Daily League News & Notes

Arena Football League

Utah Adds NFL Strength to Offensive Line

The Utah Blaze have agreed to terms with former NFL offensive lineman George "Duke" Robinson, the franchise announced today. Robinson enjoyed a four-year career in the National Football League after being selected in the fifth round of the 2009 NFL Draft.

"Duke is an outstanding addition to our offensive front. He has the size and strength to be an effective offensive lineman in the Arena Football League," said Head Coach Ron James. "He knows Tommy [Grady] well from their days at Oklahoma, so he's a natural fit in the offense and in the locker room. I'm excited to have Duke on board."

In 2009, Robinson (6-5, 345, Oklahoma) was drafted with the 163rd overall pick by the Carolina Panthers. He went on to played three seasons in Carolina before signing with the Tennessee Titans in 2012.

Robinson was one of the most decorated players in the country during a standout collegiate career at the University of Oklahoma, where he earned All-American honors in each of his final two seasons. During his senior campaign, Robinson helped the Sooners reach the 2009 BCS National Championship while protecting for an offense that set an NCAA record with 716 points scored.

Sharks Activate Jeff Hughley from Exempt List

The 2012 South Division Champion Jacksonville Sharks announced Monday that wide receiver/kick returner Jeff Hughley has been activated from the Arena Football League's "Other League Exempt" list.

The 28-year-old Hughley (5'8", 175) was originally placed on Other League Exempt on Thursday, May 2, after receiving an invitation to participate in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' rookie mini-camp that was held this past weekend.

Hughley is in the midst of a stellar season with the Sharks, ranking second on the team with 47 receptions for a team-high total of 516 receiving yards. Hughley caught a pair of touchdowns in each of the Sharks' first four games and is third on the team with nine touchdown receptions overall. He caught a season-high 13 passes for 146 yards and two scores in the Sharks' season-opening win against the Tampa Bay Storm, and scored four total touchdowns in Week 3 against Cleveland.

A threat on special teams as well, Hughley has totaled 557 yards on 28 kick returns this season. He has also logged two missed field goal returns for a total of 79 yards, notching the first missed field goal return touchdown in Jacksonville franchise history in the team's Week 4 win over the New Orleans VooDoo. Hughley was selected as the J. Lewis Small Playmaker of the Week for Week 4, and that missed field goal return was named the AFL Highlight of the Week as well. Hughley currently ranks second in the league in all-purpose yards (1,155), and is also second among AFL players with an average of 192.5 all-purpose yards per contest.

Hughley is in his fourth season in the Arena Football League, returning to Jacksonville after spending 2012 with the Philadelphia Soul. He was originally assigned to the Jacksonville roster on a three-year contract in November of 2012. The reigning Ironman of the Year, Hughley was a major part of the Sharks' run to the ArenaBowl XXIV title in 2011, earning a spot on the All-Ironman team that year as well.

Before joining the Sharks, Hughley made his AFL debut with the Tulsa Talons in 2010, catching 113 passes for 1,258 yards and 28 touchdowns. He also notched four rushing touchdowns and returned a pair of kickoffs for scores. Hughley also spent time with the Talons when the team was a member of af2, earning af2 Ironman of the Year honors in 2009. Hughley played collegiate football at Averett University.

Following the day's transaction, the Jacksonville roster stands at the League maximum of 24 active players.

Tampa Bay Heads West To Face San Jose

The matchup between the Tampa Bay Storm and San Jose SaberCats, previously scheduled for Saturday May 11, will now take place on Friday, May 10 at 10:30 PM ET. Fans can listen to the action as Jason Dixon and Darek Sharp call the action for 1250 AM WHNZ, or they can watch live online at http://storm.arenafootball.com/allaccess/.

This will be the 16th time these two teams have faced each other. They last met in Tampa on July 23, 2011, a game in which the Storm won 57-44. While the SaberCats holds an 8-7 advantage over Tampa Bay, the Storm has outscored San Jose by a margin of 55 points over the course of the series.

The Storm heads into this matchup as one of the hottest teams in the league having won three straight, two of which were on the road. The team is 2-0 against the Western Division with wins against the Utah Blaze and the Spokane Shock. A win over the SaberCats would give the team a sweep of the division for the first time since 1998.

In order to get the win, the Storm will once again rely on its quarterback Adrian McPherson. In last week's game versus the VooDoo, McPherson increased his league leading rushing touchdown total to 21, with a four touchdown performance. He also spread the ball around to all of his receivers for four scores. While the Storm missed Joe Hills, the team did find a new weapon to use in local St. Petersburg Catholic H.S. (St. Petersburg, FL) product, Chris C. Davis. Davis had six receptions for 68 yards and one touchdown.

Meanwhile, the SaberCats offense started the 2013 season off on shaky ground. Prior to the start of the season, the team brought in Aaron Garcia to take the reins for the recently retired Mark Grieb. Things did not work out well as he threw 13 interceptions in four games for San Jose. The team has now placed the offense in the hands of Russ Michna. In two games he has thrown 10 touchdowns with only one interception.

Michna will have plenty of tools to use as he will be throwing to former Storm receivers Huey Whittaker, and Amarri Jackson. Whittaker is second on the team with 29 receptions for 352 yards and eight touchdowns. He can also get it done on the defensive side of the ball as he has two interceptions, both of which he returned for touchdowns. Jackson was acquired in a trade with the Orlando Predators, and this will be the second time he has faced the Storm this season. The last time he faced Tampa Bay, as a member of the Predators, Jackson was held to five receptions for 65 yards and a touchdown.

The Storm defense will be swarming this game looking to extend its streak of consecutive games with an interception to seven. Defensive back Chris Smith is tied for fourth in the AFL with four interceptions, while De'Audra Dix is tied for seventh with three. The defensive backfield got its first touchdown of the season last game when Vance Cuff returned an interception 30 yards for the score.

The San Jose offensive line will also have a tough time with protection as the Storm defensive line has started to run on all cylinders. The team has recorded a sack in five consecutive games. Last season's sack leader, Pernell Phillips, seems to be hitting his stride. Versus the VooDoo, Phillips recorded his first two sacks of the season while Tank Tyler increased his total to four. Tyler is now tied for fourth in the AFL.

The SaberCats defense will also be a force to be reckoned with. The Storm will have to watch for Jason Stewart and Terrance Carter, both of whom have recorded sacks in the past two games. Defensive back Clevan Thomas has a nose for the ball. He leads the team with five interceptions, nine pass breakups and 26.5 tackles.

2013 Baby Doll Registration Now Open

The New Orleans VooDoo Dolls are now accepting applications for the 2013 Baby Doll clinic. Young ladies between ages 5 to 15 are encouraged to sign up and learn basic dance and cheer techniques from our very own 2013 VooDoo Dolls.

The 2013 Baby Doll training clinic will take place at the CDA Dance Center located in Esplanade Mall on Saturday, June 8.

Attendance is mandatory.

The performance will be during the Halftime Show on June 15th when the New Orleans Voodoo hosts the Tampa Bay Storm in The Mausoleum.

Kickoff is scheduled for 7pm.

In addition to performing with the VooDoo Dolls, Baby Dolls will receive the official Baby Doll uniform, pom poms, a DVD video of the halftime performance and an autograph session with the VooDoo Dolls and a 2013 VooDoo Doll team photo. For more information and all other inquiries, please contact Jasmine at jasmine@aflvoodoo.com.

Every Baby Doll must complete and return a registration form, which are available on the VooDoo website.

Indoor Football League

Revolution Return to Allen for Friday Night Game

Saturday May 25th is the next Revolution home game. The Revs continue their Playoff Race against the Green Bay Blizzard.

This will be a tough game, but having the home support of the Allen Event Center crowd can provide the added advantage Texas needs!

Company Outings: Interested in bringing the office out to a game, treating your coworkers to something nice, or just want to enjoy some football with some friends, the Revolution want to help work with you to get a great package setup!

As always, following the game, autographs will be available for fans on the field! Meet your favorite players immediately following the game!

Legends Football League

LFL Set To Debut Dublin Franchise, Saturday, May 25

The US’ fastest growing sports league is set to launch its European league. The Legends Football League (formerly known as Lingerie Football League) will be hosting an Open Tryout for its Dublin-based franchise on SATURDAY, MAY 25 at Sportslink, Furry Park, Santry, Dublin from 11AM to 2PM.

Since premiering in 2009 in the States, the LFL has drawn record TV ratings, is on pace to surpass other popular American sports franchises such as WWE and UFC, and is becoming a global sport with international league play in Canada and Australia with Europe to follow in 2015.

Dublin will be part of four inaugural season franchises within LFL Europa to also include Dusseldorf and Hamburg, Germany as well as Manchester, UK.

The Dublin LFL Europa open tryout will include American-football oriented drills that will test strength, mental capacity, speed, and explosion.

Hopefuls are expected to dress in athletic attire and wear cleats as the surface will be grass.

Professional Indoor Football League

Panthers Announce "Ring of Champions" on Saturday, May 11th

As the 2013 Professional Indoor Football League season moves into its second half, the Panthers will celebrate last year's championship season with a special pregame ceremony on May 11th. Other local champions will also receive recognition during a halftime ceremony.

The recognition will begin at 7:00 PM, prior to the start of the contest between Albany and the Louisiana Swashbucklers. There will be a video recap of the championship season on a portable jumbotron. Panther players, coaches and staff that were part of the 2012 PIFL Championship will receive championship rings produced by Jostens.

The celebration will continue at halftime with recognition of Southwest Georgia's champions including:

Crisp Academy WildcatsGirls - 2012 GISA 3-A State Basketball Champions along with Head Coach Gina Mitchell; Westwood School Wildcats Girls - 2012 GISA 3-AA State Basketball Champions along with Head Coach Jenni Smith; Deerfield Academy Knights - 2012 GISA 3-AAA State Football Champions along with Head Coach Allen Lowe; Emily Johnson Ingram of Anytime Fitness - winner of the INBF Iron Eagle in her class and earned her pro card; Lamar Reese Magnet School of the Fine Arts - DCSS 2012 Elementary School Basketball Champions along with Head Coach Reginald Sweets; Darton College's Jamel Sharp - NJCAA National Champion Wrestling; Darton College'sCrawford Berry - NJCAA National Champion Swimming; Command Sgt. Major James Nelson Jr. and Darton College's Head Swimming Coach - Drew Aultman NJCAA National Coach of the Year.

"We're looking forward to having an evening for the players, coaches, fans, fellow champions and local organizations to recognize the victory in the PIFL Championship," Albany Panthers General Manager Will Carter said. "It was an extraordinary season and the players earned their rings in very exciting fashion. We're going to celebrate all the hard work that went into the championship. We're excited about the evening."

Join us at 7:00 at Phoebe Field in the Albany James H. Gray Civic Center as we celebrate last season's achievements prior to kickoff.