It's Storm Season Again!
(April 9, 2001)

By Tampa Bay Storm standards, the 2000 Arena Football League season was a disappointment. An 8-6 regular season, being knocked out of the playoffs by Orlando for the third straight year, and finishing 9-7 was frustrating for the four time league champions. What can we expect from the 2001 Storm in the AFL's fifteenth season?

There were plenty of off-season changes for Tampa Bay prior to last year and the team got off to a miserable 2-5 start. When John Kaleo replaced Thad Busby at quarterback, and team picked up offensive specialist James Bowden, things came together. The Storm won seven of eight games, before the playoff loss to the Predators. Having these two for the entire season should be a boost to the offense. Andre Bowden, the last link to the original 1991 team, is back for another year. They also picked up kicker Mike Black, an eight year veteran who holds many league records, and former South Florida wide receiver Rj Anderson is on the roster. There some players who will not return this season. A key loss to free agency was Lawrence Sammuels, who signed with New Jersey. Antoine Worthman is now with Detroit. Others were waived including Thad Busby, Matt Huerkamp, Wayne Walker and Charles Wilson.

This season the Storm won both its preseason games. Last season they lost them both. Over 8,000 fans came to the Ice Palace for the Orlando game last Saturday, so there appears to be some excitement for the upcoming season. John Kaleo looked good, as did backup quarterback Shane Stafford. After playing last season with Tallahassee of the af2, Stafford had a very impressive preseason. The quarterback position is far more settled than last year, when the retirement of Peter Tom Willis left the team scrambling.

As for the AFL, the more things change, the more they change. Relocations, expansion and there are now a record nineteen teams in the league. The league has always had franchise shifts and there are over thirty defunct franchises. The Tampa Bay Storm and Orlando Predators have been around since 1991, the longest stint of any team in the league. The Albany Firebirds had started play a year earlier, however, during the off season they moved to Indianapolis and are now known as the Indiana Firebirds. Another relocation involved the Iowa Barnstormers, who moved to Long Island and are now called the New York Dragons. The team formerly known as the New England Sea Wolves has become the league's first Canadian entry, the Toronto Phantoms. The Detroit Fury, who were to begin play last season, are one of two expansion teams. The Chicago Rush are the other new team. One other change, the New Jersey Red Dogs are now called the New Jersey Gladiators. Expect change to continue, as expansion teams in Dallas, New Orleans and Philadelphia may be added next year. Washington (DC), New Orleans and San Francisco are likely for 2003.

Another change is in the broadcast schedule. The National Network, formerly The Nashville Network, will broadcast games on Sunday afternoon instead of Thursday nights. The Storm's appearances on TNN will be both contests against Orlando. Four other Storm games will be shown live on Sunshine Network.

Since Orlando topped Nashville in last year's Arena Bowl, both Southern Division rivals of Tampa Bay, the 2001 schedule will be a challenge. Some of the teams on the schedule, for example Milwaukee, Grand Rapids, Arizona, and New Jersey, are always tough. The Storm opens with two division home games, this Saturday against Florida and the following week against Nashville. Come out to the Ice Palace and support the team. It's Storm season again!