Philadelphia Soul Officially Open 2012 Camp
Published on February 24, 2012 under Arena Football League (AFL)
Philadelphia Soul News Release
PHILADELPHIA (February 24, 2012) - The Philadelphia Soul officially start their 2012 training camp as players report to the facilities on their first step toward a run at the ArenaBowl XXV title. Head Coach Doug Plank leads a battle tested coaching staff that has a total of five ArenaBowl titles and over 47 years of experience.
Coach Plank will oversee a Philadelphia roster that has undergone change this offseason, including the acquisition of playoff quarterback Dan Raudabaugh and his top target wide receiver Tiger Jones, both of the Dallas Vigilantes in 2011.
Training camp gets into full swing with the first scheduled practice on Saturday, February 25. The Soul will spend the next three weeks preparing for their 2012 season opener on the road in New Orleans on Sunday, March 18 at 4 p.m. at the New Orleans Arena.
CATCH A TIGER IF YOU CAN: In 2011, Tiger Jones (5'11, 195, Louisville) was named Cutter's AFL Wide Receiver of the Year and a First Team All-Arena player for the Dallas Vigilantes. Jones racked up 2,232 yards on 171 receptions and a total of 42 receiving touchdowns.
Those numbers put Tiger at No. 1 in the AFL for receiving yards per game (124.0), receptions, and yards while finishing fifth in touchdown receptions. Jones was a member of the Milwaukee Iron in 2010 and was named a Second Team All-Arena Player after catching 125 passes for 1,810 yards and 42 touchdowns.
He finished atop the league in each statistical category. Tiger's AFL career began in 2008 with the Georgia Force, then led by current Philadelphia Soul Head Coach Doug Plank. He was named to the AFL All-Rookie team that season.
COME TOGETHER, RIGHT NOW: "With all these players coming in here, something about a crowd brings energy and enthusiasm," said Soul Head Coach Doug Plank. "There's a lot of anticipation today, enthusiasm, excitement, and also confidence. Even though we are coming from a lot of different teams, all of these individuals have had a lot of success. It's my job to minimize our differences and maximize our similarities. Training camp is a learning process, learning how to be a team and sacrifice our individual concerns. It's time to start thinking as a team, including the coaches. We have to learn to perform well as a unit."
BAYOU BLEMISH: The Soul are 5-1 in season openers. The team's only loss on opening weekend came in their very first game on Feb. 8, 2004 against the New Orleans VooDoo. They open 2012 on the road in New Orleans, where the Soul look for their first road win in the series. In 2011, the VooDoo finished with a 0-9 record at home in the New Orleans Arena.
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