Quick Facts: Week 1 Preview at New Orleans

Here's some facts that you should keep in mind before the Soul begin their season on Sunday, March 18th at The Graveyard:

VooDoo head coach Pat O'Hara:

• Played primarily as a back-up QB in the AFL from 1995-2006
• Played in 5 ArenaBowls winning 3 
• Tampa Bay Storm Offensive Coordinator in 2005, 2007-08
• AF2's Tri-Cities Fever Head Coach in 2009 -> 3-8 record after taking over for a 0-5 team.
• Orlando Predators Head Coach in 2010-11 -> 19-15 regular season record / 1-2 postseason mark
• 8-8 in 2010 -> lost to the Tampa Bay Storm 63-62 in the American Conference Championship.
• 11-7 in 2011 -> lost to the Jacksonville Sharks in the first round.
• Set a team record for points-per-game (55.6).
• Hired by the New Orleans VooDoo just a week after getting fired by the Orlando Predators.
• An offensive minded coach that will put his team in positions to score many points every week.

VooDoo's 2011 season:

• Ended the season with a league worst 3-15 record.
• Ranked 17th of 18 in scoring offense & 14th of 18 in scoring defense.

VooDoo's 2012 roster:

• Added QB Kurt Rocca and QB Brian Zbydniewski to the roster.
• A starting QB has not yet been named for the season opener.
• Rocca 2011 stats (with Gladiators):
• 319 of 495 (64.4%) for 3834 yards and 72 TD's with 14 INT's.
• Filled in for the injured Dutton - Started 16 games
• Zbydniewski 2011 stats (with Storm):
• 221 of 3357 (61.9 %) for 2825 yards and 56 TD's with 15 INT's.
• Started 10 of the 11 games he played last season
• 13 AFL rookies made final cuts -> the Soul have 1 rookie currently on their roster.
• Only 1 player has more than 3 years of AFL experience (WR/DB Josh Bush with 7).
• Lost Ironman of the Year P.J. Berry to the Pittsburgh Power in the off-season.

The VooDoo are a young team that should be offensively charged by the addition of new head coach Pat O'Hara. New Orleans is a team looking to change their fortunes after an abysmal 3-15 campaign last season. One of the Soul's six victories came against the VooDoo with a 70-49 Week 12 victory in front of the Philadelphia faithful. With both teams flaunting new uniforms, The Graveyard will be electric and the Soul will have their hands full despite their championship expectations.