By Brandon Wright, Times Correspondent
Friday, June 10, 2011
Arena Football
tonight
Storm (4-7) vs. Pittsburgh (7-4)
When/where: 7:30; St. Pete Times Forum, Tampa
TV/radio: BHSN; 1250-AM
Quick count: The Power is in its inaugural Arena Football League season, but this is the second go-round for a franchise in Pittsburgh. The first? The franchise now known as the Tampa Bay Storm, which was called the Pittsburgh Gladiators from 1987-90. The Gladiators were one of the four original AFL franchises when the league formed. … NFL Hall of Famer Lynn Swann is a co-owner of the Power. He is expected to be in attendance tonight. … The Power enters the game on a four-game winning streak and is atop the East Division of the American Conference. … Pittsburgh is coached by Chris Siegfried, who was the Jacksonville Sharks' offensive coordinator last season. Pittsburgh's quarterback is Bernard Morris, a backup at Jacksonville in 2010 under Siegfried. … Morris, a dual threat QB who came on for an injured Aaron Garcia in a 49-47 Sharks win against Tampa Bay last season, has thrown for 1,357 yards and rushed for 213 in six games this year. … The Storm released former USF QB Grant Gregory on Thursday and signed defensive back Marcus Jefferson.
Brandon Wright, Times correspondent