.

2003 GAME RECAPS: Preds Split Season Series With Storm:

GAME: 2
Orlando 54, Tampa Bay Storm 51
Feb. 9, 2003

ORLANDO, FL --Jay Gruden fired six touchdown passes and picked up a key third and 18 in the game's final minute of play to lead the Orlando Predators to a 54-51 win over arch-rival Tampa Bay before 13,521 fans at the TD Waterhouse Centre and a national television audience on NBC.

Orlando jumped out to a 34-27 lead at the half, but managed only a third quarter field goal and saw Tampa Bay cut the lead to just two points at the end of the third quarter on Pete Elezovic's 43-yard field goal.

The teams traded a couple of touchdowns in the fourth quarter, with Gary Compton's 8-yard touchdown reception from John Kaleo cutting the lead to 54-51 with a minute to go. Tampa decided against the on-side kick and the strategy appeared sound when the Predators were faced with a third and 18 following a sack of Gruden. But the wily veteran faked short and hit Thabiti Davis over top on a 40-yard pass play to give Orlando a new set of downs.

GAME: 7
Tampa Bay Storm 52, Orlando 32
Mar. 16, 2003

TAMPA, FL -- Lineman Al Lucas spurred a 16-0 run with a first quarter safety and Tampa Bay ran for five touchdowns as the Storm sent the Predators down to their first defeat of the season, 52-32, in front of 15,054 fans at the St. Pete Times Forum.

Thabiti Davis gave the Predators a 7-7 tie on a 2-yard touchdown run early in the first quarter. But from that point on, it was all Tampa Bay. On Orlando's next possession, Lucas sacked Connell Maynor in the end zone to make it 9-7. QB John Kaleo hit David Saunders for a touchdown pass to make 16-7 and the rout was on.

ROSTER WAS BUILT: Retained Orlando Free Agents (3): Connell Maynor, Fred Ray, and Reggie Lee.

Veteran Free Agents (5): Rob Davis, Ricky Wood, Chris Wallace, CJ McLain, and Rich McKenzie

Rookie Free Agents (7): Travis McGriff, Thabiti Davis, Jerry Johnson, EJ Burt, Matt Sweeney, Kevin McLeod, and Glenn Davis

Re-signed Veterans Not Eligible for Free Agency (10): Antonio Stanley, Jay Gruden (1st year, 2-year deal), Lamont Moore, Rashad Floyd, Reggie Doster, Kenny McEntyre (2nd year 2-year deal), Doug Miller, Ernest Allen (2nd year-2-year deal), Colin Greczek, and Duke Pettijohn

Obtained by Trade (3): Brian Schmitz, Cory Fleming, and Justin Cleveland.

Released/Traded Players No Longer on Roster: Junior Lord (Traded)*, Carl Bradley (released), Bill Duff (released), Albert Connell (released), Herman Bell (released), Karl Bates (released), Adrian Burnett (released), Terrell Harris (released), Na Brown (released), Cameron Chance (released)*, Ronney Daniels (released), Andre Purvis (Released), Brian Goolsby (Waived)*, Carlos McLaurin (Waived), Bernard Brown (Waived), Ratcliff Thomas (Waived), Chris Coleman (Waived), Carl Bond (Waived), Rick Hamilton (waived), Vic Penn (Waived from Practice squad). *Indicates on 2002 Preds Roster

PREDS NEWS, NOTES, TRENDS

HISTORY ON PREDATORS SIDE?: Two weeks ago, the Predators earned a bye in the first round of the AFL playoffs by virtue of a 12-4-0 record in the regular season. While the Predators went 5-2 following a bye week, it's interesting to note that Orlando is a perfect 6-0 in the second week following a bye:

The Predators Two Weeks After a Bye Week
5/18/02 Defeated New Jersey 58-47
5/5/01 Defeated Florida 51-38
7/2/99 Defeated Florida 37-24
6/26/96 Defeated Texas 45-37
6/27/95 Defeated Miami 58-33
7/23/94 Defeated Miami 42-20

PREDATORS PLAYOFF HISTORY: The 2003 season marks Orlando's 12th consecutive trip to the Arena Football League playoffs. That total is just one short of Tampa Bay's record 13 consecutive trips to the playoffs (Tampa's streak is active).

PREDS PLAYOFF GAME SUMMARIES:

1992

Orlando 50, Cleveland 12 (Aug. 7) -- Ben Bennett threw for 203 yards and three touchdown passes and Jerry Odom ran for two more as the Predators won the first playoff game in franchise history, 50-12, over the Cleveland Thunderbolts. Leading 20-12 at halftime, the Predators shutout Cleveland in the second half.

Orlando 24, Tampa Bay 21-OT (Aug. 12) – Jorge Cimadevilla booted a 17-yard field goal in overtime, as the Orlando Predators beat Tampa Bay, 24-21. Both teams had a shot to win the game in regulation, but Cimadevilla missed from 20 yards with less than two seconds remaining and Donald Igwebuike missed from 58 yards on the final play of the game.

Detroit 56, Orlando 38 (ArenaBowl, Aug. 22) – The Predators first trip to the ArenaBowl was forgettable, as the Detroit Drive dominated from the second quarter on and rolled to an easy 56-38 win over Orlando. Both teams had four touchdown passes and the turnovers were tied at two each, but the Drive had two rushing touchdowns, a net recovery for touchdown and a kickoff return for touchdown and Orlando could only counter with four Cimadevilla field goals.

1993

Orlando 41, Miami 13 (Aug. 6) -- Ben Bennett threw for three touchdowns and Eric Drakes had a pair of sacks and a fumble recovery in the end zone for a touchdown as the Predators dominated the Miami Hooters in a quarterfinal game. Barry Wagner (2 touchdowns, 2 interceptions) earned Game "Ironman" honors for his play.

Tampa Bay 55, Orlando 52 (Aug. 14): After defeating Tampa Bay twice in the regular season the Storm and Jay Gruden got revenge by nipping the Orlando Predators, 55-52, in an AFL semifinal game. In a game that featured five lead changes and three ties, Orlando appeared to get the upper hand when they recorded a defensive stop and limited Tampa Bay to a 19-yard Arden Czyzewski field goal. But on the ensuing kickoff, Jeff Mayes caught Czyzewski's kickoff on one bounce at the six and ran it in for a touchdown to give Tampa Bay a 48-38 lead. Mayes would add a 7-yard touchdown between scores by Herkie Walls and Billy Owens and Tampa Bay held on for the three-point win.

1994

Orlando 34, Ft. Worth 13 (Aug. 19) – Orlando built a 13-7 lead by running the ball on the first 10 plays and an injured Ben Bennett came off the bench to throw three touchdown passes as the Orlando Predators coasted to a 34-13 quarterfinal win over the Ft. Worth Calvary.

Orlando 51, Massachusetts 42 (Aug. 26) -- Orlando jumped out to a 27-7 lead and then had to hold on to defeat the Massachusetts Marauders, 51-42. The Predators, who were already short-handed when starting WR/DB Billy Owens quit the team before the game, suffered another huge when starting FB/LB Paul McGowan blew out a knee on kick coverage. Mass was able to rally to within five at 34-29 late in the third quarter, but the Predators went on a 10-0 run to put the game out of reach.

Arizona 36, Orlando 31 (Sept. 2) -- The proud Orlando Predators franchise lost is most disappointing game ever – dropping a 36-31 decision to Arizona in ArenaBowl VII. Despite playing without starters Billy Owens (quit team) and Paul McGowan (Knee), the Predators came into the game with a 13-1 record and were highly favored after easily handling the Rattlers twice in the regular season. Orlando rallied from a 27-17 deficit to take the lead at 31-30 on a Barry Wagner touchdown run in the 4th period. On Arizona's next possession, Durwood Roquemore intercepted Sherdrick Bonner to give the Predators a first down with 5:44 remaining. Needing just two first downs to run out the clock, the Predators went three and out. Bonner would give Arizona a 36-31 lead by hitting Calvin Schexnayder on a 24-yard touchdown pass. Ben Bennett threw two passes into the end zone, but both fell incomplete as Arizona completed the biggest upset in Arena Football League history.

1995

Orlando 55, San Jose 37 (Aug. 13): In a game that was almost a mirror image of a regular season game between the two teams, the Orlando Predators jumped out to a 14-0 lead and won its first road playoff game in franchise history with a 55-37 victory over San Jose. Earlier in the season, San Jose had crushed the Predators in nearly identical fashion, 54-37. Rookie Pat O'Hara had a huge game, completing 16 of 27 passes for 248 yards and six touchdowns.

Orlando 56, Iowa 49 (Aug. 21) – Linebacker Paul McGowan stuffed fullback Andy Chilcote at the goal line as time expired to give the Orlando Predators a 56-49 win over Iowa and a trip to ArenaBowl VIII. The Predators trailed for most of the game, but got a Marshall Roberts interception to spur a 14-0 run to take a 42-34 lead into the fourth quarter. The teams traded touchdowns, with Barry Wagner's 5-yard pass from Pat O'Hara putting the Predators up by seven at 56-49 with 2:43 remaining. Kurt Warner hit Ryan Murray on the Orlando one with 20 seconds to go. Believing Murray was out of bounds, Iowa did not notice when officials started the game clock after the chains moved. As time ticked away, Warner barely got off the last play – a draw to Chilcote who was hit and dropped by McGowan.

Tampa Bay 48, Orlando 35 (Sept. 1) – Jay Gruden accounted for five touchdowns as second seeded Tampa Bay used a 14-0 second quarter to beat Orlando 48-35 in ArenaBowl VIII. The teams battled evenly for three quarters, but it was the second stanza that killed any hope of a Predators upset. In three possessions in the quarter, the Predators were intercepted, missed a long field goal and saw time expire on the third drive; while Tampa Bay took advantage of two Gruden to George LaFrance touchdown passes to coast to their third ArenaBowl Championship in five seasons.

1996

Arizona 65, Orlando 48 (Aug. 10) – In a game much closer than the final score indicated, the Orlando Predators lost in the first round of the playoffs for the first time ever, dropping a 65-48 decision to Arizona. The Predators actually led at 48-46 on a 4th quarter touchdown pass from Pat O'Hara to Barry Wagner and trailed by just one at 49-48 on a Trey Weir field goal with 3:21 left. Weir would then cross up the Predators by kicking an on-sides kick that Randy Gatewood would recover at the AZ 11-yard line. The Predators defense would hold, however, and Weir upped the lead to just four at 52-48 with 50 seconds remaining. Faced with a chance to win the game in the last minute, the Predators would encounter disaster instead. Jeff Parker muffed Weir's kickoff, forcing the Predators to start on the one-yard line. On the first play, Herb Duncan stepped in front of a Pat O'Hara pass and returned it five yards for a touchdown.

1997

Orlando 45, New Jersey 37 (Aug. 8): A stingy Predators defense limited New Jersey to just a pair of field goals in the 4th quarter and Barry Wagner scored a pair of second half touchdowns as the Orlando Predators knocked off the New Jersey Gladiators, 45-37, in an AFL quarterfinal game. Wagner scored four touchdowns in the game (2 run, 2 pass). and Mac Cody ran 56-yards for a touchdown on a kickoff return.

Iowa 52, Orlando 34 (Aug. 16) – Kurt Warner threw for 261 yards and six touchdowns – four to Willis Jacox – as the Iowa Barnstormers ripped the Predators, 52-34, to earn their first trip to the ArenaBowl. The Predators fell behind 24-7 early in the game and could never get any closer than 11 points. Jacox had 11 receptions for 118 yards in the game.

1998

Orlando 58, Nashville 43 (Aug. 7) -- Jay Gruden won his first playoff game as a Head Coach, leading Orlando to a 58-43 win over Nashville. With the exception a squirrelly six-minute period in the third quarter, the Predators dominated the Kats. Leading 23-7 in the third quarter, the Preds gave up a 45-yard touchdown bomb to Tyronne Jones. On the ensuing kickoff, Orlando's Robert Gordon fumbled and Corey Johnson returned it 17 yards for another touchdown to cut the lead to 23-21. Barry Wagner would then fumble after a reception one play later and Nashville had a chance to take the lead. But Wagner would restore order, intercepting Andy Kelly and returning it 49-yards for a touchdown to make it 30-21. After a 44-yard Kelly to Cory Fleming bomb make it 30-28, the Predators finally put the Kats away as Wagner hauled in a touchdown pass and Bill Hall recovered a Kelly fumble in the end zone for another score and the Predators led 44-28.

Orlando 38, Arizona 33 (Aug. 15) -- Pat O'Hara hit Barry Wagner on an 18-yard touchdown with just eight seconds left as the Predators pulled out a 38-33 win over Arizona. The game featured five lead changes and three ties. Trailing 33-26 midway through the fourth period, the Predators turned the game around as Rookie Head Coach Jay Gruden decided to go for it on a 4th and 10 from his own one. Orlando would take the ball down and score to make it 33-32. With time running down, DS Chris Barber made a sensational play in the end zone, batting the ball away from Calvin Schexnayder to set up a fourth down play. After a missed field goal gave the Predators possession with 2:46 remaining, Gruden would once again eschew the field goal and go for it on a 4th and six with 19 seconds remaining. One play later, O'Hara hit Wagner with the game-winner.

Orlando 62, Tampa Bay 31 (Aug. 23): Seven seasons of Orlando playoff frustrating came to a screaching halt as the Predators shocked top-seeded Tampa Bay, 62-31, in ArenaBowl XII. Rick Hamilton ran for an ArenaBowl record 82 yards and three scores, but it was a quirky six-minute stretch in the third period when the Predators went on a 23-0 run to put the game away. Holding a narrow 24-17 lead at the half, the Preds used an interception by Barry Wagner and a 5-yard TD run by Hamilton to build a 31-17 lead. On the ensuing kickoff, Wagner knocked the ball out of George LaFrance's hands at the goal line and Webbie Burnett tackled Stevie Thomas in the end zone for a safety. Barry Wagner's long kickoff return, capped by a Hamilton 10-yard run made it 41-17. In all, the Predators outscored Tampa Bay in the second half by a 38-14 margin – without the benefit of completing a single pass.

1999

Orlando 41, Tampa Bay 19 (Aug. 7) – Trailing 10-0 at the half, the Orlando Predators shocked Tampa Bay for a second year in a row – knocking the top-seeded Storm out of the playoffs by a 41-19 count. Tampa Bay dominated in the first half, but led just 10-0. Things would turn dramatically for the Predators in the second half. Barry Wagner's touchdown receptions of 20, 33 and 35 yards put the Predators up 28-13 at the 10:24 mark of the fourth period. After a Les Barley 2-yard run for touchdown cut the lead to 28-19, Jack Jackson would put the game away for the Predators with a 12-yard touchdown reception at the 1:34 mark. Kenny McEntyre would then add insult to injury with a 35-yard interception return for touchdown on the final play of the game, as 11-3 Tampa Bay would suffer a second straight playoff loss to the Predators.

Orlando 48, Iowa 41 (Aug. 13) – The Orlando Predators became the first number eight seed in Arena Football League history to advance the ArenaBowl with a 48-41 upset of second seeded Iowa. The game was never in doubt as the Predators jumped out to a 31-7 lead later in the second quarter and never looked back. The game was not as close as the final score indicated, as Iowa scored on the last play of the game to make it a respectable seven-point margin.

Albany 59, Orlando 48 (Aug. 21) – The Jay Gruden playoff magic finally ran out, as the third-seeded Albany Firebirds jumped out to a 38-21 lead and held on to defeat the Predators, 59-48, to claim their first AFL title. Orlando used a 14-0 run in the third quarter to get back in the game, but Jon Krick ended any hopes of a miracle finish when he caught a Mike Pawlawski screen pass and scored on a third and goal play from six-yards out in the final seconds of the game. Pawlawski was 27 for 61 for 347 yards and 7 touchdowns. "Touchdown" Eddie Brown caught 12 passes for 185 yards and four scores in the victory.

2000

Orlando 34, Tampa Bay 24 (Aug. 3): For a third season in a row, the Orlando Predators sent arch-rival Tampa Bay out of the playoffs – this time recording a 34-24 win at home. The Predators, 11-3 and the #2 seed for the playoffs, never trailed in the game and led 20-7 at one point. Tampa Bay went on a 10-0 run to cut the lead to three at 20-17, but Joe Douglass caught a 33-yard touchdown pass and Connell Maynor added a 9-yard touchdown run after a defensive stop to extend the lead to 34-17 with just four minutes remaining.

Orlando 56, Arizona 44 (Aug. 13): Connell Maynor accounted for seven touchdowns to help the Orlando Predators overcome a 22-17 deficit at halftime and roll to a 56-44 win. The victory gave Orlando its sixth ArenaBowl playoff berth in nine seasons. Maynor rushed for a game-high 43 yards and two scores and threw for 269 yards and five more touchdowns in running his record as a starting quarterback to 15-4.

Orlando 41, Nashville 38 (Aug. 20): David Cool booted a 19-yard field goal on the final play of the game as the Orlando Predators capped a 14-3 season with a 41-38 win over Nashville in ArenaBowl XIV. Nashville, which trailed for most of the game, took a 30-29 lead a James Baron 29-yard screen pass to the tight end at the 9:43 mark of the third period. Orlando reclaimed the lead on Cool's 38-yard field goal and then took a 38-30 lead on Bret Cooper's 15-yard touchdown reception from Connell Maynor. Nashville pulled to within two on a 45-yard touchdown pass from James Brown to Darryl Hammond at the 6:26 mark and Cory Fleming's 2-point conversion tied it. Getting control of the ball at the 5:28 mark, Maynor directed a 10-play drive that ate up all but three seconds of the game clock. Cool then calmly booted the game-winner as the Predators won a second AFL championship in three years under head coach Jay Gruden.

2001

Chicago 41, Orlando 24 (July 27): Orlando jumped out to a 17-7 lead in the game, but managed just nine points the rest of the way as the Chicago Rush dropped the Predators, 41-24, in a first round playoff game. Billy Dicken was a workmanlike 15 of 20 for 158 yards and two touchdowns and Chicago added three rushing touchdowns to outclass the Predators. Orlando lost starting quarterback Craig Whelihan to a severe knee injury in the game and Predators quarterbacks were picked off three times. Predators Head Coach Jay Gruden would announce his resignation two weeks later to resume his playing career.

2002

Orlando 32, Buffalo 27 (July 26): Jay Gruden threw for 240 yards and four touchdowns as the Orlando Predators dropped the Buffalo Destroyers in a first round playoff game. Orlando could chalk this victory up to its defense, however, as the Predators recorded six quarterback sacks and forced three turnovers in the game. After Jay Gruden put the Predators ahead 32-37 on a 14-yard TD pass to Lamont Moore in the third quarter, the defense kicked in – allowing Buffalo just 34 net yards on their final five possessions.

Orlando 49, New Jersey 46 (Aug. 3) -- Junior Lord scored three touchdowns and made the key play of the game with a fourth quarter strip of Sedrick Robinson on a kickoff return, as the Predators held on to defeat New Jersey, 49-46, in a quarterfinal playoff game. "An excellent game between two evenly matched teams," Head Coach Fran Papasedero said. "The difference was that they made one more mistake than we did." Lord's 9-yard touchdown reception with 1:34 to go put the game away for the Predators at 49-40.

San Jose 52, Orlando 40 (Aug. 10): Jay Gruden's bid to return to the ArenaBowl as a player fell short as top-seeded San Jose used a 10-0 run in the second quarter to defeat the Predators 52-40. The game was essentially even, other than the second period when Sabercats scored a touchdown off a Gruden interception and used a Daron Alcorn's 35-yard field goal at the buzzer to build a 24-13 lead at the half. From there, both teams managed four second half touchdowns as Orlando could get no closer than five points as 45-40 with 14:30 remaining in the game.

2003

Orlando 69, New York 62 (June 1): Jay Gruden threw for 234 yards and six touchdowns and Orlando won the turnover battle 4-0, as the Predators recorded a hard-fought, 69-62 win over the New York Dragons. The Preds used two first-half interceptions, a fumble recovery for touchdown and a 57-yard Travis McGriff kickoff return for touchdown to build a 42-18 lead at the half. Orlando had a 23-point lead with just 10 minutes to go, but New York went on a 36-20 run to cut the final margin to seven.

PLAYOFF NOTES: Orlando takes an all-time playoff record of 19-9 into Saturday's semifinal game with Tampa Bay...Orlando's 19 playoff wins are the most of any Arena Football League team...of AFL teams with three or more playoff appearances, Orlando's .678 winning percentage ranks third on the all-time list behind Detroit (12-2, .847) and Tampa Bay (18-8, .692)...Orlando is 1-1 in Wild Card Games, 10-1 in Quarterfinal games, 6-3 in Semifinal Games and 2-4 in ArenaBowl Championship games...Head Coach Fran Papasedero owns a 3-1 record in the post-season.

DEFENSIVE FINISH BODES WELL FOR PREDS: For the sixth time in the last 11 years, the Orlando Predators have given up fewer points than any team in the Arena Football League. The Predators allowed 670 points this year (41.8), edging Tampa Bay for the league crown (43.0). Orlando and Tampa were the only two teams to give up less than 700 points on the regular season; while nine teams gave up more than 800 points and one team (Colorado) allowed more than 900 points. In the high-scoring world of Arena Football, what does a good defense mean? Plenty if you look at the chart below. The league defensive scoring champion has gone on to win six ArenaBowl championships and appear in 14 of the 17 title games. In addition, the league defensive scoring champion has played in the last three ArenaBowl games. The last time the Predators finished as league scoring champion, Orlando went on to win the ArenaBowl by defeating Nashville in ArenaBowl XIV.

GRUDEN IN THE PLAYOFFS: Orlando Predators quarterback Jay Gruden will attempt to collect his eighth professional football championship ring this year (seventh AFL ring/one Super Bowl ring) as he guides the Predators through the playoffs. Gruden's AFL playoff record as a player and a coach is unsurpassed. He led Tampa Bay to four titles in six seasons as a player from 1991-96. After becoming Head Coach of the Orlando Predators in 1998, he led the team to three ArenaBowl games and two championships – including Orlando's first title in 1998 – in four seasons at the helm. Last season, Gruden returned to the playing field and nearly took Orlando back to the ArenaBowl – bowing out in the semifinals. Gruden, who was the first AFL player to win an ArenaBowl as both a player and a head coach, can become the first man to win an NFL Super Bowl ring and an ArenaBowl ring in the same year if Orlando can sweep through the playoffs. Gruden earned a Super Bowl ring as an offensive assistant on his brother Jon's staff with the Tampa Bay Bucs.

FRAN'S ROAD WARRIORS: Since starting his career with a 0-2 Road Record in 2003, Fran Papasedero's team has won an incredible 12 of their last 15 road games (.800 winning percentage). The Predators can build on that mark with Saturday's game at Tampa Bay. "I can't really explain it and yes, I think you always like to be at home, but for some reason we play well on the road. I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that there are fewer distractions on the road," Papasedero says. "You don't have hundreds of people bothering you on game day looking for tickets."

TURNOVERS AND DEFENSE KEYS ORLANDO WINNING STREAK: Defense and turnovers have been the key during Orlando's current seven-game winning streak as the chart below shows:

ORLANDO's SEVEN-GAME WINNING STREAK
Points For (Avg.) 52.6
Points Against (Avg.) 35.0
Turnover Margin +18

GRUDEN'S TOUCHDOWN TO INTERCEPTION RATIO ONE OF BEST IN PRO FOOTBALL HISTORY? Although it would require more research time than we have available, one has to wonder where Jay Gruden's regular season touchdown to interception ratio of 24.5 to 1 would stand among the best in pro football history. Gruden's ratio is the best in Arena Football League history. Here's the top numbers among AFL passers with a minimum of 250 attempts:

Year Player TD/INT Ratio
2003 Jay Gruden, Orlando 49/2 24.5 To 1
2001 Raymond Philyaw, IND 68/3 22.6 to 1
2000 Mark Grieb, San Jose 62/3 20.7 To 1

As the chart below indicates, Gruden's 24.5 touchdown to interception ratio is by far the best of his career. When asked to explain the stat earlier this season, Gruden had a hard time coming up with a reason. "I always had great confidence in my ability to throw the ball into impossibly small openings and that probably explains the fact that even when we were winning championships at Tampa Bay, I was always throwing 10, 12, or 14 interceptions a season. If you have to ask me for a reason why we have so few interceptions this season, I can't really say for sure. Just guessing, I would probably have to say that my receivers have been a factor. Thabiti Davis and Cory Fleming big strong receivers who will not let a defensive back run through them to make a pick. Travis McGriff has also been a key in that he runs such precise routes, I can throw to a spot and know that he'll be where he's supposed to be. I guess the final factor has been some luck. I've had some passes go through the hands of a defender and I've had a couple interceptions come back for penalties. Still, it's an amazing string that I hope we can keep going for another two games." With six touchdowns and no interceptions against New York last week, Gruden improved his touchdown to interception ratio to 55 to 2 (27.5 to 1) for the entire season.

GRUDEN'S CAREER TOUCHDOWN TO INTERCEPTION RATIO:

Year G TD INT TD/INT Ratio
2002 10 49 2 24.5:1
2001 14 68 20 3.4:1
1996 14 70 14 5:1
1995 12 44 11 3:1
1994 12 49 12 4.1:1
1993 12 41 14 2.9:1
1992 10 50 15 3.3:1
1991 9 26 12 2.2:1

ORLANDO EXTENDS AFL MARK: With a 12-4 record in the 2003 season the Predators will finish with a winning season for an AFL record 12th consecutive year. With a regular season ending win over Detroit, the Predators set a new club record for most regular season wins in franchise history. Of course, the team was aided by two extra regular season games this season. Still, Orlando's .750 winning percentage this season was the fifth best in club history.

MOST REGULAR SEASON WINS
Year Wins Final Record* Pct.
2003 12 12-4-0 .750
1994 11 11-1-0 .916
2000 11 11-3-0 .786
1993 10 10-2-0 .833
1997 10 10-4-0 .714
1991 9 9-1-0 .900
1998 9 9-5-0 .643
1996 9 9-6-0 .600

OVERALL CLUB RECORD ALSO IN REACH: Counting playoffs, the Predators can also tie a club record for most overall wins in a season with a victory this week against Tampa Bay. The all-time Predators chart for most wins in a season:

Year Wins Final Record Pct.
2000 14 14-3-0 .823
1994 13 13-2-0 .867
2003 13 ???? ????
1998 12 12-5-0 .706

K-MAC IS IRONMAN : Counting playoffs, DS Kenny McEntyre has now started an Orlando Predators' record 87 consecutive games without missing a start to injury.

GRUDEN MAKES A DIFFERENCE: Although he continues to modestly deflect all the credit to his teammates, there is definitely something to be said about what Jay Gruden means to the Orlando Predators. Here is a comparison of the Predators with and without Jay Gruden as the starting quarterback this season:

Orlando With Jay Without Jay
Games 11 6
Record 11-0 2-4
Win Pct. 1.000 .333
Total Points 548 285
Average 49.8 47.5

172 AND COUNTING: With no interceptions thrown against New York last week, Predators quarterback Jay Gruden has now thrown 172 passes without an interception. Between Gruden, Connell Maynor and Chris Wallace, Predators quarterbacks threw just 7 interceptions during the regular season – the fewest in the Arena Football League.

Fewest Interceptions Thrown in AFL
1. Orlando 7
2. Arizona 13
3. Tampa Bay 14
Indiana 14
New York 14
6. Los Angeles 15
Grand Rapids 15 McGRIFF FINISHES FOURTH: With 2,247 all-purpose yards, Rookie Travis McGriff became just the third player in Orlando Predators history to gain more than 2,000 all-purpose yards in a single season. McGriff joined Barry Wagner (3 times) and Siaha Burley (once) on the list as 2,000-yard players.

McENTYRE WILL HAVE TO WAIT ONE MORE SEASON: Although he had an outstanding year with 10 interceptions, Kenny "The Glove" McEntyre will have to wait another season to catch Durwood Roquemore for the most interceptions in Arena Football League history. McEntyre finished the 2003 campaign with 46 interceptions and now trails Roquemore by just four. Although Roquemore played the majority of his career with the Predators, McEntyre already owns the club record with 46. Roquemore only had 30 of his career 50 interceptions with the Predators. Interestingly. four of the top five players on the all-time list for career interceptions spent at least part of their career on an Orlando Predators roster.

DOSTER EARNS FIRST MVP AWARD: Second-year defensive back Reggie Doster earned his first career "GAME MVP" award on Sunday, recording 5.5 tackles and two interceptions against the New York Dragons. Doster also tackled Donvetis Franklin in the end zone for a safety, after Franklin recovered his own fumble in the end zone after dropping the ball on the three-yard line. Doster's two interceptions double his career total of one.

Reggie Doster's Interceptions
Year Games Total
2002 Regular Season 14 0
2002 Post Season 3 0
2003 Regular Season 16 1
2003 Post Season 1 2
Career Totals 34 3

PREDATORS POST SEASON RECORDS SET LAST WEEK AGAINST NEW YORK: Sunday's wild 69-62 win over New York in the quarterfinals saw the two teams set or tie 13 Orlando Predators playoff records.

TEAM

Points Scored in a Quarter: 27 (4th), ties record set vs. Massachusetts (1994) and Tampa Bay (1999)

Points Scored in a Game: 69, Breaks record of 62 vs. Tampa (1998, ArenaBowl)

Points allowed in a Quarter: 36, breaks record of 28 vs. Tampa Bay (1993).

Combined Points in a Quarter: 63 (New York 36, Orlando 27).

Total Yards Allowed: 398, breaks record of 374 vs. Albany,(1999 ArenaBowl).

Net Yards Passing Allowed: 393, breaks record of 338 vs. Albany (1999 ArenaBowl)

INDIVIDUAL

Most Pass Completions, Opponent: 30, Aaron Garcia, breaks old record of 27 by Mike Pawlawski, Albany (1999 ArenaBowl).

Most Passing Yards, Opponent: 397, Aaron Garcia, breaks old record of 347 by Mike Pawlawski, Albany (1999, ArenaBowl).

Most Passing Touchdowns, Opponent: 8, Aaron Garcia, breaks old record of 7 by Albany's Mike Pawlawski (1999 ArenaBowl)

Long Touchdown Play, By Opponent: 45 yards, Garcia to William Holder, ties record held by five other teams, latest Andy Kelly to Darryl Hammond (2000, ArenaBowl)

Receptions, Opponent: 13, Chris Anthony, breaks old record of 12 by Albany's Eddie Brown (1999 ArenaBowl)

Passing Touchdowns: 6, Jay Gruden, ties record set by pat O'Hara vs. San Jose (1995) and Connell Maynor vs. Albany (1999, ArenaBowl)

Long Kickoff Return: 57, Travis McGriff, breaks record of 56 yards by Mac Cody vs. New Jersey (1997).

McENTYRE CLOSES IN ON WAGNER: With an interception against New York last week, Kenny "The Glove" McEntyre moved to within two interceptions of Barry Wagner's AFL record for most picks in a post-season. Wagner has 12 career interceptions in the post season, two more than McEntyre. The all-time list for post season picks:

BARRY WAGNER 12
KENNY McENTYRE 10
DURWOOD ROQUEMORE 6
ROD McSWAIN 6
JOHNNIE HARRIS 4
LAWRENCE SAMUELS 4
CHRIS BARBER 4

McEntyre First Team – 4th Consecutive Season PREDS PLACE TWO ON ALL-ARENA TEAM The Orlando Predators placed two players on the 2003 edition of the "All-Arena" team. Defensive Specialist Kenny "The Glove" McEntyre was named to the first unit for a fourth consecutive year; while lineman Ernest Allen was named to the second unit for a fourth time in his career. McEntyre, who won back-to-back Defensive Player of the Year awards in 2000 and 2001, finished the regular season ranked in the top five in the league in interceptions (10), pass defenses (19), tackles (89.5) and touchdowns scored by a defensive player (5). Allen started every game for the Predators. A guard on offense, Allen played both nose tackle and end on the defensive side of the ball. He finished the season with 11.5 tackles, 4.5 quarterback sacks, and 4.5 additional tackles-for-loss. "This is a nice honor for both Kenny and Ernest," Orlando Predators Head Coach Fran Papasedero said. "Kenny has made huge play after huge play for us since arriving in 1998. Ernest does things that don't always show up on the stat sheet, but I am convinced he remains one of the three best linemen in the Arena Football League." Papasedero went on to say that several other Predators were deserving of consideration. "I believe you could make a strong case for several other of our players, especially Cory Fleming, Jay Gruden and EJ Burt, but a lot of other coaches could say the same thing about their players. We're not going to worry about that too much and just focus on the upcoming playoffs."

EJ BURT SETS TEAM SACK /FF RECORD: Last season, EJ Burt set a professional football record with 27.5 quarterback sacks with Cape Fear of the "arenafootball2" league. For good measure, he also forced nine fumbles. So the average Arena fan would probably be surprised to learn that not one of the 16 Head Coaches in Arena Football decided to give EJ a change to play at the next level. "The book on him was that he was too small and not very good on offense," Indiana Head Coach Mike Dailey said. "Fran and Orlando look like geniuses for giving him a chance." Not so fast, Preds Head Coach Fran Papasedero says. "We were just like the other 15 teams, I never gave EJ a thought in the off-season as a player who could help us." After several prized signees did not pan out in training camp, Papasedero brought in Burt for a look. "He was so quick off the ball, I knew he could play defense," Papasedero said. "On offense, he was raw, but I noticed he had decent footwork. I felt if we could bring him along slow and he could eventually help us." Papasedero got more than a solid season out of Burt. The AFL rookie out of West Liberty College not only broke Jerry Odom's 11-year-old Orlando Predators single season mark for quarterback sacks in the regular season (9.5), but also topped Barry Wagner's record for forced fumbles in a single season. Burt continued his phenomenal season last week against New York, picking up both a quarterback sack (10.5 on the season) and a forced fumble (his 11th on the season). Kenny McEntyre recovered the fumble in the end zone for a touchdown.

McGRIFF, BURT AND DAVIS ALL NAMED TO ALL ROOKIE TEAM: The Orlando Predators and Dallas Desperados dominated to the 2003 Arena Football League "All-Rookie" team with three selections each. Heading the way for the Predators was former Florida Gator star Travis McGriff, who finished the regular season with 81 receptions for 1,216 yards and 25 touchdowns. McGriff, who added 1,031 yards in kick returns, became just the third player in Predators history to record 2,000 all-purpose yards in a single season with 2,247 all-purpose yards. McGriff, who played three seasons in the NFL for the Denver Broncos, finished second on the team with 158 points.

Joining McGriff on the All-Rookie team were teammates Burt and Davis. Burt, an undersized lineman, was overlooked by every Arena Football League team last year despite setting a pro football record with 27.5 quarterback sacks for Cape Fear of the "arenafootball2" league.

Predators Head Coach Fran Papasedero signed Burt three days into training camp after releasing two prized recruits. "The book on him was that he was too small to play at the next level and was horrible as an offensive lineman. I can't be smug about signing him, because like every other coach in this league, I didn't think he could play at this level and didn't give him a thought during the off-season. I remember joking with him after we signed him that I only need him to get a quarter of the 27 sacks he did in af2 and I would be happy. We ended up getting more than that out of him." What the Predators did get out of him was 9.5 quarterback sacks, which broke Jerry Odom's 11-year-old record for the most sacks in a single season by an Orlando player. His quarterback sack total of 9.5 ranked second in the Arena Football League behind Tom Brigg's 10.5. He also forced a league-high eight fumbles. Burt also had 30 tackles, the most of any Predators lineman.

Davis, like McGriff, was a rookie in AFL terms only. The Predators originally signed him in 1999, but he opted for NFL Europe instead. He parlayed that experience into a three-year NFL career with the New York Giants. After being waived following the 2002 season, Davis resigned with the Predators. He started at wide receiver and backed up Cory Fleming at "jack" linebacker. Davis finished the season with 63 receptions for 759 yards and 13 touchdowns. Defensively, he had 22.5 tackles with an interception and a fumble recovery.

AFL MAKES IT OFFICIAL, NAMES McGRIFF ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Travis McGriff can now add "Rookie of the Year" to his long list of football accomplishments as the Arena Football League named him as its best first-year player this past Wednesday.

McGriff, the former University of Florida All-American who spent three seasons with the Denver Broncos, also joined Orlando Predators teammates Thabiti Davis and EJ Burt on the league's All-Rookie Team, which was announced last week.

"When I first got to camp, it felt weird being called a rookie, but after I my first indoor game I realized how unique this sport is and how much I had to learn. It's a great honor, but I certainly would not have had a chance of winning this award if it wasn't for Jay and the rest of my teammates."

McGriff finished the season with 81 receptions for 1,216 yards and 25 touchdowns. Those totals ranked as the seventh, sixth, and eighth best totals in Orlando Predators history and were also team records for a first-year player. McGriff compiled these numbers despite missing two games because of injuries and playing opposite of another 1,000-yard receiver in Cory Fleming (96-1226-28).

"Travis is certainly deserving of this honor," Predators quarterback Jay Gruden said. "He put up huge numbers even though we spread the ball around a lot. When you consider Cory caught nearly 100 balls and Thabiti Davis had more than 60 (63-759-13), Travis' totals are really impressive. If we featured just one receiver like many teams do, Travis probably would have caught 130 or 140 balls."

In addition, McGriff compiled 2,247 all-purpose yards, the fourth best total in club history. He had 959 yards on 58 kickoff returns (16.5 average) and scored one touchdown. He returned seven missed field goals for 72 yards. Other players receiving votes for Rookie of the Year were McGriff's teammate EJ Burt (OL/DL), Dallas star Will Pettis (WR/DB), Tampa's Al Lucas (OL/DL) and Los Angeles' defensive specialist Damen Wheeler.

His selection was not a total surprise, as he won two of the three "Rookie of the Month" honors handed out by the league during the regular season.

McGRIFF/FLEMING TOP DUO: The duo of Travis McGriff and Cory Fleming were the most productive in Orlando Predators franchise history. When the two combined for 212 receiving yards against Detroit in the season finale, they brought their combined season total to 2,442 yards. That total topped Barry Wagner and Bret Cooper, who combined for 2,258 receiving yards in 1999, for the most ever by a Predators pair.

WIN STREAK IMPRESSIVE: Orlando's current seven-game winning is currently tied for the third longest winning streak in club history. Orlando last won seven straight in 2000, where they opened the season with a 7-0 record. That team eventually won the ArenaBowl and finished with a stellar 14-3 mark overall.

PAPASEDERO'S WINNING PERCENTAGE CLIMBS: After starting his AFL coaching career with a 1-4 record, Orlando Predators Head Coach Fran Papasedero has guided his team to 21 wins in his last 29 games – a winning percentage of .724. Overall, the Predators are 19-11 in regular season games under Papasedero and his .633 winning percentage ranks 9th on the all-time list.

AFL TOP 10 BEST CAREER WINNING PERCENTAGES FOR A HEAD COACH
1. Fran Curci 15-5 .750
2. Tim Marcum 133-47 .738
3. Darren Arbet 53-19 .736
4. Perry Moss 72-28-1 .726
5. Danny White 110-50 .687
6. Pat Sperduto 27-15 .643
7. Fran Papasedero 19-11 .633
8. Ed Hodgkiss 19-11 .633
Jay Gruden 35-21 .625
10. John Hufnagel 17-11 .607

*Minimum of 10 coaching wins needed for inclusion on list...regular season games only...chart current thro

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Arena Football League Stories from June 3, 2003


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