Harding Back with Buffalo...as Defensive Coach.
Tom Ando
Thursday April 18, 2002
In a season that the Buffalo Destroyers explosive offense looks to take the Arena Football League by storm, head coach Ray Bentley knew his defense would have to do its part as well, so he went out and hired one of his former players.
 Weylan Harding takes the field only during warmups these days -- as defensive coordinator Image courtesy of |
“We had success with Weylan in the past in 2000 after he got hurt. He helped out with the defensive backs coaching, and just did a great job. He spent the year last year with Rochester (Brigade of the AF2), and did a great job there, so I knew what I was getting coming in.”
For Harding, it is honor to join his former coach. “When I was here when Ray first got here, I got injured, and he offered me the defensive backs [coaching] job. So it’s always been a sense of loyalty since he gave me my first opportunity to coach in this league.”
After two pre season games to tune up, the Destroyers defense, which held the world champion Rampage to just 21 points in the first half, is set to go.
“I have a lot of confidence in this defense,” said defensive specialist Prentice Taylor. “We’ve got coach Weylan, and he’s been around this game for a while, so he’s brought a lot to the table for us. He just builds up our confidence, and makes us go out there and push ourselves to the limit.”
The hard-hitting Taylor most definitely won’t be alone in the backfield this year.
“I think with Bret Cooper and Carlos James and the two-way, we’re very solid and physical,” said Bentley. “Those guys are playmakers, and they’re going to help significantly. At defensive specialist, Corey Johnson is in the best shape I’ve ever seen him in. This is my third go-round with Corey. He was with us in 2000, and then he was here in camp last year, and then I cut him. And he’s back now, so I’m looking for great things out of Corey.”
Although Harding won’t be among those in the defensive backfield, he enjoys coaching the guys just as much.
“I love it here. I miss playing, but I live it through the players,” said Harding. “When the lights pop on and they see it the way you see it.”
With all of the talent and dedication in the world, the 2002 Buffalo Destroyers could be as good defensively as they are offensively and Weylan Harding will be the first to say so.
“We’ve got a deep group, a real deep group. Best in the league? We’ll have to see.”
"Touchdown" Tom Ando is a free lance writer from South Buffalo, NY and has been covering the Arena Football League in one capacity or another since the 2000 season, when he was 17 years old. Tom Currently writes for Sports & Leisure Magazine in Buffalo covering the NLL's Buffalo Bandits and NCAA Division I football. In 2001, Tom was the only writer in the country to cover the Houston "Travelin' " Thunderbears, where he befriended his mentor John F. "Hondo" Hahn.
