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Brigade Update: Week 15 at Columbus

June 7, 2007 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Kansas City Brigade News Release


KANSAS CITY - Here's a summary of Brigade news as the team prepares for a very meaningful non-conference game at the Destroyers. Also attached are both teams' game notes and the Arena Football League weekly releases.

Game Preview

Kansas City (8-5) at Columbus (6-7)

Friday, June 8, 6 p.m. CT at Nationwide Arena

TV: Metro Sports will air the Columbus Sports Net broadcast live on Time Warner Cable Community channel 5, Sunflower Cable in Lawrence, and Comcast Cable in Olathe and eastern Jackson County. Metro Sports will replay the game Saturday at 1 p.m. on Time Warner Cable channel 30 and on Sunflower Cable and Comcast Cable.

Radio: This week Chris Gervino (play-by-play) and Nick McCabe (analyst) will broadcast the game live with a half-hour pre-show hosted by McCabe and Dave Borchardt at 5:30 p.m. CT

What's At Stake?

The Brigade, winners of four of its last five, now controls its own destiny for the playoffs. The team still has an opportunity to win the Central Division if it wins the next two games, setting up a showdown with the defending ArenaBowl champion Chicago Rush. The Brigade currently holds the tiebreaker over Chicago thanks to a 53-41 victory in the season opener. That situation aside, the Brigade will clinch a playoff spot with the following scenarios:

1) Win over Columbus Destroyers

2) Nashville Kats loss

3) Los Angeles Avengers loss

4) Utah Blaze loss

Roster Moves

Due to injuries sustained in the Grand Rapids game, WR Boo Williams, DL Neil Purvis and OL Chris Cook were placed on Injured Reserve. The Brigade activated OL Ed Ta'amu and WR Ira Gooch from Injured Reserve. The team also signed free agent DL Hugh Hunter, a 10-year veteran who started 2007 with the Nashville Kats.

No. 92 Hugh Hunter DL

Ht: 6-2 Wt: 265 Exp: 10

College: Hampton (Va.) Acquired: Free agent (6/6/07)

DOB: 6/19/72 Hometown: Pine Bluff, Ark.

2007 (Nashville, Kansas City): Played in five games for the Kats, recording 3.5 tackles and 1 sack...Released on May 14...Signed free agent contract with the Brigade on June 6.

2006 (Colorado): Played in 15 games for Crush, earning selection to All-Ironman team...Totaled career-high 28 tackles with 4 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 2 blocked kicks and 2 safeties.

2005 (Colorado): Appeared in 12 games for the Crush and finished with 17 tackles, 0.5 sacks, 1 pass breakup and 2 forced fumbles...Recorded 1 reception for 1 yard and 1 touchdown on offense, the second of his career.

2004 (Colorado): Played in all 16 games for the Crush, totaling 27.5 tackles, 1.5 sacks and 1 forced fumble...Caught 2 passes for 35 yards...Named ADT Defensive Player of the Game at Detroit (5/23) for 3 tackles, including 1 sacks for -8 yards, and 3 QB hurries.

2003 (Indiana): Appeared in all 16 games for the Firebirds, recording 27.5 tackles, 5.5 sacks, 3 pass breakups, 2 forced fumbles and 1 fumble recovery.

2002 (Indiana): Signed with Firebirds as free agent on Jan. 15...Played in 14 games, totaling 20 tackles and 2 sacks.

2001 (Milwaukee): Appeared in 13 games for the Mustangs, recording 12.5 tackles, 3 sacks, 1 pass breakup and 1 fumble recovery...Caught five passes for 44 yards...Scored first career touchdown vs. Detroit (7/6).

2000 (Milwaukee): Finishes second in the league with 9 sacks for Mustangs...Totaled 17 tackles, 2 for loss, and 2 fumble recoveries...Caught four passes for 23 yards.

1999 (Nashville): Played in 11 games for Kats, recording 18.5 tackles, 3 for loss, 2 sacks and 1 fumble recovery which he returned for a touchdown.

1998 (Nashville): Appeared in just 4 games for the Kats after being activated from exempt list at end of NFL Europe season...Totaled 5.5 tackles, 1 sack, 1 pass breakup and 1 forced fumble.

Other professional experience: Selected with the first pick in the sixth round (168th overall) by the New York Jets in the 1996 NFL Draft...Was in training camp with the Baltimore Ravens in 1997 before being allocated to Barcelona Dragons on NFL Europe in 1997-98.

College: Four-year letterman at Hampton (1992-95)...Totaled 192 tackles, 57 for loss, 3 fumble recoveries and 44 sacks, a school record, in 38 career games...First Team All-American and All-CIAA selection in 1994 and 1995...Set single-season sack record with 19 in 1994...Won three consecutive conference titles (1993-95).

Injury Report

As submitted to the league on Friday, May 25:

Kansas City PROBABLE-LB Byron Douzart, WR Ira Gooch; QUESTIONABLE- OL Ed Ta'amu; DOUBTFUL-OL Chris Cook, DL Neil Purvis, WR Boo Williams, WR Sam Simmons, DL Chris Demaree

Los Angeles QUESTIONABLE-WR Josh Bush, QB Scott Dreisbach, FB Brad Greetis, WR Damien Groce, QB Josh Harris, OL Juan Porter; DOUBTFUL-DB Rober' Freeman

Lineup Changes

There will be some different faces in the lineup against Columbus, but head coach Kevin Porter still has 22 active players from which to choose his travel squad. Williams will be replaced by Gooch and Ta'amu will replace Cook offensive line, although Larrell Johnson will move to center. Cyron Brown will be the backup defensive end and two-way lineman, and Hunter is expected to be ready to travel with the team. Still to be determined is whether DB Travis Coleman or DB Isaiah Trufant will play safety this week.

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