The OurSports Central Interview: Philadelphia Soul radio announcer Ari Wolfe
by Fran Stuchbury
March 2, 2008 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Philadelphia Soul
OurSports Central contributor Fran Stuchbury spoke to Philadelphia Soul radio announcer Ari Wolfe following the team's 77-56 victory over the Orlando Predators. Wolfe has been involved with the Arena Football League team since it joined the AFL in 2004. Wolfe has did radio for the Albany/Indiana Firebirds for six seasons.
FS: Were you happy with the Soul's performance in the team's victory over Orlando?
AW: I thought they played very well. I think there is still room for improvement. It's a one-gamewinning streak and I think this teams mentality has to be one game at a time. When you can come out and defeat any Jay Gruden coached team and beat them as soundly as they did I think there is a lot to be encouraged about.
FS: How much has WR Chris Jackson made for the Soul?
AW: I think he has a huge impact. I think the comfort zone between Tony Graziani and Chris Jackson is unparalleled as a quarterback to wide receiver in the AFL. You can tell some of the little things, they had one play that didn't work and they went back to the same exact play a second time and it went for a touchdown.
I think that they have great trust together. I think Chris Jackson is, if not the best WR, one of the top two or three in the league. There is a real chance here for success, but I think that next week against the Chicago Rush will be a better measuring stick.
FS: What do you think about the new rule changes on defense? Did it really have much of an impact on this game?
AW: I didn't see much other than Predators LB Marlon Moye-Moore I thought a couple of times was trying to drift back into coverage in a way you wouldn't have seen a jack-linebacker try to do as quickly as he did. He was able to move outside the traditional box and starts to cheat to want to go down field. He got called for it once because he left early. All in all we didn't see that much.
Tonight I don't think was a great indication of what the new rules are going do because Philadelphia was clearly the better team tonight.
FS: With Dallas Desperados quarterback Clint Dolezel getting hurt in the game against the Georgia Force, how important is it for the Soul to have a capable backup QB in Matt D'Orazio?
AW: It is the first time since the Soul has been here they have a capable backup. I think that having D'Orazio here is great. He is a great teammate, I love his attitude and he really has accepted his position on the team. You have to have two quarterbacks in this league. If Dolezel is out, it is going to dramatically affect them. I think what Philadelphia needs to do is just focus on Philadelphia. A lot of other things are going to go on with key players on other teams, but for Philadelphia, take it one week at a time and they are 1-0. That is all they can accomplish tonight.
FS: Last year you were at ArenaBowl XXI in New Orleans, are you happy that it is going back again there this year?
AW: I thought New Orleans was amazing. I felt they treated it like a first class event. I thought the players, coaches, staff and all of us working in the AFL felt that New Orleans really embraced having the ArenaBowl there and I'm thrilled to go back.
If you have any questions or comments about this interview feel free to drop me an email at arenazone@yahoo.com and I will be more than happy to get back to you.
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from March 2, 2008
- Crush Win Season Opener - Colorado Crush
- Destroyers Fall To Colorado Crush 50-47 In Season Opener - Columbus Destroyers
- The OurSports Central Interview: Philadelphia Soul radio announcer Ari Wolfe - OSC Original by Fran Stuchbury
- Rattlers Edge Blaze In Season Opener, 63-62 - Utah Blaze
- Rattlers Burst Out Of Gate With Win - Arizona Rattlers
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer(s), and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
