New Coach For The Thunder

Andy Olson, who formerly coached the Spokane Shock, is the new head coach of the Portland Thunder.

He becomes Portland's third head coach in as many seasons.

Not Again!

The Portland Thunder are searching for their third head coach in as many seasons.

Provided, of course, that there will be a third season.

The decision to sever ties with coach Mike Hohensee and his staff took place last Monday.

Outlaws Quit, Thunder Make ArenaBowl Playoffs; VooDoo Finished Too

Due to Sunday's demise of the Las Vegas Outlaws (who finished the regular season at 5-12-1), the Portland Thunder, who went 5-13 for the second straight season, qualified for the Arena Football League playoffs.  It's the second consecutive post-season appearance for the Thunder.

The New Orleans VooDoo (3-14-1) also folded, leaving the AFL with ten teams.

I have an inkling that this league is in big trouble.

Anyhow, here is the schedule for the opening round of the ArenaBowl playoffs with all times Pacific:

NATIONAL CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS:

Friday:

Portland @ San Jose, 8:00 PM (ESPN 2)

Saturday:

Spokane @ Arizona , 6:00 PM



AMERICAN CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS:

Saturday:

Cleveland @ Philadelphia, 2:00 PM (CBS Sports Network)

Jacksonville @ Orlando, 4:30 PM

In AFL Playoff Tune-Up, Rattlers Put Bite On Thunder, End Portland's Playoff Chances And Season

At Phoenix, Arizona:

In the Arena Football League regular-season finale for both clubs, the Arizona Rattlers (14-4) tuned up for the upcoming ArenaBowl playoffs on Saturday by dominating the visiting Portland Thunder (5-13) 67-39, eliminating the guests from playoff contention.

The victory was the Rattlers' seventh straight over the Thunder.

Thunder Handcuff Outlaws, Keep Playoff Chances Alive

At Portland, Oregon:

Duane Brooks ran back a kickoff 56 yards for his Arena Football League single-season record eighth touchdown of the season on Saturday night as the Portland Thunder (5-12), in front of a franchise-record 14,055 fans at the Moda Center, dominated the visiting Las Vegas Outlaws (5-11-1) 64-33 in their regular-season AFL home finale and kept their flickering National Conference playoff chances alive with one game remaining, next weekend at Arizona.

Thunder's Playoff Hopes On Life Support After Tough Defeat At Spokane

At Spokane, Washington:

The Spokane Shock (6-10) held off the visiting Portland Thunder (4-12) 42-40 in Saturday Arena Football League action.  The Thunder would have to win their final two regular-season games (against Las Vegas and Arizona) to have a chance to qualify for the ArenaBowl playoffs.

Thunder Blow Big Lead, Fall In OT To SaberCats In San Jose

At San Jose, California:

Reggie Gray caught 14 passes for 130 yards and four touchdowns while Ben Nelson caught the game-winning TD pass from quarterback Erik Meyer (who threw for eight scores) in overtime as the San Jose SaberCats (15-1) overcame a first-half three-touchdown deficit and upended the visiting Portland Thunder (4-11) 55-49 on Saturday in Arena Football League action.

Thunder Score Club-Record 72 Points, Snap Losing Streak

At Portland, Oregon:

The Portland Thunder (4-10) scored a single-game franchise record on Saturday night as they snapped a six-game losing streak with a 72-48 Arena Football League home victory over the Jacksonville Sharks (7-7).

Outlaws Overtake Thunder As Time Expires

At Las Vegas:

Quarterback Dennis Havrilla ran for the winning touchdown from a yard out as time expired on Sunday as the expansion Las Vegas Outlaws (5-8) handed the visiting Portland Thunder (3-10) their sixth straight Arena Football League defeat (and ninth in their last ten starts) 48-46.

Shock Heap More Misery For Thunder

At Portland, Oregon:

The Spokane Shock (4-8) handed the Portland Thunder (3-9) their fifth straight Arena Football League defeat (and eighth in their last nine starts) 69-54 on the road on Sunday night in a nationally-televised contest.

Portland will try to get back on the winning track next Sunday at Las Vegas for a contest against the expansion Outlaws at 2:00 PM Pacific Time.

Thunder Bitten By Rattlers

At Portland, Oregon:

The Arizona Rattlers (9-2) converted three interceptions into two touchdowns on Friday night as they manhandled the Portland Thunder (3-8) 69-42 on the road for their fifth straight Arena Football League victory.  For the Thunder, the defeat was their fourth in a row and seventh in their last eight starts.

KISS Pick Up First Win, Top Inconsistant Thunder At Home

At Anaheim, California:

A series of unforced errors enabled the previously-winless Los Angeles KISS (1-9) to pick up their first Arena Football League victory of the season on Sunday, 52-40 on at home over the Portland Thunder (3-7), who have now dropped six of their last seven starts.

SaberCats Too Much For Thunder

At Portland, Oregon:

The San Jose SaberCats (9-0) defeated the Portland Thunder (3-6) 61-42 on the road in Saturday afternoon Arena Football League action.

Predators Devour Visiting Thunder

At Orlando, Florida:

The Orlando Predators (5-4) handed the Portland Thunder (3-5) their fourth road defeat of the Arena Football League season on Saturday night with a nationally-televised 69-43 mauling.

Thunder Smack KISS At Home, End Three-Game Skid; Big Night For Darron Thomas

At Portland, Oregon:

Quarterback Darron Thomas threw for 229 yards and six touchdowns and ran for another on Saturday as the Portland Thunder (3-4) snapped their three-game Arena Football League losing streak with a 63-47 home win over the winless Los Angeles KISS (0-8) in front of 10, 023 fans at the Moda Center.

No Brotherly Love For Thunder In Philly

At Philadelphia:

The Philadelphia Soul (6-0) remained unbeaten in Arena Football League action on the season following their 52-25 home victory over the Portland Thunder (2-4). Soul quarterback Dan Raudabaugh completed 22 of 38 passes for 274 yards and six touchdowns.

SaberCats Too Much For Thunder

At San Jose, California:

In Saturday Arena Football League action, the San Jose SaberCats (5-0) downed the visiting Portland Thunder (2-3) 64-45.  San Jose quarterback Erik Meyer threw for seven touchdowns, three of them to O.J. Stephens (who caught 10 passes for 171 yards).

Rattlers Take Bite Out Of Thunder

At Phoenix:

Quarterback Nick Davila completed 31 of 44 passes for 319 yards and nine touchdowns, six of them to Rod Windsor (who caught 14 passes for 141 yards) on Saturday night as the Arizona Rattlers (3-1) defeated the visiting Portland Thunder (2-2) 65-47 in Arena Football League action.

Thunder Knock Off Shock At Home For First-Ever Win Against Divisional Opponent

At Portland, Oregon:

The Portland Thunder (2-1) defeated the visiting Spokane Shock (0-3) 47-43 at home on Thursday night in Arena Football League action.  It was Portland's first-ever victory against a Pacific Division rival.

Thunder Falls To Storm

At Portland, Oregon:

The Tampa Bay Storm (1-1) defeated the Portland Thunder (1-1) 54-48 on the road in Friday Arena Football League action.