AFL I Arena Football League (1987-2008)

Quick hitters: week one

Published on January 26, 2006 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I) News Release


TWENTY SEASONS: The Arena Football League begins its 20th season this year. To mark this milestone, the Colorado Crush will raise their ArenaBowl XIX banner, teams throughout the league will raise commemorative 20th season banners, and a 20th season football will be used for all home openers this season.

CONFETTI GAME REMATCH: The Chicago Rush face the defending ArenaBowl Champion, Colorado Crush in a rematch of the "Confetti Game," nicknamed because confetti was mistakenly poured onto the field before the end of regulation. The Crush won in overtime, 49-43.

Teams beginning defense of their ArenaBowl championship own a 14-3 record in season openers, including wins in three of the last four years.

DEFENDING ARENABOWL CHAMPION SEASON OPENERS

ARENABOWL WINNER NEXT SEASON
I Denver Dynamite One-Year Hiatus
II Detroit Drive Won, at Chicago 40-28
III Detroit Drive Won, at Pittsburgh 43-35
IV Detroit Drive Won, at Denver 31-13
V Tampa Bay Storm Won, at Orlando 39-32
VI Detroit Drive Won, at Arizona 49-29
VII Tampa Bay Storm Lost, vs. Charlotte 44-39
VIII Arizona Rattlers Won, at San Jose 43-37
IX Tampa Bay Storm Won, at St. Louis 57-38
X Tampa Bay Storm Won, at Arizona 42-30
XI Arizona Rattlers Won, at Iowa 61-40
XII Orlando Predators Won, at Nashville 49-40
XIII Albany Firebirds Won, at Nashville 76-65
XIV Orlando Predators Lost, at Nashville 50-25
XV Grand Rapids Rampage Won, vs. Detroit 49-45
XVI San Jose SaberCats Won, at Arizona 49-28
XVII Tampa Bay Storm Won, vs. Orlando 52-41
XVIII San Jose SaberCats Lost, at Tampa Bay 63-33
XIX Colorado Crush ??? vs. Chicago on 1/29

CAREER MILESTONES: The following career milestones could be broken this week:

- Only FB/LB LES BARLEY (6'2, 220, Winston-Salem) stands in front of FB/LB BOB MCMILLEN (6'2, 255, Illinois-Benedictine) of the Chicago Rush with 1,382 career rushing yards. McMillen needs 55 rushing yards to pass Barley. Barley retired in 2001.

- WR/LB DARRYL HAMMOND (6'3, 220, Virginia) of the Nashville Kats needs three TDs to become the ninth non-kicker to score 1,000 career points.

- OL/DL JAMES BARRON (6'2, 265, Virginia Tech) of the Nashville Kats needs only 0.5 sacks to become the fourth player to reach 40 career sacks. The other three to reach this milestone are OL/DL SAM HERNANDEZ (59.0 sacks), OL/DL SYLVESTER BEMBERY (43.0 sacks), and OL/DL TOM BRIGGS (40.0 sacks).

BONNER'S QUEST: QB SHERDRICK BONNER (6'4, 240, Cal State Northridge) of the Arizona Rattlers will become the first player in AFL history to spend 13 seasons with one team. He will pass former teammate, WR/LB HUNKIE COOPER, who played 12 seasons with the Rattlers.

TOP FIVE ACTIVE PLAYERS TO PLAY MOST SEASONS WITH ONE TEAM
NAME TEAM YEARS
QB Sherdrick Bonner Arizona Rattlers 12
WR/DB Lawrence Samuels Tampa Bay Storm 11
WR/DB Randy Gatewood Arizona Rattlers 10
DS Kenny McEntyre Orlando Predators 8
OL/DL Mark Tucker Arizona Rattlers 8

CAN'T BUST EM: Nashville WR/LB DARRYL HAMMOND has more seasons of service in the AFL than any other player. Hammond enters his 16th season in the league looking to extend that record. WR/LB BARRY WAGNER and QB TODD HAMMEL rank second on the all-time list, each playing 14 seasons in the league. OL/DL TONY BOWICK, WR/DB GARY COMPTON, and OL/DL SAM HERNANDEZ rank third all-time with 13 seasons in the league.

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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from January 26, 2006


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