Midseason Review: San Jose SaberCats
Robert Babcock
Friday June 2, 2000
Why did Wagner pick the SaberCats over all the other teams in the league? "I wanted to play for a team where I wouldn`t be the `go-to guy`,” said Wagner, “The SaberCats have plenty of weapons and I`m just a piece to the puzzle."
Wagner with his 26 Ironman awards brings tremendous experience to the SaberCats. Pete Porcelli, former Arena player and writer said, “Wagner has added a deep threat and possession receiver element to the team. He is a marquee player”. This team hasn’t had a true deep receiver with the exception of Steve Papin. Porcelli added, “Teams can`t isolate a Papin or a Shalon Baker because now they have one of the greatest receivers in the league to contend with. He is the type of guy who can put the team on his back and tell them to hop on and he will carry them.”
Many of us know Wagner for his Ironman awards. In Orlando, he was winning them week after week. With the SaberCats, he hasn’t needed to. Wagner has stepped up his game on defense more than any other year. In 1996, during Wagner’s streak of six Ironman of the Year awards, he had his best defensive performance, despite missing five games. His statistics that year (31 tackles, 33 total tackles, and no forced fumbles with five interceptions for 46 yards) were great, but so far this year he seems better, with 21 tackles, 29 total, and five forced fumbles three interceptions for 37 yards before Thursday’s game against the Rattlers. Has San Jose’s other great receivers hurt Wagner’s numbers? “Personally it has affected my numbers, but the goal is to win.” Added Wagner, “That`s what we`ve done so far.”
If he continues on this roll I see an Ironman award. When he retires I also picture the name changing to the Wagner Ironman award. And look out. Wagner also can bring along the ring, which the SaberCats so deserve.
With all the firepower this team enjoys, everyone still hasn’t been 100% healthy. Steve Papin has had a hamstring injury this season, causing him to miss the first AFL game of his career. Is he back to one hundred percent? He says he is, and all I know is that I wouldn’t want to play against this team if he was.
Papin has been in the news about possibly playing in the XFL along with the AFL. I asked him about it. He said, “The league (XFL) has said that it won`t sign players under contract to another league. If I sign with San Jose, it won`t be an issue."
It looks like both leagues will be watching Papin for a long time. What he has this year with the added strength of his teammates is remarkable. “Other players on the team have been contacted as well,” Papin added, “I really don`t think it would hurt our team at this point.” It seems that the team is focused on one thing. Bringing the Arenabowl to San Jose.
 Hernandez has put the heat on opposing quarterbacks so far this year, including Oklahoma`s Ron Lopez Image courtesy of Jeff Marshall |
SaberCats’ OL/DL Sam Hernandez has been a man on a mission this year. Here is a guy laying it out for the team every week. Last year, he breaks his arm, gets a cast and still goes out for three weeks and plays. Does Hernandez get the respect he deserves? Porcelli, a former teammate of Hernandez, doesn’t think so, “The all-star play of Hernandez has the team running on all cylinders.”
Everyone in the organization recognizes Hernandez’ contributions, “You would expect big things from Sam Hernandez, but he has been that much more impressive this season,” said Simon, “He continues to be a dominant lineman considering his years in the league and his relatively small size for a lineman.” Hernandez is 6` 3” and weights 250 pounds – linebacker size by NFL standards.
 The SaberCats can rely on James Roe among others for a run at the Arenabowl Image courtesy of Jeff Marshall |
Before Thursday night’s win against the Arizona Rattlers, Simon wasn’t concerned about meeting the Rattlers again so soon, “I think the timing is perfect. The team is confident after impressive wins over Buffalo and LA. The team did what it had to do, win and win big. This team is for real.”
I too believe this team is good. Is it good enough to bring home the Arenabowl Championship? We’ll see. Their record shows that they can string wins together. In seasons’ past they’ve cooled off and coasted into the playoffs. But this year, all they have to do is ride the shoulders of veterans’ Papin, Hernandez, and Wagner. If they do that, the SaberCats can’t lose.
Robert Babcock was a writer for ArenaFan Online during the 2000 season.
