SaberCats Not Overlooking Sea Wolves
Robert Babcock
Friday June 9, 2000
The team started off slow, but watch out. They are riding a wave of five consecutive wins going up against New England. What made them turn around? “We are coming together and have jelled together,” said Steve Papin, Offensive Specialist, “We are a family now.”
How can a team come together as a team? There are many ways. Going out for dinner as a team, riding together to games, or maybe just helping each other personally. “Being in San Jose is a long way from home, the guys help make it easy,” explained WR/DB Barry Wagner, “They’re a great group of guys.”
The New England Sea Wolves are 5-3 coming off a tough loss to the Los Angeles Avengers. They have had two key players go down in recent weeks; QB Chad Salisbury and OS Damian Harrell. Will losing these guys hurt them? So far, the answer is yes. They lost to the winless Avengers last week, who the SaberCats beat to a bloody pulp earlier this season by 53 points. But that puts the SaberCats at risk to take this game lightly. “There is a chance of that,” stated Papin, “The Coaching staff keeps us level headed and focused. Anybody can be beat.”
With Salisbury and Harrell going down, the SaberCats should have it easy against a team that doesn’t have weapons. Should the defensive be worried? “The secondary [doesn’t] take any opponent lightly because on any given day you can get beat in this game,” revealed DS Lee Cole, “We still [have] to work hard, and go in there every game with the same attitude.”
 Lee Cole and the rest of the SaberCats are ready for New England Image courtesy of Jeff Marshall |
The coaching staff does a good job of giving players the right mindset. They aren’t saying: Let’s get to the playoffs, or just win baby. Their slogan is “one game at a time.” Has it helped the SaberCats? “That is what championship teams do,” said QB John Dutton, “We just look at New England. We are not looking at next week or the playoffs. If we do, we won’t be in the playoffs.”
“We take goals one step at a time,” Cole said, “Last week, it was to beat them in their home stadium. This week, we want to set an example to the league. We are the team to beat."
For personal motivation, two players are playing against former coach Mike Hohensee. Both OL/DL Sam Hernandez and OL/DL Sai Poulivaati played for him in Anaheim. “There is a little more incentive [because] we were in Anaheim,” said Poulivaati, “He [Hohensee] didn’t think too highly of us that we could do the job.”
There are a few statistical motivations too. Sam Hernandez only needs one more sack to become the all-time sack leader in the AFL. And the SaberCats can break their win-streak record of five with a win in San Jose.
Will this team be ready? They sure look like it. Is this team better then the Orlando Predators team Wagner played for? “Oh yes we have a lot of depth,” states Wagner, “[We have] a lot of fight that showed last week. On any given weekend, any team can get beat. L.A. showed that. We have to show the world that we’re not a joke. We made a statement last week to the league. We have to show it isn’t a fluke.”
We will see Friday night if this team can stay focused. The coaching staff is doing everything it can. They don’t want to let up. San Jose is primed to have a major run. Let the records fall where they may. The SaberCats are ready for six in a row.
Robert Babcock was a writer for ArenaFan Online during the 2000 season.
