SaberCats, Rattlers renew 10-year rivalry
Published on June 16, 2004 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
San Jose SaberCats News Release
SAN JOSE, Calif. (June 16, 2004) â The San Jose SaberCats' biggest rival is the Arizona Rattlers. Games between the two date back to San Jose's origins in 1995 when the two opened the season against each other.
The SaberCats (13-5) play the Rattlers (13-5) at America West Arena in Phoenix in the Arena Football League's championship game. ArenaBowl XVIII is scheduled for Sunday, June 27, starting at 1 p.m. (PT) and will be televised nationally on NBC.
In 2002, San Jose defeated the Rattlers, 52-14, in ArenaBowl XVI at HP Pavilion. That was the first AFL championship for the Silicon Valley-based team.
Arizona has played in the last two championship games, losing again last season at Tampa Bay to the Storm, 49-23.
Despite leading the overall series, 13-10, Arizona has won the last three games from San Jose after the SaberCats had captured the three previous games.
An interesting connection to the Rattlers is that Todd Shell was the SaberCats' first head coach in 1995. Shell was the defensive coordinator in Arizona for head coach Danny White in 1992 and 1993. His record in three seasons against the Rattlers was 1-5.
The SaberCats were Arizona's first ever opponent, with the Rattlers prevailing on May 12 in San Jose, 43-37, in overtime. There were 15,105 in HP Pavilion for that game that featured current Arizona player Hunkie Cooper and New York's Aaron Garcia was the quarterback.
Now a SaberCat, Calvin Schexnayder caught one pass for 23 yards as a Rattler. Backup quarterback Scott Wood, who last played for San Jose in 2002, also participated.
Because Shell was the SaberCats coach, Schexnayder said Arizona really wanted to win the game and "it really sparked the rivalry between the two teams."
Ironically, the SaberCats current quarterback Mark Grieb's first career start in a San Jose uniform was against Arizona on May 15, 1999. Subbing for Wood, who had been given permission to participate in his brother's wedding, Grieb's baptism in Phoenix turned into a 54-50 win. He was only 15 of 41 for 124 yards and two scores, but connected with Shalon Baker for the winning TD with 18 seconds remaining.
Grieb also remembers getting injured in the game at Arizona on July 12, 2002, which knocked him out of playing against the Rattlers in the championship game that season.
This will be the 12th time in the last four years that the two teams have played each other. Three of those games have been in the postseason.
SAN JOSE VERSUS ARIZONA SERIES HIGHLIGHTS:
- SaberCats first ever opponent was Arizona in San Jose on May 12, 1995.
- First loss was 43-37 in overtime to Arizona in San Jose on May 12, 1995.
- San Jose played host to Arizona in last game of season, Aug. 6, 1995.
- Todd Shell, an assistant with Arizona (1992-93) was SaberCats (1995) first
head coach.
- Current SaberCat Calvin Schexnayder played for Arizona against San Jose in
1995.
- Sherdrick Bonner & Hunkie Cooper started against SaberCats in 2 games in
1995.
- Roger Ruzek's 30-yard field goal with 27 seconds left, gives San Jose its
first ever win against Arizona, 30-29, Aug. 2, 1996
- John Kaleo, who led Tampa Bay to 2003 ArenaBowl championship and current
Austin Wranglers quarterback, started for SaberCats against Arizona, May 24,
1997.
- Head Coach Darren Arbet gets first win against Arizona in inaugural
coaching season, 54-50, May 15, 1999.
- Quarterback Mark Grieb gets first start as a SaberCat in win over Rattlers,
May 15, 1999.
- SaberCats suffer worst loss in franchise history, losing 75-37 (38 points)
in Arizona, June 12, 1999.
- First ever win at Arizona for SaberCats, 55-34. Greib is 20 of 29, 5
touchdowns, June 1, 2000.
- John Dutton leads San Jose over Arizona, 48-37, as Grieb is in XFL with Las
Vegas Outlaws, April 21, 2001.
- Grieb sets career high and team record with 9 TD passes in 73-63 win at
Arizona, July 6, 2001.
- San Jose wins first playoff game (quarterfinal) against Arizona, 68-49;
Grieb 8 TDs, Aug. 4, 2001.
- SaberCats win 5th in row against Arizona, 52-51; In his first game, Clevan
Thomas intercepts a pass in San Jose's endzone to preserve the victory, April
20, 2002.
- Arizona breaks San Jose's 12-game win streak to start season, 59-52;
Grieb's collarbone broken on âunabated' tackle in end zone; Dutton replaces him
with 1:45 left in 3rd quarter, July 12, 2002.
- Dutton leads SaberCats over Arizona, 52-14, in ArenaBowl XVI at San Jose,
Aug. 2002.
- San Jose suffers semifinal loss to Arizona, 66-49, in HP Pavilion, June 8,
2003.
- SaberCats lose pair of games to Rattlers in regular season, May 9 and May
30, 2004.
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from June 16, 2004
- Frantz 'Tackles' Kicks With SaberCats - San Jose SaberCats
- Marcus Nash named Baby Ruth Real Deal Offensive Player of the Year - AFL I
- Marcus Nash named AFL Offensive Player of the Year - Las Vegas Gladiators
- Rattlers get ready for ArenaBowl by visiting Phoenix Children's Hospital - Arizona Rattlers
- SaberCats, Rattlers renew 10-year rivalry - San Jose SaberCats
- Rush QB Philyaw suffers torn ACL - Chicago Rush
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