WR Michael Lindsey racks up some yards after the catch as the Tampa Bay Storm defeat the Kansas City Command, 46-30. (Photo: Chris Arnold/Tampa Bay Storm)

Q & A with kick returner and wide receiver Michael Lindsey

As the 2012 AFL season approaches, In the Eye of the Storm returns for another season.  In this second edition for the 2012 season we sat down with Michael Lindsey who answered questions submitted by fans via Facebook and Twitter.  Lindsey set a franchise record last season for most kick return yards in a season with 1,745.

Editor:  Welcome to In the Eye of the Storm, you are returning for your second season with the Storm and we had fans submit questions for you…You ready to get started?

Michael Lindsey: Yes, and I want to thank the fans for taking their time to ask questions.

ED: What are you looking forward to most in this upcoming season?

ML: The thing I am looking forward most is playing with the new guys on the team.  Having that experience I learned from Hank Edwards and Huey Whittaker and being able to pass that along.  I look forward to working hard to get to the ArenaBowl with the guys.

ED:  What are your goals for this upcoming season?

ML:  My goals for this season are to play hard, give 110 percent during every practice.  I would like to shatter my kick return record and win every game.  If we can’t win every game the goal is come out with a winning season.

ED: What have you done to get ready for this season?

ML:  I have spent a lot of time training, working on my speed and agility.  I have done a lot of ladder and parachute work.  I also have got in my conditioning so that I am ready to go at the start of camp.

ED:  Have you done anything interesting during the offseason?

ML:  (Laughing) Anything interesting, no, not really, I have spent most of my time preparing for the 2012 season.

ED: What was it like to get to play with some of your new teammates during the flag football game? (Editor’s note – the game was the Second Annual Public Safety Memorial Bowl.)

ML:  It was amazing, I got to see what type of competition will come into camp.  The guys have a lot of ability and athleticism.  I know that they’ll be ready for camp and for the season.

ED: Who are some of the players you looked up to when you were younger?

ML:  When I was younger I looked up to Randy Moss, Terrell Owens, Barry Sanders and Deion Sanders..oh yeah, and Jerry Rice, you can’t forget about him!

ED:  What was it you saw in those players that you wanted to emulate?

ML:  Their ambition, the way they strived for excellence.  The way they worked out and got ready for a season.  Preparation, how they worked out, they all had a tremendous work ethic

ED:  Do you feel better about the quarterback situation heading into this season than you did last season?

ML:  Definitely!  We don’t have to try to find anyone; we know who we have and what we are working with.  It is going to be fun to watch Matt and Nick compete during training camp.  I know they are going to be ready for camp, which is absolutely a good feeling.

ED:  What was your favorite moment from last season?

ML:  I had a few favorite moments from last year.  First would be seeing all the smiles on the guys after they scored touchdowns, those are always a great feeling.  Second would be when Tom Kaleita planked after scoring a touchdown, the fans reactions and the pictures were great.  And last I would say when I returned two kicks for touchdowns in a game; I got to do that in front of my family.  That meant a lot.

ED:  And for the final question, outside of football, what are you looking forward to doing in this new year?

ML:  I want to strive to get my degree and work on a business plan to own my own business.

ED:  Michael, thank you for joining us today and well chat again later in the season.

Chandler Williams in action against Florida A & M. (Credit: Florida International University)

Q & A with wide receiver Chandler Williams

As the 2012 AFL season approaches, In the Eye of the Storm returns for another season.  In this initial edition for the 2012 season we sat down with ‘ChanLo’ who will play his first season of Arena Ball this year.

Editor:  Welcome to In the Eye of the Storm, this is your first season playing Arena Football.  However you have played in the NFL.  What teams did you play with?

Chandler Williams:  I actually was drafted out of college by the Minnesota Vikings right out of college in 2007.  I also spent time with the Miami Dolphins in 2007.  Then I spent two seasons with the Atlanta Falcons (2008-09) and then I went to the Kansas City Chiefs (2009-2011).

ED: What was your favorite sports team growing up?

CW: “Being from Miami, my favorite team as a kid was definitely the Miami Dolphins.”

ED:  What would you say are your favorite and least favorite foods?

Chandler Williams:  “Well, one food that I really enjoy is Ox Tails. I would say that my least favorite thing to eat is anything  raw, I don’t like food that hasn’t been cooked.”

ED: In high school you played Football, Badminton, Basketball as well as Track & Field. Was there any particular athlete that you tried to emulate as a kid?

CW:  “The guy I really wanted to be like as a kid was Barry Sanders when I was a young.”

ED:  What songs do you sing in the shower?

CW:  “I’ll sing anything in the shower. No one knows how much I like to sing out loud when I’m at home alone.”

ED: Do you have a superstition that you make sure to do before every game?

CW:  “Yes I do, before every game I make sure to say the high school prayer we used to say when I was at Miami Senior High.”

ED: You were the Offensive MVP at Florida International University during the 2006 and 2007 seasons, so you must have made some highlight plays, what would you say was your ultimate Sportscenter highlight?

CW:  “I think it would be catching a touchdown late in the fourth quarter to win the game.”

ED:  Do you have any advice for young football players who dream to play pro someday?

CW:  “I would tell them to believe in themselves and not listen to anyone who says they aren’t good enough.”

ED:  What do you like to do in your spare time?

CW:  “I really like to hang out with my family and play Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 on my Xbox. It’s my best talent outside of football.”

ED:  Do you have a nickname?

CW:  “Yes, my nickname is ChanLo”.

ED:  And for the final question, I know you are fan of Lil Wayne, what are you rockin’ on your IPod?

CW:  (Laughing) You know what, I listen to a lot of R & B, you can’t listen to rap all of the time.

ED:  ChanLo, thank you for joining us today and good luck this season.

Q & A with linebacker Taylor Scott

In the 19th edition of this season’s “In the Eye of the Storm” we spoke with new Storm linebacker Taylor Scott about transitioning between two different football leagues, playing in front of family and friends, duck hunting, and the spirit of winning. Be sure to check out our official Storm Facebook page this Friday for the full audio interview.

Editor: Welcome everyone into another edition of “In the Eye of the Storm”, as we are joined by recently signed Storm linebacker Taylor Scott.  First of all, welcome to Tampa, and welcome to the Arena Football League. Are you excited to experience another facet of the football genre?

Taylor Scott: I am. I’m just excited to be able to put on a helmet again, go out and compete, and hit somebody from the opposite team as we try to win these last two games.

ED: You’re coming to us from the 2010 Grey Cup Champion Montreal Alouettes of the CFL, and we know you’ve lived in Arkansas the majority of your life. What were the differences you saw football-wise between home and Canada, as well as the differences in cultures?

TS: Football-wise, we ran a pretty good program at Central Arkansas, but the main thing that I wasn’t used to was transitioning from [the college practice regiment, to the professional]. Of course we would have hard days of practice in training camp, but in college, we would ‘bang’ on it for two hours every day in practice, compared to when I was in Montreal, the longest practice we had was maybe an hour and a half. But we would spend about four hours a day in the film room. I had really never studied like that before. I really had to transition to knowing everything about the opponent that you are going up against in order to be successful. Coach Marc Trestman and my defensive line coach, Mike Sinclair, they really expected a lot out of you. They really expected the details. So that was something I really had to do, to be focused on everything that we were doing.

ED: The Storm franchise is definitely a detailed oriented franchise, and a heralded franchise within the AFL. What have you heard about this team and its history so far since joining us this week?

TS: I know about the success. I know that some of the guys in the CFL came from the AFL, and they said Tampa Bay was one of the best spots to be, not only because of the city, but because of the program that is being run here. They demand a lot of physicality on defense, they’ve always had a high power offense, and I am looking forward to being a part of that.

ED: You had the opportunity to play for an up-and-coming football program at the University of Central Arkansas. Any thoughts on your role in the building of that tradition?

TS: We actually have a lot of tradition at Central Arkansas. We are the winningest school in Arkansas history. That was one of the reasons I wanted to go there. I had about five or six other offers to play Division I football, but then I had the opportunity to be in the first Division I recruiting class for the Central Arkansas Bears. That was something I really wanted to be a part of. Some of the other schools I visited were more academically oriented schools, and they seemed like they were pretty satisfied with going 7-5 or 6-6 every season. I really wanted to go to a program where I could win. From the moment I started at Central Arkansas, I knew that we were going to win. Our first year in Division I people were saying that if we won three or four games that would be a pretty impressive record. We went 9-2, and shocked the nation with that. We had one of the best defenses in the nation. The following year, we won the Southland Conference. I was able to gain a ring with that, and I started on that team. It was an unbelievable experience to share that with Coach Conque and my defensive coordinator Matt Williamson.

ED: You talked about playing on winning teams and you had the ability to do that right at home. How important was it to have your family and friends around to see you play in college?

TS: It was great. My parents always came to the games. The teams in the Southland conference were located in and around Louisiana and Texas, so they were able to make most of the away games. They are big fans of the UCA program, and UCA is a very big deal around that area. One thing that fascinated me going from high school to college was my family thinking I would be able to come home all the time, but when you are in a Division I college program, it doesn’t matter if you are thirty minutes from home or 3000 miles from home, you’re not going to get to go home much. It was a great experience and a great program to play for. I have no regrets about my decision to play there.

ED: With that limited free time that you did have while at UCA, we heard you may spend some of that time hunting…

TS: My dad was a fisherman, and grew up in Lake Hamilton, over by Hot Springs, Arkansas. He was building boat docks from the time he was 12 years old, and I think he owned a boat before he ever owned a car. [Fishing] was one thing we grew up doing, almost every weekend. We’re also really into hunting. Stuttgart, Arkansas is the duck hunting capital of the world, so we duck hunted almost every day of the season. We also would deer hunt, hunt turkey in the spring and the fall, and that’s what we do with most of our time. There so much great wildlife, and there are so many great opportunities to do that, so it would be a shame not to take advantage living there. It was a lot of fun.

ED: Hot seat time. Question 1: Favorite movie and why?

TS: “Gangs of New York”. I am a big Leonardo DiCaprio fan, and Daniel Day-Lewis is my favorite actor. I feel that ‘Billy the Butcher’ character is the best that Daniel Day-Lewis played. I can watch that movie over and over again. I love every detail of that movie.

ED: Last one: What is in the iPod? What gets you hyped up before a game?

TS: I actually have the speech that Al Pacino gives before the last game in the movie “Any Given Sunday”. I like to listen to that one a lot. I’ll have a bunch of classic rock mixed in with that, but mainly that speech is always something that gets me hyped up.

ED: We hope you go ahead and listen to that before playing the Force on Saturday. Thanks Taylor for joining us ‘In the Eye of the Storm’.

Tom Kaleita gains extra yardage after a reception in the 2010 American Conference Championship game. (Photo - Mitchell Davis/Tampa Bay Storm)

Q & A with offensive lineman Tom Kaleita

In the 18th edition of this season’s “In the Eye of the Storm” we spoke with Storm veteran lineman Tom Kaleita about juggling football with a professional life and fatherhood, the challenges of moving cross country, and bacon. Be sure to check out our official Storm Facebook page this Thursday for the full audio interview.

Editor: Welcome everyone into another edition of “In the Eye of the Storm”, as we are joined by Storm lineman Tom Kaleita, abnormally on a Sunday afternoon. The team is practicing today in order to have the July 4^th holiday to themselves and their families. We’ll start off talking about your MCL injury. You have two games under your belt since being activated from IR. How are things feeling? Are you getting back into the swing of things?

Tom Kaleita: I feel good now. The knee doesn’t bother me too much. I have to continue to wear the brace, so I guess you could say I am not 100 percent. I technically won’t be (100%) for the rest of the season considering that, but overall, I felt confident in my play this past week. The first game back against Jacksonville was a little rough. I think just getting back into the movements and the speed of that game was my biggest problem, but I’m on track to get back to the dominance.

ED: We are getting ready for Tulsa this week and this is not a team that we necessarily see or hear a lot of because of the differences in the divisions. What do you know about them and the season they have had so far?

TK: Honestly, I haven’t seen too much. I think they have been in the same type of situation we have been in this season. I’m not quite sure if they are in the (playoff) mix or not, but for both teams, it is just important to win out. If for nothing else, then for pride. I expect them to be tough. We played them twice last season, once in the playoffs and once in the regular season and split with them. I’m sure, with us knocking them out of the playoffs last year that they will have a little bit of fire in them.

ED: We’ve talked to several guys this year in EOTS about their day jobs and the sacrifices they put in just to play here. We heard you work in insurance. Could you tell us about that?

TK: I work for Bankers Life and Casualty as a Sales Representative. Our company focuses around the seniors market. We’re the only ones who do that, as far as Medicare, long term care annuities, and life insurance. During the day, I’m out talking to people. I’m sitting down in people’s homes. After a while, I have to head over to Tampa from St. Pete. It makes for long days and a lot of driving.

ED: Not only do you moonlight at a professional athlete in the AFL, you are a new dad. Tell us about that experience and how tough it has been to juggle everything.

TK: Everything happened all at once too. My son is four months old as of July 2^nd and he has been a wonderful blessing. He was born the last week of training camp, which was when I had just started back with the team. It has been a new experience the whole way through this season. I love every aspect of what I do here, with the Storm and I love my son, so everything has just been awesome. Not to say things haven’t needed adjustments. I’ve lost a lot of sleep. Sometimes the away trips are blessing because I get more sleep. Overall, I wouldn’t trade what I am doing now, and having my son for anything.

ED: You talked about adjustments, and after a couple years in and out of the mix with the Detroit Lions, you moved down here in ’07 to play with the Storm, after having lived in Michigan for the majority of your life. What was it like to move to someplace completely different, in climate and in lifestyle?

TK: There is a big difference, obviously, between the life style in Michigan and here. Most of my life, we had to deal with different seasons. I guess you have to do that here too: you have hot, and hotter. It’s been nice to be down here. It’s a great change of pace. I never thought I would be living down here, but four years ago, with having the opportunity to play for the Storm, and my wife being able to find a teaching job down here, which is almost impossible to find in Michigan, we decided to permanently relocate. We miss our families. That was one of the big adjustments that we had to make, and how often we get to see our loved ones back home. Florida has been good to us though, and I imagine it is going to be our home for a while.

ED: We know you were a two-sport athlete back in high school. Which did you love more, basketball or football?

TK: Actually, I played baseball as well. I loved being active all year round like that. Later in my high school career, I figured football would be the route for me, just because I wasn’t tall enough to make a career out of basketball, but I was big enough to play football, so that became my concentration. I’d like to say that I was pretty good at every sport that I played in. I feel like I excelled. I put in a lot of work, and that has carried over to now. I loved playing them all. It was tough to say goodbye to basketball when I had to give that up, and the same for baseball, but that isn’t to say I can’t ever play a pickup game.

ED: I’ve been informed by several of your teammates that you are a connoisseur of a certain breakfast side dish. They’ve told me I need to ask you about the term “Bacon Bandit”, which is a name a lot of the guys call you…

TK: It’s been an ongoing inside joke that I guess we’ll let everyone in on. We just like to joke around about how much we like bacon. Bacon makes everything better. One time, I bummed-out our center, Ryan McDonald, and to smooth things over, I brought him a “Bacon Bouquet” as a joke. My wife definitely helped me out with that. It was awesome.

ED: Was it professionally done? Like a normal bouquet of flowers? With baby’s breath and a couple roses?

TK: There were definitely some green items in there. We didn’t have any stems or anything, to put it out there like a real bouquet, but the presentation was nice. It was warm and we shared it together. If I ever have a restaurant, I think a half dozen bacon roses would be on my menu for sure.

ED: On to the hot button questions: What’s the favorite movie and why?

TK: That’s so hard. I don’t know if I could say I have a favorite. It is usually the flavor of the month for me. One of the movies that I have quoted the most, throughout my professional football life would be “Team America – World Police”. Part of that is because I was playing in NFL Europe when it came out.

ED: How appropriate that that is your response just ahead of the Fourth…

TK: That’s right. You’ve got to have some patriotism. When we were over in Europe, it was a big deal. I won’t quote anything now, because it would be inappropriate, but the movie is very egocentric towards Americans, and it was funny for us because we were over there when it came out.

ED: Finally, What’s on the iPod? What gets you hyped up before a game?

TK: I’ve had close to the same pre-game lineup on my iPod for years. I’ve got some German music, mostly hard rock that gets the blood flowing quite a bit. I have anything from Rammstein, to Metallica, and Godsmack, just a lot of different things. Although that stuff is my pre-game, I feel people would be shocked to see what is in my iPod. I have got some random stuff on there, and I mean random.

ED: Very eclectic?

TK: Definitely. There is some stuff where I have to say “My wife put that on there”.

ED: Anything embarrassing on there?

TK: I don’t know about embarrassing. Some things would be without a story. I think the funniest thing that you would find would be Sheena Easton’s “Morning Train”. That’s the weirdest thing I have on their. Boy does that one get me going in the morning.

ED: I’m sure there will be time to hear that story another time, but for now, thanks for your time Tom and joining us “In the Eye of the Storm.”

MLB Cliff Dukes prepares to stalk his prey on the other side of the line of scrimmage. (Photo: Mitchell Davis)

In the 17th edition of this season’s “In the Eye of the Storm” we spoke with AFL sack leader and Storm linebacker Cliff Dukes about life in the country, bullhorns, Cowboys, and pool parties.

Editor: Welcome everyone into another edition of “In the Eye of the Storm”. We are standing here with the ‘Sack-master General’, Cliff Dukes, as the Storm get ready to invite the New Orleans VooDoo into town for Military Appreciation Night this Friday ahead of the July 4^th weekend. I want to start off talking to you about what happened this weekend in Jacksonville. Nobody likes to lose, and every loss is tough, but you guys had some confidence going into that game and the Sharks offensive line was still able to stifle you. Your thoughts on the game this past weekend?

Cliff Dukes: The Sharks game-planned for us better than I have ever seen. They knew what they had to do to take myself and our defensive line out of this game, which is the most aggressive part of our defense. They found a way to take the aggression out of us with their quick passing game. If you can do that against us…that’s really the only team that has been able to beat us like that. My hat goes off to them. They played a great game.

ED: Moving forward, we have New Orleans coming in. They are a team in transition with the firing of Derek Stingley and the re-introduction of Jon Norris as head coach. It is a bit late in the season for a firing to take place. What can you expect from a team that has struggled all year, but has changed things around to obtain some positive momentum for next season?

CD: It’s sad to see a coach get fired towards the end of the season or even in the middle of the season. Their fighting just the way we are, in the hopes going into next year with a strong feeling of having a good team and momentum. I’m sure they are coming here to win, and if not this one, then winning out the remainder of their games. We’re trying to do the same thing.

ED: Heard you grew up in a rural part of Maryland. Could you give us some fond memories of living in the country?

CD: I grew up in a small country town in St. Mary’s County, in Southern Maryland. Southern Maryland is down by the water and there is farmland everywhere. As kids, growing up, we always were outside, around the ponds or terrorizing our neighbor, who was a farmer. We would sometimes go to the beach. We would have little adventures, like Tom and Huck Finn. That’s how we grew up. We liked doing crazy stuff, like hunting turtles, picking blackberries, swinging on tires swings. That’s what we did.

ED: Southern Maryland isn’t too far from DC. Were you close enough to enjoy the city life too, or were you ‘really’ out there?

CD: It was really out there. It was the furthest you go in Maryland. We rarely went up to DC. If we went to DC, it was either for a field trip, or to pick someone up from the airport. That was it. We were far enough away to where we didn’t feel the effects of DC life.

ED: Did you grow up a Redskins fan?

CD: (Sheepishly) No.

ED: Who was it then?

CD: Cowboys.

ED: You have to have some stones to be a Cowboys fan in the middle of Redskins country…

CD: In Maryland, you were either a Cowboys fan, or a Redskins fan. That’s it. Baltimore came back a bit later and then you had some Ravens fans sprinkled here and there. But Cowboys and Redskins, that is what it was in Maryland.

ED: We know you are a low key guy, and your leadership style is by example, but we know that you have a couple quirky things you do with the guys like wearing an odd pair of glasses, or bringing along a bullhorn to practice. Expand on some of the things you do when you interact with your teammates.

CD: I don’t know. People think I am weird. I just do what I do. I’m not really sure why the glasses thing came about. The lenses popped out of my glasses one day, so I just kept wearing them. Then one of my teammates taped up the middle to make them look nerdy, and now I’ve worn then for a couple weeks. I was in an outlet store one day and I found a bullhorn for nine dollars. My immediate thought was: “I am taking this to the game today, and everywhere I go”. It’s just ‘the life of the pool party’, let me just say that.

ED: So we’ll know when Cliff Dukes is rolling down the street then, because we’ll see the glasses and the bullhorn. Kind of unmistakable…

CD: …Or something to that effect. I don’t always know what it will be. I might have a cowboy hat. I might have a Mohawk. I just don’t know.

ED: You’ve gotten some press recently regarding some training with your good buddy from back at Michigan State, UFC superstar Rashad Evans. How did that friendship come about?

CD: We started college together in 2000, and when I started there that summer, I hung out with a lot of the wrestlers, because they were there in the summer too, so that’s how I became friends with Rashad. Throughout the years at Michigan State, we would always get together, we would always have parties together and go out together. We would take trips together. One time, we went to his home town, Niagara, New York, and we went to the Falls, and then we went to Toronto and we had pool parties. We always had pool parties…

ED: You have mentioned pool parties a couple times now. I take it you are fond of them. Were your attempts to have one on your birthday this past weekend foiled by the thunderstorms? Oh, and Happy Belated Birthday…

CD: Thank you. And it was not foiled by any stretch…It was only delayed, and it was a great success.

ED: Time for the heavy hitters, favorite movie and why?

CD: I’ve always liked Independence Day.

ED: Fitting choice with the Fourth being this weekend.

CD: Yeah. That’s always been my movie. I like a lot of Sci-Fi, a lot of action and emotions. There was always something going on. I like to know that there could be something out there that we should worry about, and from this movie, I know how to defend myself.

ED: Last question: What’s on the iPod? What gets you hyped before a game?

CD: Dave Matthews Band. All day.

ED: Thanks Cliff for joining us “In the Eye of the Storm”.

Erick McIntosh returns a fumble for a touchdown against the Chicago Rush in Game 12 during the 2010 season. (Photo: Chris Arnold/Tampa Bay Storm)

Q & A with defensive back Erick McIntosh

In the 16th edition of this season’s “In the Eye of the Storm” we spoke with Storm defensive back Erick McIntosh about his recent success, tattoos, and playing professionally with old friends. Be sure to check out our official Storm Facebook page this Thursday for the full audio
interview.

Editor: Welcome everyone into another edition of “In the Eye of the Storm”.  Today we are meeting with Storm defensive back Erick McIntosh. It is always great whenever you get a win over the Predators. Talk about the performance from the team this past weekend as you get ready to take on Jacksonville.

Erick McIntosh: At this point in the season we need to come in every week and not underestimate anything or look over any team. Right now, we are just taking things week-by-week. We know Jacksonville is another big game, just like Orlando, so we have to lock in again, come ready to practice, give coach our ‘everything’, and make sure we’re on top of our film so we know where we need to be to come out with the win.

ED: The defensive backs corps has some success over the last few games, with Michael Hawthorne snatching interceptions in four straight weeks, and now you have picks in two straight games. What were you feeling after you took one to the house this past weekend?

MC: Of course it feels good. It’s like a domino effect. When you see one guy going out and giving everything, constantly making plays, it makes you want to go out and do the same thing. Our d-line comes out week after week and puts out a good performance. It started where we, the defensive backs, needed to start catching up to them, putting a better effort in to it. You just want to go out and make plays to get the ‘W’, and now that we are playing better, the defense is strength as one [unit].

ED: We know it is no easy task to go up to the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena and get a win. We also know some of the tendencies of QB Aaron Garcia. Talk about anything you have seen so far from your studies.

MC: We’ve been watching film over the weekend, trying to get an early jump start. He’s a very good quarterback. He knows the game. He has a lot of confidence, and that is what you need out of a quarterback. We have noticed that at least three or four passes, he will force throughout the game. We’ll try to take advantage of that as much as possible, and be where we need to be. It seems like he likes to throw the ball to a certain spot, and then he’ll trust his receivers to be there, so we need to get in between the ball and the receivers. If we do that then we will be a-ok.

ED: Wanted to talk to you about a former high school opponent of yours, your teammate and fellow DB Markihe Anderson. What is it like to have that kind familiarity with one of your teammates?

MC: It’s a really good feeling. When you go off to college, you look forward to having someone from your hometown around, and it is even better at the next level. Markihe and I were real good friends back in high school, so much so that I remember one year, after his team beat my team in a game, six or seven of the guys from his team came and spent the night over at my house. There is competition between us, but the friendship is always there.  Markihe is getting a lot better at what he is doing. He is striving for perfection, and that also pushes me. We feed off each other.

ED: You said it is good to be able to have someone from home with you up at the next level. We heard that someone comes all the way from Ft. Myers to see you at every home game. Does your dad really come all that way from home to see you play?

MC: I love my support, him and my mom. My parents have played a big role in me stepping forward and trying to get to the next level in life, mentally, physically, spiritually. They’ve both been my idols. They pray for me and show me the support all the time. My parents also like to be parents to other guys, that don’t have that support. They spread their love, and I guess it was just how they were raised, and they’ve shown me how you should be raised. Them being there is a good thing.

ED: You mentioned the word ‘spiritual’ a second ago. We know that you have a piece of body art that has a prayerful meaning. Could you explain that tattoo for us?

MC: I got it a couple of years ago, when I was going through a tough time in college, missing out on some things. I am a Pentecostal Christian, born and raised, but I know we all have our ‘God’ or ‘gods’, and it seems like there is always this sense that when one is in trouble that they’ll go pray, and they start asking for things. They’ll say, ‘Lord, help me with this’, or ‘Lord, bless me with this’. The prayer I have tattooed on my back is the reverse of that. It is thanking God for everything he has done for me up to this point and what will come in the future. I thank Him for the boy He made me, the man He will make me become, and the friends He has placed before me, and the good and bad things He has brought me out of. [Laughing] The tattoo is like my ‘thank you note to God’. It is really personal, and extremely motivational.

ED: Alrighty, now to the tough stuff. Favorite movie and why?

MC: ‘I Love You Man’. It’s a pretty good comedy about a guy trying to find a best friend, then he finds a friend, and they actually argue and go through trouble and they get into it a bit, but at the end of the day, they are there for each other. Everybody needs that friend that will pick them up from a slump or when they are down, and this movie has that.

ED: What’s on the iPod? What gets you hyped before a game?

MC: I can listen to anything. I can listen to gospel. I can listen to rap.  Most of the time, I would probably say we listen to Young Jeezy or Lil’ Wayne when we’re in the locker room as a team, but anything that has meaning to it will get me pumped.

ED: Well, we hope the music will be pumping in the locker room after big win this weekend in Jacksonville. E-Mac, thanks for joining us “In the Eye of the Storm”.

Jermaine Smith blows by a Power offensive lineman. (Photo: Mike Carlson/Tampa Bay Storm

Q & A with defensive lineman Jermain Smith

In the 15th edition of this season’s “In the Eye of the Storm” we spoke with Storm defensive lineman Jermaine Smith, about playing on both sides of the War on I-4, Arnold Schwarzenegger, playing on both sides of the ball, and our QB with a name just as long and confusing as Arnold’s. Be sure to check out our official Storm Facebook page this Thursday, for the full audio interview.

Editor: Welcome everyone into another edition of “In the Eye of the Storm”! We are joined with defensive lineman Jermaine Smith as the Storm prepare to host their bitter rivals, the Orlando Predators, and who better to talk to than you Jermaine, as you have played the Predators 13 times so far in your career. The game this week is much more important than the rivalry though, as the Storm continue to push toward the playoffs. How much does that add to the game and what does that mean to you and your teammates?

Jermaine Smith: The I-4 War is possibly the biggest rivalry in Florida, and the crazy thing about it is that I have played for both teams. I know Orlando does not like Tampa Bay. When I was there, the coaches and the staff let that be known, and we’ve do the same here. What helps us out as we continue our upturn is that this is a game you do not have to get up for. It is going to be ‘balls to the wall’. If you want [this game], you go get it. If not, you go home.

ED: We’re speaking with you after a very pivotal win over Pittsburgh this past weekend, and you had quite an active game, due to the injury to offensive lineman George Bussey. Talk about coming in to assist on the OL in that game…

JS: Tim McGill and I filled in for a little bit. Tim did a little more than me, and he went in first. The two of us, though, we’ve been playing this game for so long. We were playing when you had to go both ways. The two of us may be the last dinosaurs left in the league (from the Ironman era). It’s good to have that on a team. I think every team should have somebody who backs up like that because you never know when someone will go down. (And as a player), your value is worth so much more.

ED: While you were in on the O-line, you were helping protect the newly crowned AFL Offensive Player of the Week, Brian Zbydniewski. He’s really starting to click, and I wanted to ask you how important is it to have confidence in that position and the offensive scheme from a defender’s point of view?

JS: It’s very important. We all know that where the quarterback goes, we go. For Brian to start clicking right now, it is a great feeling. I am happy to hear he received offensive player of the week. It makes me very happy that he is excelling in his position. He is the leader of this team, whether he knows it or not. Like I said, where he goes, we go, and I want him to do even better, especially this week.

ED: Jermaine, with the easy stuff out of the way, lets dive into some heavy hitters. Favorite movie and why?

JS: My favorite movie is Predator. The first one…

ED: Oddly enough, we get this answer the week we play the Predators…

JS: (Laughing) Yes. It’s my favorite movie because Arnold Schwarzenegger’s character was up against extensive odds, and he came out on top. He wanted it more than the Predator did.

ED: (Laughing) That is a very interesting way to put it, because normally everyone just sits around and makes fun of Arnold’s voice.

JS: He used what he knew. Even though the Predator had more advanced weaponry than he did, he found out his weakness and used the mud so he couldn’t be seen. That’s what we need to do this week, and find out the Predators kryptonite.

ED: Just one more for you Jermaine, we have to know what’s on the iPod? What gets the juices flowing before a game?

JS: Right now, it is Big K.R.I.T. He’s a relatively new rapper that just came out…

Tim McGill: I know he isn’t claiming my artist…

JS: (Laughing) See, here come’s Tim…

ED: Tim McGill taking credit there for Big K.R.I.T.

JS: Look at him taking credit, but he should. Tim did turn me on to him. He’s really who I am listening to right now, along with Rick Ross, T.I., and a couple of other people.

ED: Jermaine, thanks for joining us “In the Eye of the Storm”, hopefully we’ll see if we can’t make the Predators our prey this weekend. Good luck to you.

JS: Thank you.

#21 DB/JLB Michael Hawthorne

Q & A with defensive back Michael Hawthorne

In the 14th edition of this season’s “In the Eye of the Storm” we spoke with former NFL and current Storm defensive back/renaissance man, Michael Hawthorne, about the outdoors, Russell Crowe, training regiments, and getting the best out of life. Be sure to check out our official Storm Facebook page this Thursday, for the full audio interview, featuring more questions and a guest appearance by Storm defensive lineman Jermaine Smith.

Editor: Welcome everyone into another edition of “In the Eye of the Storm”. We are here with the ‘Ball Hawk” Michael Hawthorne, and Michael, you have had a great deal of success over the last four games, with interceptions in each, so I am sure you are happy for that, but you are more than likely unhappy just missing out in Georgia against the Force. What are some of the things you all are looking towards correcting with Pittsburgh coming in?

Michael Hawthorne: Our performances come down to focus and responsibility. We all know what our jobs and responsibilities are, and when the time comes, we need to be better at executing what we were taught. We know our alignment, assignments, and techniques; we just need to make sure we make more plays. We are having more plays made on us at the moment, but that can change. If you took out around four plays in each game, the difference would be that the Tampa Bay Storm would have 10 wins right now.

ED: I have heard that analogy before speaking with Brian Zbydniewski, about there being just a couple plays making a clear difference in the game, swinging one way or the other. Do you get frustrated at the fact that it is just a couple of plays that take games away from you, or do you look at it positively and say to yourself, “we’re that close”?

MH: I’ll always take a positive over a negative. It is a trend that we can turn into a learning experience. I cherish learning experiences, because without something happening, you will never learn. As far as being a play or two away? This is football. If you tip a ball, who knows who is coming down with it. It could be one block that you take off because you are tired, and your quarterback gets sacked. Or if it were me, as a defensive back, and I didn’t switch out when I was tired, and I got burned the next play. We need to make sure that these aren’t the ‘one or two play’ deciding factors in a game. This is where we need maximum effort and concentration. That’s not to say that any of the mishaps are on just one person. We are all moving parts of the machine called “The Tampa Bay Storm”, we just need to be accountable with one another.

ED: We know that you are an outdoorsman. What are the things that intrigue you about the outdoors?

MH: (Laughing) Where do I start? I love to fish. I love to hunt. I love to swim. I love to cook. I love to camp. I love to ride my motorcycle. Anything related to the outdoors.

ED: (Jokingly) And sports?

MH: Duh, no brainer. Anything related to being out in nature. When I am outside, I find that fabled inner peace. I don’t have to have a million-and-one people around me to enjoy the trees, or the shade, or the squirrels, or the birds. I can enjoy all of that stuff on my own, or with close friends, or my pops. I like sharing my views of these things with the people around me. A lot of people I know care only about the ‘city life’, going to clubs, bars, restaurants, what have you. The great part about all the things I like to do is that they are free!

ED: That’s a lot of activities, and you work as a physical trainer, as well as playing here. How do you fit it all in?

MH: I don’t like to say that I do it all, but I like to stay busy. Whether it is training individuals, or keeping myself in good condition. Whether it is speaking to a group of kids at a local school, or taking friends camping, breaking their norms and having them see my world for a little bit. There’s just so much I like to do. I like to write poetry, draw, and design. I like to talk and have in depth conversations with individuals. I tell everyone at my fitness club, Ml’Shae 26 Health and Fitness, the word “can’t” does not exist. I laugh at that word. I have always tried to fill my life completely.

ED: On to the easy questions. Favorite movie and why?

MH: Russell Crowe in Gladiator is the one that sticks out to me. I would say some more, but I love that movie, down to every aspect. Hannibal is another, because of the way Anthony Hopkins’ character thinks. In truth I could list about twenty that mean something to me, because I also fancy myself a movie connoisseur. Even still, Gladiator seems to be the one. If it is on TV, I still watch it even though I have seen it a hundred times.

ED: And to wrap up, what is in the iPod?

MH: Everything. I can take you from Cee-Lo Green, to Maroon 5, to Sheryl Crow, Adele, and Erykah Badu. You name it, I’ve got it. I even like the stuff the kids on American Idol do. Music talks to me in so many ways.

ED: Part time ‘Ball Hawk’, full time Renaissance man. Michael thanks for joining us “In the Eye of the Storm”!

# 68 OL George Bussey

Q & A with offensive lineman George Bussey

In the 13th edition of this season’s “In the Eye of the Storm” we spoke with new Storm offensive lineman George Bussey about old rivalries, Bernie Mac, Bill Belichick, and getting the chance to prove yourself…

Editor: Welcome into ‘The Eye of the Storm’ George, and to the team, as this is your first week with us. You are coming into the team on the heels of a couple injuries to our offensive line. Talk about the opportunity you have this week to introduce yourself to this league and this team against a divisional opponent like Georgia.

George Bussey: I am excited to get out there and show what I can do. The Force is a good team, and we’re not too far behind them at the moment. I can’t wait to play them.

ED: I understand that you spent the better part of two seasons with the Patriots and played under the cerebral Bill Belichick. What was that like?

GB: My time there was fun. It was a great experience.

ED: You won an offseason award there too, right?

GB: Yeah, I won the Offseason Grinder award, which is an award for the person who works the hardest in the offseason. It’s basically an award for the person who best does what the coaches tell them, when the coaches tell them, and how they want it done.

ED: Did your time under Belichick change your preparation style? How much studying were you doing in Foxboro?

GB: (Laughing) Well, playing for Coach Belichick, you have to know your in’s and out’s of everything. I feel like I have and will continue to be that kind of a player.

ED: You spent your college career at Louisville. Any jokes being thrown around between you and the South Florida guys about the rivalry?

GB: Oh yes. And it will remain a joke. It seemed like every time we came down here to Tampa to play USF, we’d lose, no matter what our ranking, and the same for them coming to Louisville to play us. I’m sure we’ll play up the strife and beef between USF and Louisville.

ED: Any fond memories of those games?

GB: I remember playing against Jarriett Buie, because he was a defensive end and I was an offensive tackle. The thing I remember most though is our trip to Tampa to play USF in 2005. We were ranked 5^th in the nation and USF blew us out.

ED: Your cousin and Storm equipment manager, Monty Bussey, told us a little bit about your high school playing days, and jokingly said that you ‘weren’t the best’ when you started out. Any thoughts?

GB: (Laughing) I was a baby. I wasn’t ready for that level at the time, but my coach saw something there, as if he knew what I was going to become. He continued to let me play that freshman season. That following year was when I became a ‘beast’.

ED: Favorite Movie?

GB: The Original Kings of Comedy. I love Bernie Mac. Sad about him passing, but he is still hilarious.

ED: And to finish up: What’s in the iPod? What gets you going before practice and games?

GB: It’s all over the place. I like Rick Ross and Jill Scott a lot. Before a game though, I usually listen to Gospel, to keep me calm and cool.

ED: Thanks George for joining us ‘In the Eye of the Storm’.

Q & A with athletic trainer Jessica Groth

In the twelfth edition of this season’s “In the Eye of the Storm” we spoke with Storm Athletic Trainer Jessica Groth about the rigors of working with player injuries, Tom Cruise, working in sports, and the most embarrassing answer to the iPod question all season.

Editor: Welcome into the Eye of the Storm Jessica! It was kind of a crazy game last week in Spokane with a number of players going down with injuries. Do you and the doctors get overwhelmed when you have so many players to look out for during a game?

Jessica Groth: I wouldn’t say overwhelmed, but we definitely try to stay busy. Dr Thompson was along for the trip to Washington, so it was great to have an extra set of hands out at that game. That game kept us very busy. We had quite a few guys go down. Luckily nothing was too serious from the other night. We’ll hopefully have everyone who did suffer an issue next game following the bye.

ED: It’s nice to have a bye week after a game like that, so the players get the chance to rest up. What is the normal day to day for you during a bye week?

JG: Well, this bye week, most of the guys have gone to see family, or taken this week as personal time, but we set up treatments as needed with them beforehand. The company I work for, Select Physical Therapy, has a number of local facilities, so if the players need anything, we’ll get them in with our physical therapists closest to them. Otherwise, I set up times to meet with them at the St. Pete Times Forum and give them the proper treatment.

ED: I’ve caught you in the training room a few times studying while the players are practicing. I understand you are pursuing second degree…

JG: I am currently going back to get my physical therapy degree from the University of St. Augustine, to advance my athletic training career.

ED: Have you always wanted to be an athletic trainer? What got you started on that path? A love for sports? or a love of medicine?

JG: It’s a little bit of both. I was an athlete in high school, and I have a passion for athletics. I wanted to have a career that would keep me involved, because I knew I wasn’t going to be able to play sports for the rest of my life. So starting in high school, I began shadowing a local physical therapist and that continued into college. I was accepted into the athletic training program at Central College in Iowa. I worked as a student athletic trainer there, and I fell in love with the career and found out I had a passion for it. I continued on that career path and it has led me to where I am now.

ED: Is your job with the Storm your first Pro Sports job?

JG: With a professional team? Yes. I’ve worked with high school and college athletes before but nothing professional. This is my first pro job.

ED: We know you’re not originally from Florida. What appealed to you to make you want to come to Tampa?

JG: I grew up in Waverly, Iowa, moved to Michigan, and spent a year in Illinois. I traveled down to Florida, while I was in Illinois, for a December basketball tournament. It was snowing and icy and freezing back in Illinois, but when we arrived here, it was 75 degrees and sunny. I immediately reevaluated my location, found a job down here, picked up and moved.

ED: It’s nice to someone appreciates the hot weather. Now on to the hot topics: Favorite Movie and why?

JG: A Few Good Men. It’s just a movie I know I can watch over and over again and still enjoy.

ED: Did you have a crush on Tom Cruise when you were younger?

JG: Yeah, he was a lot better looking back then.

ED: He was a lot less crazy then too. Speaking of crazy, we have to know what music gets you excited before a game. What’s on the iPod?

JG: Well, before game time, I don’t have much choice on the music. It is pretty much whatever the guys are listening to. But on the plane rides and bus trips, I listen to a little bit of everything. It just depends what I am in the mood for. I have everything from Sara Evans to Bruno Mars to Kanye West. Even a little bit of the Glee Soundtrack too. I just like to mix it up a bit.

ED: Glee huh? I guess Brian Zbydniewski is off the hook for most embarrassing music. Celine Dion is much less embarrassing than Glee. Thanks Jess for joining us ‘Inside the Eye of the Storm’!

JG: (Laughing) Thank you!