AFLWA > News > Schutt Sports Top 12 Poll

Feb. 26, 2008
For Immediate Release
Contact: Jim Derry
504-232-9944

Desperados, Force keep hold atop AFLWA rankings

DALLAS TOPS SCHUTT SPORTS AFL TOP 12 POLL

LAS VEGAS (AFLWA) – It was a tough choice for members of the Arena Football League Writers Association (AFLWA) on who would be their top choice, but in the first tally of votes, it was the Dallas Desperados who came out on top. They edged defending-champion San Jose by two first-place votes (8-6) and three overall in the Schutt Sports Preseason Top 12 Poll.

Both of the top two teams have rough openers this weekend, as the Desperados will travel to face the No. 5 Georgia Force in the season's first nationally televised game (ABC, Saturday, 1 p.m. Eastern). The SaberCats also are on the road (ESPN2, Monday, 9 p.m. Eastern) against the revamped, high-flying Chicago Rush, who are ranked third in the preseason poll. The Rush also received the other two first-place votes.

No. 4 Philadelphia will open the season at home against No. 8 Orlando in a rematch of their regular-season finale and playoffs opener last year, in which the Soul won both games.

No. 7 Los Angeles will host the 2008 AFL opener Friday against the New Orleans VooDoo. Columbus, the defending National Conference champions, and ranked ninth, will be in Denver to face No. 12 Colorado.

Other matchups involving top 12 teams are: No. 6 Tampa Bay will travel to No. 10 Kansas City, and No. 11 Utah will host Arizona in a Western Division contest.

SCHUTT SPORTS TOP 12 POLL (PRESEASON)
Rk.	Team [1st Place]	W-L	Pts.	This week
1.	Dallas Desperados [8]	15-1	181	at No. 5 Georgia
2.	San Jose SaberCats [6]	13-3	178	at No. 3 Chicago
3.	Chicago Rush [2]	12-4	155	vs. No. 2 San Jose
4.	Philadelphia Soul	8-8	109	vs. No. 8 Orlando
5.	Georgia Force	14-2	105	vs. No. 1 Dallas
6.	Tampa Bay Storm	9-7	100	at No. 10 Kansas City
7.	Los Angeles Avengers	9-7	85	vs. New Orleans
8.	Orlando Predators	8-8	74	at No. 4 Philadelphia
9.	Columbus Destroyers	7-9	66	at No. 12 Colorado
10.	Kansas City Brigade	10-6	60	vs. No 6 Tampa Bay
11.	Utah Blaze	8-8	47	vs. Arizona
12.	Colorado Crush	8-8	36	vs. No. 9 Columbus
Others receiving votes: New York 28, New Orleans 13, Arizona 7, Grand Rapids 4.
Records are from the 2007 regular season

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.

2008 AFLWA Rankings (No 1. team):
• Preseason (Dallas) • March 5 (Dallas) • March 12 (Dallas) • March 19 (Dallas) • March 25 (Dallas) • April 1 (Philadelphia)	• April 8 (Philadelphia) • April 15 (Philadelphia) • April 22 (Philadelphia) • April 29 (Philadelphia) • May 6 (Philadelphia)