We
all know that after the 2012 season, the Kansas City Command declared
they would not return for the 2013 season. Entering the 2013 training
camp, we saw four players from Kansas City find a new home in
Philadelphia: QB Steven Gachette (6'1", 195, Southwest Baptist), WR
Jackie Chambers (5'10, 188, Lane College), WR Armand Robinson (6'0, 200,
Miami (OH)), and DL Michael Robinson(6'4", 265, Nassau C.C.)
Both
Robinsons did not make the first round of cuts of training camp. With
one more cut to take place on the last day of camp, Gachette and
Chambers look to continue their journey as teammates in the AFL on the
Philadelphia Soul roster.
Showing posts with label Kansas City Command. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kansas City Command. Show all posts
Friday, March 8, 2013
Monday, September 10, 2012
Kansas City's CPIFL Team To Hold Tryouts This Weekend
Kansas
City's new CPIFL team has set tryouts for this coming Saturday, Sept.
15th at 8am. At least 10 players will be signed to the team from this
tryout.
The tryouts will be held at KC Sports Lodge, 19310 E. 50th Terr. Independence, MO. It is $50 if players pre-register and $60 the day of tryouts.
To pre-register, players should e-mail their first name, last name, DOB, height, weight and position to info@kcindoorfootball.com . Player highlight videos are also encouraged.
"After receiving a large number of inquiries by players from all over the country who want to play in Kansas City, we decided to host tryouts this Saturday. We are excited to sign 10 players from this tryout and look forward to meeting the athletes," said Harris.
- The team has received inquiries from players all over the country hoping to have a shot at playing in Kansas City.
- The Kansas City franchise recently acquired the physical assets of the Kansas City Command and will play their 2013 season at Kemper Arena. The move was made so that fans will be able to tailgate and enjoy the complete fan experience at an affordable price.
- Just last month the new franchise announced the signing of some high profile players including Utah Blaze QB Carson Coffman (K-State), Omaha Beef DB Cornelius "Pig" Brown (Mizzou), KC Command WR OJ Simpson, KC Command DL Tommy Chavis, Fairbanks Grizzlies star WR Anthony "AP" Parks (Oklahoma State) and NFL Super Bowl champion LB Diyral Briggs (Green Bay Packers).
- The team recently joined the Champions Professional Indoor Football League (CPIFL), which consists of top caliber Midwest professional teams from the AFL, IFL and APFL. They join several other top franchises including the Wichita Wild, Sioux City Bandits and Oklahoma Defenders.
The tryouts will be held at KC Sports Lodge, 19310 E. 50th Terr. Independence, MO. It is $50 if players pre-register and $60 the day of tryouts.
To pre-register, players should e-mail their first name, last name, DOB, height, weight and position to info@kcindoorfootball.com . Player highlight videos are also encouraged.
"After receiving a large number of inquiries by players from all over the country who want to play in Kansas City, we decided to host tryouts this Saturday. We are excited to sign 10 players from this tryout and look forward to meeting the athletes," said Harris.
- The team has received inquiries from players all over the country hoping to have a shot at playing in Kansas City.
- The Kansas City franchise recently acquired the physical assets of the Kansas City Command and will play their 2013 season at Kemper Arena. The move was made so that fans will be able to tailgate and enjoy the complete fan experience at an affordable price.
- Just last month the new franchise announced the signing of some high profile players including Utah Blaze QB Carson Coffman (K-State), Omaha Beef DB Cornelius "Pig" Brown (Mizzou), KC Command WR OJ Simpson, KC Command DL Tommy Chavis, Fairbanks Grizzlies star WR Anthony "AP" Parks (Oklahoma State) and NFL Super Bowl champion LB Diyral Briggs (Green Bay Packers).
- The team recently joined the Champions Professional Indoor Football League (CPIFL), which consists of top caliber Midwest professional teams from the AFL, IFL and APFL. They join several other top franchises including the Wichita Wild, Sioux City Bandits and Oklahoma Defenders.
Thursday, August 23, 2012
New Indoor Football Team Introduces Itself To Kansas City
The
Kansas City Command won’t take the field next season, but Kansas City
arena football fans will get a new team in a new league.
A spokesman for the Command would say only that the team won’t play next season. The Command played in the Arena Football League.
The unnamed new team will play in the Champions Professional Indoor Football League, a newly created regional league that so far includes teams from Wichita; Tulsa, Okla.; Sedalia, Mo.; and Sioux City, Iowa. Two more teams are expected to be announced soon. The league could play with as many as 10 teams.
“We’re not trying to be a national organization like the AFL,” said Reggie Harris, general manager of the new Kansas City team. “What we’re trying to do is create a league that is more accessible for fans and that has a financial situation that works.”
Harris, who in 2005 was general manager of Command predecessor the Kansas City Brigade, said that average ticket prices for the new team will be about $20 but that fans will be able to see a game for as little as $10 a ticket.
“We want this to be very affordable for families,” Harris said. “You can go see a game for about as much as it would cost to go to a movie.”
The new team will play at Kemper Arena, which with 17,000 seats will be the league’s largest arena. The 12-week season will start in late February; the playoffs will end by July 1.
The Kansas City team is owned by Jeremy Ploeger, who is founder of sports management firm J&M Management, vice chairman of the Jackson County Board of Planning & Zoning Adjustments and a former candidate for the Missouri House of Representatives in the 51st District.
The Brigade went out of business when the AFL reorganized at the end of the 2009 season. The AFL returned in 2010; the Kansas City team — which became the Command — returned for the 2011 season.
The new team already announced several players:
A spokesman for the Command would say only that the team won’t play next season. The Command played in the Arena Football League.
The unnamed new team will play in the Champions Professional Indoor Football League, a newly created regional league that so far includes teams from Wichita; Tulsa, Okla.; Sedalia, Mo.; and Sioux City, Iowa. Two more teams are expected to be announced soon. The league could play with as many as 10 teams.
“We’re not trying to be a national organization like the AFL,” said Reggie Harris, general manager of the new Kansas City team. “What we’re trying to do is create a league that is more accessible for fans and that has a financial situation that works.”
Harris, who in 2005 was general manager of Command predecessor the Kansas City Brigade, said that average ticket prices for the new team will be about $20 but that fans will be able to see a game for as little as $10 a ticket.
“We want this to be very affordable for families,” Harris said. “You can go see a game for about as much as it would cost to go to a movie.”
The new team will play at Kemper Arena, which with 17,000 seats will be the league’s largest arena. The 12-week season will start in late February; the playoffs will end by July 1.
The Kansas City team is owned by Jeremy Ploeger, who is founder of sports management firm J&M Management, vice chairman of the Jackson County Board of Planning & Zoning Adjustments and a former candidate for the Missouri House of Representatives in the 51st District.
The Brigade went out of business when the AFL reorganized at the end of the 2009 season. The AFL returned in 2010; the Kansas City team — which became the Command — returned for the 2011 season.
The new team already announced several players:
- Carson Coffman will play quarterback. A Kansas State Wildcat from 2006 to 2010, he threw for 3,224 yards and 17 touchdowns, running for 278 yards and 12 touchdowns. Last year, he played for the Utah Blaze in the Arena Football League. He’s the son of Paul Coffman, a three-time Pro Bowl tight end who played for the Kansas City Chiefs, Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings.
- Diyral Briggs will play linebacker. Briggs has NFL experience playing for the San Francisco 49ers, Denver Broncos and Green Bay Packers, where he won a Super Bowl ring. Last season, he played for the Kansas City Command.
- Cornelius “Pig” Brown played for the University of Missouri and was a third-round draft pick for the Kansas City Chiefs. Last season, he played in the Indoor Football League for the River City Rage and the Omaha Beef.
- O.J. Simpson played wide receiver for Missouri Western State University. He spent last season with the Kansas City Command.
- Tommy Chavis will play defensive line. He played college football for the University of Missouri and earned Big 12 Honorable Mention in 2007. He played for the Kansas City Command in 2012; the year before, he led the Indoor Football League with 16.5 sacks in 11 games.
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
The Rise And Fall Of The AFL In Kansas City
First,
I want to state that the demise of the Kansas City Brigade/Command is
not all Chris Likens fault. The economic collapse of 2008 has affected
every sport in the land. Even the almighty NFL and NASCAR have had to
adjust their economic models in these tough times. The AFL is no
different. After several years of supposed growth, with franchises
selling for as much as a reported twenty million dollars and top end
players making two hundred and fifty thousand dollars a year, the league
shut down for a year for restructuring. When they returned, a large
number of fans did not. AFL strongholds such as Tampa Bay, Orlando,
Arizona and San Jose did not come close to their pre–restructuring
attendance numbers. Also, you had franchises folding or moving to find a
viable market. The league is at a crossroads and needs a visionary
leader and I do not believe Jerry Kurz is that man, but that is a story
for another day.
As far as Kansas City is concerned, we need to go back to 2005. That is when a group announced they were pursuing an AFL franchise for the Kansas City area. Upon hearing about this I immediately contacted the group about helping them with their pursuit. Over the next nine months I was in constant contact with this group helping with possible corporate season ticket accounts. I eventually parted ways with the group just before the inaugural kickoff but still maintained in contact with some front office people.
The original ownership group did not have enough financial backing to maintain the franchise and that is when Chris Likens stepped up to help them out. I give Mr. Likens credit for making the move to help out the local sports landscape. He did not have to do this. He was a successful business man who did not have to sink his money into a money pit that most sports teams turn out to be. He saw it as a civic duty.
Soon after Likens came aboard as an owner the original ownership group left one by one. The thought of most people I talked to that were still with the team is that they were forced out by Likens. After he was the sole owner Likens made what I thought was a smart move. He brought in a person with AFL front office experience (I believe he had worked for either Iowa or Chicago) as Director of Football Operations. This relationship did not last for more than one season because the individual was looking for a General Manager position and Likens did not want to have one for the Brigade. This is when I believe things took a turn for the worse for this franchise. Likens started bringing in family to run the franchise. His son was named president and his brother (if I remember right) became Director of Operations. He also hired other family members for positions with the team. None of these individuals had any experience in sports. Likens owns a successful mortgage business and I believe that he thought he could just move people over from that business to the Brigade and they would not miss a beat. Now professional sports are still a business and the goal is to turn a profit but it is a totally different animal than the mortgage business. The New York Yankees are an extremely successful franchise but would you hire Brian Cashman (the GM) as the next CEO of Bank Of America and expect him to know everything about banking. This was a case of “The Blind Leading The Blind“.
On the field the Brigade had only mild success. The team finished their 2006 inaugural season with a record of 3–13, placing them fifth in the National Conference Southern Division.
In their second season the Brigade achieved a 10–6 record, earning the American Conference's #3 seed. They hosted their first playoff game, a wild-card matchup, with the American Conference's #6 seed, the Colorado Crush. Unfortunately for the Brigade, the Crush won 49–42, despite Colorado coming into the game with a 4-game losing streak.
The 2008 season saw the team move into their new home, the Sprint Center. Again Likens made a bad move. After making the playoffs the year before he cut payroll putting out an inferior product. Again this is only my opinion but I believe he thought that people would show up to games to see the new arena and it did not matter if the team was competitive. This strategy did not work. As losing mounted the attendance dropped. The low point of the season came in week four when the Brigade lost to the Grand Rapids Rampage 92–52. The team again finished 3-13 and fourth in the American Conference Central Division.
There would be no 2009 season as the league shut down to restructure their business plan. The one that was in place and implemented by outgoing commissioner David Baker was failing. It featured over–inflated franchise values and player salaries that could not be maintained.
The AFL returned in 2010 but the Brigade did not. Most Kansas City fans thought that the AFL was dead in this town but they still held out hope that it could come back. They were rewarded in 2011 with Likens bringing back the franchise. There was a name the team contest and the name ‘Command’ won. Most people I talked to felt it was not a true contest. They thought (myself included), that the team just wanted a name that more closely tied in with the existing logo. That they had no intention of completely changing the name and logo.
The management mistakes picked up where they left off. Hiring people that had little or no experience with the AFL. The one bright spot was the hiring of Nick McCabe as Director of Communications. McCabe has extensive experience in Kansas City sports radio.
When it came to marketing the team during their return, most people asked the same question. “Where is it?” The only time you saw or heard a commercial for the team was during a game broadcast. I think that demographic is already aware of your team.
The Command formed a partnership with the Missouri Comets of the Major Indoor Soccer League. I felt this was a smart move. Both teams would have a chance to cross promote each other and there was the possibility of season ticket bundling. The Comets had done a great job of marketing themselves and embracing technology (besides the standard Twitter and Facebook accounts and email updates they also developed smartphone apps). For some reason the Command did not take advantage of this and continued with business as usual.
On the field, the Command continued their sorry performance. In 2011 the team finished 6-12 and 3-15 in 2012. The average attendance for the two seasons was around 4,300. This was after averaging 13,200 in the three previous seasons.
I felt this was the ‘Make Or Break’ year for the team but diehard fans said Likens told them he was in it for the long haul. That he had stated that it took the MLS fifteen years to catch on in Kansas City. Well, I guess the long haul was only two years, because the Command is as dead as disco.
I had held off on writing this article until the team made an official announcement but here it is a month since their season ended and almost two weeks since the ArenaBowl and no announcement. This team did not die with a bang. Hell! It didn’t even die with a wimper. It died with silence and very few mourners (I think more people are disappointed to see arena football end in KC then they are to see the end of the Command).
Now the original owners are back with a team in the new Champions Professional Indoor Football League. It will be a regional league and considered very minor league compared to the AFL. They will play games at Kemper Arena (the Brigade’s original home) and hope to rekindle the excitement that the Brigade had in it’s heyday. Well guys, good luck and I have a piece of advice for you. “Don’t hire your son, brother, uncle or niece. Hire people that have front office experience in indoor football or minor league sports.”
As far as Kansas City is concerned, we need to go back to 2005. That is when a group announced they were pursuing an AFL franchise for the Kansas City area. Upon hearing about this I immediately contacted the group about helping them with their pursuit. Over the next nine months I was in constant contact with this group helping with possible corporate season ticket accounts. I eventually parted ways with the group just before the inaugural kickoff but still maintained in contact with some front office people.
The original ownership group did not have enough financial backing to maintain the franchise and that is when Chris Likens stepped up to help them out. I give Mr. Likens credit for making the move to help out the local sports landscape. He did not have to do this. He was a successful business man who did not have to sink his money into a money pit that most sports teams turn out to be. He saw it as a civic duty.
Soon after Likens came aboard as an owner the original ownership group left one by one. The thought of most people I talked to that were still with the team is that they were forced out by Likens. After he was the sole owner Likens made what I thought was a smart move. He brought in a person with AFL front office experience (I believe he had worked for either Iowa or Chicago) as Director of Football Operations. This relationship did not last for more than one season because the individual was looking for a General Manager position and Likens did not want to have one for the Brigade. This is when I believe things took a turn for the worse for this franchise. Likens started bringing in family to run the franchise. His son was named president and his brother (if I remember right) became Director of Operations. He also hired other family members for positions with the team. None of these individuals had any experience in sports. Likens owns a successful mortgage business and I believe that he thought he could just move people over from that business to the Brigade and they would not miss a beat. Now professional sports are still a business and the goal is to turn a profit but it is a totally different animal than the mortgage business. The New York Yankees are an extremely successful franchise but would you hire Brian Cashman (the GM) as the next CEO of Bank Of America and expect him to know everything about banking. This was a case of “The Blind Leading The Blind“.
On the field the Brigade had only mild success. The team finished their 2006 inaugural season with a record of 3–13, placing them fifth in the National Conference Southern Division.
In their second season the Brigade achieved a 10–6 record, earning the American Conference's #3 seed. They hosted their first playoff game, a wild-card matchup, with the American Conference's #6 seed, the Colorado Crush. Unfortunately for the Brigade, the Crush won 49–42, despite Colorado coming into the game with a 4-game losing streak.
The 2008 season saw the team move into their new home, the Sprint Center. Again Likens made a bad move. After making the playoffs the year before he cut payroll putting out an inferior product. Again this is only my opinion but I believe he thought that people would show up to games to see the new arena and it did not matter if the team was competitive. This strategy did not work. As losing mounted the attendance dropped. The low point of the season came in week four when the Brigade lost to the Grand Rapids Rampage 92–52. The team again finished 3-13 and fourth in the American Conference Central Division.
There would be no 2009 season as the league shut down to restructure their business plan. The one that was in place and implemented by outgoing commissioner David Baker was failing. It featured over–inflated franchise values and player salaries that could not be maintained.
The AFL returned in 2010 but the Brigade did not. Most Kansas City fans thought that the AFL was dead in this town but they still held out hope that it could come back. They were rewarded in 2011 with Likens bringing back the franchise. There was a name the team contest and the name ‘Command’ won. Most people I talked to felt it was not a true contest. They thought (myself included), that the team just wanted a name that more closely tied in with the existing logo. That they had no intention of completely changing the name and logo.
The management mistakes picked up where they left off. Hiring people that had little or no experience with the AFL. The one bright spot was the hiring of Nick McCabe as Director of Communications. McCabe has extensive experience in Kansas City sports radio.
When it came to marketing the team during their return, most people asked the same question. “Where is it?” The only time you saw or heard a commercial for the team was during a game broadcast. I think that demographic is already aware of your team.
The Command formed a partnership with the Missouri Comets of the Major Indoor Soccer League. I felt this was a smart move. Both teams would have a chance to cross promote each other and there was the possibility of season ticket bundling. The Comets had done a great job of marketing themselves and embracing technology (besides the standard Twitter and Facebook accounts and email updates they also developed smartphone apps). For some reason the Command did not take advantage of this and continued with business as usual.
On the field, the Command continued their sorry performance. In 2011 the team finished 6-12 and 3-15 in 2012. The average attendance for the two seasons was around 4,300. This was after averaging 13,200 in the three previous seasons.
I felt this was the ‘Make Or Break’ year for the team but diehard fans said Likens told them he was in it for the long haul. That he had stated that it took the MLS fifteen years to catch on in Kansas City. Well, I guess the long haul was only two years, because the Command is as dead as disco.
I had held off on writing this article until the team made an official announcement but here it is a month since their season ended and almost two weeks since the ArenaBowl and no announcement. This team did not die with a bang. Hell! It didn’t even die with a wimper. It died with silence and very few mourners (I think more people are disappointed to see arena football end in KC then they are to see the end of the Command).
Now the original owners are back with a team in the new Champions Professional Indoor Football League. It will be a regional league and considered very minor league compared to the AFL. They will play games at Kemper Arena (the Brigade’s original home) and hope to rekindle the excitement that the Brigade had in it’s heyday. Well guys, good luck and I have a piece of advice for you. “Don’t hire your son, brother, uncle or niece. Hire people that have front office experience in indoor football or minor league sports.”
Saturday, August 4, 2012
Command Moving to the IFL
The
Kansas City Command will not be in the Arena Football League next
season, a source said Saturday afternoon. Instead of coming back for the
2013 season, the Command will be moving to the Indoor Football League.
Also included in the move is a name change back to the Brigade. When the original Kansas City franchise moved from New Orleans, they became the Brigade.
It is still unsure why ownership has decided to make the move to the IFL. No official announcement has been made on the issue.
It is also unsure if they will play in the Sprint Center, where the Command played the last two season, or if they will move to Kemper Arena outside of downtown.
Also included in the move is a name change back to the Brigade. When the original Kansas City franchise moved from New Orleans, they became the Brigade.
It is still unsure why ownership has decided to make the move to the IFL. No official announcement has been made on the issue.
It is also unsure if they will play in the Sprint Center, where the Command played the last two season, or if they will move to Kemper Arena outside of downtown.
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Jackie Chambers Selected To AFL All-Ironman Team
Rookie
standout for the Kansas City Command, Jackie Chambers earned a spot on
the 2012 Arena Football League All-Ironman Team that was officially
announced by the League earlier today.
Chambers (5-10, 190, Lane College) was a constant threat to score as a kickoff return specialist and despite only playing in 12 games for the Command this season, he finished with a franchise record of 1,163 kick-return yards including two 57-yard kick returns in back to back games against San Jose and Chicago.
Chambers ironman approach to the game was also highlighted on both sides of the ball. Offensively, he reeled in 58 catches for 751 yards and seven scores. His unwillingness to be brought down also heralded 11 rushes for 49 yards and five touchdowns. Along with earning 1,963 all-purpose yards, Chambers also pitched in nine tackles on defense this season. This is Chambers’ first All-Ironman Team selection.
Chambers was one of only six players selected to the All-Ironman Team that includes, PJ Berry from the Pittsburgh Power, Terrance Smith from the Jacksonville Sharks, Terrance Sanders from the Spokane Shock, Jeff Hughley from the Philadelphia Soul and Marcus Everett from the Milwaukee Mustangs.
Chambers (5-10, 190, Lane College) was a constant threat to score as a kickoff return specialist and despite only playing in 12 games for the Command this season, he finished with a franchise record of 1,163 kick-return yards including two 57-yard kick returns in back to back games against San Jose and Chicago.
Chambers ironman approach to the game was also highlighted on both sides of the ball. Offensively, he reeled in 58 catches for 751 yards and seven scores. His unwillingness to be brought down also heralded 11 rushes for 49 yards and five touchdowns. Along with earning 1,963 all-purpose yards, Chambers also pitched in nine tackles on defense this season. This is Chambers’ first All-Ironman Team selection.
Chambers was one of only six players selected to the All-Ironman Team that includes, PJ Berry from the Pittsburgh Power, Terrance Smith from the Jacksonville Sharks, Terrance Sanders from the Spokane Shock, Jeff Hughley from the Philadelphia Soul and Marcus Everett from the Milwaukee Mustangs.
Sunday, July 22, 2012
Command Drop Final Game Of The Season To Arizona 47-22
The
Kansas City Command (3-15) wrapped up a disappointing season on the
road, losing 47-22 to the Arizona Rattlers (13-5) who were led by
quarterback Nick Davila’s 363 passing yards and seven touchdown
performance Saturday night at US Airways Center. Arizona has already
earned a playoff berth, and need a loss by the Utah Blaze tomorrow to
earn the National Conference Western Division Championship outright.
Kansas City’s defense held the Rattlers scoreless in the first quarter and the Command jumped on the board with a seven yard touchdown pass from quarterback Matt Gutierrez to Jackie Chambers with 2:26 left in the first quarter. Command DB Rashad Barksdale’s aggressive play kept the Rattlers from finding a rhythm early, breaking up key fourth down passing attempts, giving KC’s offense a few more opportunities in the first half. Barksdale and J.C. Neal both surpassed Ken Fontenette’s single-season franchise record of 110 tackles, set in 2011; ending with 116.5 and 113.5 total tackles respectively.
Chambers gave an Ironman effort and finished the night with nine receptions for 88 yards and two touchdowns (one rushing). His five kickoff returns for 144 yards extended his record of at least 100 kickoff return yards to seven games, and at least 100 all-purpose yards to ten straight.
Rattlers QB Davila threw a touchdown pass to four different Arizona receivers; led by Maurice Purify who hauled in four TD’s and has recorded a touchdown pass in every game this season for Arizona. Davila broke his own single-season franchise record of 4,916 passing yards, set in 2011, and now has 5,500 passing yards heading into the playoffs.
Command defensive end Chris Lyle returned a Davila fumble 49 yards with 56 seconds left in the second quarter put KC up 20-13. Rattlers QB Davila quickly connected with Jason Geathers for a 20-yard touchdown, but the blocked extra point sent KC into halftime with a 20-19 lead. Lyle’s fumble recovery was his fourth of the season; bringing the Command’s League-high fumble recovery total to 18.
A one-sided shootout unfolded in the second half. It only took three plays for Arizona to take a 26-20 lead to jump start the third quarter with a touchdown toss from Davila to Chris Carter, and the rout was on. Kansas City’s offense was held scoreless through the entire second half, and linebacker Tyler Knight’s sack of Davila and subsequent safety kept KC from being completely shutout. Arizona outscored Kansas City 28-2 in the second half and will have to wait for the outcome of tomorrow’s Utah Blaze/Philadelphia Soul game to get their final seeding for the playoffs.
Kansas City’s defense held the Rattlers scoreless in the first quarter and the Command jumped on the board with a seven yard touchdown pass from quarterback Matt Gutierrez to Jackie Chambers with 2:26 left in the first quarter. Command DB Rashad Barksdale’s aggressive play kept the Rattlers from finding a rhythm early, breaking up key fourth down passing attempts, giving KC’s offense a few more opportunities in the first half. Barksdale and J.C. Neal both surpassed Ken Fontenette’s single-season franchise record of 110 tackles, set in 2011; ending with 116.5 and 113.5 total tackles respectively.
Chambers gave an Ironman effort and finished the night with nine receptions for 88 yards and two touchdowns (one rushing). His five kickoff returns for 144 yards extended his record of at least 100 kickoff return yards to seven games, and at least 100 all-purpose yards to ten straight.
Rattlers QB Davila threw a touchdown pass to four different Arizona receivers; led by Maurice Purify who hauled in four TD’s and has recorded a touchdown pass in every game this season for Arizona. Davila broke his own single-season franchise record of 4,916 passing yards, set in 2011, and now has 5,500 passing yards heading into the playoffs.
Command defensive end Chris Lyle returned a Davila fumble 49 yards with 56 seconds left in the second quarter put KC up 20-13. Rattlers QB Davila quickly connected with Jason Geathers for a 20-yard touchdown, but the blocked extra point sent KC into halftime with a 20-19 lead. Lyle’s fumble recovery was his fourth of the season; bringing the Command’s League-high fumble recovery total to 18.
A one-sided shootout unfolded in the second half. It only took three plays for Arizona to take a 26-20 lead to jump start the third quarter with a touchdown toss from Davila to Chris Carter, and the rout was on. Kansas City’s offense was held scoreless through the entire second half, and linebacker Tyler Knight’s sack of Davila and subsequent safety kept KC from being completely shutout. Arizona outscored Kansas City 28-2 in the second half and will have to wait for the outcome of tomorrow’s Utah Blaze/Philadelphia Soul game to get their final seeding for the playoffs.
Friday, July 20, 2012
The Command Head To Arizona For Last Game Of The Season
Kansas
City Command (3-14) close out the regular-season on the road taking on
the Arizona Rattlers (12-5) at US Airways Arena in Phoenix. The Command
are coming off a one-point loss to the Spokane Shock last Saturday, and
the Rattlers have lost back-to-back games for the first time all
season. Kickoff from Arizona is at 9 p.m. (CT) Saturday and can been
seen on KSMO-TV, heard on SportsRadio 810 WHB, and viewed online at http://www.ustream.tv/kansascitycommand.
The Command defense has been the backbone of the franchise all season, holding near the top of the League on total defense from week to week. KC has recovered a league-high 17 fumbles and leads the League in rushing defense, allowing an average of 11.2 yards on the ground per game. For the Week 20 matchup with the Rattlers, KC’s fourth-ranked total defense will have their hands full with Arizona’s third ranked total offense; led by quarterback Nick Davila who has passed for 5,137 yards, 106 touchdowns and hails as the AFL’s most-efficient QB.
The 2012 season saw an ever-changing offensive roster for the Command; 16 different players have caught a pass at wide receiver for KC, and four different quarterbacks have settled in behind a solid front line of Cornelius Dixon, Kimani Jones and Ken Scott. In comparison, Arizona’s third ranked scoring offense has been consistently led by Davila, who has started every game for the Rattlers.
Heading into Saturday, there are a few franchise records on the line. Defensive back’s J.C. Neal and Rashad Barksdale are tied for third in the AFL with 109 total tackles and each are in line to surpass the single-season franchise record of 110 tackles set by Ken Fontenette in 2011. Barksdale is coming of a record-setting 15 tackles against the Shock in Week 19, besting his own previous franchise single-game record of 14 tackles.
Kickoff return specialist, Jackie Chambers ranks sixth in the League in kick return average (20) and seventh in all-purpose yardage (157.2 yards per game). He has recorded at least 100 kickoff return yards in each of the last six games and at least 100 all-purpose yards in nine straight. Chambers is just four yards shy of Jerel Myer’s single-season franchise record of 1,023 combined kick return yards, set in 2008.
The Command are 1-3 in their series history with the Rattlers; most recently hosting their Week 3 matchup in Kansas City with Arizona taking the win 56-28. This will be the first time the Command have traveled to Arizona. While the Rattlers have already secured a playoff berth and can best their seeding with a win, the Command look to head into the off-season with a victory in their back pocket.
The Command defense has been the backbone of the franchise all season, holding near the top of the League on total defense from week to week. KC has recovered a league-high 17 fumbles and leads the League in rushing defense, allowing an average of 11.2 yards on the ground per game. For the Week 20 matchup with the Rattlers, KC’s fourth-ranked total defense will have their hands full with Arizona’s third ranked total offense; led by quarterback Nick Davila who has passed for 5,137 yards, 106 touchdowns and hails as the AFL’s most-efficient QB.
The 2012 season saw an ever-changing offensive roster for the Command; 16 different players have caught a pass at wide receiver for KC, and four different quarterbacks have settled in behind a solid front line of Cornelius Dixon, Kimani Jones and Ken Scott. In comparison, Arizona’s third ranked scoring offense has been consistently led by Davila, who has started every game for the Rattlers.
Heading into Saturday, there are a few franchise records on the line. Defensive back’s J.C. Neal and Rashad Barksdale are tied for third in the AFL with 109 total tackles and each are in line to surpass the single-season franchise record of 110 tackles set by Ken Fontenette in 2011. Barksdale is coming of a record-setting 15 tackles against the Shock in Week 19, besting his own previous franchise single-game record of 14 tackles.
Kickoff return specialist, Jackie Chambers ranks sixth in the League in kick return average (20) and seventh in all-purpose yardage (157.2 yards per game). He has recorded at least 100 kickoff return yards in each of the last six games and at least 100 all-purpose yards in nine straight. Chambers is just four yards shy of Jerel Myer’s single-season franchise record of 1,023 combined kick return yards, set in 2008.
The Command are 1-3 in their series history with the Rattlers; most recently hosting their Week 3 matchup in Kansas City with Arizona taking the win 56-28. This will be the first time the Command have traveled to Arizona. While the Rattlers have already secured a playoff berth and can best their seeding with a win, the Command look to head into the off-season with a victory in their back pocket.
Saturday, July 14, 2012
Command Drop Final Home Game Of The Season, Fall To Shock 49-48
Command
quarterback Matt Gutierrez threw for 239 yards, four touchdowns and
rushed for another to give Kansas City (3-14) their first lead of the
game with 6:43 left in the fourth quarter. A thrilling finish would
unfold as the Spokane Shock (9-8) etched one final touchdown with 12
seconds left in the game. The subsequent two-point conversion gave the
Shock a one-point lead, 49-48. A missed KC field goal attempt as time
expired gave Spokane the victory in front of 3,764 fans Saturday night
at Sprint Center.
“It’s never just one play, but that was a tough loss,” Command head coach Danton Barto said on the missed field goal to end the game. “I’m proud of these guys. They played their hearts out and battled their butts off tonight.” The Sprint crowd tried to fuel the home team as well. “The one thing I love about KC, we had a great turnout, a lot of kids, a lot of energy, and it was fun,” said Barto.
Though Kansas City didn’t earn a first down until 11:58 in the second quarter, Command QB Gutierrez settled in and connected with Samie Parker for his first touchdown in front the home crowd to keep the Command close, 14-7 at the 11:18 mark. Spokane quarterback Kyle Rowley threw a quick touchdown to Rod Harper to go up 21-7, but on the ensuing kickoff Command special teams weapon Jackie Chambers broke free for a 38 yard kickoff return; giving KC their best starting field position of the game. Command fullback Trey Bryant took advantage of a wide open left side of the field and rushed in for a quick 12 yard touchdown; once again bringing KC within one score, 21-14.
Spokane QB Rowley was in line for another touchdown to Jefferey Solomon when Command DB Sergio Gilliam forced a fumble, and KC QB Gutierrez converted the possession into points connecting with Parker for his second touchdown.
Spokane quarterback Kyle Rowley connected with Adron Tennell for his third touchdown in the first half with just 17 seconds left in the second quarter and headed into the locker room with a halftime lead of 28-21. Rowley finished the game with 320 yards passing and seven touchdowns.
Command defense kept the pressure on Spokane, forcing a Shock turnover at the goal line on the first possession of the third quarter which Kansas City again converted into positive points with fullback Trey Bryant’s second rushing touchdown of the game, bringing his season total to six.
The fourth quarter provided a thrilling finish as Armand Robinson’s return from IR delivered two touchdown catches from Gutierrez and gave Kansas City their first lead of the game, 42-41 with 6:43 left in the fourth quarter. When Spokane turned the ball over on downs and Gutierrez rushed for a touchdown, it looked as if KC would hold on to the win. However, there was enough time on the clock and Shock QB Rowley connected with Jefferey Solomon for a touchdown and a successful two-point conversion gave Spokane a one point lead with just 12 seconds remaining in the game. Kansas City would get one final opportunity, but a missed 47 yard field goal attempt as time expired gave the Shock the victory.
On his return from injured reserve, Robinson said “I’m just excited to be back. I’ve never missed a game with an injury, and I was happy to be out there with my team. The fact that the last time we played Spokane they beat us by almost 30, so the fact that we were that close (to winning), I was just proud to be a part of the game and of the guys.”
Chambers has recorded at least 100 kickoff return yards in each of the last six games; and his 116 kickoff return yards on Saturday brings his season total to 1,019; breaking the single-season franchise record of 983, set by Jerel Myers in 2008. Command DB Rashad Barksdale also broke his own single-game record for tackles, notching 15 total tackles against Spokane.
“It’s never just one play, but that was a tough loss,” Command head coach Danton Barto said on the missed field goal to end the game. “I’m proud of these guys. They played their hearts out and battled their butts off tonight.” The Sprint crowd tried to fuel the home team as well. “The one thing I love about KC, we had a great turnout, a lot of kids, a lot of energy, and it was fun,” said Barto.
Though Kansas City didn’t earn a first down until 11:58 in the second quarter, Command QB Gutierrez settled in and connected with Samie Parker for his first touchdown in front the home crowd to keep the Command close, 14-7 at the 11:18 mark. Spokane quarterback Kyle Rowley threw a quick touchdown to Rod Harper to go up 21-7, but on the ensuing kickoff Command special teams weapon Jackie Chambers broke free for a 38 yard kickoff return; giving KC their best starting field position of the game. Command fullback Trey Bryant took advantage of a wide open left side of the field and rushed in for a quick 12 yard touchdown; once again bringing KC within one score, 21-14.
Spokane QB Rowley was in line for another touchdown to Jefferey Solomon when Command DB Sergio Gilliam forced a fumble, and KC QB Gutierrez converted the possession into points connecting with Parker for his second touchdown.
Spokane quarterback Kyle Rowley connected with Adron Tennell for his third touchdown in the first half with just 17 seconds left in the second quarter and headed into the locker room with a halftime lead of 28-21. Rowley finished the game with 320 yards passing and seven touchdowns.
Command defense kept the pressure on Spokane, forcing a Shock turnover at the goal line on the first possession of the third quarter which Kansas City again converted into positive points with fullback Trey Bryant’s second rushing touchdown of the game, bringing his season total to six.
The fourth quarter provided a thrilling finish as Armand Robinson’s return from IR delivered two touchdown catches from Gutierrez and gave Kansas City their first lead of the game, 42-41 with 6:43 left in the fourth quarter. When Spokane turned the ball over on downs and Gutierrez rushed for a touchdown, it looked as if KC would hold on to the win. However, there was enough time on the clock and Shock QB Rowley connected with Jefferey Solomon for a touchdown and a successful two-point conversion gave Spokane a one point lead with just 12 seconds remaining in the game. Kansas City would get one final opportunity, but a missed 47 yard field goal attempt as time expired gave the Shock the victory.
On his return from injured reserve, Robinson said “I’m just excited to be back. I’ve never missed a game with an injury, and I was happy to be out there with my team. The fact that the last time we played Spokane they beat us by almost 30, so the fact that we were that close (to winning), I was just proud to be a part of the game and of the guys.”
Chambers has recorded at least 100 kickoff return yards in each of the last six games; and his 116 kickoff return yards on Saturday brings his season total to 1,019; breaking the single-season franchise record of 983, set by Jerel Myers in 2008. Command DB Rashad Barksdale also broke his own single-game record for tackles, notching 15 total tackles against Spokane.
Thursday, July 12, 2012
Command Get Ready To Host Spokane On Saturday
This
week, the Spokane Shock (8-7) hit the road to take on the Kansas City
Command (3-13) this Saturday, July 14th at the Sprint Center in Kansas
City, MO with a 7:00pm CDT kickoff.
The first meeting between the Command and Shock took place just over four weeks ago in week 14 of the AFL regular season and ended with a decisive Spokane victory by a final score of 70-46. Kyle Rowley connected with five different receivers for touchdowns, ending the contest with 8 total. While the game remained tied through the first half, a 28-point third quarter widened the gap as Spokane intercepted Command QB Brian Jones twice and forced three fumbles in route to the home win.
Kansas City enters this week 18 matchup ranked last in the Power Rankings and on a three-game losing streak. Injuries and instability at the quarterback position throughout the year has left the Command with the league's worst passing offense (3,511 yards) and 10th ranked rushing offense (286 yards). Despite their inability to produce offensively as they have only averaged 39.7 points per game, they have managed to post the 3rd best total defensive output this season only giving up only 272.9 yards and 52.6 points per game.
Spokane has completed the most difficult and challenging four weeks of their 2012 schedule after playing all three West Division opponents who have clinched their spots in the 2012 playoffs and the East Division Champion Philadelphia Soul. The Shock are currently ranked 7th in passing offense (4,451 yards) and average 59.4 points per game. The achilles heel of Spokane over the past few weeks has been their inability to protect football and their defense which is ranked last in the AFL as they have given up 332.2 yards and 59.2 points per game.
While each team has been eliminated from playoff contention, there is a strong sense of urgency by each team to finish the season on a high note with only two games remaining in the season. This will mark the first year that the Shock will not make the playoffs in their seven years of existence between the af2 and AFL. With the new CBA on the horizon and a major restructure approaching in regard to player contracts going into 2013, these last two games will play pivotal roles in evaluating roster spots and potential long term contract opportunities for players as the season comes to a close.
This week's game broadcast will be available for listening on ESPN 1510 AM and broadcasted on the Command's Ustream page at Ustream.tv/kansascitycommand.
The first meeting between the Command and Shock took place just over four weeks ago in week 14 of the AFL regular season and ended with a decisive Spokane victory by a final score of 70-46. Kyle Rowley connected with five different receivers for touchdowns, ending the contest with 8 total. While the game remained tied through the first half, a 28-point third quarter widened the gap as Spokane intercepted Command QB Brian Jones twice and forced three fumbles in route to the home win.
Kansas City enters this week 18 matchup ranked last in the Power Rankings and on a three-game losing streak. Injuries and instability at the quarterback position throughout the year has left the Command with the league's worst passing offense (3,511 yards) and 10th ranked rushing offense (286 yards). Despite their inability to produce offensively as they have only averaged 39.7 points per game, they have managed to post the 3rd best total defensive output this season only giving up only 272.9 yards and 52.6 points per game.
Spokane has completed the most difficult and challenging four weeks of their 2012 schedule after playing all three West Division opponents who have clinched their spots in the 2012 playoffs and the East Division Champion Philadelphia Soul. The Shock are currently ranked 7th in passing offense (4,451 yards) and average 59.4 points per game. The achilles heel of Spokane over the past few weeks has been their inability to protect football and their defense which is ranked last in the AFL as they have given up 332.2 yards and 59.2 points per game.
While each team has been eliminated from playoff contention, there is a strong sense of urgency by each team to finish the season on a high note with only two games remaining in the season. This will mark the first year that the Shock will not make the playoffs in their seven years of existence between the af2 and AFL. With the new CBA on the horizon and a major restructure approaching in regard to player contracts going into 2013, these last two games will play pivotal roles in evaluating roster spots and potential long term contract opportunities for players as the season comes to a close.
This week's game broadcast will be available for listening on ESPN 1510 AM and broadcasted on the Command's Ustream page at Ustream.tv/kansascitycommand.
Command Raises Funds And Awareness For Lupus Research
The
Kansas City Command will announce a $5,000 donation during Saturday
night’s game at Sprint Center with an on-field check presentation to the
Eddie Kennison Foundation; benefitting the Alliance for Lupus Research.
“Eddie has been a valuable part of the Command family this season,”
said team chairman Chris Likens. “We are happy to join his efforts in
raising awareness by making a donation to Lupus research.”
In addition, one dollar from every ticket sold for Saturday night’s game will be given to the Alliance for Lupus Research (ALR), a non-profit organization with the mission of finding a cure for lupus, a chronic autoimmune disease that strikes 1.4 million Americans – including Shimika Kennison, Eddie’s wife. The Kennison family now partners with the ALR to raise funds for lupus research. Eddie Kennison and Kansas City Royals General Manager Dayton Moore are this year’s honorary co-chairs for the Kansas City Area Metro Walk With Us to Cure Lupus on October 27th. Volunteers will also be set up in the concourse of Sprint Center on Saturday before the game with more information regarding the walk in October.
“Teaming up with ALR has been a dream come true for the Kennison family,” said Eddie Kennsion. “Not only does ALR do awesome work to find a cure for lupus, but the people within the organization are first class. ALR has enhanced our fund-raising efforts in our continued quest to cure lupus,” he said.
One of the Chiefs’ most philanthropic players, Eddie Kennison started his foundation in 2003 after Shimika was diagnosed with Lupus, a chronic autoimmune disease can affect the joints and the major organs of the body including the heart, lungs, kidneys and brain. Symptoms include extreme fatigue and painful or swollen joints.
Since making Kansas City his home, Eddie Kennison has been involved in many other charitable endeavors locally including First Downs for Down Syndrome and several charitable events of fellow players. Eddie also helped out near his hometown in Louisiana following Hurricane Katrina. Because of his charitable work, Kennison was nominated in 2006 for the prestigious Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award. Kennison officially retired from the Kansas City Chiefs after 13 years in the NFL, and is currently the Director of Operations for the Kansas City Command of the Arena Football League.
In addition, one dollar from every ticket sold for Saturday night’s game will be given to the Alliance for Lupus Research (ALR), a non-profit organization with the mission of finding a cure for lupus, a chronic autoimmune disease that strikes 1.4 million Americans – including Shimika Kennison, Eddie’s wife. The Kennison family now partners with the ALR to raise funds for lupus research. Eddie Kennison and Kansas City Royals General Manager Dayton Moore are this year’s honorary co-chairs for the Kansas City Area Metro Walk With Us to Cure Lupus on October 27th. Volunteers will also be set up in the concourse of Sprint Center on Saturday before the game with more information regarding the walk in October.
“Teaming up with ALR has been a dream come true for the Kennison family,” said Eddie Kennsion. “Not only does ALR do awesome work to find a cure for lupus, but the people within the organization are first class. ALR has enhanced our fund-raising efforts in our continued quest to cure lupus,” he said.
One of the Chiefs’ most philanthropic players, Eddie Kennison started his foundation in 2003 after Shimika was diagnosed with Lupus, a chronic autoimmune disease can affect the joints and the major organs of the body including the heart, lungs, kidneys and brain. Symptoms include extreme fatigue and painful or swollen joints.
Since making Kansas City his home, Eddie Kennison has been involved in many other charitable endeavors locally including First Downs for Down Syndrome and several charitable events of fellow players. Eddie also helped out near his hometown in Louisiana following Hurricane Katrina. Because of his charitable work, Kennison was nominated in 2006 for the prestigious Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award. Kennison officially retired from the Kansas City Chiefs after 13 years in the NFL, and is currently the Director of Operations for the Kansas City Command of the Arena Football League.
Saturday, July 7, 2012
Command Totally Inept In Loss To Barnstormers
The
Kansas City Command (3-13) suffered a tough 54-26 loss to their Central
Division rival, Iowa Barnstormers (6-10) in front of 3,223 fans
Saturday night at Sprint Center. Barnstormers’ wide receiver Jesse
Schmidt hauled in four touchdowns, earning the National Guard MVP of the
game.
“It was an embarrassing loss, nothing positive other than the two blocked extra-point kicks that were returned by Sergio Gilliam.” said Command head coach Danton Barto. “That’s pretty amazing and nobody has ever seen that in a game.”
Iowa quarterback J.J. Raterink connected with Jesse Schmidt to put the Barnstormers on the board first, but the extra point was blocked by Ken Scott and returned by Gilliam; the first of two blocked extra-point kicks that were returned by KC. Iowa’s early attempt at an onside kick was recovered by OJ Simpson and the Command quickly put more points on the board with a rushing touchdown by Jackie Chambers. KC took their only lead of the game 9-6 after one quarter.
Although the Command defense stuffed the Barnstormers on the opening drive, forcing a quick turnover on downs, costly interceptions in the second half kept KC’s offense on the sidelines and allowed Iowa to build a lead they would never relinquish. Command defensive linemen Michael Robinson and Chris Lyle each had a sack on Iowa quarterback J.J. Raterink, while DB Rashad Barksdale led the team with 8 unassisted tackles. Raterink only passed for 164 yards, but accounted for five Barnstormers’ touchdowns.
Kansas City’s offense stalled in the second quarter while Iowa put up 21 points. With just four seconds remaining in the second quarter, Command kicker James Wilhoit connected on a 47 yard field goal cutting Iowa’s lead to 27-12 as the teams headed to halftime.
Command quarterback Matt Gutierrez threw three picks in the third quarter and the Barnstormers took advantage and widening their lead to 40-12 heading into the fourth. Command backup QB, Zack Eskridge replaced Gutierrez; rushing for a touchdown and tossing another to Bret Smith, avoiding a KC second half offensive shutout.
As for Eskridge’s role for the final two games of the season, “I’ll need to evaluate it, look at the film, and we’ll go from there,” said coach Barto. “Whoever is going to give us the best opportunity to win these last two games is the guy that is going to play. The good thing is there will be some competition at wide receiver with Armand (Robinson) coming back. We’ll also have Xavier (Lee) back next week, and competition is good. Armand was playing really good football before he got hurt and I think he’ll help whoever is at quarterback, and help this team.”
“It was an embarrassing loss, nothing positive other than the two blocked extra-point kicks that were returned by Sergio Gilliam.” said Command head coach Danton Barto. “That’s pretty amazing and nobody has ever seen that in a game.”
Iowa quarterback J.J. Raterink connected with Jesse Schmidt to put the Barnstormers on the board first, but the extra point was blocked by Ken Scott and returned by Gilliam; the first of two blocked extra-point kicks that were returned by KC. Iowa’s early attempt at an onside kick was recovered by OJ Simpson and the Command quickly put more points on the board with a rushing touchdown by Jackie Chambers. KC took their only lead of the game 9-6 after one quarter.
Although the Command defense stuffed the Barnstormers on the opening drive, forcing a quick turnover on downs, costly interceptions in the second half kept KC’s offense on the sidelines and allowed Iowa to build a lead they would never relinquish. Command defensive linemen Michael Robinson and Chris Lyle each had a sack on Iowa quarterback J.J. Raterink, while DB Rashad Barksdale led the team with 8 unassisted tackles. Raterink only passed for 164 yards, but accounted for five Barnstormers’ touchdowns.
Kansas City’s offense stalled in the second quarter while Iowa put up 21 points. With just four seconds remaining in the second quarter, Command kicker James Wilhoit connected on a 47 yard field goal cutting Iowa’s lead to 27-12 as the teams headed to halftime.
Command quarterback Matt Gutierrez threw three picks in the third quarter and the Barnstormers took advantage and widening their lead to 40-12 heading into the fourth. Command backup QB, Zack Eskridge replaced Gutierrez; rushing for a touchdown and tossing another to Bret Smith, avoiding a KC second half offensive shutout.
As for Eskridge’s role for the final two games of the season, “I’ll need to evaluate it, look at the film, and we’ll go from there,” said coach Barto. “Whoever is going to give us the best opportunity to win these last two games is the guy that is going to play. The good thing is there will be some competition at wide receiver with Armand (Robinson) coming back. We’ll also have Xavier (Lee) back next week, and competition is good. Armand was playing really good football before he got hurt and I think he’ll help whoever is at quarterback, and help this team.”
Friday, July 6, 2012
Command Host The Iowa Barnstormers On Saturday
The
Kansas City Command (3-12) host their Central Division rival, the Iowa
Barnstormers (5-10) on Saturday; kickoff is at 7 p.m. at Sprint Center.
KC is coming off a tough loss in San Antonio last weekend. The Command
produced one of their best offensive performances of the year, but a
season-high 20 penalties was too much to overcome and Kansas City lost
58-48 in the Alamodome.
Command quarterback Matt Gutierrez returns from the injured reserve list and will be reunited with another former Kansas City Chiefs player, Samie Parker who debuted with the Command last week; scoring a rushing and receiving touchdown. Playing opposite Parker will be KC’s leading receiver Bret Smith, who has 72 catches for 901 yards and 20 TD’s in just 10 games this season. Jackie Chambers has lit up the special teams recording at least 100 kickoff-return yards in each of the last four games; scoring two 57-yard kickoff returns in back to back games (San Jose and Chicago).
Barnstormers quarterback J.J. Raterink started the first 13 games for the Command in 2011 before being traded to the Chicago Rush, which he then led to the National Conference Championship game. He returns to KC for the first time in a Barnstormers’ jersey and is just 20 yards shy of passing Kurt Warner’s single-season franchise record of 4,149 passing yards, set in 1997. Raterink’s favorite target, Jesse Schmidt leads Iowa with 150 catches, 48 touchdowns and has scored a TD in 11 straight games.
Iowa’s defense is centered around Cameron McGlenn who leads the AFL with 102 tackles on the year. Just as proficient is Kansas City’s J.C. Neal who leads the Command with 96.5 total tackles, just 13 shy of the single-season franchise record of 110, set by Ken Fontenette in 2011.
Kansas City is hoping the offensive potential of Gutierrez, Parker and Smith gels quickly to avenge the May 12th loss to Iowa (62-42) and give the Barnstormers their fourth straight loss.
Command quarterback Matt Gutierrez returns from the injured reserve list and will be reunited with another former Kansas City Chiefs player, Samie Parker who debuted with the Command last week; scoring a rushing and receiving touchdown. Playing opposite Parker will be KC’s leading receiver Bret Smith, who has 72 catches for 901 yards and 20 TD’s in just 10 games this season. Jackie Chambers has lit up the special teams recording at least 100 kickoff-return yards in each of the last four games; scoring two 57-yard kickoff returns in back to back games (San Jose and Chicago).
Barnstormers quarterback J.J. Raterink started the first 13 games for the Command in 2011 before being traded to the Chicago Rush, which he then led to the National Conference Championship game. He returns to KC for the first time in a Barnstormers’ jersey and is just 20 yards shy of passing Kurt Warner’s single-season franchise record of 4,149 passing yards, set in 1997. Raterink’s favorite target, Jesse Schmidt leads Iowa with 150 catches, 48 touchdowns and has scored a TD in 11 straight games.
Iowa’s defense is centered around Cameron McGlenn who leads the AFL with 102 tackles on the year. Just as proficient is Kansas City’s J.C. Neal who leads the Command with 96.5 total tackles, just 13 shy of the single-season franchise record of 110, set by Ken Fontenette in 2011.
Kansas City is hoping the offensive potential of Gutierrez, Parker and Smith gels quickly to avenge the May 12th loss to Iowa (62-42) and give the Barnstormers their fourth straight loss.
Saturday, June 30, 2012
Command Can't Claw Back Against The Talons, Fall 58‐48
Standings
aside, the Kansas City Command (3-12) went toe-to-toe with the Central
Division leading San Antonio Talons (12-3) but fell short to the Talons,
58-48 Saturday night in front of 8,153 fans at the Alamodome.
Quarterback Aaron Garcia threw for 253 yards, seven touchdowns and led
the San Antonio to their ninth straight win.
The Command started a bit behind the 8-ball as they deferred the opening kickoff which was returned 56 yards by Jomo Wilson to put the Talons on the board just 49 seconds into the game. Kansas City’s wide receiver tandem of Bret Smith and Samie Parker, along with Jackie Chambers’ special teams play helped keep the Command in contention, each of them scoring two touchdowns apiece. Zack Eskridge was more consistent in just his third AFL start finishing with 261 yards, three touchdowns and zero turnovers.
“One thing I take a lot of pride with our guys, they play hard and they don’t quit,” said Command head coach Danton Barto. “We’re obviously a player or two, or a play or two away from where we need to be. Hopefully we’ll get Matt (Gutierrez) back this week and that will spark us, and Samie is everything we thought he’d be. He’s going to help us tremendously for these last three games.”
Kansas City started the second half with great field position after Jackie Chambers 41 yards kickoff return, compounded by a Talons personal foul allowed the Command to start their drive from San Antonio’s 8 yard line. Eskridge connected with Bret Smith for his second touchdown to close the gap to three points (30-27) with 12:17 left in the third quarter. The Talons never lead by more than 10 points in the entire second half, but penalties nixed any opportunities for Kansas City to take the lead.
KC’s defense stayed true to form by reining in the Talons enough to allow the Command to cut the lead to three points twice during the game. The Command forced Garcia into throwing two picks in the game, the second interception was returned for a touchdown by Bradly Chavez which would have given KC their first lead of the game, but another penalty took the points off the scoreboard. Kansas City racked up 20 penalties for 127 yards and negated both interceptions in their loss to San Antonio.
“It’s tough because our guys play hard,” said coach Barto. “The problem is we make too many critical mistakes at the wrong time. We get a huge interception return by Bradly Chavez, and we get a late hit. We just can’t do that.”
The Command return home next week to host their Central Division rival Iowa Barnstormers Saturday July 7th for Trophy Night at Sprint Center.
The Command started a bit behind the 8-ball as they deferred the opening kickoff which was returned 56 yards by Jomo Wilson to put the Talons on the board just 49 seconds into the game. Kansas City’s wide receiver tandem of Bret Smith and Samie Parker, along with Jackie Chambers’ special teams play helped keep the Command in contention, each of them scoring two touchdowns apiece. Zack Eskridge was more consistent in just his third AFL start finishing with 261 yards, three touchdowns and zero turnovers.
“One thing I take a lot of pride with our guys, they play hard and they don’t quit,” said Command head coach Danton Barto. “We’re obviously a player or two, or a play or two away from where we need to be. Hopefully we’ll get Matt (Gutierrez) back this week and that will spark us, and Samie is everything we thought he’d be. He’s going to help us tremendously for these last three games.”
Kansas City started the second half with great field position after Jackie Chambers 41 yards kickoff return, compounded by a Talons personal foul allowed the Command to start their drive from San Antonio’s 8 yard line. Eskridge connected with Bret Smith for his second touchdown to close the gap to three points (30-27) with 12:17 left in the third quarter. The Talons never lead by more than 10 points in the entire second half, but penalties nixed any opportunities for Kansas City to take the lead.
KC’s defense stayed true to form by reining in the Talons enough to allow the Command to cut the lead to three points twice during the game. The Command forced Garcia into throwing two picks in the game, the second interception was returned for a touchdown by Bradly Chavez which would have given KC their first lead of the game, but another penalty took the points off the scoreboard. Kansas City racked up 20 penalties for 127 yards and negated both interceptions in their loss to San Antonio.
“It’s tough because our guys play hard,” said coach Barto. “The problem is we make too many critical mistakes at the wrong time. We get a huge interception return by Bradly Chavez, and we get a late hit. We just can’t do that.”
The Command return home next week to host their Central Division rival Iowa Barnstormers Saturday July 7th for Trophy Night at Sprint Center.
Thursday, June 28, 2012
Command Travel To San Antonio To Take On Talons
The
Kansas City Command (3-11) will try to keep the division-leading San
Antonio Talons from securing a spot in the Arena Football League (AFL)
playoffs this Saturday, June 30 at the Alamodome. Saturday night's 7
p.m. matchup will mark the second-to-last road game of the regular
season for the Command, who finish the season on the road at Arizona.
The Talons (11-3) know that a win this weekend means a potential home playoff game at the Alamodome, and their unrivaled eight game winning streak is causing some playoff fever throughout San Antonio.
"This is a big step toward our ultimate goal," says quarterback Aaron Garcia. "But the first step is to get to the playoffs and then have the opportunity to win a professional football championship for San Antonio," Garcia adds.
In their last match up with the Talons, Kansas City’s defense gave a stellar effort. In that game Sergio Gilliam had two interceptions, earning him Riddell Defensive Player of the Game. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough as the Command could not hold on to a fourth quarter lead and fell to the Talons 41-31 that Saturday night at Sprint Center.
The Command’s defense, led by J.C. Neal, Rashad Barksdale and Gilliam has kept the team close in most games. The unit, which has been the team’s strong suit all season long, is currently ranked 5th in Total Defense and 8th in Scoring Defense in the league. On the down side the team has the 15th best Red Zone Defense in the AFL.
Recently, Kansas City has received a boost from Jackie Chambers, the team’s All Purpose Yardage leader.Chambers has returned a kickoff for a touchdown in two straight games.
The San Antonio offense, led by Garcia, is ranked 8th in Scoring Offense and 11th in Total Offense in the AFL. The Talons do have the 2nd ranked Red Zone Offense in the league.
The Talons (Tulsa/SA) lead the all time series 2-1 and have won the last two matchups with the Command.
The game will be broadcast on ESPN 1510 AM and Ustream.tv/kansascitycommand.
The Talons (11-3) know that a win this weekend means a potential home playoff game at the Alamodome, and their unrivaled eight game winning streak is causing some playoff fever throughout San Antonio.
"This is a big step toward our ultimate goal," says quarterback Aaron Garcia. "But the first step is to get to the playoffs and then have the opportunity to win a professional football championship for San Antonio," Garcia adds.
In their last match up with the Talons, Kansas City’s defense gave a stellar effort. In that game Sergio Gilliam had two interceptions, earning him Riddell Defensive Player of the Game. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough as the Command could not hold on to a fourth quarter lead and fell to the Talons 41-31 that Saturday night at Sprint Center.
The Command’s defense, led by J.C. Neal, Rashad Barksdale and Gilliam has kept the team close in most games. The unit, which has been the team’s strong suit all season long, is currently ranked 5th in Total Defense and 8th in Scoring Defense in the league. On the down side the team has the 15th best Red Zone Defense in the AFL.
Recently, Kansas City has received a boost from Jackie Chambers, the team’s All Purpose Yardage leader.Chambers has returned a kickoff for a touchdown in two straight games.
The San Antonio offense, led by Garcia, is ranked 8th in Scoring Offense and 11th in Total Offense in the AFL. The Talons do have the 2nd ranked Red Zone Offense in the league.
The Talons (Tulsa/SA) lead the all time series 2-1 and have won the last two matchups with the Command.
The game will be broadcast on ESPN 1510 AM and Ustream.tv/kansascitycommand.
Former Kansas City Chief Returns To Command
The
Kansas City Command have announced the assignment of wide receiver
Samie Parker. Parker was with the Command at the beginning of the 2012
season before being signed by the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian
Football League on March 29th.
Heading into the final four games of the season, Command head coach Danton Barto said “Samie brings great leadership skills to the team. He is a very talented player that will only make our offense better.”
Parker (5’11, 180, University of Oregon) was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the fourth round (105th overall) of the 2004 NFL Draft and played for the Chiefs from 2004 to 2007. He appeared in 47 games catching 110 passes for 1,529 receiving yards and hauling in 7 touchdowns. Parker also had brief NFL stints with the Broncos, Panthers, Seahawks, and Raiders.
Parker played for the AFL’s Chicago Rush in 2010 tallying 78 receptions for 1,137 yards and 15 touchdowns. In 2008 and 2009, Parker played with the UFL’s Las Vegas Locomotives, playing in 14 games totaling 36 receptions for 457 yards and 4 receiving touchdowns.
His four-year career at the University of Oregon landed Parker at the top of the all-time lists for Pass Receptions and Receiving Yards with 178 receptions for 2,761 yards and 19 touchdowns. Parker also ran the ball 9 times for 60 yards. He was voted MVP for the 2003 Sun Bowl appearance against Minnesota; breaking bowl records for catches (16), yards (200) and touchdown catches (2). In the 2002 Fiesta Bowl vs. Colorado, Parker caught a season-long 79-yard TD pass, heralded as the longest scoring play in Oregon bowl history and tied for the longest pass in Fiesta Bowl history to date.
Heading into the final four games of the season, Command head coach Danton Barto said “Samie brings great leadership skills to the team. He is a very talented player that will only make our offense better.”
Parker (5’11, 180, University of Oregon) was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the fourth round (105th overall) of the 2004 NFL Draft and played for the Chiefs from 2004 to 2007. He appeared in 47 games catching 110 passes for 1,529 receiving yards and hauling in 7 touchdowns. Parker also had brief NFL stints with the Broncos, Panthers, Seahawks, and Raiders.
Parker played for the AFL’s Chicago Rush in 2010 tallying 78 receptions for 1,137 yards and 15 touchdowns. In 2008 and 2009, Parker played with the UFL’s Las Vegas Locomotives, playing in 14 games totaling 36 receptions for 457 yards and 4 receiving touchdowns.
His four-year career at the University of Oregon landed Parker at the top of the all-time lists for Pass Receptions and Receiving Yards with 178 receptions for 2,761 yards and 19 touchdowns. Parker also ran the ball 9 times for 60 yards. He was voted MVP for the 2003 Sun Bowl appearance against Minnesota; breaking bowl records for catches (16), yards (200) and touchdown catches (2). In the 2002 Fiesta Bowl vs. Colorado, Parker caught a season-long 79-yard TD pass, heralded as the longest scoring play in Oregon bowl history and tied for the longest pass in Fiesta Bowl history to date.
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Erie Explosion Player Advances to AFL's KC Command
The
Erie Explosion announced that defensive end Mike Robinson has signed a
contract to play for the Kansas City Command of the Arena Football
League. Robinson (6'4, 270) a product of Nassau College finished the
2012 campaign for Erie as the UIFL sack leader with 20 total sacks. A
dominating force on the defensive line Robinson totaled 45 tackles, 16.5
tackles for a loss, 20 sacks, and 4 forced fumbles. For his efforts
Robinson was named First Team All-UIFL for the 2012 season.
"Mike Robinson has all the tools to succeed in the Arena Football League. He had a dominating season for us on the defensive line and I look forward to seeing him have the opportunity to showcase his skills for the Command. We are pleased that our franchise is able to serve as a vehicle for these athletes to advance their careers to the next level," commented Erie Head Coach Shawn Liotta.
"Mike Robinson has all the tools to succeed in the Arena Football League. He had a dominating season for us on the defensive line and I look forward to seeing him have the opportunity to showcase his skills for the Command. We are pleased that our franchise is able to serve as a vehicle for these athletes to advance their careers to the next level," commented Erie Head Coach Shawn Liotta.
Saturday, June 23, 2012
Turnovers Doom Command, Lose to Chicago 59-41
Zack
Eskridge threw three touchdowns and rushed for another two in his
second start for the Kansas City Command, but his two interceptions
combined with Chicago’s near-perfect scoring night proved too much to
overcome and the Command lost to the Rush 59-41 in front of 3,452 fans
Saturday night at Sprint Center.
“Frustrating to watch the game,” said Command Coach Danton Barto. “Our defense has been dominating all year, and today they got dominated. Their offense dominated our defense which unfortunately for us, put us in the position where Zack had to do a lot more of trying to win the game than just control the game, and you saw that he was a rookie quarterback.”
Chicago scored first when Rush quarterback Russ Michna connected with Jared Perry for a 17-yard touchdown. A second quarter interception by KC gave Chicago an extra possession and the Rush capitalized scoring on all four offensive possessions in the first half. Along with Rush WR Reggie Gray’s kickoff return, Chicago kept a two-score lead and headed into halftime with a 35-21 lead. Michna proved once again why he is the league’s most accurate passer, completing 32 of 43 passes, six touchdowns, earning the National Guard MVP of the Game.
Command QB Zack Eskridge ignited his second start for the KC by torching Chicago’s defense on the first play from scrimmage, connecting with Bret Smith for a 47-yard touchdown. Eskridge scored a rushing touchdown for his second consecutive game and finished his night with 190 passing yards and throwing three touchdowns, and rushing touchdown his second consecutive game.
Week15 Ironman of the Week, Jackie Chambers had a 57-yard kickoff return for the second week in a row and took home the Spalding Highlight of the Game for his second quarter return. Chambers spinning break-away tackle kept the Command with one score, 28-21 with 4:45 left in the second quarter.
Chicago had lost the previous five road games but were near-flawless on offense as Rush wide receiver Reggie Gray caught four touchdowns, extending his multiple-touchdown games to eight.
“It’s disappointing,” said Barto,“but we can’t bow our heads, we’ve got to get ready to face Aaron Garcia next week at their place and I know we will fix the things we need to fix.”
UP NEXT
The Command will hit the road to take on the Central Division leading San Antonio Talons, Saturday June 30th before coming back for the last two home games of the season. On July 7, the Command will take on their rival, the Iowa Barnstormers.
“Frustrating to watch the game,” said Command Coach Danton Barto. “Our defense has been dominating all year, and today they got dominated. Their offense dominated our defense which unfortunately for us, put us in the position where Zack had to do a lot more of trying to win the game than just control the game, and you saw that he was a rookie quarterback.”
Chicago scored first when Rush quarterback Russ Michna connected with Jared Perry for a 17-yard touchdown. A second quarter interception by KC gave Chicago an extra possession and the Rush capitalized scoring on all four offensive possessions in the first half. Along with Rush WR Reggie Gray’s kickoff return, Chicago kept a two-score lead and headed into halftime with a 35-21 lead. Michna proved once again why he is the league’s most accurate passer, completing 32 of 43 passes, six touchdowns, earning the National Guard MVP of the Game.
Command QB Zack Eskridge ignited his second start for the KC by torching Chicago’s defense on the first play from scrimmage, connecting with Bret Smith for a 47-yard touchdown. Eskridge scored a rushing touchdown for his second consecutive game and finished his night with 190 passing yards and throwing three touchdowns, and rushing touchdown his second consecutive game.
Week15 Ironman of the Week, Jackie Chambers had a 57-yard kickoff return for the second week in a row and took home the Spalding Highlight of the Game for his second quarter return. Chambers spinning break-away tackle kept the Command with one score, 28-21 with 4:45 left in the second quarter.
Chicago had lost the previous five road games but were near-flawless on offense as Rush wide receiver Reggie Gray caught four touchdowns, extending his multiple-touchdown games to eight.
“It’s disappointing,” said Barto,“but we can’t bow our heads, we’ve got to get ready to face Aaron Garcia next week at their place and I know we will fix the things we need to fix.”
UP NEXT
The Command will hit the road to take on the Central Division leading San Antonio Talons, Saturday June 30th before coming back for the last two home games of the season. On July 7, the Command will take on their rival, the Iowa Barnstormers.
Friday, June 22, 2012
OJ SIMPSON NAMED WEEK 16 NATIONAL GUARD COMMUNITY MVP
Simpson (5-9, 195, Missouri Western) is in his first season in both the AFL and with the Command.
When he is not at practice, games or working his second job as an alcohol and drug counselor, Simpson offers guidance to troubled youth as a mentor.
“I work with them on life skills, treatment plans and goals for the future,” Simpson said. “I have the chance to help out kids and that’s the best feeling in the world.”
In May, the Command donated 100 car seats to a local hospital as part of “New Mommy Rewards”, which provided mothers of the first 100 children in May at the Shawnee Mission Medical Center with a new car seat. Simpson was one of the players who personally delivered some of the car seats.
As a Kansas City native, Simpson enjoys using his role as a professional athlete to impact his hometown community.
“I can build a rapport with these kids because I know what it’s like to grow up in this area,” Simpson said.
On June 16, Simpson joined his teammates in helping to coach the high school players participating in the Greater Kansas City Football Coaches Association Missouri vs. Kansas High School All Star football game. Simpson is also working with Command receivers’ coach, Tod Devoe, to coordinate a free football camp for youth in the Kansas City Community.
“I am not one of those players that just plays football and collects a paycheck,” Simpson said. “I like being involved and helping out in the community.”
The Kansas City Command (3-10) will host division opponent Chicago Rush (8-5) Saturday at 8:00 pm ET.
The National Guard Community MVP is awarded to one player each week in recognition of their commitment to community service. Following the 2012 season, players will be voted on by fans to become the National Guard Community MVP of the Year.
Thursday, June 21, 2012
Eddie Kennison Festival of Food & Fun
Join
Command players this Monday, June 25th from 5:30-8pm at Lakeside
Village-Eastside for the 2nd annual Eddie Kennison Festival of Food & Fun! Enjoy an evening of delicious food from area restaurants,
live music and a silent/live auction. 100% of proceeds benefit The
Alliance for Lupus Research. Tickets are $25 in advance. Order your
tickets today!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)