Posted on: Saturday, June 14, 2003
Islanders take on defending champ Peoria tonight
By Kyle Sakamoto
Advertiser Staff Writer
The Peoria Pirates got the booty they were looking for last season, but the defending ArenaCup champions were hit by mass defections during the offseason and are 3-6 in 2003.
The Pirates face the Hawaiian Islanders tonight at Blaisdell Arena.
In developmental leagues such as arenafootball2, players hope to hone their skills, make names for themselves and move on to higher pursuits. It is also easier to be recognized on a quality team like last season's Pirates, who finished 15-5 and beat the Florida Firecats in the championship.
The Pirates lost five players to af1, three to the Canadian Football League and another to NFL Europe during the offseason, according to head coach Bruce Cowdrey.
"I'm used to losing them; I've lost 40 (players) in three years," said Cowdrey, who coached the defunct Pensacola Barracudas (Fla.) in 2001 before taking over in Peoria (Ill.) the following year.
The Hawaiian Islanders could be in the same boat as last season's Pirates. The Islanders, coming off a 5-11 inaugural season, are 7-3 and atop the National West Division this season. Peoria is in the National Midwest Division.
Islanders head coach Cal Lee expects to lose players following the season.
"What normally happens is if you have a good year, you probably have good players and they move on to the next level, which could very well happen next year for us," Lee said. "We're in a developmental league and the goal of these players should be to move to the next level, and we'll do everything possible to help them get to that next level."
Lee said New York Dragons head coach Todd Shell will be in Hawai'i later this month to evaluate the Islanders players. New York won the af1's National East Division this season with an 8-8 record. The Dragons are owned by Charles Wang, father of Islanders owner Kimberly Wang.
"You can look at film as much as you want, but in person is the real key (to evaluating players)," Lee said.
Lee said he's already recommended players to Shell: Nian Taylor (wide receiver/defensive back), Darnell Arceneaux (quarterback), Morrie Roe (lineman), Andy Ramos (lineman) and Tony Tata (lineman).
• Roster moves: The Islanders placed Darrick Branch and Desmond Maul on the 21-man roster for tonight's game. Branch likely will start at wide receiver and Maul at defensive specialist.
Branch didn't record any statistics in his only appearance this season, a 58-43 loss April 19 at the Bakersfield Blitz. Maul hasn't played this season.
"I think they deserve to be activated," Lee said. "They've been working hard. Darrick injured his hamstring, but he's healthy. Desmond has shown so much improvement all these weeks."
Kohei Satomi, who started the past six games at defensive specialist, won't play tonight and fullback/linebacker Chris Paogofie was placed on short-term injured reserve with a left shoulder strain.
