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Former Scots’ QB inks deal with AF1 team Release Date:
January 17, 2008
 MONMOUTH,
Ill. –
Former Monmouth College quarterback Mitch Tanney (Lexington,
Ill./Lexington) will continue his pro career in 2008, signing a
contract to play for the Tampa Bay Storm of the Arena Football
League.
The Storm competes in the AF1 league
– considered the
premier arena football league in the nation, just one step below the
NFL. The television networks must agree
– ESPN will
televise numerous games this summer and ABC will provide coverage of
the AF1 championship game, ArenaBowl XXII, July 27.
Tanney, who prepped at Lexington High School before a stellar
career at Monmouth, took a big step by signing with the AF1 team.
The talented QB is experienced in arena football, playing last
season for the Alabama Steeldogs of the AF2 league. The AF1 is
comparable to professional baseball’s AAA level.
Playing for the AF2’s Alabama Steeldogs last season, Tanney was
named the starting quarterback four games into the season and played
in 16 games. He finished with a pass efficiency rating of 109.44,
threw for over 3,400 yards and 67 touchdowns while averaging nearly
213 yards per game. Tanney was prophetic at the end of last season
when asked about playing in 2008.
"It won’t be with the Steeldogs," he said. Even if he wanted to,
he couldn’t. A story posted on the team’s website reports the
Steeldogs will not field a team in 2008.
Last year’s experience in Alabama may have helped the 6-3 Tanney
when he attended a workout in Tampa last month. The one-day event
consisted of position-specific drills and standard combine tests.
Tanney’s numbers must have impressed the scouts, but his audition
isn’t quite over. The Storm have invited three quarterbacks to camp
and only two will make the active roster. The third QB will be
placed on a practice squad.
"I’m obviously very excited about the opportunity of playing for
the Storm," said Tanney. "The Storm are one of the marquee
organizations in the AFL. I’m looking forward to reporting to camp
and competing for a roster spot."
Like most of his passes, Tanney’s assessment of the Tampa Bay
Storm is right on target. The Storm have five ArenaBowl
championships and in the 16-year history of the franchise have 15
consecutive playoff appearances. The team will play a 16-game
schedule and twice will be within driving distance for area fans.
The Storm’s season opener Mar. 1 is in Kansas City and May 5 the
team will play in Chicago.
Tanney is anxious to compete for a roster spot for the arena team
with a unique distinction. The Storm and the cross town Buccaneers
made history in 2003. The Storm won their most recent ArenaBowl
championship that year, the same year the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers
won Super Bowl XXXVII, making Tampa Bay the only city U.S. city to
claim two professional football championships in the same year.
Who knows? Tanney may just wind up playing for a bowl champion
based somewhere in Tampa Bay.
Football
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