McDonald ready for big season at Kansas City

by John Hahn
Published on November 15, 2005 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Kansas City Brigade


With any professional team, all a player asks is one thing: ‘Am I wanted by the organization?'

It was somewhat of a tumultuous 2005 for Travis McDonald. A fullback-linebacker in the Arena Football League for nine seasons, Travis had ventured with seven teams over that period...the last being the Grand Rapids Rampage.

He has toiled with Milwaukee, Portland, Oklahoma City, Philadelphia and Chicago. He saw no playing time in Milwaukee (1997) and Chicago (2005).

McDonald found himself with Philadelphia during the Soul's inaugural year (2004) because of assistant Coach Robert Smith, whom he had played for in the two previous seasons with the Rampage.

But when the coaching staff changed in 2005, things went ‘south' in Philly. McDonald was only with the team a couple of camp days when they released him. He looked around and head coach Mike Hohensee with the Chicago Rush signed him.

"I knew it would be pretty tough to stay there with the two veteran fullback-linebackers (Bob McMillen and Jamie McGourty)," Travis said after coming home from a workout. "I thought it would be good just to be with some team and get in football shape." After being released from Chicago, the 6-foot-3, 255-pound McDonald went back to Grand Rapids where he had significant time on defense. Because of a shoulder injury, he was moved to defensive end. In 12 games he had only one carry at fullback.

"I will be back to my old form," he said from his residence in Beaverton, Oregon. "There was a time when I couldn't even lift, but I feel really good now and hope to get back to those years I earlier had in Grand Rapids."

On the eve of the AFL's 20th season, McDonald finds himself with his seventh team, the new Kansas City organization that inherited 15 players from the idle New Orleans VooDoo.

McDonald was one of 28 free agent fullback-linebackers after the 2005 season. He wasn't as noticeable as the name guys like Chicago's McGourty or Chad Dukes, or the stats guys like Duke Pettijohn and Ja'Mar Toombs.

What Travis brings to the table is a solid, journeyman player who is a team player with a great attitude.

"I think this is a great opportunity myself and the city," said the 32-year-old McDonald, who along with quarterback Andy Kelly (36) and receiver Charlie Davidson (33) are the oldest members of the squad. "I've never played on the same team with them, but I have played against them and respect their abilities."

Travis relishes the thought of playing with Kelly. "He is one of the most accurate passers in the indoor game," he said. "Andy gets the ball off fast and makes good decisions. I haven't played with a quarterback of his caliber since being with Clint Dolezel in Grand Rapids.

"Fans are going to like this team," said McDonald, who also finds himself back in his home State. Travis went to Hickman High School in Columbia, Missouri, and then stayed for four outstanding seasons at the University of Missouri. "I was a linebacker at Missouri, but I remember in high school I never left the field playing both ways for the entire game." He was all-State his senior season and all-district for three years at Hickman.

"I am going to enjoy going home to play," said McDonald. "And believe me, with this nucleus, we could be only a few components away from being an ArenaBowl contender."

He joins veteran FB/LB Dan Curran and Dawan Moss out of Michigan State. Curran had 21 rushing touchdowns with New Orleans last season. Moss was a rookie with Detroit two seasons ago and was with the VooDoo last year.

Anyway you look at it, with Mac, Moss and Curran, it presents a formidable group at the position which primarily blocks and runs for short yardage on offense and plays a significant role in getting to the opposing quarterback on defense.

So how did Travis get to sing "Going To Kansas City?" Head coach Kevin Porter first called Travis and then a follow-up call by Robert Smith, the team's player personnel director and line coach, convinced him this was the team.

"I was with Coach Smith in both Grand Rapids and Philly, so he knows what I can do."

Always giving his team's consistent play, Travis had 14 touchdowns with Oklahoma City (2000-2001) but in the next two seasons he emerged as an outstanding defender as well. With the Rampage he had eight quarterback sacks, 5 and a half in 2002.

Since he returns to the Portland area each year, he has been coaching at the high school level. "I've enjoyed that aspect of the game. Teaching it has been fun." And Travis will be getting married soon. He met his fiancée Rachel Smith when he played in Grand Rapids.

So, he's wanted in many ways. Even by a new team.

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John ‘Hondo' Hahn is a long-time media relations-operations executive in Arena football. He is a columnist for sanjosesabercats.com and writes for other publications about the AFL.

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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from November 15, 2005


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