It’s no wonder Colorado Crush coach Mike Dailey smiles when he talks about new blood in the Arena Football League playoffs.
It was the Crush’s 56-48 victory Sunday over the San Jose SaberCats that put a new face on the 2005 postseason. The loss eliminated the SaberCats from contention for the June 12 ArenaBowl in Las Vegas. With the Arizona Rattlers missing the playoffs this season, it’s the first time since 2001 that neither the Rattlers nor the SaberCats will be in the championship game.
“There has been some powerhouse teams in the league,” Dailey said. “But this year there have been no guarantees, and it’s good for the league when everyone has a chance. When you’re involved in sports in any capacity, you like to see that every year your team has a chance to be a top team.”
Of the four remaining franchises, only the Orlando Predators have been to an Arena- Bowl, winning the championship in 1998 and 2000. The Chicago Rush, the Crush and the Georgia Force haven’t been in the championship game.
“The arena league has made huge strides in the 19 years it has been around,” Dailey said. “It’s still making great strides. When a new team reaches the top, it creates a buzz and excitement in that area, and that helps the league grow nationally.”
Parity has been a force in the 2005 season. By the fifth week of the season, there wasn’t an unbeaten team, the earliest point during a season that every team had at least one loss since 1993.
Arizona made the playoffs 12 consecutive seasons before this year. San Jose had compiled a 7-1 record in the playoffs the past three years before losing to the Crush.
Chicago, which will face the Crush, has been to the semifinals the past three years. The Crush reached the semifinals last year before losing. Georgia, which takes on Orlando, gained a playoff spot in 2003 as a wild-card team, but the Force hasn’t been to the semifinals.
League’s top lineman
Silas Demary of the Los Angeles Avengers was selected lineman of the year by Arena Football League head coaches, fans and media.
Irv Moss can be reached at 303-820-1296 or imoss@denverpost.com.
