It's Tolliver's Turn
June 21, 2003 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I) News Release
TAMPA BAY, Fla. â ANTONIE "T.T." TOLIVER has had a busy year. It began in January with three NFL postseason games, including Super Bowl XXXVII, with Tampa's Buccaneers, and it continues this weekend at ArenaBowl XVII with Tampa's Storm.
Toliver originally joined the Storm in 2002, playing in five regular-season games and two playoff contests. His immediate impact in the Arena Football League, allowed him an opportunity to join the Buccaneers practice squad in Week 13 of the 2002 NFL season. Unfortunately, he was on the roster for a total of seven games, which did not meet the Buccaneers' 10-game minimum to receive a coveted Super Bowl championship ring.
While his former Buccaneer teammates recently slipped new diamonds on their fingers, Toliver prepared for his sixth postseason game of 2003. This weekend, Toliver his has chance to earn some well deserved hardware.
In April, a day after being cut by the Buccaneers, Toliver returned to the Storm. Once back, it did not take him long to make his mark in the AFL, accumulating 119 all-purpose yards in just his second game.
Toliver has played in six games this season, including two playoff contests. So far in the postseason, he has three touchdowns, one coming on a key 34-yard, game-clinching interception return in the semifinal victory over the Orlando Predators, and a crucial forced fumble in the quarterfinals versus Detroit.
He admits that there "most definitely" will be an increased sense of urgency in Sunday's ArenaBowl XVII showdown with the Arizona Rattlers, after tasting a championship without any jewelry to show for it.
"Hard work pays off," Toliver said. "Sometimes not immediately, and I understand that. I just need to contribute leadership to this team.
Although his contribution and impact in Storm games are well known, Toliver has an amazingly few number of AFL games under his belt.
"I kind of wish I could get one full year in," Toliver said.
But until that has happens, the Storm know he can jump right in with his natural abilities and not ruin team chemistry.
"Keeping the team satisfied, and keeping the team together is important when you come in late," he said.
Being involved in a second championship game in less than six months has shown Toliver two similarities between Tampa's teams.
"Each team preps the same," he said, acknowledging the similar styles of Buccaneer head coach Jon Gruden and Storm head coach Tim Marcum. "Both are hard coaches that know how to prepare for a championship game.
After earning Junior College Player of the Year honors as a quarterback at Hines Community College in Mississippi, Toliver went on to play basketball at Bethune-Cookman College.
He returned to the gridiron in 2000 and 2001, spending parts of both seasons as a wide receiver and return specialist on the St. Louis Rams' practice squad.
Although never known for his prowess on the defensive side of the football, Toliver quickly showcased his skills as a defensive back as well as on special teams, and is one reason the Storm are 60 minutes away from their fifth ArenaBowl championship and first since 1996.
"Arena Football fits what I do," said Toliver, standing a few feet away from the James F. Foster Trophy he hopes to hoist on Sunday evening, which would also mean getting a new ring for his finger too.
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from June 21, 2003
- Omarr Smith: Lord of the Rings - AFL I
- ArenaBowl XVII Sold Out - AFL I
- Bonner Searches for Third Title - AFL I
- ArenaBowl XVII - The Buzz - AFL I
- It's Tolliver's Turn - AFL I
- AFL Launches Auction Site - AFL I
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