Brotherhood of Rivalry: San Jose vs. Arizona
Tim Ball
Saturday June 7, 2003
Now, even the youngest players want to make their mark in a game legitimized by its outstanding athletes past, present and those to follow.
 The West-Coast AFL Rivalry: San Jose vs. Arizona Image courtesy of Ken LaRue |
As the reigning ArenaBowl champions, San Jose’s consistency has only kept pace with league legends in the record books -- not trophies. In American sports, a ring on your finger is nice for a retired player, but multiple championships is the crown of greatness.
San Jose’s quest is all the more difficult as their consistency over the last four years of 47 wins and 11 losses in regular season games has given rise to a “League-Elite” title. Teams play to measure up to the SaberCats as much as wanting to beat them, forcing San Jose to be at top form in every single game.
The Rattlers have been to the ArenaBowl three times: ’94, ’97, and ‘02. They won the championship in ’94 over Orlando and in ’97 over the Iowa Barnstormers (yes, Kurt Warner’s team). The Rattlers come into San Jose once again with Bonner, Hunkie Cooper, Randy Gatewood and head coach Danny White. No matter what happened in the last game, this is now, that was then.
SaberCats head coach Darren Arbet, has been in the last three semi-finals and knows the other side of victory as well as White does -- and knows the task at hand.
“What happened the last time we played Arizona; that‘s in the past,” said Arbet. “You can’t bring back the situations of past games. We’re preparing for this game and so is Arizona, but it comes down to making plays. You don’t make it this far on luck. After the first kickoff the players decide it.”
San Jose has maintained consistency under Arbet. Players stay with the SaberCats as much for him as the winning system developed by Arbet and his staff.
DS Clevan Thomas, named the AFL Defensive Player of the Year for the second straight season, was convinced that the Arena Football League was the place for him after multiple conversations with Arbet.
“Going to San Jose from Florida was a big decision for me, and coach Arbet has been there for me since the beginning,” said Thomas. “This league is really tougher than most people know. You get beat a lot and can get down on yourself, but coach Arbet teaches us the mindset to get back in there and trust your training. In this game things can turn around on the next play.”
Thomas has been a key ingredient to the success of San Jose. Many teams have duplicated the aggressive bump and run coverage of the SaberCats that has seen Thomas set league records in interceptions two years in a row.
Now under Arbet, another record has been set as the SaberCats hold the all-time mark in rushing touchdowns with 47.
Plurality is team
Arbet’s coaching staff is as diverse as his players. Offensive coordinator Terry Malley is soft-spoken (most of the time) and goes over plays like a controller goes over the books of his company. Mistakes are worked through until all plays run smoothly.
“It comes down to execution,” says Malley. “Our offense needs to establish a rhythm and do the things we know we’re capable of. The more time on the practice field going over situations, the easier recognizing and overcoming adversity will be for each player.”
The speed at which things happen in Arena Football has been well represented by media pundits and experts even in the outdoor game. Malley knows that success comes about by training instinct into each player to respond to developing situations.
In this brand of football, if things don’t go well in the first few seconds, the play becomes a perverse scramble of sandlot football.
Defensive coach Michael Church fits his role well. His main goal is to make sure the play does break down to a mad scramble where his defense dictates the direction of the scrambling.
Like a Marine Sergeant inspiring his recruits, Church reminds his players that this is tackle football and it’s better to give than to receive. And, we’re not talking salvation, like it says in the Bible; “for everything there is a season.” This season is coming to a climax in one epic confrontation.
“It’s not difficult to understand,” says Church. “It’s no secret. They have to go through us and we have to go through them. We’re not going to a picnic. This is the Rattlers and SaberCats. We know them and they know us.”
As symbiotic competitors, the three main coaches in San Jose: Arbet, Malley and Church exist in and through the action flowing all around them. The SaberCats defense responds to the call to action of Church and the offense is precise and focused by Malley’s persistence. Guiding the ship like an Admiral on deck is Arbet. Their destination is winning football games.
The San Jose SaberCats are on a quest for their place among the “all-time” teams of the league and know that a win over Arizona is a step into that fraternity. Last year’s excellence will look all the more impressive as this season was a hard fought battle to regain the number one seed. The new kids on the block still have to fight for respect with or without a reputation.
Right here right now
What better way to end the first season of major television coverage than with these four teams San Jose, Arizona, Tampa Bay and Orlando battling for another trip to the championship.
The league will continue to adapt and change. The future will see new and fantastic rivalries develop. But right now there couldn’t be a better scenario.
Only San Jose and Arizona have been the Western Division Champions since the upstart SaberCats entered the league. The “War on I-4,” has pitted the top-two championship teams against each other time and again with no let down in intensity.
All four are leading the way for others to follow. Truly, the League-Elite is four. And counting.
The brotherhood of the rivalry is alive and well.
Tim Ball is a writer in the Chicagoland area. Married and father of three, his opinions on Arena Football reflects the positive aspect of the game as a family event second to none in pro sports.
