Orlando Predators

Orlando lost one of its longest-standing teams today when news broke that the Arena Football League―and with it, the Orlando Predators, one of its longest-running and most storied franchises―were folding after 23 and 18 years in existence, respectively.

Gone are the legends of the Miracle Minute and the Arena League's lone shutout. The Arena Bowl victories in 1998 and 2000. The original War on I-4 with the Tampa Bay Storm. And 12-15 thousand fans filling Amway Arena 8-12 times each spring and summer.

But when one door closes, usually another one opens. The time may have indeed come to bring soccer back to Orlando.

For some, the words "soccer" and "Orlando" may not invoke much reminiscence. But consider the following:

The Citrus Bowl was a host venue for the 1994 FIFA World Cup. It hosted four games; one in Group E, two in Group F, and one in the Round of 16. The average attendance was around 61,400, with the smallest being 60,370. This compared favorably with games held in Chicago, and did better than Boston and Dallas, and also outperformed most group stage matches at the tournaments in France in 1998 and Italy in 1990.

The Citrus Bowl was again a host venue for the soccer competition in the 1996 Summer Olympics. It hosted six matches; three each in Groups B and D. It averaged around 21,000 per game. It may not seem like much, but more than half of the group stage games in 1992 in Barcelona had attendances under 10,000, and the numbers did compare favorably to 2000 in Sydney.

The Citrus Bowl was chosen as the host venue of the 1998 Major League Soccer All-Star Game. 34,416 people braved the typical heat of an Orlando summer day to watch the league's American All-Stars beat its World All-Stars, 6-1. That's almost 10,000 more than the previous year at Giants Stadium, and the second-highest MLS All-Star Game attendance in its history.

The Citrus Bowl has hosted several club and international friendlies. Most recently, on January 13, 2008, it hosted a club friendly between C.D. Guadalajara of Mexico and Deportivo Cali of Colombia. (warning: link in Spanish) With little advertisement, they attracted 15,126 fans.

The Citrus Bowl is not a proper venue for a permanent soccer club, even without the delay in its coming renovations. The few American football venues still in use by MLS do not attract as many fans as the smaller soccer-specific venues that have been put in place in cities like Columbus, Chicago, Los Angeles and Toronto.

That's not as big an obstacle as it might sound at first. This past October, the Orlando Business Journal published an article about plans for a $50 million soccer complex in Southwest Orlando. The 118-acre complex includes the construction of a 20,000-seat MLS-ready soccer stadium.

It would be located along the SR 429 expressway at Exit 15, New Independence Parkway, near Bridgewater Middle School and Horizon West, just south of Winter Garden and Ocoee. Since MLS games are typically played on Saturday and Sunday, with the occasional Thursday, traffic for the most part would not be an impedement to attendance.

The land where this complex would go is owned by Orange County and is already zoned for recreation. The County has expressed willingness to lease the land if it attracts a team. The complex itself would be funded by private investors with no money necessary from public or government sources.

It is also now known that Don Garber, Commissioner of Major League Soccer, wants to add two more teams. With no teams in the Southeast, there is definitely an opening to return to Florida after the flight of the Tampa Bay Mutiny and Miami Fusion after 2001.

That is an interesting story, as soccer's flight from Florida wasn't necessarily because of flagging attendance. The Mutiny's investment group went belly-up in the wake of 9/11, and the league decided to take the Fusion with it, despite improving attendance and an elite team.

The Fusion won the Supporters' Shield, the award for the best regular-season record, in 2001, and was scheduled to attend the 2002 CONCACAF Champions' Cup, the North American continental championship for club soccer (now known as the Champions League).

The remaining question is this: Can Orlando support soccer? They already support the Magic, and the MLS season will provide minimal overlap with the Magic and the soon-to-arrive Orlando Tuskers of the United Football League. Without the Predators, an MLS team in Orlando would be the only game in town, playoffs notwithstanding, from mid-April to September.

Being the 19th-largest television market in the United States, Orlando is already larger than five of the media markets that already have, or are about to have, MLS (Portland, Kansas City, Salt Lake City, Columbus, Vancouver), and are about on-par with another (Denver). Orlando is the largest metro area with only one major-league professional team.

In addition, with its reputation as a prime tourism destination, it would be logical that Orlando would attract more out-of-town fans than other MLS cities. Soccer fans around the world are known to travel well and travel readily, and MLS fans are no exception. The added incentive of Disney World and Universal makes it even more likely that Red Bull, Crew, Galaxy, United, Fire, Dynamo, Wizards and Sounders fans, among others, would go to Orlando to cheer their teams on.

Finally, having an MLS team would also boost Orlando's chances of returning to World Cup glory. The United States is in the running to host the FIFA World Cup in either 2018 or 2022, and cities are already lining up for the chance to host games for the event.

It's sad that the Predators are gone, but it does not have to be the end of excitement in the spring and summer in Orlando. The door is open, and the opportunity is there. All Orlando needs is somebody with the money and the guts to grab it.

Just a couple weeks into 2009, the Tennessee Valley Vipers have some of the most important figures from the defending Arena Cup championship team signed and returning for another run at the title.

Eric Scott is one of those slated to return to the Vipers. Scott was in negotiations with the Orlando Predators before the AFL abruptly ended business for this upcoming season.

Scott recorded 33.5 tackles including 18.5 tackles for loss. 17.5 of the tackles for loss were quarterback sacks. Scott also blocked two field goals in the regular season and one in the Arena Cup. His 22 quarterback hurries were tops on last year's team.

Joining Scott again on defense is RaJohn Myles. Myles finished last season with 8.5 sacks and four fumble recoveries. From his MLB position, Myles was the leader and the force that made opposing offenses fear throwing across the middle.

Also, returning from last season will be defensive backs, Darren Garrigan, Desmon Foster, Demetrius Derico, and Travis Blanchard.

Blanchard is almost a household name in Huntsville. His picture graces each Vipers billboard and everyone loves No. 7. Garrigan was green in his first few games with the Vipers, but as the playoffs came around, so did Garrigan. He matched his three pass break-ups in the regular season with three in the Arena Cup alone and nine in the four playoff wins.

Derico led the Vipers all season in interceptions and was among the league leaders as well with nine picks.

Foster set an Arena Cup record with 13.5 tackles. He also had three picks in the regular season, five in the post season, including one in the Arena Cup.

Offensively, returning for the Vipers will be backup signal caller and Arena Cup MVP Tony Colston. Colston returns as the starter as of right now.

With the receiving corps returning for the Vipers, it won't be hard for Colston to look like an NFL prospect. Maurice Brown, Alonzo Nix, Jeremy Stephens, and Michael Johnson all return. Also Chris Bocage was added from the Albany Conquest and two rookies from the University of North Alabama also thrown into the mix, one of which was in camp with the Colorado Crush before the AFL suspended the 2009 season.

Brown led the team with 108.8 yards receiving a game and 29 scores before being injured. Nix hauled in 23 scores of his own and 85 yards a game. Johnson posted three touchdowns in three games and 65 yards receiving per contest.

In the playoffs, Nix hauled in nine scores and averaged 131.8 yards a game.

Some other new faces joining the Vipers will be OL/DL John Scott of Jacksonville State and FB/LB and DE Keller Speakes, also of Jacksonville State. Speakes has two years experience with the Louisville Fire. Scott is a rookie who was in camp with the Tennessee Titans the last two years.

Once again, the Vipers roster is shaping up tremendously and in 2009 the HISS is BACK!

The Cleveland Gladiators came to Cleveland with high hopes.  After a home playoff victory over the Orlando Predators, they head to Georgia with the same high hopes.

In their first year in Cleveland, the Gladiators earned a trip to the post-season by going 9-7.  While faltering a bit down the stretch, they won the last game, getting into the playoffs and securing home-field advantage for at least one game by landing the fourth spot in the eight-seeded playoff picture of their conference.  The Orlando Predators came in with the very same record.   In their regular season meeting on 5/9, the Gladiators won 62-43.  Orlandowas without Defensive end Rob Shroeder and defensive back Jason Perry. 

Playoff atmosphere loomed large at Quicken Loans Arena in beautiful downtown Cleveland.  The crowd was loud, definitely allowing the Gladiators an advantage.  Much of the first half, it didn’t look good for the home squad.

Orlandoreceiver Chris Gasner sacrificed life and limb on the Predators first touchdown, diving into the stands and hauling down the catch.

Raymond Philyaw struck right back with a 25 yard strike, hitting Robert Redd right on the numbers. 

The Gladiator kickoff coverage was non-existent through most of the game, and they gave up a fifty-plus yard runback.  On the ensuing extra point, the snap was high, and Orlandokicker Dan Frantz pulled it to the right, hitting the crossbar.  20-14 Orlando. 

The first big break of the contest came on a bull-rush by Orlando’s Marlon Moye-Moore.  He sent Raymond Philyaw back-peddling.  Philyaw pump-faked, fumbled, and Triple M recovered.  The Gladiators challenged the call, contending an incomplete pass.  After a lengthy review, the play stood as called.

As the second quarter opened, the Predators coughed the ball right back to the Gladiators, negating their turnover advantage with a hand-off miscue.  Philyaw looked out of sorts after the fumble, throwing into coverage, badly under-throwing, and flipping one into the stands, making it fourth and ten from the Gladiator six yard line.  Cleveland went for it, and the Orlando defense held, taking over on downs. 

If you are counting, that made three defensive stops in a row?  THAT IS UNDHEARD OF!!  Orlando broke the string of stops, scoring on a third and six with a pass to the right corner.  Yet again they missed the extra point, making it 26-14.  The extra point misses would eventually come back to haunt them. 

Cleveland continued to shoot themselves in the foot offensively, negating a fantastic touchdown catch with an illegal formation.  Regaining their pose, they came right back to the other corner of the end-zone and scored, narrowing the gap to 26-21

On the next Predator possession, DB defensive back Brandon Hefflin picked off a tipped Shane Stafford pass.  Even with the fumble on the return, the Gladiators kept possession on the Orlando five.  On a fourth and four, Orlando jumped off-sides, almost giving the Gladiator offense a first down. The fourth and one false start went against Cleveland, making it fourth and six, requiring the Gladiators to kick a field goal, narrowing the gap to 26-24. 

After the kickoff Odie Armstrong, a 270 lb fullback rumbled 31 yards to the house after a catch and a hurdle over a pack of Gladiator players, opening up an Orlando 33-24 lead. 

Brandon Hefflin came up huge yet again, picking off his second pass of the evening with 10.8 seconds left on the clock and giving the Gladiators a chance to take the lead going into the half.  A little two yard pass to Redd moved the ball out to the sixteen.  One play later, same play, the Gladiators were all the way down to the 12 yard line, easy pickings for Jason Ball.  He planted it firmly through, giving Cleveland a 34-33 lead heading into the half.

In the third quarter, ball in hand, the Gladiators stormed out of the gate, opening the second half with a 25 yard TD pass to Redd laid in beautifully by QB Raymond Philyaw.

Randy Hymes returned the favor when he  took a three yard pass and turned it into a touchdown with some nifty juking. 

With 3:40 left in the third, the Gladiators’ Philyaw lobbed an ill-advised pass into the corner and the jump ball was picked off.  Orlando got the upper hand immediately, scoring on bad coverage by the Cleveland defense. 

With 9:07 left in the game, the defense let a stop slip away.  Bryant Shaw had Stafford wrapped up for no gain, but let him escape for the score.  This would be the last of Orlando’s leads. 

After Cleveland scored again, taking a 62-60 lead, Orlando drove all the way to the Cleveland 4 yard line and appeared poised to retake the lead. 

Orlando QB Stafford complete a pass to Toliver on the four, Toliver staggered, fell,, and lost the ball.  Hefflin scooped up the loose rock for his third turnover of the game with 2:04 seconds remaining.  Orlando challenged the call to no avail. FUMBLE!! 

The Gladiators went deep twice, going for and coming up big on a catch by Otis Amey at Orlando’s 8 yard line.  A TD here might ice the game.  And there it was.  A running play up the gut by Willis Marshall and the Gladiators stormed ahead 69-60 with 51.9 seconds to go.  RAISE THE ROOF BABY!! 

Ironically, Mike Brown was in attendance when Byron Davis opted out of his contract as reported by ESPN and the information was passed on to said reporter by good friend Scott, who’d called earlier and was told Brown was in attendence.  A quick check of the luxury box did not show Davis in there however.   Bummer.  The feeling was short-lived though.

The onside kick with 20.7 seconds remaining was recovered by Otis Amey.  Amey gobbled the ball back off the turf one play later after a Gladiator fumble almost gave the Predators new life. 

Three throws into the crowd ran out the clock.  And there it was 69-66.  The Cleveland Gladiators are 1-0 in the history of their postseason. 

A jovial group of Gladiators interviewed afterward, stating it was just one win and there was plenty more to do.  Georgia will make sure they have their hands full.

Here is my Week 5 Power Poll and Preview of games

This week there are some key games to watch out for in Week 5.

You have the final two undefeated teams playing this weekend and looking to stay perfect on the year.

The Philadelphia Soul (4-0), #1 in the Power Poll, hosts #5 Tampa Bay Storm (2-1), on Saturday, March 29 at 2p.m. ET (ESPN2 HD, ESPN360.com).

The Soul's offense did not look like it missed injured QB Tony Graziani at all last week against Los Angeles. Backup QB Matt D'Orazio stepped in and was 28 of 42 for 338 yards and eight touchdowns. 

The Dallas Desperados (4-0), #2, travels to the Nassau Coliseum to take on #15 New York Dragons (1-3) on Sunday, March 30 at 3 p.m. ET in a Eastern Division matchup.

Desperdos QB Chris Sanders was 20-of-28 for 276 yards and six touchdowns last week as the Desperados ended the SaberCats 15-game home winning streak 

The Desperados are looking to go 5-0 for the second consecutive season with a win. Dallas is 32-4 in their last 36 regular-season contests, including 12 in a row and six straight on the road. 

The Chicago Rush (3-1), #3, welcomes the Arizona Rattlers (2-2), #9, to the Allstate Arena on Friday, March 28 at 8:30 p.m. ET (AFL NET, FSN Arizona - Delay, at 9:30 p.m. PT, CSN Chicago - Delay, 3/29 at 4 p.m. CT, SIRIUS Radio - Channel 130).

This game marks the first time Rush QB Sherdrick Bonner will face his former team of the past 14 seasons.

Bonner, left Arizona as the team's all-time leader in passing yards (40,979), attempts (5,268), completions (3,261) and touchdown passes (829).

Bonner also led the Rattlers to five ArenaBowl appearances and two championships in ArenaBowls VIII and XI.

This weeks other games include:

Saturday

#8 San Jose (2-2) at #16 Kansas City (0-3), 6:00 P.M. ET, (FSN Bay Area/NBC Local - Live, KSMO Local - Live)

#7 Orlando (2-2) at #13 Columbus (1-3), 7:00 P.M. ET, (AFL NET, WRDQ TV - Live, Columbus Sports Net - Live, CSS - Delay, 3/30 at 5:30 p.m. ET, SIRIUS Radio - Channel 130).

#14 Georgia (1-3) at #17 Utah (0-4), 9:00 P.M. ET, (CSS - Live, KJZZ - Live)

Sunday

#10 Los Angeles (2-2) at #12 Grand Rapids (1-2), 2:00 P.M. ET

#4 New Orleans VooDoo (3-1) at #11 Colorado (1-2), 4:00 P.M. ET (FSN Rocky Mountain Local - Live).

Bye Week: #6 Cleveland (3-1)

Power Poll Rankings:

 1) Philadelphia Soul (4-0, LW: 1) Beat Los Angeles 71-34 on 3/20

 2) Dallas Desperados (4-0, LW: 2) Beat San Jose 59-56 on 3/22

 3) Chicago Rush (3-1, LW: 4) Beat Colorado 70-35 on 3/22

 4) New Orleans VooDoo (3-1, LW: 6) Beat Cleveland 63-24 on 3/21

 5) Tampa Bay Storm (2-1, LW: 8) BYE WEEK

 6) Cleveland Gladiators (3-1, LW: 3) Lost to New Orleans 24-63 on 3/21

 7) Orlando Predators (2-2. LW: 11) Beat Georgia 50-45 on 3/22

 8) San Jose SaberCats (2-2, LW: 5) Lost to Dallas 59-56 on 3/22

 9) Arizona Rattlers (2-2, LW: 13) Beat New York 62-33 on 3/21

10) Los Angeles Avengers (2-2, LW: 7) Lost to Philadelphia 71-34 on 3/20

11) Colorado Crush (1-2, LW: 9) Lost to Chicago 35-70 on 3/22

12) Grand Rapids Rampage (1-2, LW: 15) Beat Kansas City 92-52 on 3/24

13) Columbus Destroyers (1-3, LW: 17) Beat Utah 52-49 on 3/21

14) Georgia Force (1-3, LW: 10) Lost to Orlando 50-45 on 3/22

15) New York Dragons (1-3, LW: 12) Lost to Arizona 33-62 on 3/21

16) Kansas City Brigade (0-3, LW: 14) Lost to Grand Rapids 52-92 on 3/24

17) Utah Blaze (0-4, LW: 16) Lost to Columbus 49-52 on 3/21

WEEK 4 HONORS

CO-OFFENSIVE PLAYERS: Grand Rapids Rampage QB James MacPherson and Philadelphia Soul WR Chris Jackson

ADT DEFENSIVE PLAYER: New Orleans VooDoo DB Calvin Spears

IRONMAN PLAYER: Chicago Rush WR/LB DeJuan Alfonzo