ARENA FOOTBALL LEAGUE UPDATE

(Courtesy Arena Football League)


QUICK HITTERS

Four times, the foot of a kicker has decided postseason games. The last time
was in ArenaBowl XIV when Orlandos DAVID COOL booted a 19-yard field goal
to give the Predators a 41-38 victory over the Nashville Kats. It was the
first time a championship game had been decided by a game-winning kick.

DATEGAMEKICKER
Aug. 15, 1992ORLANDO 24, Tampa Bay 21 OTJorge Cimadevilla 17 FG
Aug. 14, 1993Tampa Bay 55, ORLANDO 52Arden Czyzewski 19 FG
Aug. 12, 1995Albany 51, ST. LOUIS 49        Trey Weir 17 FG
Aug. 20, 2000ORLANDO 41, Nashville 38David Cool 19 FG

The Arizona Rattlers (seeded No. 2) have advanced past their first playoff
game six straight times since a 56-52 loss to KURT WARNERs Iowa
Barnstormers in 1995. It is the longest current success streak among active
teams. However, the Rattlers havent appeared in the ArenaBowl since the
1997 season, losing three times in the semifinals.

The top-seeded San Jose SaberCats own the best regular season record in the
league over the past three seasons, going 35-7 (.833) in that span. However,
theyve been stymied in the playoffs each of the past two years, losing in
the semifinals.

Only three times has the ArenaBowl champion successfully defended its title,
the last time coming in 1996 when the Tampa Bay Storm defeated the Iowa
Barnstormers in ArenaBowl X. The only other team to do so was the Detroit
Drive teams of 1989 and 1990.

ARENABOWL FOLLOW-UPS
SeasonChampionResult
1987Denver        Did not compete in 1988
1988Detroit        Won ArenaBowl III
1989Detroit        Won ArenaBowl IV
1990Detroit        Lost ArenaBowl
1991Tampa BayLost in Semifinals
1992Detroit        Lost ArenaBowl
1993Tampa BayLost First-round
1994Arizona        Lost First-round
1995Tampa BayWon ArenaBowl X
1996Tampa BayLost Semifinals
1997Arizona        Lost Semifinals
1998Orlando        Lost ArenaBowl
1999Albany        Lost in Quarterfinals
2000Orlando        Lost First-round
2001Grand Rapids????

With a 41-26 win at Orlando last year, Chicagos BILLY DICKEN became the
first first-year starting QB to win a playoff game since DONNIE DAVIS of
Arizona and PETER TOM WILLIS of Tampa Bay both did it in 1997. This year,
New Jerseys JAY MCDONAGH, Carolinas JOHN FITZGERALD, and Los Angeles TONY
GRAZIANI are all in a position to achieve the same distinction.

The Orlando Predators are 7-7 and winners of the Southern Division crown.
Under center is JAY GRUDEN, the most successful playoff quarterback in
league history, with a mark of 12-2 while leading the Tampa Bay Storm to
four championships from 1991-96. As head coach of the Predators from
1998-01, Gruden went 8-2 including winning a pair of titles in 3 straight
ArenaBowl appearances. In 1999, Gruden became the first coach in history to
guide an 8th-seeded playoff team (7-7 record) to the ArenaBowl.

GRUDEN AS HEAD COACH
SeasonTeamRecordPostseason
1998Orlando9-5Won ArenaBowl
1999Orlando7-7Lost ArenaBowl
2000Orlando11-3Won ArenaBowl
2001Orlando8-6Lost first-round

GRUDEN AS PLAYER
SeasonTeam        RecordPostseason
1991Tampa Bay8-2Won ArenaBowl
1992Tampa Bay9-1Lost semifinals
1993Tampa Bay9-3Won ArenaBowl
1994Tampa Bay7-5Lost first-round
1995Tampa Bay10-2Won ArenaBowl
1996Tampa Bay12-2Won ArenaBowl
2002Orlando7-7????

Thirteen times the No. 1-seeded team has reached the ArenaBowl. Last year,
Grand Rapids broke a string of two consecutive seasons when the top-seeded
team failed to advance to the championship (Tampa Bay in 1999 and San Jose
in 2000). The Storm in 1999 became the first No. 1-seeded team to lose in
the opening round of the playoffs.

Orlandos KENNY MCENTYRE, who finished No. 2 in the league this year with 8
INTs, has grabbed 45 opposing missiles in 67 career games, including a
postseason record 9 in 10 postseason contests. With 37 regular season picks,
he will enter the 2003 campaign 14 away from breaking DURWOOD ROQUEMOREs
league record of 50 from 1987-96.

Tampa Bay Storm Head Coach TIM MARCUM has made the playoffs in each of the
14 seasons he has coached. He is the leagues all-time winningest sideline
general with an overall record of 142-50 (.739), including 21-7 (.750) in
the playoffs. (He coached with the NFLs Atlanta Falcons during the 1990
season.) He has won 6 championships with 3 different teams including the
first-ever in 1987 as head coach of the Denver Dynamite.

ALL-TIME POSTSEASON VICTORIES*
Head CoachWinsTitles
TIM MARCUM (Tampa Bay)216
DANNY WHITE (Arizona)132
Perry Moss111
Jay Gruden82
John Gregory60
MIKE DAILEY (Indiana)51
Pat Sperduto50
MIKE HOHENSEE (Chicago)40
Lary Kuharich41

Dallas Desperados QB ANDY KELLY, who has quarterbacked in the last two
ArenaBowl games, threw for a season-high 10 TDs against Indiana in Week 8.
Kelly has thrown 7 TDs in a postseason game three times, the record among
all passers. Postseason record for most TD passes is 9, held by RICKEY
FOGGIE.

MOST TOUCHDOWN PASSES, GAME
No.PlayerGameDate
9Rickey FoggieNew Jersey at AlbanyAugust 8, 1998
8Mike PerezAlbany vs. MilwaukeeAugust 10, 1996
8Aaron GarciaIowa vs. NashvilleAugust 6, 2000
8Aaron GarciaNew York at Toronto July 27, 2001
8MARK GRIEB (San Jose, injured)San Jose vs. ArizonaAugust 4, 2001
8RAYMOND PHILYAWIndiana at Grand RapidsAugust 12, 2001
8CLINT DOLEZELGrand Rapids vs. IndianaAugust 12, 2001
7Eight times, last ANDY KELLY (now with Dallas)Nashville at San Jose
August 12, 2000

Los Angeles CHRIS JACKSON and New Jerseys SEDRICK ROBINSON each scored a
season-high 6 TDs in a single game this year. Both players did it in Week 5
against Georgia and New York, respectively. Postseason record for most TDs
in a game is 6, held by current Firebird EDDIE BROWN.

MOST RECEIVING TOUCHDOWNS, GAME
No.PlayersGameDate
6EDDIE BROWN (Indiana)Albany vs. MilwaukeeAugust 10, 1996
5EDDIE BROWN (Indiana)Albany vs. Las VegasAugust 19, 1994
5George LaFranceTampa Bay vs. ArizonaAugust 16, 1996
5Kevin SwayneNew York at Toronto July 27, 2001
5TERRILL SHAWGrand Rapids vs. IndianaAugust 12, 2001
5TERRILL SHAWGrand Rapids vs. NashvilleAugust 19, 2001*

MOST POINTS, GAME
PointsPlayerGameDate
38BARRY WAGNER (San Jose)Orlando at IowaAugust 19, 1995
38JAMES BOWDEN (New Jersey)Tampa Bay at MilwaukeeJuly 29, 2000
36EDDIE BROWN (Indiana)Albany vs. MilwaukeeAugust 10, 1996
30Seven times, last TERRILL SHAWGrand Rapids vs. NashvilleAugust 19,
2001*


MOST COMBINED RETURN YARDS, GAME
PointsPlayerGameDate
258LAMONT COOPERMilwaukee at Tampa BayJuly 29, 2000
219Steve PapinSan Jose vs. NashvilleAugust 12, 2000
207George LaFranceTampa Bay vs. MemphisAugust 12, 1995
203JAMES BOWDEN (New Jersey)Tampa Bay vs. IndianaAugust 5, 2001
192HUNKIE COOPERArizona vs. Tampa Bay (OT)August 16, 1997

MOST POINTS, GAME, ONE TEAM
PointsGameDate
83Grand Rapids vs. IndianaAugust 12, 2001
79Albany vs. MilwaukeeAugust 10, 1996
73Albany vs. ArizonaAugust 14, 1999
72Tampa Bay vs. MilwaukeeJuly 29, 2000
71Nashville vs. San JoseAugust 11, 2001

MOST GAMES PLAYED, CURRENT PLAYOFF PARTICIPANTS
GamesPlayer, Current TeamSeasons
24Barry Wagner, San Jose10
21Darrin Kenney, San Jose9
20Hunkie Cooper, Arizona9
18Sherdrick Bonner, Arizona (QB)8
16Andre Bowden, Carolina8
16Connell Maynor, Orlando (QB)8
16Cecil Doggette, Arizona7
15Bob McMillen, San Jose7
14Jay Gruden, Orlando (QB)6
14Randy Gatewood, Arizona6
14Mark Valvo, Indiana9


FIRST ROUND SCHEDULE

FIRST-ROUND MATCHUPS
Friday, July 26
 (10) Buffalo at (7) Orlando, 7:30 PM ET, The New TNN (tape delayed to Sat.
at 2:00 PM ET/PT)

Saturday, July 27
 (9) Indiana at (8) Dallas, 4:30 PM ET/PT, The New TNN
 (12) Tampa Bay at (5) Los Angeles, 7:30 PM ET, live on ESPN2

Sunday, July 28
 (11) Carolina at (6) Grand Rapids, 1:30 PM ET, live on ESPN


FIRST ROUND PLAYOFFS INJURY REPORT

***AS REPORTED TO THE LEAGUE OFFICE BY WEDNESDAY, JULY 25***

BUFFALO: PROBABLE: WR/DB Jarrail Jackson (shoulder), OL/DL Silas Demary
(ankle), FB/LB Juan Long (finger).
ORLANDO: OUT: WR/DB Andre Cooper, FB/LB Brian Goolsby, QB Craig Whelihan;
QUESTIONABLE: OL/DL Fred Ray, WR/DB Junior Lord; DOUBTFUL: OL/DL Reggie Lee,
WR/LB Damon Bowers.

INDIANA: OUT: DS Cornelius Coe (ankle sprain), OL/DL Ricky Hall (knee);
QUESTIONABLE: OL/DL Brian Creel (knee), FB/LB Sunungura Rusununguko (ankle),
DS Donnie Caldwell (rib), OS Robert Hall (hamstring), WR/LB Brett Bech
(knee); PROBABLE: DS Evan Hlavacek (concussion).
DALLAS: QUESTIONABLE: QB Andy Kelly (L hip flexor strain); DOUBTFUL: DS
Michael Scott (L calf strain).

TAMPA BAY: None Reported
LOS ANGELES: None reported.

CAROLINA: None Reported.
GRAND RAPIDS: PROBABLE: OS Terrill Shaw; QUESTIONABLE: OL/DL Israel Raybon,
OS Steve Smith.

Thu Jul 25 16:52:52 ET 2002