SAN JOSE SABERCATS
SaberCats make their return to the AFL

Ben Nelson earned All-Arena First-Team honors in 2010.Photo: SSU Sports Information/Stephen Kirschenmann

The return of the San Jose SaberCats to the Arena Football League in 2011 was an arduous process made possible by the work of dedicated owners and employees committed to continuing the tradition of success that defined the team over the past decade. Two years since the SaberCats last hit the field, this year's team is back and hungry to continue its tradition of success.

The SaberCats' loss in ArenaBowl XXII was difficult for the team and players to forget, and waiting two years to get back on the field and redeem themselves has motivated Owner/Head Coach Darren Arbet to return to the team this season as head coach and co-owner.

Returning to the AFL

With the taste of disappointment still lingering after ArenaBowl XXII, in December 2008 the AFL announced that due to financial trouble it was suspending operations indefinitely to build a long-term plan to improve its economic model, with the possibility of folding a reality. In June 2010 the league announced that the SaberCats and two other teams would return to the AFL for the 2011 season. The difficulty of returning to Arena Football after a two-year layoff and being a year behind teams that competed in 2010 is not lost on QB Mark Grieb. "It's going to be tough. We're basically one year behind as far as what the other teams are doing."

Grieb's return to the team in 2011 was a bit of a miracle in itself. "I really thought I was done. But, now that I'm getting into it, and I've met some of the guys, and I know what the coaches are doing and what the organization is doing, I'm pretty excited."

New faces on the SaberCats

In 2011 the SaberCats look to continue the success and tradition that have made them one of the most successful franchises in AFL history. And the team expects to achieve the same success as in years past. The fans that pack HP Pavilion this season will have an accomplished group of players to root for in addition to Grieb. The SaberCats have a swarming defense that knows how to pressure opposing quarterbacks. On offense, the team boasts a talented receiving corps that includes standout Ben Nelson and the East Bay's own Samora Goodson. The combination of skill players and a well-coached offensive line has produced one of the most explosive offenses in the AFL, with San Jose ranking among the league leaders in numerous offensive categories.

Looking ahead

Restructuring the front office and roster and rejoining the AFL were the first steps toward building a championship-caliber team in San Jose. With a talented roster, experienced ownership and accomplished coaches, the 2011 SaberCats have their eye on a fourth ArenaBowl championship this season. Coach Arbet summed up his decision to return to coach another championship team and the driving force behind the return of the team, "You know the real reason I didn't go anywhere? It's because we did all that winning and arena football isn't yet perceived the way I want it to be perceived in the Bay Area. Obviously, there's something more we need to do. I feel kind of like Mark Grieb. My business isn't done here."