Orlando Predators top ten stories of 2006

January 4, 2007 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Orlando Predators News Release


With 2007 just a few days old and a full month before the start of training camp, it's time to take a look back at the Predators 10 biggest stories of the 2006 season as selected by the Predators front office and coaching staff.

10. JOE HAMILTON BECOMES PREDATORS ALL-TIME PASSING LEADER

QB Joe Hamilton became the most prolific passer in Orlando Predators history during the 2006 season. Hamilton, who played with Orlando for three seasons, set single game, single season and career passing yards records and became the most accurate passer in Orlando history. In his three seasons, Hamilton completed 806 of 1,211 passes (66.7%) for 9,830 yards. He finished his stint in Orlando as holder or co-holder of more than a dozen major single game, single season and career passing records.

9. PREDS FANS UPSET WITH HILL

Former Orlando Sentinel Columnist Jemele Hill created a major ruckus with Predators fans in Central Florida with a column centered on Hooman Hamzehloui, an Orlando Magic season ticket holder who created a national stir by allegedly calling Houston Rockets center Dikembe Mutombo a "monkey" at an Orlando Magic game earlier this season. Hamzehloui had his season tickets revoked and has also been barred from all NBA arenas for the entire season. At the end of the column, Hill quoted Hamzehloui as saying "I think they are losing a great fan...I won't be coming back to the NBA anymore." Hill, who spent the entire column explaining how fine a line exists between ignorance, stupidity, prejudice and racism, then concluded her column with the line "If that's his attitude, he won't be missed. He would make a great Predators fan." The line resulted in the Predators office and the Sentinel sports desk logging hundreds of calls and e-mails from upset Predators fans.

8. ORLANDO SWEEPS TAMPA BAY

With a 52-13 dismantling of arch-rival Tampa Bay on April 22, Orlando completed a rare season sweep of the Storm. With 15,920 tickets sold, the Orlando Predators also recorded their 32nd hard sellout in franchise history and their first since ArenaBowl XIV in 2000. It was also the fifth largest crowd in Predators history. The 39-point win against the Storm was the worst loss in Tampa Bay's 16-year history. Orlando completed the sweep that began with a wild 67-64 overtime win at Tampa on Feb. 14.

7. PREDS PLACE FOUR ON ALL-TIME AFL TEAM

As part of a season-long celebration of the Arena Football League's 20th season, the league released its list of the 20 greatest players prior to the start of the 2007 season. Four players, who spent at least part of their careers with the Orlando Predators, were included on the prestigious list. Orlando players selected included Barry Wagner and Jay Gruden. Wagner, who played with the Predators from 1992-99, was named the second greatest player in league history - finishing one point behind former Albany superstar Eddie Brown. Gruden, who played two seasons at QB for the Predators, was tabbed as the fourth greatest player ever. Also making the list was wide receiver/linebacker Cory Fleming. A nine-year veteran, Fleming broke Predators single season records for receptions (131), yards (1,620) and touchdowns (33) in 2004. The final Predator named to the list was wide receiver/linebacker Stevie Thomas, who spent the majority of his 11-year AFL career with the Tampa Bay Storm. Perhaps more surprising was the omission of six-time All-Arena and three-time AFL Defensive Player of the Year Kenny McEntyre from the list.

6. GREG WHITE EMERGES AS AFL STAR

Calling him one of the top young talents he has seen in the Arena Football League, Jay Gruden designated lineman Greg White as one of his franchise players after just one season. While the 2006 Orlando Predators have been a team with a nice mixture of rookies and veteran players, make no mistake about the impact of first year lineman Greg White. Although he recorded just 1.5 quarterback sacks this season, White has shown an uncanny ability to rattle opposing quarterbacks with a variety of rush moves. "Nobody has been able to block him all year," Gruden said. "He's been a reason for our success." One stat that jumps out is the fact that the Predators were 11-2 when White was in the starting lineup. In the five games White missed with a shoulder injury, the team has been a less than pedestrian 1-4.

5. ORLANDO EXTENDS GRUDEN'S CONTRACT

On June 21, the Predators announced that they have reached agreement on a contract extension with Head Coach Jay Gruden that will keep the Arena Football League Hall of Famer with the Predators through the 2011 season. "Jay is one of the top coaches and personalities in Arena Football League history," Predators President Brett Bouchy said in announcing the new contract. "With competition getting tougher every year, the Predators have remained one of the top franchises in the Arena Football League for nearly a decade and Jay Gruden has been the one person most responsible for that success. We are absolutely thrilled that he will stay with us for at least the next five years." Gruden recently completed his seventh season as head coach and director of football operations. In that time, he has compiled an overall record of 76-44 (.633), including an 11-5 record in the post-season. Under Gruden, the Predators have qualified for the post-season all seven years, have played in four ArenaBowl championship games and have won a pair of titles.

4. McENTYRE TRADED TO KANSAS CITY / EARNS LUCAS AWARD

Kenny McEntyre was a big story both on and off the field in 2006. The former six-time All-Arena selection and three time "AFL Defensive Player of the Year" recipient was traded to the Kansas City Brigade on June 28. McEntyre leaves the Predators as the team's and Arena Football League's all-time interception leader and was paramount in leading the Predators to three consecutive ArenaBowls and a pair of championships in 1998-2000. Prior to ArenaBowl XX, McEntyre was named the first recipient of the prestigious "Al Lucas Hero Award," the equivalent to the NFL's "Man of the Year Award," -- recognizing outstanding commitment to community service. Among other things, McEntyre was lauded for raising funds for Hurricane Katrina victims and his work for the Salvation Army's Home for Women and Children in Orlando.

3. PREDATORS HAVE RECORD FINANCIAL YEAR

Orlando set a single season franchise record by selling 11,244 season tickets and setting club records for both ticket and club sponsorship revenue in 2006. The season capped off a three-year period when the team experienced double digit percentage increases in all categories.

2. TEAM SIGNS FREE AGENT SHANE STAFFORD

Orlando -- a team that traditionally has built its teams through AFL rookies and has stayed away from the AFL Free Agent Market - jumped into the free agent frenzy in a major way when it signed former Tampa Bay Storm quarterback Shane Stafford to a two-year contract on Oct. 3. Stafford was considered by many to be the top veteran free agent available for the 2007 season and created a stir in both Tampa and Orlando when he agreed to switch sides of this bitter rivalry. Stafford holds Tampa Bay career records for passing yards (15,672) and passing touchdowns (289) to go with 29 career rushing touchdowns. He has 19, 300-yard passing games to his credit. The signing of Stafford resulted in the Predators releasing three-year starter Joe Hamilton due to salary cap considerations.

1. ORLANDO PLAYS IN ARENABOWL XX

The Orlando Predators qualified for a record seventh ArenaBowl championship game when they upset top-seeded Dallas, 45-28, on the road to claim the National Conference Championship on June 4. Dallas came into the game with a 14-3 record and was tabbed as heavy favorites after beating Orlando, 82-67, earlier in the season. Although the Predators lost a 69-61 decision to Chicago in ArenaBowl XX, the campaign saw the Predators extend their Arena Football League records for most consecutive years qualifying for the playoffs (15) and most consecutive winning seasons (15).



Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from January 4, 2007


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