SaberCats Announce 2012 Schedule
October 6, 2011 - Arena Football League (AFL)
San Jose SaberCats News Release
SAN JOSE, CA - The SaberCats second season back from hiatus will once again entail an 18-game schedule with San Jose playing each division opponent twice including two games against each team in the National Conference's Central Division.
"Our 2012 schedule is going to be challenging as in any season," said Owner/Head Coach Darren Arbet. "We still have a lot of work to do before we get to our first game but it is exciting to know who will be facing and I'm sure our fans will be thrilled to see who they can expect at HP Pavilion next year."
The SaberCats open their 2012 slate on March 10 in the cozy confines of HP Pavilion against their longtime division rival and defending National Conference champion, the Arizona Rattlers. The SaberCats hold a 17-13 (9-7 at home) regular season ledger against Arizona and a 4-1 record in postseason play, including two ArenaBowl victories (XVI, XVIII).
Following an early bye in Week 2, San Jose heads on the road to take on their division rivals, the Utah Blaze and Spokane Shock.
The SaberCats first travel to Utah on March 24 to take on the Blaze who the SaberCats hold a 6-2 record (3-1 on road) against. San Jose split the season series against Utah in 2011 with both teams winning their home contest.
The SaberCats will be put into the national spotlight on the NFL Network on March 30 against the Spokane Shock the following week. San Jose made their return to the Arena Football League against Spokane in the season opener at home in 2011, defeating the Shock handily 76-48 behind a great all-around effort by the 'Cats. Spokane, however, would move onto the postseason in a Week 19 matchup with San Jose that saw the Shock advance on a last second Hail Mary as time expired.
Returning home in Week 5, San Jose welcomes longtime AFL quarterback Aaron Garcia and the San Antonio Talons to HP before heading to Philadelphia on April 15 for their first ever road tilt with the Soul and a rematch of ArenaBowl XXII. The two teams have squared off four times during the regular season with San Jose holding a 3-1 regular season record, their most recent meeting taking place in 2011 as the 'Cats defeated the Soul 68-61 at HP.
San Jose returns home on April 21 for their first meeting of 2012 with the Kansas City Command. The two teams squared off for the first time in 2011 as the SaberCats won in dramatic fashion as K Juan Gamboa hit the game-winning field goal with two seconds remaining to defeat the Command 60-57.
San Jose then heads out for back-to-back road contests, first traveling out to the Midwest to take on the Iowa Barnstormers on April 27 where the two teams have split the regular season series at 3-3 (3-0 on road) before a trip out into the Valley of the Sun with the Arizona Rattlers on May 5. The SaberCats hold an 8-6 regular season road record against Arizona.
The 'Cats return to HP for their second and final match of the season with the Utah Blaze on May 11, where they hold a 3-1 regular season road record before heading into the heart of Texas for their second tilt with the San Antonio Talons on May 19.
The Chicago Rush come into town in Week 12 led by head coach and former SaberCat Bob McMillen. It marks the first meeting between the two at HP Pavilion since July 14, 2007. They have met seven times during the regular season with Chicago holding a 4-3 advantage despite the SaberCats winning all three contests at home. The 'Cats travel to Milwaukee to take on the Mustangs as San Jose defensive coordinator Cedric Walker returns to face his former team on June 2. It will mark the first meeting between the two since May 18, 2001 where the SaberCats defeated the Mustangs 69-55 before Milwaukee ceased operations prior to the 2002 season.
San Jose welcomes the Orlando Predators on June 8 for the second consecutive year where they hold a 6-1 regular season ledger, winning all four contests at home. The 'Cats squared off with the Predators in 2011 as San Jose got the best of Orlando 60-40 at HP Pavilion.
The SaberCats then travel to Kansas City to take on the Command on June 15 for the second time in 2012 before returning home for their final divisional matchup of the season against the Spokane Shock on June 23. San Jose heads to Chicago for their final road game of the year to take on the Rush where they have yet to win a road contest, going 0-4.
The 'Cats play their final two games of the season at HP Pavilion first against the New Orleans Voodoo on July 7, marking the first time the two have met since April 5, 2008. New Orleans holds a 2-1 advantage over San Jose, but the SaberCats won their only meeting in San Jose, 68-34 on May 1, 2004.
San Jose's regular season finale comes against the Iowa Barnstormers on July 14 which will close out their Central Division slate before the SaberCats' second bye of the season coming in the final week of 2012.
2012 SABERCATS REGULAR SEASON SCHEDULE (ALL TIMES PACIFIC)
Saturday, March 10 Arizona 7:30 p.m.
BYE
Saturday, March 24 @Utah TBD
Friday, March 30 @Spokane TBD
Friday, April 6 San Antonio 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, April 15 @Philadelphia TBD
Saturday, April 21 Kansas City 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 28 @Iowa TBD
Saturday, May 5 @Arizona TBD
Friday, May 11 Utah 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 19 @San Antonio TBD
Saturday, May 26 Chicago 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, June 2 @Milwaukee TBD
Friday, June 8 Orlando 7:30 p.m.
Sunday June 17 @Kansas City TBD
Saturday, June 23 Spokane 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, June 30 @Chicago TBD
Saturday, July 7 New Orleans 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, July 14 Iowa 7:30 p.m.
BYE
*All dates and times are subject to change. All changes will be publicized on thesanjosesabercats.com, www.facebook.com/sanjosesabercats, http://twitter.com/SJSaberCats as well as through the local print, electronic and internet media.
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