10 Reasons Why the Rattlers Should Win ArenaBowl XVIII
Patrick Daly
Friday June 25, 2004
10. Ten Wins and Counting – It’s taken 10 wins to get here, turning a 3-5 start into an ArenaBowl appearance, but the magic number is 11. Although you have to be somewhat concerned over the loss of momentum with the bye week, the Rattlers have maintained a game-like intensity at practices, which should translate well into success on Sunday afternoon.
9. Ninth Man – Like many arenas around the country it’s gotten tougher to fill the building on game night, which can be attributed to an increased number of entertainment options and a decrease in disposable income. However, come Sunday, The Snake Pit will be rocking thanks to the loud, loyal Rattler-backers, better known collectively as The Ninth Man.
8. Eight Men In – Although the pass rush, which includes the fullback/linebacker position, was conspicuously missing in the semifinal win over Colorado, it has been a big part of the streak to this point and it should be there on Sunday. Additionally, San Jose, like most teams, is a bit stronger on the defensive side of the ball, giving the Rattlers a better opportunity to attack SaberCats QB Mark Grieb.
7. Danny White – If you haven’t been under a rock these past 13 seasons, you know White’s a gambler, so what better place to put this reason than lucky number seven? But don’t let that lead you to believe that he believes in luck, as what may seem to be a gamble (can you say onside kicks?) is a calculated risk with plenty of strategy behind it.
6. Six Yards and a Headache – Got aspirin? If you’re facing the Rattlers you just might want to take two and call your doctor in the morning. As WR/LB Hunkie Cooper has so eloquently put it, “The Rattlers will trade you six yards for a headache,” with the idea that by the end of the game opposing receivers are looking out for the next hit rather than the ball. It’s also part of the “bend but don’t break” philosophy that’s served the Rattlers well during the last half of the season and the playoffs.
5. Red Zone Offense – In the Arena Football League, the toughest place to score is from five yards in, which is a strength for the Rattlers. While Sherdrick Bonner probably doesn’t rank a goal line sneak at the top of his list of things to do, when his number is called, expect him to answer.
4. Gang of Four – OK, so it’s not an official name, but Cooper, Sherdrick Bonner, Mark Tucker and Randy Gatewood are the glue that’s helped lead the Rattlers to the heights they’ve reached. This game may also be the last chance for these veteran leaders to not only win a championship together, but to win one, period.
3. Triple Threats – Arena Football is not a game for specialists; you score on offense, cover the ensuing kick and then play defense. There are plenty of Rattlers that fit the bill capably, but keep an eye on WR/LB Tom Pace and lineman Wendall Gaines.
2. Two Wins and Two Losses – I don’t quite know where it came from, but the losses in the last two ArenaBowls should hardly evoke comparisons to the Buffalo Bills, who lost four straight Super Bowls. As a Bills fan for almost 25 years — the therapy sessions are almost over — I can speak from experience that the ArenaBowl wins in 1994 and 1997 disqualify the Rattlers from the company of the Bills and, lest we forget another 0-4 championship game record, the Minnesota Vikings.
1. One Game, One Team – After 152 regular season games and six playoff games this season, everything comes down to one game and it’s do or die. It’s a win that has eluded the Rattlers the past two seasons, but the 20 players dressed in black and copper on the field on Sunday will not give up until the Foster ArenaBowl Trophy is hoisted over their heads. This game will go to whoever wants it more as a team and no one club has been hotter as a whole than the Rattlers.
Okay, with that said, don’t think for one instant that the SaberCats are overmatched in this game. Until injuries to key players such as WR/DB James Roe slowed San Jose over the last few weeks of the season, San Jose appeared to be on the fast track to hosting ArenaBowl XVIII.
In fact, I’m not surprised to see many people who’ve been around the game picking San Jose to win on Sunday. With a team that features QB Mark Grieb, OS James Hundon, Roe, and a strong pass rush led by lineman Sam Hernandez, the SaberCats are dangerous and know how to capitalize on an opponent’s mistakes. And don’t forget the player for whom the Ironman award will likely be named, WR/DB Barry Wagner. Like Cooper, Wagner has been a big part of the game for a number of years and, while the skills aren’t exactly where they used to be, he’s a smart and tenacious player that knows what’ll take to win on Sunday.
Now, bring on Sunday.
Patrick Daly has been an Arena Football League enthusiast since he first stumbled across the late-night ESPN broadcasts and has followed the Arizona Rattlers since their inaugural season in 1992. He graduated from Arizona State University with an engineering degree and is currently a member of a web development team for Direct Alliance in Tempe. Patrick currently resides in the Phoenix suburb of Chandler, Arizona with his beautiful wife, son and a very large football helmet collection.
