Pittsburgh Power Shocks Spokane

I am the sideline reporter for the new Arena Football Team, the Pittsburgh Power on 93.7 The Fan.  Many people are very skeptical of arena ball, but once you see a game and feel the excitement of how fast paced and high scoring the game is, you'll be hooked.  The Power are boasting the highest attendance levels in the league in its inaugural season!  So obviously, something is going on in the CONSOL Energy Center in downtown Pittsburgh and it doesn't have to do with Sidney Crosby's concussion.

The Power has had a rough road so far, and fans, coaches and players were a bit worried about how this season would end.  Fortunately for the Power, they are led by a confident, knowledgeable and passionate head coach, Chris Siegfried.  Even when the team's record going into Saturday night's game against the defending Arena Bowl Champions, Spokane Shock, Siegfried was more than confident in his team.  The Power has had many set backs through the first 7 games, plagued by injuries and off the field controversies (which are really just some reporters making a big deal of nothing) that have sidelined some very good and key players.

Coach joked at his pregame press conference on Thursday that he has a winning team on IR right now!  The Power was on their 3rd quarterback until this game against Spokane when Siegfried surprised everyone (myself included) when he started the orginial starting QB of the season, Bernard Morris.  Coach had told me before the game that even though he has been relying on backup QB, PSU alumn Anthony Morelli, as his current passer, he knew it would be Morris who would be the man to take them where they needed to go.  Although Morelli deserves a lot of praise for picking up where Morris and then original backup, Cal U grad Kevin McCabe, left off, it was apparant that Morris is THE man for the job.

Before the start of the game, it was unclear to whether or not Morris was at 100% with his throwing arm (which was the reason he was placed on IR) but he said it wasn't his arm that he was unsure of, it was his stamina in the game.  I interviewed him from the bench after his 1st TD pass and he said he felt great, he just had a hard time talking because he was so winded. Well, if anyone saw the game, they'd never know he was unsure about anything.  Morris came back with a passion and let the Shock know who was taking snaps that night and threw bombs all down the field to wide receivers who were more than happy to be making big plays again.  Although he misfired a few times, he got the job done. 

The Power improved their record to 4-4 after a 51-41 victory Saturday night and they are taking on the San Jose Sabercats this Saturday night at home in the CONSOL Energy Center at 7:30 pm.  The Power is coming back with a vengeance and I'm sure this will be a game Pittsburgh will not want to miss!