San Jose SaberCats
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The San Jose SaberCats are an Arena Football League team. The Cats began play in 1995. The team plays at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, California, also the home of the San Jose Sharks franchise of the National Hockey League and the San Jose Stealth of the National Lacrosse League. The SaberCats are one of Arena's premier organizations, having never drawn below 10,000 fans at any of their home games. The SaberCats compete in the Western Division of the American Conference. The SaberCats were ArenaBowl champions in 2002 and 2004, both times beating their rivals, the Arizona Rattlers, for the championship.
On June 5, 2004, the SaberCats were fined $20,000 for violations during their Quarterfinal Round playoff game against the Tampa Bay Storm. They were first fined $10,000 for distributing cowbells, without advance approval, to fans entering the building, which was cited as a violation by the AFL as an intentional competitive advantage generated by the creation of artificial noise. Also, during the game itself, the SaberCats refused to apply microphones to certain players and coaches during the NBC broadcast, which led to an additional $10,000 fine.
The San Jose Sabercats team colors are Dark teal and Gold with Black as an Alternate.
San Jose was 9-7 this year, earning the 4th seed in the American Conference playoffs. They lost to #1 seed Colorado Crush 56-48 in the first round, after failing to score on 6 goal line oppurtunities in the final minute of play.
The 2005 Starting Lineup was: QB: Mark Grieb-16 OS: Rashied Davis-1
OL/DL; Joe Jacobs-93 C/NT: Dan Loney-91 DL/TE: George Williams III-97 FB/LB: Matt Kinsinger-25 WR/LB: James Roe-9 WR/DB: Rodney Wright-17
DS: Clevan Thomas-8 DS: Tremain Mack-24
K: Dan Frantz-13
Key Reserves included Ryan Fernandez(WR/DB), Shalon Baker(WR/LB), Barry Wagner(WR/DB), Erin Damond(DS), Albrey Battle(OL/DL) K Derek Schorejs was signed to replace the injured Dan Frantz after week 16 OS James Hundon was on the IR, and was replaced by WR/DB Rashied Davis TE/DL Sam Hernandez resigned near the end of the season
Head coaches
- 1995-1998 Todd Shell, 29-25
- 1999- Darren Arbet, 64-24
Notable players
- Mark Grieb Quarterback
- Sam Hernandez Offensive/Defensive Lineman
- James Hundon Offensive Specialist
- Pat McGuirk Defensive Specialist
- Steve Papin Offensive Specialist
- James Roe Wide Receiver/Linebacker
- Clevan Thomas Defensive Specialist
- Barry Wagner Wide Receiver/Defensive Back
External links
- San Jose SaberCats (http://www.sanjosesabercats.com/)