AFLWA > News > Schutt Sports Top 12 Poll

Feb. 27, 2006
For Immediate Release
Contact: Mark Anderson
702-379-0154

Crush expected to repeat Arena Bowl title

DALLAS TOPS SCHUTT SPORTS
PRESEASON AFL TOP 12 POLL

LAS VEGAS (AFLWA) – The Dallas Desperados ended the 2006 regular season as the unanimous No. 1 choice in the Schutt Sports Top 12 Poll, and they enter this season on top again – except this time in a much closer vote.

They received eight first-place votes by members of the Arena Football League Writers Association (AFLWA), giving the Desperados 211 points, just one more than the No. 2 Colorado Crush, which totaled seven first-place votes.

Dallas, which went 13-3 last season, opens at the No. 8 New York Dragons (10-6 in 2006). Colorado (11-5) hosts the Grand Rapids Rampage (5-11), the only team that did not receive a vote.

The defending champion Chicago Rush (7-9) was No. 3 after receiving three first-place votes and totaling 185 points. Chicago visits the Kansas City Brigade (3-13).

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The other two first-place votes went to the No. 4 San Jose SaberCats (10-6) and the No. 11 Austin Wranglers (10-6). San Jose is at the Los Angeles Avengers (5-11), and Austin is at home against the Las Vegas Gladiators (5-11).

Last season's ArenaBowl runner-up, the Orlando Predators (10-6), was No. 5. They travel to the No. 10 Tampa Bay Storm (7-9).

The No. 6 Georgia Force (8-8) plays at the Arizona Rattlers (8-8), No. 9 Utah Blaze (7-9) is home against the New Orleans VooDoo (did not play last season), and No. 12 Nashville Kats (8-8) host the Columbus Destroyers (8-8).

The No. 7 Philadelphia Soul (9-7) is off.

2007 SCHUTT SPORTS PRESEASON TOP 12 POLL (FEB. 27)
Rk.	Team [1st Place]	W-L	Pts.	Pvs.	Season Opener
1.	Dallas Desperados [8]	13-3	211	1	at No. 8 New York
2.	Colorado Crush [7]	11-5	210	2	vs. Grand Rapids
3.	Chicago Rush [3]	7-9	185	12	at Kansas City
4.	San Jose SaberCats [1]	10-6	172	3	at Los Angeles
5.	Orlando Predators	10-6	164	4	at No. 10 Tampa Bay
6.	Georgia Force	8-8	97	8	at Arizona
7.	Philadelphia Soul	9-7	89	7	Idle
8.	New York Dragons	10-6	88	6	vs. No. 1 Dallas
9.	Utah Blaze	7-9	79	-	vs. New Orleans
10.	Tampa Bay Storm	7-9	68	-	No. 5 Orlando
11.	Austin Wranglers [1]	10-6	60	5	vs. Las Vegas
12.	Nashville Kats	8-8	48	10
Others receiving votes: Arizona Rattlers 44, New Orleans VooDoo 15, Columbus Destroyers 12, Los Angeles Avengers 11, Kansas City Brigade 6, Las Vegas Gladiators 1.
Notes: Records are from 2006 season. Previous ranking is from final 2006 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.

2007 AFLWA Rankings (No 1. team):
• Preseason (Dallas) • March 6 (Dallas) • March 14 (Dallas) • March 20 (Dallas) • March 27 (Dallas) • April 2 (Dallas)	• April 12 (Dallas) • April 18 (Dallas) • April 25 (Georgia) • May 2 (Georgia) • May 9 (Georgia) • May 16 (Georgia)	• May 23 (Dallas) • May 30 (Dallas) • June 6 (Dallas) • June 13 (Dallas) • June 20 (Dallas) • June 27 (Dallas)