ArenaBowl XVII
Encyclopedia
ArenaBowl XVII was played on June 22, 2003 at the St. Pete Times Forum
(formerly the Ice Palace
) in Tampa, Florida
before a sellout crowd of 20,496. The Tampa Bay Storm
earned their AFL record fifth ArenaBowl
title, by defeating the Arizona Rattlers
, 43-29. The win was just months after the NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers
won Super Bowl XXXVII
, making Tampa Bay the first metropolitan area to simultaneously hold both NFL and AFL championships.
title as his Tampa Bay Storm
took a first quarter lead and never relinquished it, defeating fellow Hall of Fame coach Danny White
's Arizona Rattlers
by 14.
The teams traded scores in the first quarter, but early in the second Tampa Bay
lineman Kelvin Kinney
scooped up a Sherdrick Bonner
fumble - one of four lost Rattler
fumbles on the day - and ran 26 yards for a rather controversial touchdown. Though it appeared Kinney
had thrown the ball in the air in celebration before crossing the goal line, the touchdown stood, and the Storm
took a 20-10 lead. Though Arizona
answered with a Bo Kelly
touchdown run to close within 20-16, the Storm
used two second-half touchdown passes from veteran backup quarterback Pat O'Hara
to Lawrence Samuels
to keep the Rattlers
at bay. The 34-year-old O'Hara
, who defeated the Storm
in ArenaBowl XII
as the quarterback for the Orlando Predators
, had thrown only 14 passes all year but was pressed into action when starter John Kaleo
was injured in the second quarter. He ran for another score with 10 minutes to play, putting Tampa Bay
ahead 43-22 and sealing the victory.
Samuels
was named both the game's MVP and Ironman of the Game, as he led all players with five catches for 109 yards and three touchdowns. The game was the first ArenaBowl
to be televised by NBC
, as ABC
had televised the previous five. All participants wore "FP" stickers on their helmets in memory of Orlando Predators
head coach Fran Papasedero
, who was killed in a one-car accident just days before the game.
2nd Quarter
3rd Quarter
4th Quarter
St. Pete Times Forum
The St. Pete Times Forum is an arena in Tampa, Florida, that has been used for ice hockey, basketball, and arena football games, as well as concerts....
(formerly the Ice Palace
Ice Palace
An ice palace is a castle-like structure made out of ice. The most earliest known may be Anna Ivanovna's palace in St. Petersburg, Russia.Ice Palace may also refer to:In Russia:* Ice Palace Saint Petersburg, an arena in St...
) in Tampa, Florida
Tampa, Florida
Tampa is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County. Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida. The population of Tampa in 2010 was 335,709....
before a sellout crowd of 20,496. The 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....
earned their AFL record fifth ArenaBowl
ArenaBowl
The ArenaBowl is the Arena Football League's championship game. From 1987 to 2004, the ArenaBowl was hosted by either the team with the better regular-season record or the higher seeding in the playoffs. From ArenaBowl XIX in 2005 until ArenaBowl XXII in 2008, the game was played at a neutral site...
title, by defeating the Arizona Rattlers
Arizona Rattlers
The Arizona Rattlers are a professional arena football team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Conference in the Arena Football League . The Rattlers were founded in 1992 as an expansion team. They play their home games at US Airways Center...
, 43-29. The win was just months after the NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
won Super Bowl XXXVII
Super Bowl XXXVII
Super Bowl XXXVII was an American football game played on January 26, 2003 at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California to decide the National Football League champion following the 2002 regular season...
, making Tampa Bay the first metropolitan area to simultaneously hold both NFL and AFL championships.
Game summary
Hall of Fame coach Tim Marcum earned his seventh ArenaBowlArenaBowl
The ArenaBowl is the Arena Football League's championship game. From 1987 to 2004, the ArenaBowl was hosted by either the team with the better regular-season record or the higher seeding in the playoffs. From ArenaBowl XIX in 2005 until ArenaBowl XXII in 2008, the game was played at a neutral site...
title as his 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....
took a first quarter lead and never relinquished it, defeating fellow Hall of Fame coach Danny White
Danny White
Wilford Daniel "Danny" White is a former quarterback and punter for the Dallas Cowboys, an American football coach in the Arena Football League and also occasionally appears as an analyst on broadcasts of college football games. He was named the head coach of the Arena Football League expansion...
's Arizona Rattlers
Arizona Rattlers
The Arizona Rattlers are a professional arena football team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Conference in the Arena Football League . The Rattlers were founded in 1992 as an expansion team. They play their home games at US Airways Center...
by 14.
The teams traded scores in the first quarter, but early in the second Tampa Bay
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....
lineman Kelvin Kinney
Kelvin Kinney
Kelvin Lamonta Kinney is an American football defensive lineman who is currently a Free Agent in the Arena Football League. His nickname is K2....
scooped up a Sherdrick Bonner
Sherdrick Bonner
Sherdrick Bonner is a former Arena football quarterback who is currently the offensive coordinator of the Chicago Rush in the Arena Football League.-High school years:...
fumble - one of four lost Rattler
Arizona Rattlers
The Arizona Rattlers are a professional arena football team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Conference in the Arena Football League . The Rattlers were founded in 1992 as an expansion team. They play their home games at US Airways Center...
fumbles on the day - and ran 26 yards for a rather controversial touchdown. Though it appeared Kinney
Kelvin Kinney
Kelvin Lamonta Kinney is an American football defensive lineman who is currently a Free Agent in the Arena Football League. His nickname is K2....
had thrown the ball in the air in celebration before crossing the goal line, the touchdown stood, and the 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....
took a 20-10 lead. Though Arizona
Arizona Rattlers
The Arizona Rattlers are a professional arena football team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Conference in the Arena Football League . The Rattlers were founded in 1992 as an expansion team. They play their home games at US Airways Center...
answered with a Bo Kelly
Bo Kelly
Bo Kelly is a former American football fullback in the Arena Football League. Kelly played for the Arizona Rattlers and Carolina Cobras....
touchdown run to close within 20-16, the 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....
used two second-half touchdown passes from veteran backup quarterback Pat O'Hara
Pat O'Hara
Patrick O'Hara is an arena football coach and retired quarterback. He is currently the head coach of the New Orleans VooDoo of the Arena Football League. He was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 10th round of the 1991 NFL Draft...
to Lawrence Samuels
Lawrence Samuels
Lawrence 'Law Dogg' Samuels is a 6' 2" 210 pound Arena Football League wide receiver/linebacker with the Tampa Bay Storm. He is the offensive coordinator and receivers coach for the Wharton High School Wildcats. Samuels played his college football at the University of West Alabama...
to keep the Rattlers
Arizona Rattlers
The Arizona Rattlers are a professional arena football team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Conference in the Arena Football League . The Rattlers were founded in 1992 as an expansion team. They play their home games at US Airways Center...
at bay. The 34-year-old O'Hara
Pat O'Hara
Patrick O'Hara is an arena football coach and retired quarterback. He is currently the head coach of the New Orleans VooDoo of the Arena Football League. He was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 10th round of the 1991 NFL Draft...
, who defeated the 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....
in ArenaBowl XII
ArenaBowl XII
Arena Bowl XII was the Arena Football League's twelfth Arena Bowl. In this match-up, it pitted the #4 Orlando Predators of the National Conference against the #1 Tampa Bay Storm , also of the National Conference. This would be the second and final ArenaBowl to have the "War On I-4" rivalry on...
as the quarterback for the 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...
, had thrown only 14 passes all year but was pressed into action when starter John Kaleo
John Kaleo
John Kaleo is a retired American football quarterback in the Arena Football League for the Albany Firebirds , Cleveland Thunderbolts , St...
was injured in the second quarter. He ran for another score with 10 minutes to play, putting Tampa Bay
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....
ahead 43-22 and sealing the victory.
Samuels
Lawrence Samuels
Lawrence 'Law Dogg' Samuels is a 6' 2" 210 pound Arena Football League wide receiver/linebacker with the Tampa Bay Storm. He is the offensive coordinator and receivers coach for the Wharton High School Wildcats. Samuels played his college football at the University of West Alabama...
was named both the game's MVP and Ironman of the Game, as he led all players with five catches for 109 yards and three touchdowns. The game was the first ArenaBowl
ArenaBowl
The ArenaBowl is the Arena Football League's championship game. From 1987 to 2004, the ArenaBowl was hosted by either the team with the better regular-season record or the higher seeding in the playoffs. From ArenaBowl XIX in 2005 until ArenaBowl XXII in 2008, the game was played at a neutral site...
to be televised by NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
, as ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
had televised the previous five. All participants wore "FP" stickers on their helmets in memory of 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...
head coach Fran Papasedero
Fran Papasedero
Fran Papasedero was an Arena football player and coach. Papasedero coached the Arena Football League's Orlando Predators in the 2002 and 2003 seasons, having been appointed to replace Jay Gruden who wanted to resume his playing career at quarterback for the Predators. He had a 19-11 record and was...
, who was killed in a one-car accident just days before the game.
Scoring summary
1st Quarter- AZ - FG Garner 36
- TB - Samuels 33 pass from Kaleo (Stucker kick failed)
- AZ - Bonner 1 run (Garner kick)
- TB - Proctor 1 run (Saunders pass from Dell)
2nd Quarter
- TB - Kinney 26 fumble return (Stucker kick failed)
- AZ - Kelly 8 run (Garner kick failed)
- TB - FG Stucker 23
3rd Quarter
- TB - Samuels 9 pass from O'Hara (Stucker kick)
- AZ - Bryant 3 pass from Bonner (Garner kick failed)
4th Quarter
- TB - Samuels 43 pass from O'Hara (Stucker kick)
- TB - O'Hara 3 run (Stucker kick failed)
- AZ - Gatewood 3 pass from Bonner (Garner kick)