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Storm’s Whittaker, Dukes headed to UFL

Posted Jul 10, 2011 by Nick Williams

Updated Jul 10, 2011 at 04:14 PM

Tampa Bay Storm linebacker Cliff Dukes and receiver Huey Whittaker are heading to the United Football League, the team announced early Sunday.

Dukes and Whittaker reported to the Virginia Destroyers of the UFL today but will remain on the Storm roster with the status of other league exempt.

Dukes currently leads the AFL with 16 tackles for a loss and 12.5 sacks, just three shy of the AFL single-season record. Whittaker leads the Storm with 125 receptions, 1,405 yards and is second on the team with 28 receiving touchdowns.

Training camp for the upcoming UFL season begins today.

The Storm are 6-10 and has been eliminated from the AFL playoffs.

AFL playoff scenarios

Posted Jul 6, 2011 by Nick Williams

Updated Jul 6, 2011 at 11:23 AM

Here are the Arena Football League playoff scenarios, which don’t include the Storm (6-9). Tampa Bay can spoil Tulsa’s playoff hopes with a win Saturday.

The ARIZONA RATTLERS (14-2) secured the West Division title in the National Conference. With an Arizona win this week against the PITTSBURGH POWER (8-7), they will secure home-field advantage throughout the National Conference playoffs.

If the Rattlers lose their final two games (Pittsburgh and Dallas), and the CHICAGO RUSH (11-4) win their final three games (Georgia, Dallas and Milwaukee), the Rush will secure home-field advantage throughout the National Conference playoffs due to their head-to-head tiebreaker over Arizona.

The Rush currently holds a one game lead over the DALLAS VIGILANTES (10-5) in the Central Division. The Rush defeated the Vigilantes on Sunday, May 22, 2011 (69-57). Both teams matchup again in Week 19 on July 16, 2011.

With a Vigilantes victory over the Sharks this week, they will secure a playoff spot.

The UTAH BLAZE (7-8) own the tiebreaker over the SPOKANE SHOCK (7-8) in the playoff race due to their head-to-head matchup on April 15, 2011. Utah defeated the Shock, 69-62. The two teams will faceoff this week in the Joe Albi Classic, the first outdoor AFL regular season game. The winner of this weekend’s game will hold a one- game lead for the final spot in the National Conference. If Spokane wins in Week 18 and the Blaze and Shock tie at the end of the season, the tiebreaker will come down to point-differential in head-to-head games.

The CLEVELAND GLADIATORS (9-6) hold a one-game lead over the PITTSBURGH POWER (8-7) for the East Division lead. The Power currently owns the tiebreaker over the Gladiators in the East Division race due to their head-to-head matchup on June 4, 2011. Cleveland will host the rematch on Friday, July 15, 2011.

The ORLANDO PREDATORS (9-6) are currently tied with the GEORGIA FORCE (9-6). Georgia holds the tiebreaker over Orlando due to point differential in their head-to-head matchups (Conference Seeding Tiebreaker Rule: Split season series: 4/16 ORL 48, Geo 43; 6/25 GEO 64, Orl 34).

The SAN JOSE SABERCATS (6-9) and the TULSA TALONS (6-9) are one-game behind the Spokane Shock and Utah Blaze for the final spot in the National Conference playoffs.

Storm’s Buie has history, connection with Derrick Brooks

Posted Jun 30, 2011 by Nick Williams

Updated Jun 30, 2011 at 08:58 PM

Tampa Bay Storm rookie defensive end Jarriett Buie was 10 or 11-years-old when he first met team president and former Tampa Bay Buccaneer All-Pro linebacker Derrick Brooks.

While growing up in the Tampa area, he joined Brooks’ Brooks Bunch, a charity and youth scholarship foundation, at the Boys and Girls Club in Ybor City. With the group, Buie spent time with Brooks and even took a trip to Busch Gardens.

“Being around his presence was a big key for me,” Buie said.

“I was just getting started in the interface of the program and those guys were there to build the program that’s here today,” Brooks recalled. “Trips to Busch Gardens turned into trips to Africa and money for college.”

After a successful prep career at Armwood High in Seffner, where he helped the Hawks win the program’s first state championship in 2003, Buie went on to play for the University of South Florida. After college, Buie was signed by the Bucs as an undrafted free agent in 2009. Buie was hoping he would play alongside Brooks, but was released before the start of the season.

“That first year I went to the Bucs, I was hoping to be actually playing with him, that maybe I could be the first guy from the Brooks Bunch to be on a team with him,” Buie said.

In April, Buie got his chance to team with his childhood mentor when Storm ownership introduced Brooks as team president and partial owner.

“He’s the first (from Brooks Bunch) to be part of an organization with me,” Brooks said.

Last week, Buie was named the AFL’s Defensive Player of the Week for his performance in the team’s 44-42 win against Orlando, when he finished with 4.5 sacks and six tackles. His 4.5 sacks tied the highest single-game total in franchise history with Craig Walls and tied for the second best single-game effort in AFL history.

Buie and the Storm (6-8) will host the New Orleans VooDoo (2-12) in a South Division matchup Friday at the St. Pete Times Forum at 7:30 p.m.

Like Brooks, Buie is involved in the community. Last month, he and other former USF and Storm players held a football camp for youths in Tampa under the flagship ADB Sports. Buie said he would like to pursue work in the community after football.

“This is a way I can transfer to something like that,” Buie said.

“I think it’s motivational,” Brooks said. “Being in a position to influence kids is motivational. He’s a local guy and that’s a story to be told. That’s something to be proud of.”

Buie said he would like to play at the NFL or UFL level again someday. In the meantime, he’s absorbing as much as he can during his time with the Storm.

“I’ve learned a lot through this journey with the Storm and there’s no telling what’s next,” he said.

Former players, fans petition to have Epps, Agee jerseys retired

Posted Jun 22, 2011 by Nick Williams

Updated Jun 22, 2011 at 12:44 PM

Sports radio analyst Chris Garrido, former Tampa Bay Storm players and fans are petitioning to see the franchise retire the jerseys of former players Torry Epps and Mel Agee.

Epps, an offensive lineman, died in 2005 while Agee, a defensive lineman, died in 2008.

To sign the petition, click here

To view the Facebook page of the petition, go here

Storm’s Buie named AFL Defensive Player of the Week

Posted Jun 22, 2011 by Nick Williams

Updated Jun 22, 2011 at 12:17 PM

Former Armwood High and South Florida defensive end Jarriett Buie, a rookie with the Tampa Bay Storm, has been named this week’s AFL Defensive Player of the Week.

In Tampa’s 44-42 victory over Orlando on Friday, Buie finished with six tackles, all for a loss, 4.5 sacks and one forced fumble. His 4.5 sacks tied the highest single-game total in franchise history (Craig Walls vs. Den 7/17/87) and tied for the second best single-game effort in AFL history.

Along with his six tackles for loss in the game, Buie is now is ranked fifth the AFL with 9.5 tackles for a loss.

Four former Storm players named AFL Hall of Fame finalists

Posted Jun 17, 2011 by Nick Williams

Updated Jun 17, 2011 at 08:16 PM

Former Tampa Bay Storm players Sylvester Bembery, George LaGrance, Steve Thomas and Barry Wagner were named Arena Football League Hall of Fame finalists on Friday.

Fans and current Hall of Fame members will vote on the finalist beginning Monday. Votes will then be turned in to the Hall of Fame Operating Board of Directors.

The Hall of Fame Class will be announced during ArenaBowl XXIV weekend and inducted during the 2012 season opener. This will mark the first AFL Hall of Fame class inducted since 2002.

For more Storm information, follow me on Twitter @NickWTampaTrib

Video: Storm QB talks about team, individual season

Posted Jun 15, 2011 by Nick Williams

Updated Jun 15, 2011 at 02:39 PM

Tampa Bay Storm quarterback Brian Zbydniewski was recently named the AFL’s Co-Offensive Player of the Week.

Click here to watch a video of Zbydniewski talking about how his season, and the Storm’s, has been going so far.

Storm’s Zbydniewski named Offensive Player of the Week

Posted Jun 14, 2011 by Nick Williams

Updated Jun 14, 2011 at 05:53 PM

Tampa Bay Storm quarterback Brian Zbydniewski has been named the AFL Co-Offensive Player of the Week after leading the Storm in a 62-55 win over Pittsburgh last week.

Zbydniewski completed 24-of-34 passes for 372-yards and eight touchdowns and finished the game with 70.6 completion percentage, simultaneously breaking three of his previous career single-game highs (yards, touchdowns and completion percentage).

It is his first honor in the AFL. Zbyniewski earned Player of the Week honors in the former AFL2.

Ex-USF QB Grothe on tryout with Storm

Posted Jun 8, 2011 by Adam Adkins

Updated Jun 8, 2011 at 08:08 PM

Former University of South Florida quarterback Matt Grothe could get another opportunity to play football in the Bay area.

Grothe, recently released by the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League, has been brought in for a two-day tryout with the Arena Football League’s Tampa Bay Storm, a team spokesperson said. He is scheduled to work out for Tampa Bay on Wednesday and Thursday, and if things go well, he could be signed to the active roster.

Several former USF players are currently with the Storm, including receivers Huey Whittaker and Amarri Jackson, linebacker Terrence Royal, defensive lineman Jarriett Buie and quarterback Grant Gregory, who served as Grothe’s backup when the two were at USF.

Grothe set several single-season and career marks during his time with the Bulls, including finishing as the career leader in total offense with 10,875 yards.