Quarterback Outlasts Teams
John Hoh
Monday March 18, 2002
What makes Hammel’s achievement remarkable is that he had to seek out his sixth team, in an unusual stroke of bad luck, each of his five previous clubs are now defunct.
Last year Hammel started under center for the Houston ThunderBears. The year before he started for the Florida Bobcats, and still before that, he was a starter for five years in Milwaukee. All three of these franchises were contracted in the off-season, making Hammel a free man once again.
Hammel started his AFL career in 1992 with the Dallas Texans. When the Texans folded, Hammel moved down the freeway and signed up with the expansion Fort Worth Cavalry. After one ill-fated season, and an abortion franchise move into Mexico City, Hammel signed as a free agent with the building Milwaukee Mustangs. Under Hammel’s guidance the Mustangs became respectable until Trigg was fired after the 1997 season. Hammel played two more years for the Mustangs before being released to make room for QB Kevin McDougal.
Entering his 11th season, Hammel may well be the Dan Marino of the AFL -- a holder of every conceivable passing record, but possessing no ring. He hopes to turn that around with the Rampage who are coming off their first franchise championship.
Hammel played collegiately at Stephen F. Austin where he was named an NCAA Division I-AA All-American. He owns AFL records in passes attempted (3,344), passes completed (1,876) and passing yards (23,276). His 353 touchdown passes ranks fourth overall in league history.
Hammel will come in as a backup to Clint Dolezel, who also played for the Mustangs and the ThunderBears. Trigg views Hammel as a proven commodity who will provide strong leadership on the team.
See Todd Hammel`s career statistics here.
John L. Hoh, Jr., is a free-lance writer from Milwaukee who grew up in Appleton, Wisconsin, as an avid Dolphins fan. He followed Arena Football since its inception, at one point watching tape-delayed games on low-powered WAV-TV in Waukesha. His happiest day was when Milwaukee was awarded the Mustangs franchise; his saddest when the Mustangs were contracted out of the league. John is married to his wife Maija (13+ years) and has a young son, Matthew. John pines for the return of the Arena Football League to Milwaukee.
