Kats Hope Third Time is a Charm
Joseph Lenard
Friday August 18, 2000
If you’re puzzled, don`t be. Indeed this is the Kats first ArenaBowl appearance, but the state of Tennessee`s third Football team to make it to their respective sports Championship game, this year!
First, the Tennessee Titans earned a birth in the NFL`s SuperBowl, and who could forget the heartbreak the Titans fans felt as they came up just a few feet short of forcing the game into overtime? Many, this Arena Football fan included, were pulling for Kurt Warner and the St. Louis Rams. We hoped Kurt could finally prove the talent of the AFL and raise hope for others to move from the AFL ranks into the NFL.
Ron Carpenter and the Nashville Kats hope `third time is a charm` for Tennessee football teams Image courtesy of Jeff Marshall |
The Kats provide the state of Tennessee that "third time is a charm" hope.
The Nashville Kats ended the 2000 Regular Season play, as they had all the seasons before, with a Playoff birth. While some have considered Nashville as the surprise of the Playoffs this year, it does not surprise this reporter. Just a look at the brief history of the Kats shows a pattern of winning and building. Since the Kats joining the Arena Football League in 1997, the Kats have not suffered a losing season, having posted records of 9-5, 8-6, 9-5, and this year`s 10-4 record. This just may be the year of the Kat!
A quick glance at the teams on paper suggests a very close and hard fought match-up. This game may truly come down to the cliché of “who turns over the ball the least.” The turnover margins of the Kats is +11 and Orlando is +5. The other big catagory, and a factor in the first half of Orlando`s semifinal game against the Rattlers, are the Predators 23 sacks allowed, compared to the Kats impressive 4. If Orlando turns over the ball, possibly just once, and fails to protect the Quarterback, this will be a Nashville win and the state of Tennessees vengence. Other states may be asking themselves, just what are they putting in the water in Tennessee? A state with no Football just a few short years ago, and in the year 2000 no less than 3 Championship game visits!
Joseph Lenard was a writer for ArenaFan Online from 2000 to 2001.