Cobras Begin Process of Rebuilding
Chuck DiLullo
Friday October 10, 2003
“Personally, I never want to go through what we went through last season,” said General Manager Darrell Harbin, “There are a couple of things that we believe are important in building a championship team – one is establishing an experienced coaching staff and two is the commitment to this coaching staff to allow them to bring in players that they need to build a championship team.”
The Cobras have signed five players from last year’s team to build on – these include FB/LB Tim McGill, WR/LB Chris Johnson (36 receptions for nine TDs), FB/LB Jason Bratton, WR/DB Jamaal Garman (29 receptions and eight TDs) and last year’s team MVP, OS Bernard Holmes (83 receptions and 16 TDs). They are also close to sign-
ing WR/DB Nick Ward (seven offensive TDs and one INT return for a score) and look to bring in a proven, veteran QB to take the reins of Gregory’s high-powered offense.
“There is no question that you have to make a firm decision on who your quarterback is,” said Gregory, “He will have to take the balance of turns during practice so that he can go into games super-prepared.”
The team conducted an open tryout this past Saturday, October 4th attracting over 241 participants.
“I think it is important to approach these camps with an open mind,” said Gregory. “There are a lot of times that players come out of nowhere and do well. We have found so many players in those places, including Kurt Warner.”
The coaching staff and management from the Cobras conducted drills over a six-hour period.
“I’m looking for speed more than anything else,” said Blanding after the dashes were complete. “I saw a couple of 4.4’s and 4.5’s but was hoping to see more players than we saw run faster times.”
Harbin, Khayat and Senior Advisor Billy McGehee look to rekindle the magic they shared with the Nashville Kats where the team posted a 51-29 record from 1997 to 2001, including two Arena Bowl appearances in 2000 and 2001.
“I was around coach Khayat for four years in Nashville,” said G.M. Harbin,”(he took) the only expansion team in history to the playoffs and led the team to back-to-back Arena Bowl appearances.”
Team owner Pete Loftin is committed to building a championship team for the fans of the Carolina Cobras and has given McGehee and Harbin the freedom to put the pieces together that can accomplish the goal of winning the ArenaBowl. The coaching staff is a solid group with many years of experience and championship pedigree. Gregory ranks sixth in career wins (72), fifth in postseason victories (6), has coached in two ArenaBowls and has been named coach of the year twice. His offenses have averaged 52.8 points a game, including a record 64.1 points per game average in 2001. Selesky was the head coach of the Buffalo Destroyers in 2003 and was defensive coach for the Tampa Bay Storm from 1997 to 1999 during which the Storm compiled a 31-11 record, including the 1998 Arena Bowl championship. Blanding will enter his second season with the Cobras, his first A.F.L. position.
So it appears that the pieces are coming together for the Cobras as they prepare for the 2004 season. The Cobras want to lay to rest – and quickly – the memory of last season’s disaster and prove that they are ready to challenge for a championship.
Chuck DiLullo works for a manufacturer of process control instrumentation as a sales engineer. He has been a fan of professional, college and high school football since he could walk. Chuck is originally from Philadelphia and he became a huge Arena Football League fan while living in Buffalo. Chuck has lived in Charlotte since 2000 with his wife & three children.
