AFLWA > News > Schutt Sports Top 12 Poll

May 27, 2008
For Immediate Release
Contact: Jim Derry
504-232-9944

Desperados jump two spots to regain top ranking

DALLAS TOPS SCHUTT
SPORTS AFL TOP 12 POLL

LAS VEGAS (AFLWA) – The roller-coaster ride at the top of the Schutt Sports Top 12 Poll continues.

As they were for the first five weeks of the season, the Dallas Desperados were named the best team in the Arena Football League by a vote among members of the AFL Writers Association. In routing No. 5 Orlando, which fell from fourth, Dallas jumped to No. 1 and garnered all 13 first-place votes.

Chicago, which already has clinched the Central Division title but lost to Utah last week, feel from first to second. Philadelphia began the season 9-0, but has lost three of its past four and fell to third.

Defending champion San Jose made the big leap this week, rising from seventh to fourth, after walloping No. 12 Colorado 59-42. The SaberCats also have clinched a playoff berth.

Georgia won on the road Monday night at No. 8 New Orleans, and moved up two places to sixth. The VooDoo, which haven’t won in over a month, dropped two spots. All four teams in the Southern Division are in the poll, and all are .500 or better. The fourth team – Tampa Bay – beat No. 7 Cleveland 58-48 and jumped from 10th to ninth.

Arizona, which defeated Grand Rapids, is 10th, and New York and Colorado finish the poll.

SCHUTT SPORTS TOP 12 POLL (MAY 27)
Rk.	Team [1st Place]	W-L	Pts.	Pvs.	This week
1.	Dallas Desperados [13]	10-2	156	3	at No. 7 Cleveland
2.	Chicago Rush	9-3	136	1	vs. Kansas City
3.	Philadelphia Soul	10-3	134	2	Idle
4.	San Jose SaberCats	8-5	115	7	at Los Angeles
5.	Orlando Predators	8-5	95	4	vs. No. 10 Arizona
6.	Georgia Force	7-5	91	8	vs. No. 9 Tampa Bay
7.	Cleveland Gladiators	7-5	71	5	vs. No. 1 Dallas
8.	New Orleans VooDoo	7-5	65	6	vs. Columbus
9.	Tampa Bay Storm	6-6	58	10	at No. 6 Georgia
10.	Arizona Rattlers	6-6	39	11	at No. 5 Orlando
11.	New York Dragons	6-6	33	9	at No. 12 Colorado
12.	Colorado Crush	4-8	7	12	vs. No. 11 New York
Others receiving votes: Los Angeles Avengers 6, Kansas City Brigade 3, Utah Blaze 2.
Dropped out: None.

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) • May 13 (Dallas)	• May 20 (Chicago) • May 27 (Dallas) • June 3 (Dallas) • June 10 (Philadelphia) • June 17 (Philadelphia) • June 24 (Philadelphia)