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“THE ONLY YARDSTICK FOR SUCCESS IS BEING A CHAMPION. NO ONE REMEMBERS ANYTHING ELSE”- JOHN MADDEN
APRIL 18, 2013
NASHVILLE STORM MOVE TO JOHN OVERTON HIGH SCHOOL’S NICK COUTRAS STADIUM FOR 2013 SEASON
WORK ON FACILITY IMPROVEMENTS AT STRATFORD END NASHVILLE STORM’S HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL SIX-YEAR RUN AT EAST NASHVILLE/INGLEWOOD’S STRATFORD HIGH SCHOOL
NICK COUTRAS STADIUM AT JOHN OVERTON HIGH SCHOOL AT 4820 FRANKLIN ROAD, NASHVILLE, TN 37220 IS THE NEW HOME OF THE NASHVILLE STORM
CHANGE HAS COME RAPIDLY FOR EAST NASHVILLE’S STRATFORD HIGH SCHOOL, WHERE THE NASHVILLE STORM HAVE PLAYED FOOTBALL SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE 2007 SEASON WITH GREAT SUCCESS (IN SIX YEARS OF PLAY AT STRATFORD, THE STORM HAVE COMPILED A 76-9 W-L RECORD, APPEARING IN 4 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES, WINNING NATIONAL TITLES IN 2010 AND 2011).
AT THE BEGINNING OF THE 2012 SCHOOL YEAR, STRATFORD CONVERTED TO A SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY MAGNET SCHOOL, AND THE PASSAGE OF THE 2013 MERO BUDGET INCLUDED 20 MILLION DOLLARS FOR WHAT AMOUNTED TO A TOP-TO-BOTTOM FACELIFT OF THE 50+ YEAR OLD HIGH SCHOOL. THIS FACELIFT INCLUDED A RESTORATION OF STRATFORD’S BASEBALL FIELD, WHICH IN RECENT YEARS HAD BEEN USED MOSTLY AS A PRACTICE FIELD FOR THE 2 FOOTBALL TEAMS PLAYING AT STRATFORD------ THE STRATFORD HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL TEAM AND THE NASHVILLE STORM. THE BASEBALL STADIUM HAS NOW BEEN RENOVATED WITH AN EYE TO MAKING STRATFORD ONCE AGAIN A CHAMPIONSHIP CONTENDER IN BASEBALL------ A GOAL THE NASHVILLE STORM SUPPORTS.
STRATFORD HAS BEEN A SUPERB HOST SCHOOL FOR THE NASHVILLE STORM FOR 6 YEARS. EVERY STRATFORD ACADEMIC AND ATHLETIC OFFICIAL HAS BEEN AN ASSET TO OUR PROGRAM DESERVING OF AN A+ GRADE DURING THE NASHVILLE STORM’S ENTIRE TIME THERE. THERE HAVE BEEN TWO FACTS IN PLACE HERE AS THE 2013 SEASON APPROACHES-------- STRATFORD IS HEADED TO A BRIGHT FUTURE AND DESERVEDLY IS CONCENTRATING ON MAKING THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT ASSURE THAT FUTURE. AND THE NASHVILLE STORM’S RECORD BOTH ON THE FIELD AND IN THE COMMUNITY HAVE ASSURED THAT THE STORM HAD GOOD ALTERNATIVES IN TERMS OF HAVING A PLACE TO CONTINUE THE STORM’S FUTURE. THE NASHVILLE STORM HAVE FOUND A SUPERB PLACE TO CONTINUE THAT FUTURE AT JOHN OVERTON HIGH SCHOOL, WHERE THE STORM WILL PLAY FOOTBALL AT THE OVERTON STADIUM NAMED AFTER LEGENDARY STATE-TITLE-WINNING COACH NICK COUTRAS. ALL OF THE STRATFORD PERSONNEL WE WORKED WITH OVER THE YEARS WERE A+ PERSONNEL------ BUT SO IS OVERTON HEAD COACH TERRY ANDERSON , PRINCIPAL DR SHULER PELHAM AND ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT HEADS STEVE SHEAFFER AND TERRY STRICKLAND.
WE ARE FUNCTIONALLY MOVING FROM ONE END OF NASHVILLE TO THE OTHER, BUT WE ARE OF THE OPINION THAT THIS CHANGE WON’T HURT OUR ABILITY TO DRAW THE FAN BASE NEEDED TO SUPPORT THE PROGRAM------- OVERTON IS ONE OF THE 2 OR 3 EASIEST HIGH SCHOOLS TO FIND IN NASHVILLE (SITTING ON FRANKLIN ROAD, ONE OF NASHVILLE’S “MAIN DRAGS”) IN A NEIGHBORHOOD UNIVERSALLY REGARDED AS SUPRRB. THE NASHVILLE STORM HAVE WORKED WITH SUPERB PEOPLE TO SHAPE OUR PAST AND HAVE HAD THE GOOD FORTUNE TO FIND MORE SUPERB PEOPLE AS WE SHAPE OUR FUTURE.
THE NASHVILLE STORM LOOK FORWARD TO OUR FIRST HOME GAME AT OVERTON ON JUNE 15 AND ALL THE GAMES THAT FOLLOW IT. WE THANK EVERYONE ASSOCIATED WITH STRATFORD HIGH SCHOOL FOR 6 SUPERB YEARS OF FOOTBALL COMPETITION.
FORMER STRATFORD RB TURNED NASHVILLE STORM ROOKIE WR SIGNED BY PROFESSIONAL ARENA FOOTBALL TEAM
YOU-TUBE VIDEO SHOWS NASHVILLE STORM WR STEVEN HENDRICKS (STRATFORD) TAKING A SHORT PASS 56 YARDS “TO THE HOUSE” AGAINST THE MEMPHIS PANTHERS
THIS NASHVILLE STORM TV COMMERCIAL BEGINS WITH ANOTHER BIG PLAY FROM STEVEN HENDRICKS (STRATFORD)
AT STRARFORD HIGH SCHOOL, STEVEN HENDRICKS, A TINY (5’6”) BUT SPEEDY AND ELUSIVE PLAYER WITH A SEVEN-FOOT HEART, WAS THE RUNNING BACK FOR THE 2008 STRATFORD TEAM THAT FEATURED THE TALENTS OF WIDE RECEIVERS LIKE D’ANGELO BOHANNON AND STEVE SHELTON (WHO WERE AMONG THE STATE OF TENNESSEE’S LEADING RECEIVERS).SHELTON JOINED THE NASHVILLE STORM IN 2012 PLAYING A BRAND NEW POSITION------ WIDE RECEIVER----- AND TURNED OUT TO BE A HIGH-VALUE PLAYER, FINISHING 3RD AMONG THE STORM’S RECEIVERS BEHIND LONGTIME STORM STARS JEREMIE “BIRD” WHITTAKER AND MARIO MERRIWETHER.
THEN ON FEBRUARY1, 2013, HENDRICKS MADE A PLAY AGAINST THE PROFESSIONAL ARENA OWENSBORO RAGE THAT SENT SHOCKWAVES THROUGH THE WORLD OF ARENA FOOTBALL------ WITH 20 SECONDS TO PLAY, HENDRICKS OUTRAN THE OWENSBORO RAGE SECONDARY INTO THE END ZONE TO CATCH A 32 YARD TD PASS FROM STORM QB PHELLEPE HALL WITH THE STORM TRAILING IN THE GAME 34-29. UNFORTUNATELY FOR THE STORM AND FORTUNATELY FOR THE “PROS”, HENDRICKS’ TD CATCH WAS CALLED BACK BY A PENALTY.
YOU WON’T SEE THAT CATCH ON EITHER OF THESE VIDEOS, BUT THE RAGE STAFF SURE SAW IT-------- AND SIGNED HENDRICKS TO PLAY PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL FOR THE RAGE AS PART OF A SIGNING SPREE THAT PUT 4 NASHVILLE STORM PLAYERS ON THE RAGE ROSTER.
THE NASHVILLE STORM CONGRATUALTE STEVEN HENDRICKS FOR A WELL-DESERVED PROMOTION TO THE PRO RANKS, AND WISH HIM THE BEST ON THE REMAINDER OF HIS 3013 ARENA SEASON.
A BIG STORM NAME FROM LONG AGO IS NOW ALSO A PRO- FORMER NASHVILLE STORM K BLAKE COBLE (CENTENNIAL HS) SIGNED BY CHEYENNE WARRIORS OF THE IFL
2006- NASHVILLE STORM K BLAKE COBLE’S OT FIELD GOAL WINS FIRST-EVER NASHVILLE STORM VICTORY OVER THE ARKANSAS RHINOS IN LITTLE ROCK
BEFORE JOHN GORECKI, BEFORE GARRETT MORGAN (WHO WAS ACTUALLY THE KICKER FOR THE NASHVILLE STORM’S OPPONENT IN THE GAME IN THIS VIDEO), BEFORE DAVID CAMPBELL, THERE WAS BLAKE COBLE----- A FIXTURE AT KICKER FOR THE NASHVILLE STORM IN THE STORM’S EARLY YEARS. A WILLIAMSON COUNTY NATIVE WHO KICKED AT CENTENNIAL HS, COBLE MADE THE STORM DANGEROUS ON 4TH DOWN IN THE TERRITORY OF THE OPPONENT. THE KICK ON THIS VIDEO GAVE THE NASHVILLE STORM AN UPSET VICTORY IN LITTLE ROCK AGAINST AN ARKANSAS RHINO TEAM THEN THOUGHT TO BE THE SOUTH’S BEST TEAM----- AND PROPELLED THE NASHVILLE STORM TOWARD THE STORM’S FIRST-EVER NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME APPEARANCE IN 2006.
COBLE’S LAST YEAR IN A STORM UNIFORM WAS 2007, AND SINCE THEN, HE’S LITERALLY LIVED ALL OVER AMERICA, INCLUDING WYOMING AND NEW ENGLAND.
BUT BLAKE IS NOW A PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL PLAYER TOO, RECENTLY SIGNED AS A KICKER BY THE CHEYANNE WARRIORS OF THE INDOOR FOOTBALL LEAGUE. CONGRATULATIONS TO BLAKE COBLE AND THE NASHVILLE STORM’S BEST WISHES FOR A GREAT 2013 SEASON.
FEBRUARY 26, 2013
FIRST 2013 NASHVILLE STORM OPEN TRYOUT SET FOR SATURDAY, MARCH 2, AT MBA’S TOMMY OWEN STADIUM
JEREMY WARE RAN THIS 40 YARD DASH IN 4.3 SECONDS IN THE LAST STORM TRYOUT HELD AT MBA- WARE WENT ON TO STAR AS A SAFETY ON THE 2010 NASHVILLE STORM- AND THE 2010 NASHVILLE STORM WON THE STORM’S FIRST-EVER NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
THE 2010 NASHVILLE STORM OPENED THEIR PREPARATION WITH THE UNUSUAL MOVE OF HAVING THEIR FIRST OPEN TRYOUT AT NASHVILLE’S MONTGOMERY BELL ACADEMY. THE SEASON ENDED WITH A 15-0 RECORD FOR THE STORM IN WHICH THE STORM WON EVERY PLAYOFF GAME BY A MINIMUM OF 21 POINTS----- AND THE FIRST NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP IN THE STORM’S STORIED HISTORY
SO THE STORM ARE REPEATING THE FORMULA FOR 2013 IN HOPE OF THE SAME RESULT. THIS SATURDAY, MARCH 2, THE NASHVILLE STORM WILL CONDUCT THEIR FIRST 2013 OPEN TRYOUT AT THE FIELD TURF SURFACE OF MBA’S TOMMY OWEN STADIUM (4001 HARDING ROAD, NASHVILLE, TN 37205).
THE TRYOUT FEE (PAYABLE AT THE REGISTRATION TABLE AND MANDATORY TO BE ABLE TO TRY OUT) WILL BE $45.00. ALL PARTICIPANTS IN THE TRYOUT WILL RECEIVE A NASHVILLE STORM T-SHIRT AND 5 FREE ADULT ADMISSION TICKETS TO 2013 NASHVILLE STORM HOME GAMES, PLUS BEING MAILED A 2013 NASHVILLE STORM PLAYER ID CARD WITHIN 10 DAYS AFTER THE TRYOUT (WHICH ENTITLES THE BEARER TO DISCOUNTS AT WORKOUT FACILITIES USED BY NASHVILLE STORM PLAYERS AND OTHER BENEFITS).
ALL PLAYER-APPLICANTS WILL BE TIMED IN THE 40-YARD DASH, SHORT SHUTTLE, L-DRILL, AND POSITION-SPECIFIC WORKOUTS TO EVALUATE THEIR ABILITIES AT THE POSITIONS THEY ARE TRYING OUT FOR.
THE TRYOUT WILL BE CONDUCTED FROM 2 PM TO 4 PM IN THE AFTERNOON OF SATURDAY, MARCH 2. ANYONE WITH QUESTIONS CAN HAVE THEIR QUESTIONS ANSWERED BY E-MAILING NASHVILLE STORM HEAD COACH CHARLES HUNTER AT c.hunter57@gmail.com .
THE NASHVILLE STORM NEVER “CUT” PLAYERS AT OPEN TRYOUTS. ALL PLAYER-APPLICANTS GET TO SHOW THEIR ABILITIES IN PADS BEFORE FINAL STORM ROSTER DECISIONS ARE MADE.
THE NASHVILLE STORM LOOK FORWARD TO ALL OF THE NEW PLAYERS WHO COME TO MBA THIS SATURDAY WITH THE GOAL OF REPRESENTING THEIR CITY ON THE GRIDIRON.
FEBRUARY 1, 2013- THE NIGHT THAT A TEAM OF “JOES” NEARLY DELIVERED THE SHOCKER OF THE CENTURY TO A TEAM OF “PROS”
ONE REFEREE’S YELLOW FLAG PREVENTS A HISTORIC UPSET BY THE NASHVILLE STORM OVER A PROFESSIONAL ARENA FOOTBALL TEAM- FINAL: PRO ARENA OWENSBORO RAGE 34- NASHVILLE STORM 29
THE OWENSBORO RAGE HAD A 3-YEAR NFL QB IN FORMER LOUISVILLE CARDINAL QB HUNTER CANTWELL- BUT THE STORM DEFENSIVE FRONT PRESSURED CANTWELL ALL NIGHT AND INTERCEPTED 2 CANTWELL PASSES (PLUS PICKING OFF 2 MORE CANTWELL PASS ATTEMPTS ON 2-POINT CONVERSION TRIES)
STORM DE CHRIS NEWELL (AUSTIN PEAY) SCORED THE GAMES FIRST TD WITH A FUMBLE RECOVERY IN THE END ZONE AND SACKED CANTWELL AGAIN LATER IN THE NIGHT
STORM S MARCUS HILL, WHO SET A TEAM RECORD FOR INTERCEPTING PASSES IN 2012, ADDED AN OTHER “PICK” AGAINST THE OWENSBORO RAGE.
THE NASHVILLE STORM, WITH A LIFETIME RECORD OF 136-21 IN ASULT AMATEUR FOOTBALL THAT INCLUDES 2 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS, DON’T HAVE A LOT OF EXPERIENCE AS A “PROHIBITIVE UNDERDOG”. BUT THE GAME THE STORM AGREED TO PLAY ON FEBRUARY 1 ,2013 WAS A GAME WHERE THE STORM WERE PLAYING AGAINST EVERY CONCEIVABLE DISADVANTAGE YOU COULD THINK OF.
THERE USED TO BE A PROFESSIONAL ARENA FOOTBALL TEAM IN NASHVILLE CALLED THE NASHVILLE KATS (IN FACT, THERE WERE TWO VERSIONS OF THE ARENA FOOTBALL LEAGUE KATS, AND BOTH FORMER NASHVILLE STORM ASSISTANT COACH CORY FLEMING AND LONGTIME STAR STORM LB NATHANIEL CLAYBROOKS HAD PLAYED FOR VERSION #1, WHICH PLAYED IN NASHVILLE IN THE LATE 1990S------ VERSION #2 OF THE KATS WAS OWNED BY TENNESSEE TITAN OWNER BUD ADAMS, AND CLOSED THEIR DOORS AFTER THE 2007 SEASON). AND THAT WAS THE END OF PRO ARENA FOOTBALL IN NASHVILLE.
UNTIL THE NIGHT OF FEBRUARY 1 2013. THE STORIED AMATEUR FOOTBALL TEAM FROM NASHVILLE WAS GOING TO TRY THEIR HAND AT ARENA FOOTBALL.
THE DISADVANTAGES THE STORM FACED FOR THIS CONTEST WERE MANY----------- FOR ONE THING, THE OPPONENT, THE OWENSBORO RAGE, ARE GUYS THAT ARE PAID TO PLAY FOOTBALL-------- THE STORM ARE NOT. SECONDLY, THE STORM HAD NEVER PLAYED INDOOR/ARENA FOOTBALL BEFORE. AND THE STORM DIDN’T EXACTLY PICK A “BOTTOM-FEEDER” TEAM FOR AN OPPONENT. IN 2012, THE RAGE WERE 7-3, THE 3RD BEST RECORD IN THE CONTINENTAL INDOOR FOOTBALL LEAGUE. THEY HAD PLAYED ONE GAME BEFORE TAKING ON THE STORM------------ AND WON IT 60-0. AND TO ADD TO THE PROBLEMS, 3 STORM STARTERS HAD BEEN SIGNED BY OTHER ARENA TEAMS PRIOR TO THIS GAME----- AND NONE OF THEIR NEW TEAMS WOULD ALOW THESE PLAYERS TO TAKE THE FIELD AGAINST THE RAGE.
STORM HEAD COACH CHARLES HUNTER PUT TOGETHER A “BOOT CAMP” AT FRANKLIN’S D1 SPORTS TRAINING FACILITY TO TEACH THE STORM ARENA FOOTBALL------- 15 GRUELING HOURS OF PRACTICE ALL DEDICATED TO LEARNING THE ARENA SPORT AND PREPARING FOR ONE OF THE TOUGHEST OPPONENTS IN THAT SPORT. THE STORM PLAYERS WOULD TURN OUT TO BE BETTER LEARNERS THAN ANYONE HAD A RIGHT TO EXPECT.
THE STORM’S ELITE PASS-RUSHERS HAD AN IMMEDIATE IMPACT, KNOCKING LOOSE A FUMBLE ON THE RAGE’S 2ND OFFENSIVE PLAY WHICH STORM DE CHRIS NEWELL (AUSTIN PEAY) RECOVERED FOR A TOUCHDOWN GIVING THE STORM A 6-0 LEAD LESS THAN ONE MINUTE INTO THE GAME. THE RAGE DROVE TO THE STORM 7-YARD LINE ON THEIR NEXT POSSESSION, BUT THE STORM CAUSED HUNTER CANTWELL TO THROW 3 STRAIGHT INCOMPLETE PASSES, GIVING THE STORM THE BALL FOR THE FIRST TIME. THE STORM, THOUGH, COULDN’T GET OUT OF THE SHADOW OF TEIR END ZONE (PHELLEPE HALL COMPLETED A 26-YARD PASS TO MARIO MERRIWETHER, BUT IT WAS CALLED BACK ON A PENALTY), AND WHEN THE RAGE GOT THE BALL BACK, CANTWELL HIT DEMARCUS GANNAWAY WITH A 4YARD TD PASS, TYING THE GAME AT 6-6.
IN THE MID-2ND QTR, CANTWELL HIT GANNAWAY AGAIN, THIS TIME FOR A 37-YARD TD PASS, GIVING THE RAGE A 12-6 LEAD, AND THEN THE RAGE RAISED THEIR LEAD TO 18-6 ON A 3-YARD RUN WITH 50 SECONDS LEFT IN THE HALF.
ON THE ENSUING KICKOFF, THOUGH, THE STORM’S MARIO MERRIWETHER RETURNED THE KICKOFF 45 YARDS TO THE RAGE 6-YARD LINE-------- AND ON THE NEXT PLAY, THE STORM HANDED THE BALL OFF TO USUAL LINEBACKER (BUT TONIGHT RB) QUENTIN HODGE, WHO BULLED HIS WAY THROUGH THE RAGE DEFENSE FOR A 6 YARD TD RUN. GARRETT MORGAN THEN KICKED AN EXTRA POINT, LOWERING THE RAGE LEAD TO 18-13.
AS THE SECOND HALF BEGAN, THE RAGE BLOCKED A STORM FGA THAT WAS THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF THE FIELD, RAISING THE RAGE LEAD TO 20-13 WITH THE SAFETY------ BUT THE STORM GOT THE 2 POINTS RIGHT BACK WHEN DTS STANLEE BRADLEY AND BJ TAYLOR SACKED CANTWELL IN THE END ZONE TO BRING THE RAGE LEAD TO 20-15.
THEN PHELLEPE HALL DROVE TO THE RAGE 1 WITH A 24-YARD STRIKE TO STEVE HENDRICKS TO THERAGE 1-YARD LINE------ THEN ON THE NEXT PLAT, HALL RAN THE BALL IN FROM THE 1 TO PUT THE STORM AHEAD 21-20.
THE RAGE REGAINED THE LEAD ON A 3RD CANTWELL-TO-GANNAWAY TD PASS, GIVING THE RAGE A 26-21 LEAD.
HALL, THOUGH, HIT WATFORD WITH A 20 YARD STRIKE TO THE RAGE 9-------- AND QUENTIN HDGE GOT HIS 2ND TD OF THE GAME ON A 9-YARD RUN, FOLLOWED BY A 2-PT CONVERSION RUN BY HALL. STORM 29-RAGE 26.
GANNAWAY WOULD STRIKE AGAIN FOR THE RAGE, THIS TIME ON A KICKOFF RETURN, TO MAKE THE SCORE 34-29. HALL’S NEXT DRIVE FOR THE STORM WAS STOPPED BY THE RAGE, GICING THE RAGE A CHANCE TO RUN OUT THE CLOCK----- BUT ON 4TH DOWN, THE STORM’S DANARIUS FOWLER INTERCEPTED CANTWELL’S PASS TO GIVE THE STORM THE BALL BACK WITH UNDER 30 SECONDS TO PLAY
PHELLEPE HALL LAUNCHED A DEEP 32 YARD PASS TO SEVE HENDRICKS IN THE CORNER OF THE RAGE END ZONE FOR AN APPARENT TD AND STORM UPSET VICTORY-------- SECONDS WENT BY TAKING FOREVER-------- AND IN THE FAR COENER OF THE ARENA, A LIRRLE YELLOW FLAG DROPPED------- OFFSIDES PENALTY.
HALL HAD TIME FOR 3 MORE PLAYS---- A 7 YARD COMPLETION TO BIRD WHITTAKER AND AN 8 YARD RUN. THEN THE RAGE PASS RUSHERS SACKED HALL ON THE LAST PLAY OF THE GAME, LEAVING THE TOWN OF OWENSBORO RELIEVED THAT THEIR CHAMPIONSHIP CONTENDING PRO FOOTBALL TEAM HAD NOT BEEN BEATEN BY A TEAM OF AMATEURS.
JEREMIE “BIRD” WHITTAKER LED THE STORM RECEIVERS WITH 3 CATCHES FOR 45 YARDS------ FOR THE RAGE, DEMARCUS GANNAWAY ( A FORMER NEW YORK JET), SCORED 4 OF THEIR 5 TDS