Soul out for revenge against Arizona Saturday
The Philadelphia Soul held their media day Tuesday, which means two things: the season is only days away and the Soul will finally get to take the field again after their embarrassing defeat in the ArenaBowl at the hands of the Arizona Rattlers — their opponent Saturday at 8 p.m. ET.
The Soul took a 72-54 beating from the Rattlers in the championship game, and it was very apparent Tuesday at media day that the loss left a taste in the mouth of the returning players — and it isn't a good taste.
"We lost all three phases of the game…it wasn't even close," Dolezel said. "We didn't stop them one time, we had four turnovers, we lost one off the net on special teams so you name it, we looked bad doing it."
One player in particular that is still stinging from the loss is quarterback Dan Raudabaugh.
Raudabaugh threw seven touchdowns, but three early interceptions was essentially the difference between a competitive game and a gut-wrenching loss.
Raudabaugh shared his lasting memory from that game with reporters Tuesday. He recalled leaving the field during the postgame hoopla when Hall of Fame quarterback, and former Rattler Shedrick Bonner grabbed him and told him to watch the Rattlers' celebration with him.
Bonner told Raudabauh to let the feeling sink in and linger so that he'll never forget it and use it as fuel to bring his team back in 2013.
"[Raudabaugh]'s had a long offseason to think about that," Dolezel said about. "He'll come back strong. That's the last thing I'm worried about."
The time for thinking is over as the Soul will face virtually the same Arizona team, but with a few players added to its arsenal of weapons.
The Rattlers bring back all-Arena performers in quarterback Nick Davila and wide receiver Maurice Purify, who hooked up for seven touchdowns against the Soul last season.
That would be enough, but the Rattlers added receiver Tysson Poots, who in only 11 games last season caught 108 passes for 1,167 yards and 30 touchdowns.
The tip of the iceberg was bringing back receiver Rod Windsor, who caught 349 passes for 4,202 yards and 83 touchdowns from 2010-11. His production earned him a spot on the Cleveland Browns practice squad in 2012.
It's truly an embarrassment of riches for Arizona.
"They're the same team as the ArenaBowl [team] with the exception of their offensive line," Dolezel said. "Hopefully, that's something we can take advantage of."
The road will not get easier for the Soul after traveling across the country for their first game.
The Soul will get a bye in Week 2, but will then embark on 17 consecutive games with the first two coming on the road in Orlando and Iowa.
"I think we're in great shape," Raudabaugh said.
"Here in Philadelphia we pride ourselves on being the best organization in the league and we want to play the best teams in the league."