AFLWA > News > Schutt Sports Top 12 Poll

Jan. 24, 2006
For Immediate Release
Contact: Mark Anderson
702-379-0154

Crush expected to repeat Arena Bowl title

COLORADO TOPS SCHUTT
SPORTS PRESEASON TOP 12 POLL

LAS VEGAS (AFLWA) – The defending champion Colorado Crush is the preseason pick to win the Arena Football League title, receiving nine first-place votes in the Schutt Sports Top 12 Poll. Members of the Arena Football League Writers Association (AFLWA) vote in the poll.

Colorado, which went 10-6 last season, totaled 171 points to edge the No. 2 Georgia Force (11-5), which received five first-place votes and 168 points. Both teams met in last year's ArenaBowl. The No. 3 San Jose SaberCats (9-7) received the remaining first-place vote.

The Crush opens this season at home against the No. 5 Chicago Rush (9-7), Georgia hosts the No. 8 Orlando Predators (10-6), and San Jose entertains the expansion Utah Blaze.

At No. 4 was the Tampa Bay Storm (10-6), which is at the No. 7 Philadelphia Soul (6-10). The No. 6 Dallas Desperados (8-7-1) host the No. 12 Kansas City Brigade, an expansion team comprised of many of the New Orleans VooDoo players, who went 9-7. New Orleans shut down operations after Hurricane Katrina.

The No. 9 Los Angeles Avengers (10-6) is at home against the Arizona Rattlers (7-9). Finally, the No. 11 Nashville Kats (6-9-1) are at the No. 10 New York Dragons (10-6).

2006 SCHUTT SPORTS PRESEASON TOP 12 POLL (JAN. 24)
Rk.	Team [1st Place]	W-L-T	Pts.	Pvs.	Season Opener
1.	Colorado Crush [9]	10-6	171	t4	vs. No. 5 Chicago
2.	Georgia Force [5]	11-5	168	1	vs. No. 8 Orlando
3.	San Jose SaberCats [1]	9-7	117	7	vs. Utah
4.	Tampa Bay Storm	10-6	108	t4	at No. 7 Philadelphia
5.	Chicago Rush	9-7	106	8	at No. 1 Colorado
6.	Dallas Desperados	8-7-1	92	-	vs. No. 12 Kansas City
7.	Philadelphia Soul	6-10	80	-	vs. No. 4 Tampa Bay
8.	Orlando Predators	10-6	74	3	at No. 2 Georgia
9.	Los Angeles Avengers	10-6	71	2	vs. Arizona
10.	New York Dragons	10-6	54	6	vs. No. 11 Nashville
11.	Nashville Kats	6-9-1	48	-	at No. 10 New York
12.	Kansas City Brigade	-	27	-	at No. 6 Dallas
Others receiving votes: Arizona Rattlers 18, Las Vegas Gladiators 17, Utah Blaze 9, Austin Wranglers 6, Columbus Destroyers 2, Grand Rapids Rampage 2.
Note: Records are from 2005 season. Previous ranking is from final 2005 poll (In 2005, the AFLWA ranked eight teams in its poll).

Schutt Sports, the sports gear company with a reputation for innovation, is sponsoring this season's Top 12 Poll. Its website is schuttsports.com.

The AFLWA, founded at the start of the 2004 season, is a national organization made up of media members who cover the Arena Football League. Mark Anderson of the Las Vegas Review-Journal is the AFLWA's founder and executive director.

2006 AFLWA Rankings (No 1. team):
• Preseason (Colorado) • Jan. 31 (Colorado) • Feb. 8 (Colorado) • Feb. 14 (Colorado) • Feb. 21 (Austin) • Feb. 28 (Nashville)	• March 7 (Colorado) • March 15 (Colorado) • March 21 (Dallas) • March 28 (Dallas) • April 4 (Dallas) • April 11 (Dallas)	• April 18 (Dallas) • April 25 (Dallas) • May 2 (Dallas) • May 9 (Dallas) • May 16 (Dallas)