I Went to an AFL Game and a Hockey Game Broke Out
Charliy Nash
Saturday April 14, 2001
Maybe it’s because the other team that plays in the Gaylord Entertainment Center is the NHL’s Nashville Predators. If you watched the Orlando Predators and Nashville Kats open the AFL season on TNN you saw quite a bit of fighting – but not nearly all of it. It broke out well before the game started. It got really bad as the game broke for the half. Orlando DS Damon Mason threw a tantrum, banging his helmet on the turf for about 30 seconds. Ann Dashiell of the Kats Krew told me that it was definitely scary being in the tunnel as the two teams left the field. When I asked AFL Commissioner David Baker if there would be any punishment, he replied, “Fines are a certainty.”
Different Approaches
On Wednesday, Kats’ coach Pat Sperduto told me that the team did not watch a video of their preseason opponents, focusing instead on the game against Orlando. He also told me he hoped to get “one big play” from each of the four rookies dressing for the opening game. And the game plan? Get to the QB early and often.
Before the game Friday night, Predators’ coach Jay Gruden confessed that his team had not looked at the tapes from Nashville’s preseason games. “I didn’t want to see all their backups that got cut play.” He also spoke highly of Orlando newcomer Siaha Burley, saying that he had the potential to become “a great receiver in this league”. For tonight’s game he expected to “see a lot of Tyronne Jones, a lot of Darryl Hammond, and a lot of James Baron, and that’s enough for us to worry about.”
So how did it all turn out? Kats’ rookies Travis Reece, CJ McLain, LC Stevens, and John Williams all made major contributions. FB/LB Reece played solid defense and had several good rushes. OL/DL McLain was a quarterback-seeking missile in the second half. WR/LB Stevens used his substantial size advantage to dominate the smaller Orlando DB’s before leaving the game with a shoulder injury. And DS Williams, the XFL graduate in his first Arena game, looked like a veteran defending passes. The Kats got plenty of hits on Orlando’s QB’s, including one that sent Chris Wallace airborne. Predators’ OS/KR Siaha Burley had a few dropped passes, but also has some very big receptions. I have to agree with Jay, he is going to be an exceptional player in the near future. And as for Jay’s other prediction: MVP Tyronne Jones. Ironman James Baron.
Bonaventure’s Big Adventure
Okay, it’s your first chance as a starting quarterback. The game is being played on Friday the 13th, in front of a hostile crowd, on national TV, against a division rival that recorded six sacks the last time they played your team. “I hope he has butterflies,” said coach Gruden about starting QB Braniff Bonaventure, “He should have butterflies, but he’s been around the league and he knows what to expect.” After being chased around the backfield by James Baron and Rupert Grant, and going 2 for 8 with an interception, Bonaventure was replaced by the more mobile Chris Wallace.
Short Takes
A frequent sight last season was Kats FB Rupert “Doghead” Grant finishing a run sans helmet. He somehow found a way to keep it attached tonight.
Kats DS Adrian Lunsford started the night tied (with teammate Darryl Hammond) for fourth place on the all-time interceptions list. He picked off two more passes tonight, returning one for a touchdown.
Orlando coach Jay Gruden often gambles on fourth down. Every time I remember seeing the Predators try it against the Kats they were successful. Not tonight. A pass thrown from a fake field goal went into the stands, giving the Kats the football inside the ten-yard line.
After missing everything, including the net on the opening kickoff during the first preseason game, Nashville kicker Steve McLaughlin was nearly perfect tonight, missing (by inches) only one PAT.
Charliy Nash has covered both incarnations of the Nashville Kats, and now has make the 2 hour drive to Huntsville for an Arena Football fix. He also covers the Tennessee Titans as a blogger for nfl.com and still hopes this will eventually lead to a paying gig.
