Storm Renew Their Rivalry with SaberCats Tonight

Published on April 7, 2006 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Tampa Bay Storm News Release


TAMPA BAY - The Tampa Bay Storm (6-4) close out their final two-game home stand of the season Friday night as they play host to the San Jose SaberCats (4-6) at the St. Pete Times Forum at 7:30 p.m (TV: None, Radio: WDAE 620AM, Web: AFL Net at www.arenafootball.com). The Storm will end the 2006 regular season schedule with four of their last five contests on the road.

The Storm and the SaberCats will renew one of the best rivalries in the game today. Both are headed by two of the most successful coaches in league history. Storm head coach and AFL charter member of the Hall-of-Fame Tim Marcum owns the AFL record for career wins with 180 victories and a record seven World Championships. The SaberCats are led by Darren Arbet who is in his eighth year as Head Coach for San Jose. Arbet has tallied 86 victories, which is tied for fifth all-time, and two ArenaBowl titles in 2002 and 2004. The Storm and SaberCats have won seven of the league's 19 championships with the Storm last taking the crown in 2003 and the SaberCats in 2004.

The signal callers in tonight's game are two of the premier quarterbacks in the game today. Storm quarterback Shane Stafford leads the league with 3,093 yards on 253 completions and 57 touchdowns. Stafford is 33 passing yards shy of 14,000 for his career and is 17th all-time in AFL history. Stafford's counterpart, Mark Grieb, is right on his heels with 3,091 yards passing (second in the AFL this season) on 249 completions and 54 touchdowns. Grieb, now in his ninth year, is seventh all-time with 25,875 passing yards.

Two of the top Ironmen in the league will be suiting tonight to do battle on the floor of the St. Pete Times Forum in the Storm's Lawrence Samuels and the SaberCats' Barry Wagner. Wagner was named to the league's top 20 Players of All-Time earlier this year. Samuels in his 13th year leads the Storm receivers with 75 receptions for 875 yards and 14 touchdowns. He also is tied for the league lead with 12.5 special teams tackles.

Wagner, now in his 15th AFL season, is no stranger to Storm fans as he spent eight seasons with the Orlando Predators. He has been named Ironman of the Year six times and been awarded MVP twice.

Fans are encouraged to get to the game early as Betty's Not A Vitamin will perform on stage beginning at 5:30 p.m. The Supreme Kids Break Dancing Crew are also scheduled to perform on the Plaza, and Rubberboy (Daniel Browning Smith), the "world's most flexible man" will perform at halftime. Rubberboy has displayed his talents on the Tonight Show, the David Letterman Show and last night at the Tampa Bay Lightning game during the second intermission.

Following tonight's game the Storm have one game remaining Saturday, April 29 against the Kansas City Brigade. Tickets for that game and tonight's contest are available at the McDonald's Box Office at the St. Pete Times Forum, by calling 813.301.6600 or by visiting www.tampabaystorm.com.

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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from April 7, 2006


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