Post by marinersmedia on Jun 17, 2010 11:39:05 GMT -5
San Jose SaberCats are back in business
By Mark Emmons
memmons@mercurynews.com
Posted: 06/16/2010 04:30:09 PM PDT
Updated: 06/16/2010 10:32:12 PM PDT
The successful team that disbanded when the Arena Football League went on hiatus after the 2008 season will be returning next spring.
"Our goal has always been to be part of the arena league again," said Darren Arbet, the former SaberCats coach who is joining the ownership group. "We're just excited to be back in 2011. It's going to be the same everything."
He's not kidding. The new version of the SaberCats will be much like the old version.
The team's ownership group once again will be led by electronics store retailer John Fry. The plan is to have the same logo and uniform colors. And Arbet said the expectation is for the team to once again play at HP Pavilion.
"This has happened so quickly that we haven't had a chance to talk to them yet," Arbet said. "But I'm sure we're going to be at the arena. They like us, and we love them. It's a really good fit."
As the AFL fell victim to the worsening economy in 2008, the SaberCats disappeared with it. Shortly after San Jose was beaten by the Philadelphia Soul in the ArenaBowl title game, the AFL announced it was suspending operations.
After not playing for a year, a restructured AFL featuring new owners who had purchased the assets of the defunct league, resumed play in April with 15 teams.
Earlier this week, it was announced that the Soul was being resurrected next season — although without rocker Jon Bon Jovi, the team's celebrity co-owner. Now the SaberCats are following suit.
"The timing just didn't work out for us," Arbet said when asked why the SaberCats were not part of the AFL relaunch this season.
San Jose was one of the league's best, and most stable, franchises. The SaberCats won three league titles and drew consistent crowds to HP Pavilion to watch the high-scoring form of indoor football.
"I'm sure San Jose fans will be happy," said Mark Grieb, the former SaberCats quarterback who was one of the AFL's top players. "I still get messages all the time from people who loved that team. I'm thrilled that it's back."
The question is if Grieb will be back with it. Like other former SaberCats, he has moved on with his life. Grieb, 36, is a high school biology teacher and assistant football coach at Beckman High School in Orange County. His wife is a medical student at UC Irvine, and they have twin daughters who are just finishing kindergarten.
All that helps explain why he turned down offers this year to play in the AFL. But he has had preliminary discussions with the SaberCats and wants to hear more about their plans.
"It's a possibility," he said of playing again. "Don't count me out. I thought eventually that feeling of wanting to play would go away. But I was wrong. It never goes."
As for Arbet, he said he never lost faith that the SaberCats would one day return because of the commitment to arena football by the Fry group. Other than being a part owner, he is unsure what his role will be with the reborn team. For now, he is in charge of assembling a front office.
"I'm just trying to put the thing back together," he said.
Contact Mark Emmons at 408-920-5745.
Reprint
By Mark Emmons
memmons@mercurynews.com
Posted: 06/16/2010 04:30:09 PM PDT
Updated: 06/16/2010 10:32:12 PM PDT
The successful team that disbanded when the Arena Football League went on hiatus after the 2008 season will be returning next spring.
"Our goal has always been to be part of the arena league again," said Darren Arbet, the former SaberCats coach who is joining the ownership group. "We're just excited to be back in 2011. It's going to be the same everything."
He's not kidding. The new version of the SaberCats will be much like the old version.
The team's ownership group once again will be led by electronics store retailer John Fry. The plan is to have the same logo and uniform colors. And Arbet said the expectation is for the team to once again play at HP Pavilion.
"This has happened so quickly that we haven't had a chance to talk to them yet," Arbet said. "But I'm sure we're going to be at the arena. They like us, and we love them. It's a really good fit."
As the AFL fell victim to the worsening economy in 2008, the SaberCats disappeared with it. Shortly after San Jose was beaten by the Philadelphia Soul in the ArenaBowl title game, the AFL announced it was suspending operations.
After not playing for a year, a restructured AFL featuring new owners who had purchased the assets of the defunct league, resumed play in April with 15 teams.
Earlier this week, it was announced that the Soul was being resurrected next season — although without rocker Jon Bon Jovi, the team's celebrity co-owner. Now the SaberCats are following suit.
"The timing just didn't work out for us," Arbet said when asked why the SaberCats were not part of the AFL relaunch this season.
San Jose was one of the league's best, and most stable, franchises. The SaberCats won three league titles and drew consistent crowds to HP Pavilion to watch the high-scoring form of indoor football.
"I'm sure San Jose fans will be happy," said Mark Grieb, the former SaberCats quarterback who was one of the AFL's top players. "I still get messages all the time from people who loved that team. I'm thrilled that it's back."
The question is if Grieb will be back with it. Like other former SaberCats, he has moved on with his life. Grieb, 36, is a high school biology teacher and assistant football coach at Beckman High School in Orange County. His wife is a medical student at UC Irvine, and they have twin daughters who are just finishing kindergarten.
All that helps explain why he turned down offers this year to play in the AFL. But he has had preliminary discussions with the SaberCats and wants to hear more about their plans.
"It's a possibility," he said of playing again. "Don't count me out. I thought eventually that feeling of wanting to play would go away. But I was wrong. It never goes."
As for Arbet, he said he never lost faith that the SaberCats would one day return because of the commitment to arena football by the Fry group. Other than being a part owner, he is unsure what his role will be with the reborn team. For now, he is in charge of assembling a front office.
"I'm just trying to put the thing back together," he said.
Contact Mark Emmons at 408-920-5745.
Reprint
