The 2008

2008 Arena Football League season

The 2008 Arena Football League season was the 22nd season of the Arena Football League and final season before the 2009 cancellation. The regular season began play on February 29, 2008 and concluded on June 22...

 Philadelphia Soul

Philadelphia Soul

The Philadelphia Soul are an Arena Football League team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They began play in as an expansion team. The team plays in the Eastern Division of the American Conference. They won their first ArenaBowl in 2008, defeating the San Jose SaberCats 59–56 in ArenaBowl XXII...

 season is the fifth season for the franchise. The Soul started the season by winning their first 9 games. Finishing the regular season with a 13-3 record, this was the Soul's best regular season in their short history. They won their first Eastern Division title, and went into the playoffs as the top seed in the National Conference. Against the New York Dragons

New York Dragons

The New York Dragons were an Arena Football League team based in the New York metropolitan area. The team was founded in as the original incarnation of the Iowa Barnstormers, and relocated to New York in . They played in New York until 2008, when the league folded...

, the Soul won their Divisional round game by a score of 49-48 to advance to the National Conference Championship. They won that game on July 12, 2008 against the Cleveland Gladiators, 70-35. They won ArenaBowl XXII

ArenaBowl XXII

ArenaBowl XXII was played on July 27, 2008 at New Orleans Arena in New Orleans, Louisiana . It was the 22nd and final championship game in the history of the original Arena Football League. This was the fourth neutral site ArenaBowl in AFL history and the second ArenaBowl in the state of Louisiana...

 in New Orleans on July 27, 2008 against the defending champion San Jose SaberCats

San Jose SaberCats

The San Jose SaberCats are a professional arena football team in the Arena Football League. They began play as a 1995 expansion team. They played in the Western Division of the American Conference. Their final coach in the original Arena Football League was Darren Arbet, who will be a part of the...

.

Regular season schedule

Week	Date	Opponent	Home/Away	Result
1	March 1	Orlando Predators Orlando Predators The Orlando Predators are an Arena Football League team based in Orlando, Florida that was founded in 1991. Their playoff streak is currently 19 seasons in a row, as of the season, becoming the ArenaBowl champions in 1998 and 2000...	Home	W 77-56
2	March 9	Chicago Rush Chicago Rush The Chicago Rush is an arena football team based in Rosemont, Illinois. It is a member of the Central Division of the National Conference of the Arena Football League. The team was founded in 2001 and is co-owned by Mike Ditka, the Hall of Fame player and coach.The Rush have qualified for the...	Away	W 60-49
3	March 16	New York Dragons New York Dragons The New York Dragons were an Arena Football League team based in the New York metropolitan area. The team was founded in as the original incarnation of the Iowa Barnstormers, and relocated to New York in . They played in New York until 2008, when the league folded...	Home	W 63-42
4	March 20	Los Angeles Avengers Los Angeles Avengers The Los Angeles Avengers was an Arena Football League team based in Los Angeles, California from 2000 through 2008. They folded on April 19, 2009.-History:...	Away	W 71-34
5	March 29	Tampa Bay Storm Tampa Bay Storm The Tampa Bay Storm are an Arena Football League team based in the Tampa Bay Area of Florida. They play their home games in the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa....	Home	W 59-51
6	April 5	Utah Blaze Utah Blaze The Utah Blaze is a professional arena football team based in Salt Lake City, Utah and competes in the West division of the Arena Football League. Home games are played at the EnergySolutions Arena.-The original Utah Blaze :...	Home	W 64-56
7	April 12	San Jose SaberCats San Jose SaberCats The San Jose SaberCats are a professional arena football team in the Arena Football League. They began play as a 1995 expansion team. They played in the Western Division of the American Conference. Their final coach in the original Arena Football League was Darren Arbet, who will be a part of the...	Away	W 58-57
8	April 21	Columbus Destroyers Columbus Destroyers The Columbus Destroyers were an Arena Football League team based in Columbus, Ohio. The team was founded in as the Buffalo Destroyers, based in Buffalo, New York, and relocated to Columbus in . They folded along with the original incarnation of the AFL following the 2008 season, after a total of...	Away	W 76-55
9	April 28	Dallas Desperados Dallas Desperados The Dallas Desperados were a professional Arena Football team. The Desperados played in the Southern Division of the now-defunct Arena Football League from 2002 to 2008....	Home	W 57-28
10	May 2	Cleveland Gladiators	Away	L 55-67
11	May 12	Georgia Force Georgia Force The Georgia Force are an Arena Football League team based in Gwinnett County, Georgia, United States that plays in the South Division of the American Conference. The team is owned by Doug MacGregor and Donn Jennings...	Away	L 62-63
12	May 17	Columbus Destroyers Columbus Destroyers The Columbus Destroyers were an Arena Football League team based in Columbus, Ohio. The team was founded in as the Buffalo Destroyers, based in Buffalo, New York, and relocated to Columbus in . They folded along with the original incarnation of the AFL following the 2008 season, after a total of...	Home	W 51-43
13	May 22	Kansas City Brigade Kansas City Brigade The Kansas City Command is a professional arena football team in the Arena Football League. The team was founded before the 2006 season. Former Kansas City Chiefs Strong safety Kevin Porter served as head coach...	Home	L 47-54
14		Bye	Week
15	June 7	Dallas Desperados Dallas Desperados The Dallas Desperados were a professional Arena Football team. The Desperados played in the Southern Division of the now-defunct Arena Football League from 2002 to 2008....	Away	W 71-64
16	June 14	Cleveland Gladiators	Home	W 62-61
17	June 22	New York Dragons New York Dragons The New York Dragons were an Arena Football League team based in the New York metropolitan area. The team was founded in as the original incarnation of the Iowa Barnstormers, and relocated to New York in . They played in New York until 2008, when the league folded...	Away	W 59-30

Playoff schedule

Round	Date	Opponent	Home/Away	Result
NC Divisional	July 5	New York Dragons New York Dragons The New York Dragons were an Arena Football League team based in the New York metropolitan area. The team was founded in as the original incarnation of the Iowa Barnstormers, and relocated to New York in . They played in New York until 2008, when the league folded...	Home	W 49-48
NC Championship	July 12	Cleveland Gladiators	Home	W 70-35
ArenaBowl XXII ArenaBowl XXII ArenaBowl XXII was played on July 27, 2008 at New Orleans Arena in New Orleans, Louisiana . It was the 22nd and final championship game in the history of the original Arena Football League. This was the fourth neutral site ArenaBowl in AFL history and the second ArenaBowl in the state of Louisiana...	July 28	San Jose SaberCats San Jose SaberCats The San Jose SaberCats are a professional arena football team in the Arena Football League. They began play as a 1995 expansion team. They played in the Western Division of the American Conference. Their final coach in the original Arena Football League was Darren Arbet, who will be a part of the...	Neutral	W 59-56

Roster

2008 Philadelphia Soul final roster
Quarterbacks  2 Matt D'Orazio Matt D'Orazio Matthew Louis D’Orazio is a professional American football quarterback Free Agent. He played college football at Otterbein College....  7 Tony Graziani Tony Graziani Anthony Robert Graziani was an American football quarterback who played for the Atlanta Falcons in the National Football League, and the Los Angeles Avengers and Philadelphia Soul of the Arena Football League. Graziani played college football at the University of Oregon... Running Backs 40 Wes Ours Wes Ours Wes Ours is an Arena football Running back / Linebacker for the Philadelphia Soul of the Arena Football League. He played collegiately at West Virginia University. He was nicknamed "Wes Express" in college because of his ability to run over other players...  FB/LB 30 Clifton Smith FB/LB Wide Receivers  1 Larry Brackins Larry Brackins Larry Brackins is an American football wide receiver who is currently a free agent of the Arena Football League. He was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the fifth round of the 2005 NFL Draft...  WR 11 Mike Brown WR/DB 15 Brent Holmes WR 81 Chris Jackson WR 88 Sean Scott Sean Scott Sean Scott is an Arena Football League wide receiver/linebacker playing currently for the Philadelphia Soul. He went to Millersville University...  WR/LB 18 Darius Watts Darius Watts Darius Orlando Watts is an arena football offensive specialist for the Philadelphia Soul of the Arena Football League. He was originally drafted by the Denver Broncos in the second round of the 2004 NFL Draft.In his career, Watts has also played for the New York Giants...  WR Offensive Linemen 55 Martin Bibla Martin Bibla Martin John Bibla is an American football guard who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the fourth round of the 2002 NFL Draft...  OL 77 Phil Bogle Phil Bogle Phil Bogle was an American football guard for the Florida Tuskers of the United Football League. He was signed by the San Diego Chargers as an undrafted free agent in 2003...  OL 65 Mike Mabry Mike Mabry Mike Mabry is an American football center who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the seventh round of the 2003 NFL Draft...  OL		Defensive Linemen 95 Kevin Carberry DL 50 Justin Cleveland DL 97 Gabe Nyenhuis Gabe Nyenhuis Gabe Nyenhuis is a professional American and Canadian football defensive lineman who is currently a member of the San Jose SaberCats of the Arena Football League. He was named AFL Defensive Player of the Year as well as Lineman of the Year in 2010. He was signed as an undrafted free agent by the...  DL 98 Bryan Save Bryan Save Bryan Save [Sah-vay] is an American football defensive tackle for the Florida Tuskers of the United Football League. He was signed by the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent in 2004...  DL Linebackers 23 Rod Davis LB 24 Raheem Orr Raheem Orr Raheem Orr is an American football defensive end for the Arena Football League's Philadelphia Soul. He has also played in the National Football League for the New York Giants. Orr played college football at Rutgers University.-External links:*...  LB 40 Wes Ours Wes Ours Wes Ours is an Arena football Running back / Linebacker for the Philadelphia Soul of the Arena Football League. He played collegiately at West Virginia University. He was nicknamed "Wes Express" in college because of his ability to run over other players...  FB/LB 88 Sean Scott Sean Scott Sean Scott is an Arena Football League wide receiver/linebacker playing currently for the Philadelphia Soul. He went to Millersville University...  WR/LB 30 Clifton Smith FB/LB Defensive Backs 11 Mike Brown WR/DB 22 Rob Keefe Rob Keefe Robert Keefe was born on November 5, 1980, and is the former head coach for the Spokane Shock of the Arena Football League. Keefe attended Mercyhurst College and has won championships as a player and coach in the af2, and the Arena Football League.-College:...  DB  6 Eddie Moten Eddie Moten Eddie Moten is an American football cornerback for the Dallas Vigilantes of Arena Football 1. He was signed by the Rio Grande Valley Dorados as a street free agent in 2004. He played college football at Texas A&M–Kingsville.Moten has also played for the Philadelphia Soul and California Redwoods...  DB  5 Dee Webb DB Special Teams 16 Connor Hughes Connor Hughes Connor Hughes is an American football placekicker who is currently plays for Oldham Athletic. He was signed by the New Orleans Saints as an undrafted free agent in 2006. He played college football at Virginia....  K		Injured players  4 Anthony Dunn LB 12 Kenny Henderson WR 54 Craig Kobel Craig Kobel Craig Kobel is a free agent American football linebacker. He was signed by the Utah Blaze as a street free agent in 2006...  LB  9 Brian Mance DB Exempt List Practice Squad

Week 1: vs. Orlando Predators

Orlando Predators

The Orlando Predators are an Arena Football League team based in Orlando, Florida that was founded in 1991. Their playoff streak is currently 19 seasons in a row, as of the season, becoming the ArenaBowl champions in 1998 and 2000...

Week 2: at Chicago Rush

Chicago Rush

The Chicago Rush is an arena football team based in Rosemont, Illinois. It is a member of the Central Division of the National Conference of the Arena Football League. The team was founded in 2001 and is co-owned by Mike Ditka, the Hall of Fame player and coach.The Rush have qualified for the...

Week 3: vs. New York Dragons

New York Dragons

The New York Dragons were an Arena Football League team based in the New York metropolitan area. The team was founded in as the original incarnation of the Iowa Barnstormers, and relocated to New York in . They played in New York until 2008, when the league folded...

Week 4: at Los Angeles Avengers

Los Angeles Avengers

The Los Angeles Avengers was an Arena Football League team based in Los Angeles, California from 2000 through 2008. They folded on April 19, 2009.-History:...

Week 5: vs. Tampa Bay Storm

Tampa Bay Storm

The Tampa Bay Storm are an Arena Football League team based in the Tampa Bay Area of Florida. They play their home games in the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa....

Week 6: vs. Utah Blaze

Utah Blaze

The Utah Blaze is a professional arena football team based in Salt Lake City, Utah and competes in the West division of the Arena Football League. Home games are played at the EnergySolutions Arena.-The original Utah Blaze :...

Week 7: at San Jose SaberCats

San Jose SaberCats

The San Jose SaberCats are a professional arena football team in the Arena Football League. They began play as a 1995 expansion team. They played in the Western Division of the American Conference. Their final coach in the original Arena Football League was Darren Arbet, who will be a part of the...

Week 8: at Columbus Destroyers

Columbus Destroyers

The Columbus Destroyers were an Arena Football League team based in Columbus, Ohio. The team was founded in as the Buffalo Destroyers, based in Buffalo, New York, and relocated to Columbus in . They folded along with the original incarnation of the AFL following the 2008 season, after a total of...

Week 9: vs. Dallas Desperados

Dallas Desperados

The Dallas Desperados were a professional Arena Football team. The Desperados played in the Southern Division of the now-defunct Arena Football League from 2002 to 2008....

Week 10: at Cleveland Gladiators

Week 11: vs. Georgia Force

Georgia Force

The Georgia Force are an Arena Football League team based in Gwinnett County, Georgia, United States that plays in the South Division of the American Conference. The team is owned by Doug MacGregor and Donn Jennings...

Week 12: vs. Columbus Destroyers

Columbus Destroyers

The Columbus Destroyers were an Arena Football League team based in Columbus, Ohio. The team was founded in as the Buffalo Destroyers, based in Buffalo, New York, and relocated to Columbus in . They folded along with the original incarnation of the AFL following the 2008 season, after a total of...

Week 13: vs. Kansas City Brigade

Kansas City Brigade

The Kansas City Command is a professional arena football team in the Arena Football League. The team was founded before the 2006 season. Former Kansas City Chiefs Strong safety Kevin Porter served as head coach...

Week 15: at Dallas Desperados

Dallas Desperados

The Dallas Desperados were a professional Arena Football team. The Desperados played in the Southern Division of the now-defunct Arena Football League from 2002 to 2008....

Week 16: vs. Cleveland Gladiators

Week 17: at New York Dragons

New York Dragons

The New York Dragons were an Arena Football League team based in the New York metropolitan area. The team was founded in as the original incarnation of the Iowa Barnstormers, and relocated to New York in . They played in New York until 2008, when the league folded...

National Conference Divisional: vs. (6) New York Dragons

New York Dragons

The New York Dragons were an Arena Football League team based in the New York metropolitan area. The team was founded in as the original incarnation of the Iowa Barnstormers, and relocated to New York in . They played in New York until 2008, when the league folded...

National Conference Championship: vs. (4) Cleveland Gladiators

ArenaBowl XXII

ArenaBowl XXII

ArenaBowl XXII was played on July 27, 2008 at New Orleans Arena in New Orleans, Louisiana . It was the 22nd and final championship game in the history of the original Arena Football League. This was the fourth neutral site ArenaBowl in AFL history and the second ArenaBowl in the state of Louisiana...

: vs. (2) San Jose SaberCats

San Jose SaberCats

The San Jose SaberCats are a professional arena football team in the Arena Football League. They began play as a 1995 expansion team. They played in the Western Division of the American Conference. Their final coach in the original Arena Football League was Darren Arbet, who will be a part of the...

External links