Changes This Storm Season
(March 8, 2011)

There have been huge changes for the Tampa Storm since the team last played in the Arena Bowl. The owners of the Tampa Bay Lightning have purchased the team. Tim Marcum was forced to resign as head coach. The roster has few familiar names and new head coach Dave Ewart has his work cut out for him.

The fact that Tampa Bay Sports and Entertainment, LLC purchased the Storm is a good thing. While they are the team’s fourth owner in four seasons, The Lightning ownership group is stable and professional. Chairman Jeff Vinik stated, “As our business in Tampa Bay evolves and we deepen our commitment to the community, we believe it makes sense to bring the Storm under the Tampa Bay Sports and Entertainment umbrella. The team is an asset for Tampa Bay and its sports fans and we want to ensure its stability and position in the Arena Football League for the good of our community.”

Tim Marcum was the team’s head coach since 1995. A few days before training was scheduled to open, the announcement came that he would resign as head coach. Marcum was pretty much forced to step down due to inappropriate emails found on his work computer. Marcum said, “After 15 great seasons in Tampa Bay with the Storm, it is time for me to move on. There is a lot going on in my life right now and I believe, for the good of the Storm franchise, that I need to take a step back, focus on those issues and remove any distractions from the team. I cherish the wonderful memories, the championships, and all of our players, but most of all, I thank the Arena Football fans in Tampa Bay. We have the greatest fans in the league and I’d like to thank them for their support over the years. I wish nothing but the very best for the franchise.”

AFL Tidbits

The twenty-fourth season in the history of the league will see an 18-game regular season with two bye weeks over the course of 20 weeks.

Three franchises have returned to the league, the Philadelphia Soul, San Jose SaberCats and Kansas City Command (formerly the Kansas City Brigade). Two teams have relocated, as the Alabama Vipers are now the Georgia Force and the Bossier-Shreveport Battle Wings are now the New Orleans VooDoo. The Pittsburgh Power are a new expansion team and the Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz franchise folded. The Milwaukee Iron are now the Milwaukee Mustangs.

On July 9, the Spokane Shock will host the Utah Blaze in a game billed as the "Joe Albi Stadium Summer Classic." The game is scheduled to be played outdoors at Joe Albi Stadium under normal arena football rules.

Enter Dave Ewart was a head coach in the Arena Football League with the St. Louis Stampede (1996), the Texas Terror (1997) and the Florida Bobcats (2000-01). He was also the Storm’s interim head coach, while Marcum was on suspension, for a handful of games in 2005-06. The day he was promoted, Ewart said, “We will field a strong, competitive team this year and give our great fans an exciting product to support.”

It might take a while to become competitive. There is a new coaching staff that includes John Kaleo, who quarterbacked the Storm to the 2003 title, long time Storm member Nyle Wiren and Donnie Abraham, a Pro Bowl defensive back with the Buccaneers. There a slew of newcomers and 15 rookies are on the final 24 man roster. The Storm got hammered in two preseason games, 56-19 at Jacksonville and 63-30 against Orlando.

The changes start at quarterback. Brett Dietz decided not to play any longer, so unproven Mike Potts and Grant Gregory are on deck. Potts, out of William & Mary, tossed a dozen passes with Tulsa last season and played in af2 the prior year. Gregory played at the University of South Florida before playing his senior season at Kansas State.

The wide receiver position does have some experience lead by the return of Hank Edwards and former USF star Huey Whittaker. Amarri Jackson, another former Bull, made the cut and rookie Michael Lindsey has had an impressive training camp. Former Buccaneer Frank “Yo” Murphy starts the season on the physically unable to perform list.

Tom Kaleita and Emmanuel Akah return on the offensive line, while Eric Ortiz will likely be the starting fullback. Clearwater High School’s own Kyle Chilton will handle the kicking duties.

Two USF standouts should anchor the defensive line. Richard Clebert played with Spokane last year and Jarriet Buie has had a good camp. Greg Taplin has played well in the preseason games and Cliff Dukes can play defensive line or linebacker. The defensive backfield is lead by Deonte Bolden and Erick McIntosh, while rookie Justin Hannah has impressed.

As the Storm begin the team’s twentieth season in Tampa Bay, there have never been so many question marks entering the season. It might take some time for this young group to get it together, so we may need to be patience.