Bucs Storm XFL Draft
(April 23, 2001)

Much has been going on lately for the football fan. Free agency and the draft have given the Tampa Bay Buccaneers new players and renewed hype. The NFL draft also yielded some memorial moments for the University of South Florida football program. The Tampa Bay Storm has opened the 2001 season with a pair of home victories and the first XFL season is over with. Yes, there is plenty to talk about.

Some wonder how they will fit everybody under the salary cap, but the Bucs have had another active free agency period. The quarterback position has improved dramatically with the addition of Brad Johnson and Ryan Leaf. While training camp is still a few months away, it appears Johnson will be the starter and Leaf will battle with Shaun King for the backup role. The Bucs may now have the best QB trio in the league, however, it may prove difficult to keep all three happy. The team also signed defensive end Simeon Rice and now have a starting defensive line featuring all number one draft picks. Speaking of number one draft picks, the Bucs got an impact player in University of Florida tackle Kenyatta Walker in the college draft.

The Bucs did sign some of their own free agents, but with all the comings, there has to be some goings. With the glut at quarterback, Eric Zeier was traded. The biggest name leaving town is defensive lineman Chidi Ahanotu. Ahanotu was released and offensive lineman Frank Middleton may be next. Defensive back Damiem Robinson may end up a victim of the salary cap.

It appears the Bucs continue to make the right moves to advance to the next level. There is an awful lot of talent on this 2001 team. Tampa Bay seems to be the place to be and poised to do what was expected last year. The pressure is on and Tony Dungy may need to take this team to Super Bowl to remain head coach. Let the hype start again.

Before we leave the NFL, a milestone for the South Florida football program came in the draft and in dramatic fashion. The fourth round opened with the New England Patriots taking offensive lineman Kenyatta Jones with the ninety- sixth overall selection. Jones was the first ever USF draft selection. Cleveland picked next and took defensive back Anthony Henry. Next up was Arizona, who drafted place kicker Bill Gramatica. USF Head coach Jim Leavitt talked about watching on television as three consecutive Bulls were selected. "I was sitting in my living room screaming, I was so excited."

Let's update what has been happening indoors. The Tampa Storm opened the 2001 Arena Football League season with home victories over Florida 63-41 and Nashville 45-40. The team started last year with three defeats, so opening with two division victories is huge. Plus, Orlando has opened the season 0-2! The Storm are off this weekend and next play at Milwaukee on May 4. They return home to the Ice Palace on May 12 to play the Toronto Phantoms.

What else has been going on as of late? You may, or may not, have noticed that the XFL completed its first season. Considering the dismal television ratings, some may have not even known the season had started. Well, Saturday night the Los Angeles Xtreme defeated the San Francisco Demons 38-6 in the title game dubbed the "Million Dollar Game." For whatever reasons, perhaps more attention was given to gimmicks than game-play, this league failed to attract much of a following. Time will tell if there will be a second season.

The Bucs, the Storm, the XFL and the Draft. They call this the off season?