Storm Are Back in THE Game
Joe Kauffman
Tuesday June 10, 2003
As with the majority of the 33 meetings, it came down to which team would make the fewest mistakes. Unlike the previous few playoff meetings, it was the Storm that played nearly flawless football, while Orlando turned the ball over at inopportune times. The Storm turned the ball over once, a John Kaleo interception, while Orlando turned the ball over three times, two of which resulted in touchdowns.
All three Predators turnovers came from the hands of Arena Football Hall of Fame quarterback Jay Gruden, who was meeting his former team on the playing field for the first time in the post-season. The first was a backward screen pass that was knocked out of the air and recovered by Storm lineman B.J. Cohen, who played for the Predators just a year ago. The other two turnovers were both interceptions, one of which WR/DB Antoine “T.T.” Toliver returned for a touchdown late in the game to seal the victory.
“The fumbled screen pass wasn’t Jay [Gruden]’s fault,” said Predators head coach Fran Papasedero. “The lineman to that side is supposed to take on the defensive end and attack him off the line of scrimmage. He didn’t do so. The situation was a big play. B.J. Cohen made a big play. He turned things around obviously.”
 John Kaleo to play in his first championship game ever. Image courtesy of Tom Ando |
“It was a good call. It was the correct call. It was a backwards pass and B.J. knocked the ball down and we recovered,” said Storm head coach Tim Marcum, in regards to the on-field confusion after the play when one official had apparently called it an incomplete pass, but was overruled by the referee.
“We thought we saw an incomplete pass, which made our players stop playing,” said Papasedero. “Bottom line is Tampa Bay played a great game. They were intense; they stepped it up when they had to; and they won the game. And they are going to go to the ArenaBowl and they deserve it.”
But that play wasn’t the only bit of on-the-field confusion. Late in the third quarter, the Predators had the ball on a fourth-and-10 from their own two-yard line. The Storm pass rush had Gruden in its sights, about to sack him for a safety, but then everyone stopped.
Well, everyone, except Jay Gruden who threw the ball deep to a wide open Travis McGriff for a 48-yard touchdown to pull the Predators within 10 points after a missed two-point pass attempt.
“There was a whistle; someone blew a whistle and we completely stopped,” said Marcum. “We were in a zone coverage and it made us look like fools. Instead of taking the guy down, [the lineman] was afraid of roughing the passer. We had him sacked in the end zone. I don’t know who blew the whistle, but whoever they are, take that whistle and stick it where the sun don’t shine.”
While a whistle in the stands may have confused the Storm, the end result was Gruden’s best play of the game. He finished 25 of 42 passing for 341 yards, 6 touchdowns and the 2 interceptions and was sacked twice.
Gruden’s counterpart, Storm quarterback John Kaleo, was an efficient 15 of 21 for 209 yards and 5 touchdowns. He also ran for a touchdown. The yardage may not have been impressive, but it may have been one of the best games of his career. He was 9 of 9 in the first half and completed his first 11 passes before recording an incompletion.
“John played extremely well,” said Marcum. “ I don’t remember a ball hitting the ground. Later on I thought we had some down the field passes that I thought the receivers had a chance to catch [but fell incomplete].”
For Kaleo, who has been a journeyman quarterback his entire career, the semifinal was the biggest game he had ever played in.
“It’s the most important game I’ve ever played,” said Kaleo. “I’ve never been to an ArenaBowl. I’ve never been to a high school championship or peewee championship. I’m happy to go to the Super Bowl of our league.”
AFL Commissioner David Baker, who was in attendance for the 33rd edition of the War On I-4, was happy for the longtime AFL veteran. “John used to play for the team that I owned [in Anaheim]. Sai Poulvaati, who played nine years, played for that team. I think it’s great for these guys.”
“We used to live right around the corner from each other back in L.A.,” said Kaleo of Baker. “I’m sure he’s happy that I finally get to go to the ArenaBowl. After 10 years to finally get a shot like this is very special.”
After the game, the Storm players and coaches were indecisive about whom they wanted to play in the ArenaBowl.
“I don’t care who wins the game,” said Toliver, who was named Ironman of the game after scoring two offensive and one defensive touchdown. “I want to see San Jose, but I’ve never played against Arizona. Whoever wins that game, I’ll be ready for them.”
“Hopefully Arizona pulls it out, but if not, I want a rematch with San Jose. I feel like we can get them,” said Storm OS Freddie Solomon, who had three receptions for 36 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
“It would be big for us to host it here,” said Kaleo. “ Personally, I want San Jose because they made me play my worst game ever, but it would be nice for the upset to have us play here.”
Sunday, in an interview on NBC during halftime of the Arizona-San Jose semifinal, the team was much less indecisive. In fact, they were all pulling for Arizona so that the ArenaBowl could be held in Tampa.
And because Arizona did indeed pull off the upset, ArenaBowl XVII will be held in the St. Pete Times Forum on June 22. Marcum believes that being at home will help his team. “You can’t tell me that it doesn’t make the adrenaline flow. It makes you a better football player when you know that the crowd is behind you.”
Tampa Bay Storm ArenaBowl Facts
- The Tampa Bay Storm will make their sixth appearance in the ArenaBowl, tying a record set by the Detroit Drive and also held by the Orlando Predators.
- The Storm will host the AFL’s championship game for the third time.
- The Storm are 2-1 at home in ArenaBowls and 4-1 overall.
- With a win, the Storm would become the first team in AFL history to win five ArenaBowls.
Pittsburgh Gladiators/Tampa Storm Franchise Facts
- Including four years as the Pittsburgh Gladiators, the Storm are the only continuous franchise since the AFL’s first season.
- The Storm/Gladiators are the only franchise to make the playoffs every year since the AFL began play.
- The Storm/Gladiators now have a combined seven ArenaBowl appearances, the most of any single franchise.
Joe Kauffman is President and Editor in Chief of Arenafan Online, having joined the staff in 2000. He graduated from Florida State University in 1998 with a degree in communications andbuilds ecommerce sites for a day job. Joe has enjoyed Arena Football since 1991 and has been a member of the Arena Football Internet community since 1995. Prior to Joining Arenafan, he was a co-founder and Technical Editor of the Storm Shelter, which covered the Tampa Bay Storm from 1996-99. Joe and his wife Erika live in Hackettstown, New Jersey with their two daughters.
