AFL I Arena Football League (1987-2008)

Quick Hitters

Published on June 7, 2002 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I) News Release


GRAND RAPIDS' EMERGING DYNAMIC DUO: QB CLINT DOLEZEL has proven why he and his Rampage are at the top to the American Central Division. Through the first 2 games of the 2002 season, OS STEVE SMITH was averaging only 3.5 receptions and 10.0 yards per game (7 receptions for 20 yards and 1 TD). Since that time, Smith has established himself as Dolezel's favorite target. Since the beginning May, the second-year standout has averaged 10.4 receptions for 129.6 yards and 4 TDs per contest (52 receptions for 648 yards and 20 TDs in the last 5 games.). The Rampage have gone 4-1 since the two offensive stars have hooked up to get the Rampage back on track.

BALANCED ATTACK LEADS TO SUCCESS: The San Jose SaberCats currently lead the league in rushing yardage... With rushers like SHALON BAKER (66 yards and 1 TD), BOB McMILLEN (56 yards and 4 TDs) and BARRY WAGNER (34 yards and 3 TDs) leading the way, an ArenaBowl appearance may be in the works for this offensive powerhouse... Here's a look at the last five ArenaBowl champions and how they ranked in rushing yards:

TEAM. SEASON. RUSHING YARDS. AVG.YD/GAME. RANK
SAN JOSE*... 2002... 299... 42.7... No. 1
Grand Rapids... 2001... 271... 19.4... No. 6
Orlando ... 2000... 515... 36.8... No. 2
Albany... 1999... 822... 58.7... No. 1
Orlando... 1998... 433... 30.9... No. 3
Arizona... 1997... 713... 50.9... No. 5
* Statistics through 7 games of current season.

QUEST FOR 20/10: Last season, Chicago Rush WR/DB DAMEON PORTER nearly became the first player in AFL history to have at least 20 TDs and 10 INTs in the same season. This year, New York Dragon WR/DB MIKE FURREY has a shot at accomplishing the feat. Here's a look at Furrey's projected numbers compared to Porter's "Ironman-winning" numbers from the 2001 season:

PLAYER, YEAR... TEAM... REC.... YARDS... TOTAL TDs... INTs
Mike Furrey, projected 2002 ... NYD... 74... 878... 26... 8
Dameon Porter, 2001... CHI... 53... 865... 18... 12*
* Tied AFL record

UHH... I THINK WE NEED A NEW SCOREBOARD: That's what a lot of folks at the Compaq Center are saying, thanks to the high-flying offense of the SaberCats... Co-Offensive Player of the Month, MARK GRIEB has been putting the lights out on the scoreboard and on the opponents with his precision passing (43 TDs with only 2 INTs)... The SaberCats lead the AFL in scoring average (66.7 PPG), nearly 10 points higher then the No. 2 offense (Grand Rapids, 57.4)... Here is a look at the San Jose numbers compared to the all-time scoring leaders:

TEAM... YEAR... POINTS... SCORING AVG.... RECORD
SAN JOSE SABERCATS... 2002... 467... 66.7... 7-0
New York Dragons... 2001... 898... 64.1... 7-7
Albany Firebirds... 1996... 873... 62.4... 10-4
San Jose SaberCats... 2000... 871... 62.2... 12-2
San Jose SaberCats... 2001... 831... 59.4... 10-4

Arena Football's version of Michael Jordan, Orlando Predators QB JAY GRUDEN, who's returning to the field for the first time since 1996, seems to have some secret ingredient when it comes to making the postseason - as a player and a coach. With six total ArenaBowl championships to his credit (four as a player, two as a head coach), regardless of his team or his role, Gruden has advanced to the playoffs every season. Take a look Gruden's AFL career - under center and on the sidelines.

YEAR.. TEAM... ROLE... REGULAR SEASON... POSTSEASON
2002... Orlando Predators... QB... 3-4 at mid-season... ????
2001... Orlando Predators... Head coach ... 8-6... Lost in first round
2000... Orlando Predators... Head coach... 11-3... Won ArenaBowl
1999... Orlando Predators... Head coach... 7-7... Lost ArenaBowl
1998... Orlando Predators... Head coach... 9-5... Won ArenaBowl
1997... Nashville Kats... Offensive coordinator... 10-4... Lost in first round
1996... Tampa Bay Storm... QB... 12-2... Won ArenaBowl
1995... Tampa Bay Storm... QB... 10-2... Won ArenaBowl
1994... Tampa Bay Storm... QB... 7-5... Lost in first round
1993... Tampa Bay Storm... QB... 9-3... Won ArenaBowl
1992... Tampa Bay Storm... QB... 8-1... Lost in semifinal
1991... Tampa Bay Storm... QB... 8-2... Won ArenaBowl

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WEEK EIGHT SCHEDULE (All times ET)

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FRIDAY, JUNE 7
Arizona at CAROLINA, 7:30 P.M.
SATURDAY, JUNE 8
New York at BUFFALO, 7:00 P.M. (Fox Sports New York)
Grand Rapids at NEW JERSEY, 7:30 P.M. (Yes Network, WXSP-18)
Detroit at CHICAGO, 8:00 P.M. (Fox Sports Chicago)
Indiana at DALLAS, 8:30 P.M.
San Jose at LOS ANGELES, 10:30 P.M. (HDNet, Fox Sports West 2, WB20 San Jose)
SUNDAY, JUNE 9
Tampa Bay at ORLANDO, 4:30 P.M. (TNN)
Toronto at GEORIGA, 7:30 P.M.

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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from June 7, 2002


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