Firecats DS Bailey on Verge of Team Record
July 18, 2006 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Florida Firecats News Release
Estero, FL- With a league high 11.5 tackles in last weeks win over Albany, Florida Firecats rookie DS Cory Bailey leads the af2 with 98 tackles on the year. Bailey now needs just 3 tackles to become the teams single season tackles record holder. Teammate Quincy Sorrel currently lays claim to that distinction with a mark of 100.5 (2004).
The record nearly fell last year when Kelly Snell, who wore Sorrell's #9, came just half a tackle short of tying the record with 100.
"It took some convincing to get him here," said Firecats Coach Kevin Bouis, himself a former defensive back. "His agent wanted him to go north, but he's a Florida guy and we got him down here in camp and since day one he's done what ever you ask him to do."
Kevin 1st spotted Cory, a former University of Florida Gator at a Tamp Bay Storm invitation only workout and then got the opportunity to work with him at an Orlando Predators tryout.
"I had him slated from day one as our middle guy, like a safety in the outdoor game, and since the 2nd game of the season he's locked it down. He's big and physical and like the rest of ours guys he hits hard." Bouis added.
The veteran Sorrell isn't about to just let Bailey have the record all to himself, he sits 3rd in the league with 90 tackles this year. "I'm gonna fight him for it" Quincy said of the single season record. "If he breaks it then great, I'm happy for him, but I'm not just gonna roll over."
Both players should eclipse the 100 tackles mark, a first in team history. "It's like having 2-1000 yards receivers on your offense" Bouis said of his guys breaking the century mark. "You add in Levy Brown and Brent Burnside and we've got a special group back there."
Levy Brown is on the verge of a team record as well, his 7 interceptions has him currently ranked 3rd in the league but tied for 1st in team history for a single season. (Stabler 2002)
"I feel truly blessed to be playing with the guys I'm playing with," Sorrell noted. "I won't mind if Cory breaks my record or Levy breaks Roy's. I just want to share one thing with them and that's the championship ring."
The Firecats will play their final home game of the regular season this week when they host the Louisville Fire in a rematch of the 2005 American Conference Championship game. A win this week would clinch home field advantage throughout the playoffs for Florida.
Tickets can be purchased by calling 390-CATS(2287). Tickets for playoff game A are also on sale now, date yet to be determined.
The Firecats will wrap up the regular season next week on the road against South Georgia.
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