Sorry stats tell season’s story

Wednesday, June 27, 2007 | 7:23 a.m.

When it comes to dissecting the Las Vegas Gladiators' 2007 season, the numbers don't lie.

While stumbling to a 2-14 record - the worst in the Arena Football League this season and the team's poorest showing since moving to Las Vegas in 2003 - the Gladiators finished at or near the bottom of virtually every statistical category in the league.

Off the field, the franchise fared no better. Despite moving to the smaller Orleans Arena from the Thomas & Mack Center, the team struggled to fill half of the 9,000 seats each game day and finished last in the league in attendance. With five games remaining in the season, head coach Danton Barto and his staff were told they would not be retained in 2008 and at least four front-office employees gave their notice or left the organization in the waning weeks of the season.

Despite the on-field incompetence and off-field drama, first-year Gladiators General Manager Sam Jankovich insisted that the team would remain in Las Vegas and that he and team owner Jim Ferraro would reverse the organization's fortunes.

They will have their hands full. Here's how the Gladiators stacked up this season against the league leaders in various categories, with Las Vegas' league ranking (out of 19 teams) in parentheses:

Attendance

Gladiators: 43,064 (19th)

New Orleans: 133,162

Touchdowns scored

Gladiators: 94 (19th)

Georgia: 141

Touchdowns allowed

Gladiators: 126 (16th)

Chicago: 97

Points scored

Gladiators: 701 (19th)

Dallas: 1,016

Rushing yards

Gladiators: 182 (16th)

Nashville: 470

Passing yards

Gladiators: 4,699 (5th)

Utah: 5,035

Completion percentage

Gladiators: 59.6 (18th)

Georgia: 74

Passing rating

Gladiators: 98.5 (18th)

Georgia: 132.1

Kick returns for TD

Gladiators: 0 (19th)

Grand Rapids , San Jose: 7

Interceptions

Gladiators: 6 (19th)

Chicago: 24

Sacks

Gladiators: 9 (18th)

Georgia: 29

Sacks allowed

Gladiators: 32 (19th)

Dallas: 4

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