Yeah. Bobcats Win. See Ya` Tomorrow.
Dan Ryan
Saturday April 21, 2001
This score speaks for itself. Our favorite league doormat has grown up and finally beat a Southern Division opponent on the road. Head coach Dave Ewart divvied up some bonus money and the players are now enjoying themselves at Church Street Station in their newfound respect.
Meanwhile, Predator fans are drinking to forget. Don`t even try to call the coaches` office tomorrow. The busy signal will come up and that`s probably Jay Gruden talking to Mike Pawlaski’s or Tommy Maddux`s agents once the XFL championship game is done.
"We`re going to have to make serious changes and take a long look at what we`re doing and the plays I`m calling,`` Gruden said.
What`s wrong with the Preds? How can you go from being the ArenaBowl champs to losing to the Florida Bobcats in two games?
One thing was noticeable during the pre-game ceremonies when Klaw heaved the Foster trophy and the PA announcer introduced the returning players from the championship team. Rick Hamilton and Mike Osuna walked out in shorts, both injured. Defensive lineman Matt Storm hobbled out in crutches. The final intro, the one that used to belong to Barry Wagner or Connell Maynor, was Kenny McEntyre -- the defensive specialist.
The Preds` defense isn`t that bad -- it might even be better than last year -- but 25 points a night won`t get the job done. This is an expansion team with a history.
"Nothing against the Florida Bobcats defense, but 25 points against them is a travesty,`` said Gruden. "It`s embarrassing. We thought we were a good team up front, but we`re only average.”
Braniff Bonaventure almost salvaged his career by leading Orlando to a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns. The Preds’ defense made a stop, and down by six with 50 seconds to go, only 35 yards stood in front of the airline promotion taking off. Two plays later, an ill-advised pick to Kevin McKenzie grounded the plane.
Rookie Chris Wallace moved the team, but could only muster nine points in 30 minutes.
"I`m looking for a spark, from someone, anyone,`` Gruden said.
It`s easy to point the figure at the Preds’ QB situation, but Gruden didn`t.
"Everybody should be looking at themselves right now,`` Gruden said. "We need something positive. Defensive back, the lines, the kicker -- horrible kicking tonight -- and coaching, too, don`t forget the coaching part.``
The problem is, Coach, no one wants to remember anything in Orlando tonight…except the Bobcats.
Dan Ryan has been involved with all forms of arena football since 1988, including writing for ArenaFan when Joe Kauffman and Tim Capper aren’t killing his columns because they don’t get his jokes or perspective. His day job is at Bethune-Cookman University, which has produced both an NFL Hall of Famer (Larry Little) and an Arena Football Hall of Famer (Stevie Thomas) and his hobby is tracking how many f-bombs Adam Markowitz drops in the chat room on game nights.