Should Have Been Winners (Arena Football)

 

The Arena Bowl is played every year (well, not 2009...), and every year there is a winner.  The right team doesn't always win though.  No, sometimes the universe makes a mistake and the wrong team wins.  But how do we know who these "Misplaced Winners" are?  

Well, this blog circles around one thing, and that's the Iowa Connection.  So, obviously every Arena Bowl champion should have at least one Iowa Connection, but not every one does.  Either I've missed the connection (possible!), or the universe messed up.  Thanos snapped his fingers and the Tampa Bay Storm won.  So lets look at those Iowa-less Arena Bowl champions and see who it should have been.

If this universe happened, here are number of titles these Iowa Connections would have gained (2+):

• 4 - Matt Eller, Ames
• 3 - Chris Spencer, Iowa State
• 3 - Todd Harrington, UNI
• 3 - Kurt Warner, UNI
• 3 - Larry Blue, Iowa
• 3 - Carlos James, Iowa
• 3 - Garry Howe, Spencer
• 3 - Jon Roehlk, Iowa
• 2 - Weyland Harding, Iowa State

Note : Of the 32 Arena Bowl Championships covered here, 17 have been Iowa-less. (Maybe less, I'm always finding connections)

Note 2: First change, removed 2018 as Arvell Nelson (Iowa) played for Washington

Note 3 : Scott Rislov played for San Jose in 2007

Note 4 : Walt Houseman coached for Chicago in 2006

2013

Wrong Winner : Arizona Rattlers

Correct Winner : Philadelphia Soul

Iowan who should've been champs :

• Carlos Martinez, Buena Vista

2012

Wrong Winner : Arizona Rattlers

Correct Winner : San Jose SaberCats

Iowan who should've been champs :

• Tanner Varner, UNI

2011

Wrong Winner : Jacksonville Sharks

Correct Winner : Arizona Rattlers

Iowan who should've been champs :

• Glen Fox, Cedar Rapids

2010

Wrong Winner : Spokane Shock

Correct Winner : Tampa Bay Storm

Iowan who should've been champs :

• Daryon Brutley, UNI

2008

Wrong Winner : Philadelphia Soul

Correct Winner : New York Dragons

Iowan who should've been champs :

• Chris Anthony, Iowa State
• Damien Groce, Iowa State

2004

Wrong Winner : San Jose SabreCats

Correct Winner : Arizona Rattlers

Iowan who should've been champs :

• A.J. Novak, William Penn

2003

Wrong Winner : Tampa Bay Storm

Correct Winner : Detroit Fury

Iowan who should've been champs :

• Brent Browner, UNI

2002

Wrong Winner : San Jose SabreCats

Correct Winner : Chicago Rush

Iowan who should've been champs :

• Arin Blazek, Iowa

2000

Wrong Winner : Orlando Predators

Correct Winner : Nashville Kats

Iowan who should've been champs :

• Aaron Hamilton, Westmar

1999

Wrong Winner : Albany Firebirds

Correct Winner : Arizona Rattlers

Iowan who should've been champs :

• Matt Eller, Ames

1998

Wrong Winner : Orlando Predators

Correct Winner : Arizona Rattlers

Iowan who should've been champs :

• Matt Eller, Ames

1997

Wrong Winner : Arizona Rattlers

Correct Winner : Iowa Barnstormers

Iowans who should've been champs :

• Mike Horacek, Iowa State
• Chris Spencer, Iowa State
• Andre Allen, UNI
• Shawn Collins, UNI
• Todd Harrington, UNI
• Kurt Warner, UNI
• Larry Blue, Iowa
• Carlos James, Iowa
• Matt Eller, Ames
• Garry Howe, Spencer

1996

Wrong Winner : Tampa Bay Storm

Correct Winner : Iowa Barnstormers

Iowans who should've been champs :

• Weyland Harding, Iowa State
• Chris Spencer, Iowa State
• Todd Harrington, UNI
• Kurt Warner, UNI
• Larry Blue, Iowa
• Carlos James, Iowa
• Harold Jasper, Iowa
• Matt Eller, Ames
• Garry Howe, Spencer

1995

Wrong Winner : Tampa Bay Storm

Correct Winner : Iowa Barnstormers

Iowans who should've been champs :

• Weyland Harding, Iowa State
• Chris Spencer, Iowa State
• William Freeney, UNI
• Todd Harrington, UNI
• Kurt Warner, UNI
• Larry Blue, Iowa
• Carlos James, Iowa
• Bob Rees, Iowa
• Jon Roehlk, Iowa
• Adrian Lunsfor, Iowa Wesleyan
• Garry Howe, Spencer

1993

Wrong Winner : Tampa Bay Storm

Correct Winner : Detroit Drive

Iowan who should've been champs :

• Jon Roehlk, Iowa

1991

Wrong Winner : Tampa Bay Storm

Correct Winner : Detroit Drive

Iowans who should've been champs :

• Jon Roehlk, Iowa
• Aric Anderson, Waverly

1987

Wrong Winner : Denver Dynamite

Correct Winner : Pittsburgh Gladiators

Iowans who should've been champs :

• Mike Stoops, Iowa
• Chris Federico, Iowa Central