SaberCats announce All-Decade Team
June 10, 2004 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
San Jose SaberCats News Release
SAN JOSE, Calif. (June 10, 2004) - Lineman Sam Hernandez, the all-time Arena Football League sack leader and a 12-year veteran, received the most votes for the SaberCats' All-Decade Team it was announced today. Hernandez has been with San Jose for seven of the last 10 years the franchise has been in existence.
By a vote of the fans on the SaberCats' website, Hernandez received more than 600 first-place votes as the top lineman and was nearly 100 points ahead of veteran Barry Wagner in the over-all balloting. Wagner, 13 years in the AFL (5th with San Jose) topped the wide receiver-defensive back category.
The other linemen selected for the team were Mike Ulufale and Darrin Kenney. Both were members of the 2002 ArenaBowl champion team.
Mark Grieb, who holds 18 team game, season and career passing records, topped Tony Kimbrough in balloting for the quarterback position. Others receiving votes were John Dutton and Scott Wood. Grieb set a league season record for passing percentage (73%) and pass rating (133.47).
The wide receiver-linebacker group was headed by James Roe, in his 5th season with the SaberCats. He holds the team record for receptions, 115 collected last season. Shalon Baker was second.
Former SaberCat Bob McMillen, now with the Chicago Rush, played from 2001-02 and beat out Keala Keanaaina by more than 100 votes.
The defensive specialist positions were awarded to two-time AFL Defensive Player of the Year Clevan Thomas and Pat McGuirk, a member of the inaugural team in 1995. Thomas, who played in only four games this season before going down to a right knee injury, was nearly 250 votes ahead of McGuirk.
'Super' Steve Papin, was the offensive specialist by less than 50 votes over James Hundon, ironically both are products of Portland State University. Papin holds 13 SaberCats' records in returns, all-purpose yards and receiving.
The kicker was Daron Alcorn, a member of the 2002 championship team. He won over Carlos Huerta by nearly 200 points. He holds team records in kick scoring, extra points made and attempted.
A commemorative poster of the top vote recipients was produced and given to the fans at one of the final home games.
COMPLETE LIST OF ALL-DECADE TEAM MEMBERS
QUARTERBACK - MARK GRIEB (1999-04). Others receiving votes: Tony Kimbrough (*1995-96), John Dutton (2000-02), Scott Wood (*1995-00, 2002).
OFFENSIVE SPECIALIST - STEVE PAPIN (1997-01). Others receiving votes: James Hundon (2001-04), Titus Dixon (*1995-97).
WIDE RECEIVER-DEFENSIVE BACK - BARRY WAGNER (2000-04). Others receiving votes: Jerry Reese (*1995-96, 1999-04), Willie Culpepper (1997), Brian Allred (1996), Amond Field (*1995).
WIDE RECEIVER-LINEBACKER - JAMES ROE (2000-04). Others receiving votes: Shalon Baker (1998-04), Jerry Reese (*1995-96, 1999-04), Darryl Rogers (*1995-97), Anthony Howard (*1995-96).
FULLBACK-LINEBACKER - BOB McMILLEN (2001-02). Others receiving votes: Keala Keanaaina (2003-04), Derrick Chachere (*1995-02), Mike Maslowski (1998), Tom Petithomme (*1995-96, 1999), Leonard Nelson (1996-99).
DEFENSIVE SPECIALIST - CLEVAN THOMAS (2002-03), PAT McGUIRK (*1995-98). Others receiving votes: Wendall Davis (2002-03), Tommy Jones (1998-01), Chris Barber (*1995-96), Herschel Currie (1997-99).
OFFENSIVE-DEFENSIVE LINEMEN - SAM HERNANDEZ (1998-04), MIKE ULUFALE (2000-02), DARRIN KENNEY (2001-03). Others receiving votes: Al Noga (1996-97), Howard Butler (1996-01), Marlin Brown (*1995-98), Chris Baus (*1995-96).
KICKER - DARON ALCORN (2001-03). Others receiving votes: Carlos Huerta (1999-01), Aaron Mills (*1995-96), Billy Stoyanovich (1997-98), Chris Sailer (2000).
*-Indicates Inaugural Year Player.
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from June 10, 2004
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- New Orleans VooDoo Coach Mike Neu named Arena Football League's Coach of the Year - New Orleans VooDoo
- SaberCats announce All-Decade Team - San Jose SaberCats
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- Ron Jaworski to chat live on USAToday.com this Friday - AFL I
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