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The championship talk has started.
It was the hot topic at the Feb. 19 Philadelphia Soul media luncheon inside Bullies at the Wachovia Spectrum. Team President Ron Jaworski made his point quite clear as he addressed the media, players and team executives.
"We do expect to win an Arena Football League championship," Jaworski said. "It’s easy for me to say that, but I really believe in the coaching staff, the organization and our players that this is a quality football team."
This season also marks the fifth year since Jaworski and co-owners Jon Bon Jovi and Craig Spencer stood on the Spectrum steps announcing the Soul’s arrival. The organization is coming off an 8-8 season, good enough for second in the standings behind Dallas. Philadelphia opened the playoffs with a 41-26 victory over Orlando before getting eliminated by Georgia, 65-39. The moment the Soul walked off the field that summer day in Atlanta is when preparation for 2008 began.
"We were very disappointed and we turned that disappointment into motivation," Jaworski said. "We had discussions after that game about our team, about our personal, about our coaching staff, about our marketing, you name it. We evaluated everything within the organization.
"We all got on the same page about what we had to do to win a championship."
The Soul made its biggest off-season acquisition in November by signing free-agent wide receiver Chris Jackson, who most recently spent two-plus seasons with the Georgia Force. In eight seasons, the Bristol native has compiled 851 career receptions and 11,510 receiving yards, which has him closing in on league all-time marks. Jackson also is the only player in AFL history to be named Rookie of the Year (’00) and Offensive Player of the Year (’03). Just like everyone else in the organization, he is focused on winning Arena Bowl XXII.
"I think all of us know by coming here that there was one goal in mind, and that was the championship," Jackson said. "We are really concentrating on our product, and being able to put the best product on the field. The goal is never going to change, we just need to get better each and every week and make sure we just put our best product out there."
Jackson and quarterback Tony Graziani, or "Graz" for short, spent four seasons together with the Los Angeles Avengers (’01-04), which should help spark the Soul offense this season. During ’03, Jackson led the AFL in receptions (117), yards (1,737) and receiving touchdowns (46). That same year, Graziani passed for a career-high 4,292 yards.
"We picked up kind of right where we left off, just kind of making sure we saw the same things and reacted the same way to those things," Jackson said. "I think offensively we look good."
All they need now is that ring. Will it come on the heels of July 27’s Arena Bowl XXII at New Orleans Arena?
"Anything but a championship would be a disappointment," Graziani said. "We have that kind of team. We are going to try and win every ball game."
Soul news and notes
Pep rally
The first chance to meet the 2008 Soul comes 3 to 4 p.m. Feb. 26 during the team’s official Season Kick-off Pep Rally at Commerce Bank, 2201 S. Broad St. The entire team will be there to meet and greet fans. Prizes and other great stuff also will be up for grabs.
Meet the Soulmates
The official Soulmates Launch Party is Feb. 27 starting at 7 p.m. at Chickie’s and Pete’s, 15th Street and Packer Avenue. Fans can come and meet the newest members of the Soulmates Dance Team, while catching up with returning members.
Home-opener reminder
The Soul open the ’08 season at home against the Orlando Predators 7 p.m. March 1. Head coach Brett Munsey, now in his third season, is 2-0 in kickoff weekend games.
Soul on the radio and Web
The Soul are being featured on ESPN.com and ESPN360.com with webisodes of "Last Man Standing." Each weekly segment gives an in-depth look at training camp and includes interviews with players.
In addition, all 16 regular-season Soul games and any playoff games will be broadcast on Sports Radio 950, which also will air the games live on www.sr950.com.
