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According to a story in today's Columbus Dispatch, former Storm player Pat Sperduto will be named head coach of the Columbus Destroyers. Sperduto was a Storm offensive lineman from 1991-93. He played with one championship team while with the Storm.
As a head coach in the AFL, he is 48-41-1.
According to a report in today's Chicago Tribune (and Orlando Sentinel), the AFL is considering expansion and has an eye on Boston, Pittsburgh and South Florida. Apparently, Berlin and London also are being looked at.
Why is this being discussed?
Because AFL attendance was up by 6 percent this year, which is even more impressive when one factors in the fact we're in a down economic environment.
An announcement about expansion could be made at the ArenaBowl, which is in three weeks.
As many Storm fans know, Pittsburgh has had a team before. The Pittsburgh Gladiators were one of the AFL's inaugural teams before relocating to Tampa Bay, where they became the Storm after the 1990 season.
Storm coach Tim Marcum, who has only one year left on his contract with the team, said Monday he would like to coach Tampa Bay beyond the 2009 season.
Apparently, he will get his wish.
Storm owner Robert Nucci told the Times on Tuesday he expects to have a contract extension with Marcum negotiated sometime in the next "month or two," and possibly sooner than that.
"Coach Marcum is my friend," Nucci said. "He is an inspiration to me and to the team. He is my coach. He is my guy. He was my guy this year. He's going to be my guy next year. And it's my intention to have him as my guy, my coach into the future. I see a truly great future with Coach Marcum and the Tampa Bay Storm. I don't see anything that's going to change that."
In 14 seasons with the Storm, Marcum is 143-81 with three AFL titles. Tampa Bay went 8-8 this season and missed the playoffs for only the second time in franchise history.
"We're going to address (Marcum's contract situation) in the near future," Nucci said. "We're certainly not going to let this go into the next season or close thereby."
This week's news & notes ...
-On the all-time all-purpose yards list, Phily WR Chris Jackson and Arizona WR Siaha Burley need only 28 and 59 yards, respectively, to pass Eddie Brown, who is fourth on the career list. Brown had 16,437 all-purpose yards. Barry Wagner tops the list with 21,054.
-San Jose DB Clevan Thomas is one INT short of breaking a tie with Wagner to gain sole possession of third on the all-time INT list. Both have 48.
-How consistent has Dallas been? With a win this week, the team can become the first in AFL history to record 13 or more regular-season wins in three separate seasons.
-Georgia WR Troy Bergeron needs nine catches this week to become the first player ever in the AFL to post 100 receptions and 1,000 receiving yards in each of his first three seasons.
-Cleveland RB Marlion Jackson and Tampa Bay RB Torrance Marshall each need two rushing TDs to reach 25 for the season. That would mark the first time two backs have achieved that feat in the same season.
-Utah LB Kelvin Morris already has set a rookie best with six fumble recoveries. With one more, he can set the league record.
-With 15 points, San Jose kicker A.J. Haglund will set the AFL record for points in a season by a kicker. He has 171 right now.
Top six teams in National Conference make the playoffs; one week remains in the regular season.
EASTERN DIVISION
Philadelphia Soul 12-3
Dallas Desperados 12-3
New York Dragons 8-7
Cleveland Gladiators 8-7
Columbus Destroyers 3-12
SOUTHERN DIVISION
Georgia Force 10-5
Orlando Predators 9-7
New Orleans VooDoo 8-7
Tampa Bay Storm 7-8
ESPN has debuted the latest “This is SportsCenter” on-air promotional spot -- “Scheduling Conflicts” – this week, and it includes the AFL's Chicago Rush. The newest installment in the award-winning campaign features the Rush as the team arrives for practice at an ESPN Digital Center studio set while SportsCenter anchor John Anderson tries to wrap up an on-air segment. The spot marks the first time Arena Football has been featured in the “This is SportsCenter” campaign. The Rush will appear in an additional “This is SportsCenter” spot June 22 during ESPN's final regular-season AFL telecast between the Rush and Dallas.
-Philadelphia Soul WR Chris Jackson needs 131 all-purpose yards to pass Eddie Brown and move into fourth place all-time with 16,438 in his career.
-Chicago Rush WR Damian Harrell needs 16 receiving yards to become the third player in AFL history to record 13,000 for his career. Harrell also needs 11 receptions to pass Barry Wagner and move into second place all-time with 992 career catches (he would trail only the Storm's Lawrence Samuels).
-Chicago FB Dan Alexander can become the fastest player in AFL history to reach 950 career rushing yards with 23 when the Rush faces the Georgia Force on Saturday. Alexander currently has 927 yards in 46 career games and can pass Chad Dukes, who reached the 950-yard milestone in 49 career games.
-Chicago Rush WR/DB Dennison Robinson needs two interceptions to break the AFL record for interceptions in a single-season with 14. Ahmad Hawkins (Nashville, 2007), Eddie Moten (Philadelphia, 2006) and Clevan Thomas (San Jose, 2003) each had 13 in a season.
-Colorado Crush DB Rashad Floyd needs eight tackles to pass Barry Wagner and move into second place all-time with 743.
-Orlando Predators DB Kenny McEntyre needs one interception to break his tie with Paul Krause and move into second place all time for the most interceptions in professional football history with 82. Former CFL standout Less Browne had 87 to lead the list.
The following is each team’s postseason-clinching scenario for Week 16:
The CHICAGO RUSH (10-4) clinches home-field advantage in the American Conference with the following scenarios:
1) Chicago Rush win
2) San Jose SaberCats loss
The COLORADO CRUSH (4-10) clinches an American Conference playoff spot with the following scenario:
1) Colorado Crush win + Grand Rapids Rampage loss + Kansas City Brigade loss
The GRAND RAPIDS RAMPAGE (4-10) clinches an American Conference playoff spot with the following scenario:
1) Grand Rapids Rampage win + Los Angeles Avengers loss
The SAN JOSE SABERCATS (9-5) clinch the Western Division and a first-round bye with the following scenarios:
1) San Jose SaberCats win
2) Arizona Rattlers loss
The UTAH BLAZE (5-10) clinches an American Conference playoff spot with the following scenarios:
1) Colorado Crush loss
2) Grand Rapids Rampage loss
The PHILADELPHIA SOUL (11-3) clinches the Eastern Division and home-field advantage in the National Conference with the following scenario:
1) Philadelphia Soul win + Dallas Desperados loss
The GEORGIA FORCE (9-5) clinches the Southern Division and a first-round bye with the following scenario:
1) Georgia Force win
The GEORGIA FORCE (9-5) clinches a National Conference playoff spot with the following scenarios:
1) Tampa Bay Storm loss
2) New York Dragons loss
3) New Orleans VooDoo + Cleveland Gladiators loss
The NEW YORK DRAGONS (8-6) clinch a National Conference playoff spot with the following scenarios:
1) New York Dragons win + Orlando Predators loss
2) New York Dragons win + Tampa Bay Storm loss
3) New York Dragons win + New Orleans VooDoo loss by two-or-more points + Georgia Force win + Cleveland Gladiators win
The NEW ORLEANS VOODOO (8-6) clinches a National Conference playoff spot with the following scenario:
1) New Orleans VooDoo win
The CLEVELAND GLADIATORS (8-6) clinch a National Conference playoff spot with the following scenarios:
1) Cleveland Gladiators win + Tampa Bay Storm loss + Georgia Force win
2) Cleveland Gladiators win + Tampa Bay Storm loss + Orlando Predators loss
Officiating has been on my mind a lot these days, and there are two main reasons for that.
1. It was recently announced that replay will be used for the first time in the playoffs.
2. Storm coach Tim Marcum vented about a few missed calls last week.
With my interest sparked, I read this piece with official Bill LeMonnier at Arenafootball.com closely. In it, LeMonnier talks about everything from game preparation to the league's officials grading system. Check it out.
From a story in today's Orlando Sentinel, "The Orlando Predators announced the official retirement of Arena Football League standout Barry Wagner and will induct him into the Preds Ring of Honor at halftime of the regular-season finale against the New Orleans VooDoo on June 13."
Wagner is a true AFL legend.
He finished with 991 career receptions. That was a record until being broken last Saturday by Storm WR/LB Lawrence Samuels.
Here's a link to Wagner's page at Arenafan.com.
The following comes from a Predators' press release:
"The product of Alabama A&M University played for the Preds from 1992-1999 and led Orlando to their first ArenaBowl title in 1998. Wagner was the AFL's reining Ironman of the Year for six straight seasons (1992-1997). He still holds Preds single-season records for points scored (310) and rushing touchdowns (21). He held the single-season record for All-Purpose yards (2,876) until current Preds wide receiver T.T. Toliver broke that record in Week 14 against the Arizona Rattlers.
"The IronMan" still holds seven Preds All-Time records including All-Purpose yards (14,134), rushing touchdowns (69), receptions (651), receiving yards (9,493), touchdown receptions (210), points scored (1,766), and forced fumbles (14).
"Barry Wagner is obviously the best player to ever wear a Predators' uniform and as an organization we feel it is important for us to send him out with a great celebration among those who admire him the most-Orlando Predators' fans," Preds media relations director Jason Lucas said.
Wagner has been a big part in some of the biggest moments in Preds history including the "Miracle Minute" in 1992 against the Detroit Drive when he scored two touchdowns and recovered an on-sides kick in the last 40 seconds of the game. He scored the game-winning two-point conversion with 11 seconds left. Wagner also intercepted Detroit's last gasp as the Preds won 50-49 against the defending World Champions.
"Anybody who played with or against Barry knows he was the best player to ever suit up in this league," head coach Jay Gruden said. "It was always fun to watch him play, it wasn't fun throwing him interceptions and watching him score, but he was just a phenomenal player."
The following is each team’s postseason-clinching scenario for Week 13:
-The CHICAGO RUSH clinches home-field advantage in the American Conference with the following scenario:
1) Chicago Rush win + San Jose SaberCats loss
-The SAN JOSE SABERCATS clinch an American Conference playoff spot with the following scenarios:
1) San Jose SaberCats win, or
2) Kansas City Brigade loss, or
3) Arizona Rattlers loss
The DALLAS DESPERADOS clinch a National Conference playoff spot with the following scenario:
1) Dallas Desperados win + New York Dragons loss + Tampa Bay Storm loss
The PHILADELPHIA SOUL clinch a National Conference playoff spot with the following scenario:
1) Philadelphia Soul win
Tidbits from around the league ...
-The Storm franchise has reached the playoffs in 19 of its 20 seasons.
-New Orleans, Georgia, Cleveland (Tampa Bay's opponent Friday) and New York are separated by only a game in the National Conference standings.
-Only two teams are undefeated at home this season -- New Orleans (5-0) and Philadelphia (6-0).
-Dallas has won 37 of its past 43 regular-season games. A victory this week will give the franchise its fourth 10-win season in seven years of existence.
-If Dallas wins and both New York and Tampa Bay lose, the Desperados clinch a playoff berth.
-If Cleveland beats Tampa Bay, it will give the team more wins this season (eight) than it had combined in 2006 and '07 (seven).
-Chicago can clinch home-field advantage throughout the American Conference playoffs with a win this week coupled with a San Jose loss. The Rush plays 2-10 Utah.
This just in from the AFL ...
In New York today, the league unanimously approved the use of instant replay for the 2008 playoffs. In the AFL's 22-year history, it has never been in place.
“The coach's ability to challenge a call on the field that could ultimately decide the outcome of a game is not only great for the game, but is also great for the fans,” Dallas Desperados Chief Operating Officer Shy Anderson, who also serves as Chairman of the AFL Rules and Competition Committee, said in a release. “We are able to make this happen because of the great partnership that we have with the leader in sports broadcasting – ESPN. We are extremely proud that the AFL continues to improve its game for the fans where possible.”
Here's how it will work per the AFL's official release:
-Each coach will have a total of two (2) challenges per game that can be used at anytime during regulation. An additional challenge will be granted if the game requires overtime. Challenges remaining from regulation will not “roll over” into overtime.
-Coaches will be equipped with a red “challenge” flag to be thrown on the field to alert officials that they wish to challenge a play. No play may be challenged after the ensuing play has begun.
-Reviewable plays include: scoring, change of possession, fan interference and, at the referee’s discretion, game administration.
-Once a review begins, the referee will have 90 seconds to determine whether the call on the field will be upheld or if there is “indisputable visual evidence” to overturn it.
The playoffs begin June 27. ArenaBowl XXII is July 27.
"I'm excited about instant replay," Storm coach Tim Marcum said. "This will aide the referees to ensure they make the right calls on the field."
--KEITH NIEBUHR
Word just came that the AFL is expected to make a major announcement sometime this afternoon. The question is, what will it involve? Here are a few possibilities ....
-New TV deal: Right now, the league has one in place with ESPN. Might it be extended?
-Replay: The league doesn't have it. It should have it. Could this be added? And if so, when would it start -- immediately? In the playoffs? Next season?
-The league is folding: Not likely. I just talked to a Storm PR rep as he literally was stepping onto the plane for the team's trip to Grand Rapids.
-Expansion: Always a possibility. Right now, the AFL has 17 teams. If it's adding, where would a team go? How about a place like Virginia Beach that has a mid-sized population and rabid fan base?
-Contraction: Bye bye Utah! Hey, you never know, right? Franchises seem to come and go in this league.
Just as soon as I know something, I'll post it ... stay tuned!
--KEITH NIEBUHR
Thanks to the Storm's PR department, we have the current playoff-clinching scenarios for this week's games ...
AMERICAN CONFERENCE
CLINCHED: Chicago Rush - playoff berth
ELIMINATED: None
THIS WEEK:
CHICAGO RUSH
Chicago clinches division title:
1) CHI win + COL loss
SAN JOSE SABERCATS
San Jose clinches playoff berth:
1) SJ win + ARI loss + COL loss + KC loss
NATIONAL CONFERENCE
CLINCHED: None
ELIMINATED: None
Here's a link to the AFL's current standings.
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