Storm Enjoy Home Cooking
(June 19, 2000)

Two weeks ago, the Tampa Bay Storm began the second half of the season with a record setting rout of the Florida Bobcats. After a bye week, they continued those winnings ways Saturday night at the Ice Palace. A 40-30 victory over Nashville was the Storm's fourth straight home win and they improved to 4-5. As the chase for the playoffs begin, it is imperative they find a way to win on the road.

The week off was much needed for the injury plagued Tampa Bay team. It was an chance for some players to get healthy. The Storm also made a couple of deals before the trade deadline. Wide receiver/linebacker Sir Mawn Wilson was obtained from Arizona for future considerations. Wilson, who earned an NFL championship ring with Denver in 1997, went to Tampa Catholic High School and Syracuse University. The Storm also signed free agent center Curtis Whitley who went to Clemson and played seven NFL seasons with San Diego, Carolina and Oakland.

Saturday, the largest crowd of the season came out on a stormy night at the Ice Palace. The home team started fast, leading 14-0 after one quarter, 28-7 in the second, 28-14 at the half and 31-14 in the third quarter. The Kats staged a comeback, out scoring the Storm 16-3 to pull within 34-30, before James Bowden electrified the crowd. With Nashville closing in, Bowden returned a kickoff 55 yards for a 40-30 margin and the game's final score.

While it was the Storm's first victory against team with a winning record, the offense continues to struggle. In the second half, special teams accounted for all the points and Nashville got back into the game. In the first half, John Kaleo ran for a score and hit Lawrence Samuels on two touchdown passes, while Andre Bowden had a touchdown on the ground. After the intermission, two Matt Huerkamp field goals and the James Bowden kickoff return was all the home team's scoring. The Storm defense continues to impress and Nashville had several costly mistakes.

The Storm is on a bit of a roll at the Ice Palace and has won the last four home games. However, they have not yet won on the road. Three of the next five games are away from home, beginning with Grand Rapids Friday night, so they need to quickly rectify the road woes.

There are just two more regular season home games on the 2000 schedule and hosting a playoff game in Tampa seems remote. Some people I know went to their first Storm game Saturday night. One said that they had been to a baseball game and it was kind of boring, but they keep the action going at the Storm games. Another enjoyed the "carnival atmosphere" of the game. Next at home are the Orlando Predators on Saturday, July 1. The Orlando game typically draws the largest, most energetic, crowd of the season. The Preds game is the one fans look forward too and you can bet some folks from Orlando will take the trek down I-4 for the contest. A week later, on July 8, the home slate concludes with the Milwaukee Mustangs. Hope to see you at the games.