Finally, Plank approved the slogan:
"We Got This."
"I don't think any head coach would have ever come up with that," Plank said. "We don't want to send a negative statement to other teams."
Five months after adopting the slogan, the Soul (16-3) are a win way from the Arena Bowl. They take on the defending champion Jacksonville Sharks on Friday at 8 p.m. in the Eastern Conference championship game, to be televised on the NFL Network.
"This is the biggest game of the season," quarterback Dan Raudabaugh said. "Since the playoffs started, they're all the biggest game of the year."
Raudabaugh has led the Soul to nine straight wins and the best record in the Arena Football League.
"It's pretty clear he's our most valuable player," Plank said. "But there are so many other factors to our success."
It starts with the wide receivers, who haven't missed a beat after league MVP candidate Tiger Jones signed a contract with the Eagles. Credit also goes to running back Derrick Ross, who holds nearly every AFL rushing record.
Raudabaugh is quick to give props to the big men blocking in front of him who have helped allow only five sacks all season - five fewer than the next closest team.
And, of course, Raudabaugh is quick to give credit to the league's top-ranked defense, which has worked to keep him on the field as long as possible.
"You can't just shut one aspect of our game down," Raudabaugh said.
The Soul played the Sharks twice this season, coming away with a 56-38 win in May before running away with a 62-27 victory a month later.
Even after the wins and the superior numbers, there are reasons for caution. In this league, Plank has seen 21- point leads vanish in 60 seconds.
"No lead is safe here," Plank said. "This may be the most talented team I've ever coached. But we keep telling them, no lead is safe in this league."
Many players will show up to Friday's game in a gray shirt with "We Got This" on the front. Some will wear the shirt under their shoulder pads.
But as Plank said when he was wary of the slogan back in March: We don't have this yet.
Sharks at Soul
What: AFL conference championship game
Who: Jacksonville Sharks at Soul
Where: Wells Fargo Center, 8 p.m.
TV: NFL Network
Soul notes: Wide receiver and kick returner Jeff Hughley was a major factor in the Sharks' championship last season. . . . The Soul rank first in scoring offense and rushing offense.
Sharks notes: They rank first in scoring defense. . . . Jacksonville has the second- and third-leading rushers in the league - but their combined totals still trail the Soul's Derrick Ross. - Chad Graff
Contact Chad Graff at cgraff@philly.com, or follow
on Twitter @ChadGraff.
