Predators Rattle Arizona, Will Host ArenaBowl XIV
Joe Kauffman
Monday August 14, 2000
This was a game of huge implications for both teams. The winner of the semifinal would play host to the Nashville Kats in ArenaBowl XIV. The loser would be sent home, just like San Jose, Iowa, Albany, New England, Tampa Bay, Milwaukee, Oklahoma, Grand Rapids and Buffalo.
Unlike the first semifinal game, where the road team was victorious, the home team would win at the TD Waterhouse Centre. The Orlando Predators defeated the Arizona Rattlers 56-44 in front of 13,151 mostly black-clad, rowdy fans.
Jay Gruden and Connell Maynor earned the right to host Arenabowl XIV Image courtesy of Drew Kennedy |
“I’m not sure why they called batting the ball on the fumble,” said Dell. “I was in full stride and just trying to pick the ball up. I’m glad it was not the deciding play in the game.”
Penalties weren’t Orlando’s only problem on defense. In the entire first half, the Predators’ pass rush was only able to touch Funderurk twice, and neither of those hits rattled him. Funderburk had only started one game in his career, a 1999 playoff victory over the Nashville Kats, and had only 83 career passing attempts. Against the Predators, he was 21-of-32 for 275 yards and five touchdowns.
“We played an absolutely horrible first half,” said Predators head Coach Jay Gruden. “We were a little flat, and I’m not sure if Arizona was ready for us or whether we just weren’t executing.”
But the Predators defense, which allowed Arizona to take a 22-17 halftime lead, made their presence felt during the second half. They sacked Funderburk four times and he threw two interceptions. A third interception was called back due to a penalty. He was under pressure on almost every play.
“We heard [Arizona] whooping it up at halftime,” said Gruden. “Yelling ‘30 more minutes to the ArenaBowl’ and stuff like that. I just told our guys that games aren’t won in one half.”
The defensive pressure enabled the Predators to take what had been a one-score deficit at the half and gain a two score lead early in the fourth quarter. As a result, Arizona was unable to regain the lead.
“Jay [Gruden] just told us to go out and play our game in the second half,” said Dell. “The offense picked it up and our defense came up with some big stops.”
Up Next – ArenaBowl XIV
By virtue of their victory, Orlando will host ArenaBowl XIV. The Predators will be playing a familiar foe, the Nashville Kats. Both teams are in the Southern division and have played each other twice annually since the Kats came into the league in 1997.
This is Nashville’s first ArenaBowl appearance. The Predators are making their sixth appearance, tying a league record previously held solely by the Detroit Drive, including three in a row.
The Florida Connection
ArenaBowl XIV marks the ninth time in 10 seasons that the state of Florida will be represented in the ArenaBowl. The only ArenaBowl played without a Floirda team since they joined the league was ArenaBowl XI, between the Arizona Rattlers and the Iowa Barnstormers. On two occasions, in 1995 and 1998, both ArenaBowl participants were from Florida. Tampa Bay and Orlando split the league title games.
The Tampa Bay Connection
Love them or hate them, the Tampa Bay Storm manage to be an ArenaBowl story even when they aren’t participating in the game. The head coaches of both teams, Pat Sperduto of Nashville and Jay Gruden of Orlando, both won three championships together with the Tampa Bay Storm. Gruden won four titles as a player with the Storm before retiring after the 1996 season. Sperduto was a player for the Storm during the first two titles in 1991 and in 1993 and was an assistant coach when they won the title in 1995. Both men joined the coaching staff of Nashville in 1997 under then-head Coach Eddie Khayat.
Joe Kauffman is President and Editor in Chief of Arenafan Online, having joined the staff in 2000. He graduated from Florida State University in 1998 with a degree in communications andbuilds ecommerce sites for a day job. Joe has enjoyed Arena Football since 1991 and has been a member of the Arena Football Internet community since 1995. Prior to Joining Arenafan, he was a co-founder and Technical Editor of the Storm Shelter, which covered the Tampa Bay Storm from 1996-99. Joe and his wife Erika live in Hackettstown, New Jersey with their two daughters.