Avengers Hope Move Alters Playoff Fortunes

The Avengers have resurrected a Los Angeles professional football tradition:

* Make the playoffs.

* Lose in the playoffs.

* Change the quarterback.

Can a franchise shift to St. Louis or Oakland be far behind?

It’s been unused since the Rams and Raiders left town, but John Kaleo walks that once well-worn path Joe Namath, Dieter Brock and Jay Schroeder stumbled down. Kaleo comes to Los Angeles to take a team further than it has gone in the past, which, in the Avengers’ case, would be getting past the first round of the Arena Football League playoffs.

Before the “Holy Jeff Hostetler!” cry goes out, this seems to be a gamble that could pay off. Kaleo, who turns 34 on Feb. 5, has won an ArenaBowl game, having led Tampa Bay to the title two seasons ago, and his history with Avenger Coach Ed Hodgkiss -- they were assistant coaches together at Montgomery (Md.) Junior College in 1994 -- could be the combination that finally gets the Avengers over the playoff hump.

“We are comfortable with each other,” Hodgkiss said. “That allows us to shoot straight with each other.”

Whether that will translate to postseason success remains to be seen.

The Avengers, who begin their sixth season Jan. 30 at Las Vegas, will try to make team history at what they have failed to do so consistently. They have never won a playoff game, having lost in the first round the last three seasons.

“The first year ... we made the playoffs and it was exciting,” said Hodgkiss, who has led the Avengers to their only three playoff appearances. “The last two seasons have been disappointing. Our goal is to win the ArenaBowl.”

Hodgkiss’ playoff difficulties are more or less Kaleo’s fault. After all, it was Kaleo who put Hodgkiss on the arena football path.

“I knew the coach of the Albany team and told him that if he needed a guy who was willing to do anything -- coach, do the laundry, empty the trash cans -- he should call Ed,” Kaleo said.

That got Hodgkiss into the league. Now Kaleo will try to get him a league championship.

Changing quarterbacks wasn’t expected to be part of the getting-there-from-here equation. It was more or less foisted upon the Avengers.

After losing to Arizona in the first round last season, Tony Graziani, one of the league’s top quarterbacks, was clear on what needed to be done.

“We have to go back to the drawing board,” Graziani said after the game. “We can’t win big games, and it’s frustrating.”

Graziani had a simple solution. He signed as a free agent with the Philadelphia Soul, getting a three-year, $500,000 contract that was out of the Avengers’ price range.

Left with a gaping hole in the offense, Hodgkiss turned to his old friend. The Avengers gave the Austin Wranglers the rights to Sean Morey, a receiver and special teams player for the Pittsburgh Steelers, for Kaleo.

Kaleo, who led the expansion Wranglers to an 8-8 record, has already spent 11 seasons in the AFL, the Avengers being his ninth team.

“It’s been unfortunate because Coach Hodgkiss has ... one of the top offensive teams,” Kaleo said. “But whether it was injuries or the bounce of the ball, they haven’t been able to win in the playoffs.”

*

AVENGER OPENER

vs. Las Vegas Gladiators

* When: Jan. 30, noon.

* Where: Las Vegas (Thomas & Mack Center).

* TV: Channel 4.

* Radio: XTRA 690/1150.