AFLWA > News > Schutt Sports Top 12 Poll

Feb. 8, 2006
For Immediate Release
Contact: Mark Anderson
702-379-0154

Crush gains all 17 first-place votes to stay No. 1

COLORADO TOPS SCHUTT
SPORTS AFL TOP 12 POLL

LAS VEGAS (AFLWA) – After defeating Chicago and Georgia, its opponents in the final games of last season's playoffs, the Colorado Crush is a unanimous No. 1 in the Schutt Sports Top 12 Poll this week.

The Crush (2-0) received all 17 first-place votes in the poll, which is voted on by members of the Arena Football League Writers Association (AFLWA).

The Nashville Kats (2-0), which defeated Columbus, 53-27, moved up from fifth to second. The Destroyers (1-1) dropped out of the poll, where they were ninth last week.

Last week's second-ranked team, Georgia, dropped just one place to third, as the Force (1-1) lost a heartbreaker to the top-ranked Crush, 61-59, last Sunday at Philips Arena.

Dallas (2-0) remained fourth after defeating previously eighth-ranked Utah, 56-53. The expansion-Blaze (1-1) dropped just one spot to No. 9 with the loss.

Despite an impressive 47-33 win over Los Angeles, the Philadelphia Soul (2-0) dropped two spots to No. 5. They should have a chance to move up this week with a tough contest on the road at Orlando. The Predators (1-1) moved back into the poll at No. 7 by beating Kansas City, 48-41, last week.

Austin (2-0) continues to impress voters, as it moved up four spots to sixth. Last week, the Wranglers played the first of five straight road games, routing Arizona 53-34.

Tampa Bay (1-1) also moved up four spots – to eighth – as a result of its 51-43 win over Grand Rapids on the road last Friday night. The Storm has a huge division test this weekend, as they will host the No. 3 Force.

Los Angeles (1-1) dropped three spots to No. 10. The Avengers face Grand Rapids on Sunday afternoon.
Two other teams which were unranked last week enter the poll. New York (1-1) is 11th, and Las Vegas (1-1) is 12th.

2006 SCHUTT SPORTS AFL TOP 12 POLL (FEB. 8)
Rk.	Team [1st Place]	W-L	Pts.	Pvs.
1.	Colorado Crush [17]	2-0	204	1
2.	Nashville Kats	2-0	160	5
3.	Georgia Force	1-1	157	2
4.	Dallas Desperados	2-0	153	4
5.	Philadelphia Soul	2-0	152	3
6.	Austin Wranglers	2-0	115	10
7.	Orlando Predators	1-1	78	-
8.	Tampa Bay Storm	1-1	62	12
9.	Utah Blaze	1-1	61	8
10.	Los Angeles Avengers	1-1	47	7
11.	New York Dragons	1-1	38	-
12.	Las Vegas Gladiators	1-1	23	-
Others receiving votes: Chicago Rush 23, Columbus Destroyers 22, Kansas City Brigade 3, San Jose SaberCats 2
Dropped out: Chicago Rush (6), Columbus Destroyers (9), San Jose SaberCats (11)

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)