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AFL Legends part 1

© John L. Hoh, Jr.

A rich history is what gives an established sports league its "flavor" as well as its life-long fans. Many stories chronicle legendary players and their careers. The Arena Football League is only 13 years old but it already has some legends of its own:

QB/Coach Jay Gruden

As the quarterback for the Tampa Bay Storm from 1991 to 1996, #7 Jay Gruden had few equals, amassing 15,514 yards passing (on a 50-yard field remember), 280 TDs, a QB rating of 107.5, and 4 Championships. With Gruden as QB the Storm compiled a record of 68-17, the highest winning percentage for any 6 years in the history of the AFL. In addition to his passing skill, Jay Gruden was indestructible, rarely missing a start. He could be knocked down repeatedly and get up to throw a TD on the next play.

After a record year in 1996 resulting in his fourth Championship, Gruden retired from playing and became the Offensive Coordinator for the expansion Nashville Kats in 1997. That year Jay molded rookie QB Andy Kelly into one of the games passing leaders and helped the Kats to gain an entry into the playoffs.

After a disappointing early exit from the post-season, the Orlando Predators needed to make a change. That change came when they dismissed long-time coach and AFL Legend Perry Moss and announced that Jay Gruden would be the Predator's new head coach. In only his first year as Head Coach, Gruden led the Orlando Predators to to an overall record of 12-5 by defeating his old team and the Predator's cross-state rival, the Tampa Bay Storm, for the Championship.

WR/DB Barry Wagner

The story of #82 Barry Wagner's journey to the upper echelon in the Arena League is the stuff of legend by itself.

The star receiver at Alabama A&M broke many of NFL legend John Stallworth's records there. In 1991 Barry Wagner attended a tryout camp that had a representative from every AFL team. He was not signed.

At training camp for the '92 season veteran player Carl Aikens told Les Moss, the assistant coach for the 2nd year Orlando Predators, about a player he saw playing semi-pro ball in Pittsburgh. On his word, a tall and strong WR came to Orlando to try out for the team. He not only won a position as starting WR/DB for the team but he amassed 859 yards receiving, 18 TDs, 42 tackles, and 4 interceptions. That year he won the 1st of a total of six consecutive Ironman of the Year awards. That Ironman award is given to the best two-way player in the league.

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