Time to live up to expectations
Courtesy: Ryan Altizer
Release: 02/29/2008


By Ryan Altizer -- Sunday’s season-opener on ABC between Dallas and Georgia is going to be a great one. It’s clearly one of the most anticipated games of the new season, and a matchup that can get even the most casual of AFL fans excited.



But is it just me, or does it feel like this marquee matchup is coming about eight months late?



When the 2007 regular season came to an end last June, Georgia (at 14-2) and Dallas (at 15-1) seemed like they were on an inevitable collision course that would culminate in one of the best conference championship games the AFL had ever seen. But something strange happened on the way to the proverbial “Game of the Century.” The Desperados followed up the previous season’s playoff flop by stubbing their toe against Columbus in the divisional. Then Georgia failed to fight off the upset bug and suffered the same fate at the hands of the Destroyers the next week.



So, there were two overwhelming favorites entering the National Conference playoffs, and neither of them managed to walk away with a trip to the ArenaBowl.



If I had one word to describe these massive postseason flops, I would use “disappointing.” If I could use two words, I’d choose “big shock.” If you gave me three, I’d go with “Oh my God!”



Dallas in particular had no excuse for its postseason failure. How could a team so dominant during the regular season let itself suffer the same miserable fate it had endured a year earlier, when it went into the playoffs as the number one seed and clear favorite to win it all and got bounced by Orlando in the conference title game?



The Desperados had put together arguably the best regular season in league history in 2007 and somehow found a way to lose a 14-point halftime lead in their first playoff game. Granted, two net recoveries for TD’s helped Columbus pull off the upset, but Dallas should never have put itself in a position to lose the game.



Georgia had to ask itself the same tough questions after also getting knocked off by Columbus. With Dallas out of the way, the Force must have seen a clear path to New Orleans for the ArenaBowl. They obviously took the foot off the gas a little in the conference championship game, and Columbus made them pay.



So where do these teams go from here? They both have questions that must be answered before they can finally take the leap from regular season powerhouse to ArenaBowl champion.



Dallas knows that, no matter how many wins it amasses during the regular season, everyone will be taking a wait-and-see approach to its title hopes. Fair or not, the Desperados have earned the reputation as a team that can’t win the big one. They won’t just have to overcome tough competition from teams like Georgia (who just so happens to be the one team that beat them in the regular season last year), but they must overcome the mental burden of their past failures. Players and coaches will downplay that in the media, but it’s there. And they won’t be able to escape it until they prove it on the field.



Georgia’s must also overcome its playoff gaffe, but its questions heading into the season are more centered around its offense. Or should I say, lack of offense?



The Force lost two-thirds of its star receiver trio when Chris Jackson and Derek Lee left via free agency in the off-season. Then it lost the man who had run the offensive machine when offensive coordinator Steve Thonn took the head coaching job at Grand Rapids.



Chris Greisen is an excellent quarterback, and the Force clearly has one of the best defenses in the league. But they are no one’s sexy pick to win the ArenaBowl this year because all the so-called experts see when they look at the roster are holes in the receiver position.



All that can change, though. It can change in a hurry. If Georgia is able to ambush Dallas right out of the gate, there will be so many people rushing to jump on the Force bandwagon that you will practically feel the ground shake.



For now though, it’s put up or shut up time for both teams. The season is ready to begin, and both of these clubs are under the microscope. Let’s see what they’ve got.



Ryan Altizer has more than 10 years in sports communications, including six seasons in Arena Football. He spent four years (1998-2001) with the original Nashville Kats organization as Director of Communications, accompanying the team to ArenaBowls XIV and XV. After three years in college athletics, as the Director of External Affairs for the Ohio Valley Conference, he rejoined the new Kats franchise in 2004 and spent the 2005 and 2006 seasons as the team's Director of Marketing and Communications.

Good article! This guy is bringing it on with his eyes wide open and isn't biased. What a refreshing POV! Where'd you find this?

Why in several articles they keep saying sundays opener.Am I missing something the game is saturday right.

good call emmitt, i saw that too. GET IT RIGHT FORCE GOING TO WIN SATURDAY!