Storm

Rivalry has calmed for Storm, Predators

But neither lacks motivation to fight for a win.

By DAVID MURPHY
Published April 14, 2007

TAMPA - Spend any amount of time around either franchise and there is little doubt the level of vitriol in the Storm-Predators rivalry has dropped significantly since former Storm owner Bob Gries took to the airwaves in 1993 to label Orlando the devil incarnate.

Back then, Jay Gruden was playing quarterback for the Storm and addressing reports that Predators fans had dumped beer on his wife during a game.

Now Gruden coaches Orlando and his starting quarterback is a former Storm starter who has been an occasional visitor this season at his former team's games and practices.

Although the antipathy between players and coaches has receded since the rivalry's glory days, the Storm and the Predators have all the motivation they need heading into tonight's game in Orlando.

"It's harder to be like a rivalry when one of your guys is the coach over there," Storm coach Tim Marcum said, "but the rivalry is still there because of what we have to do."

And what they have to do is obvious: win.

For the first time since 2002, both teams take losing records into their showdown.

Marcum's squad is coming off its first victory, a 66-43 drubbing of New Orleans after an 0-5 start.

Gruden's squad is 2-3, having lost three of four since beating the Storm 52-27 in the opener at the St. Pete Times Forum.

"It's still a great rivalry," Gruden said, "but right now, when you play two games this early in the season, we are both trying to get our bearings straight, let alone worry about a rivalry that's been going on since 1991."

If both coaches had their druthers, the teams wouldn't be playing right now. This marks just the fourth time since 1991 that the Predators and Storm will have played twice in the first seven weeks.

But, most players say, the rivalry lives, even if it has evolved into more of a friendly competition.

"You work out with these guys in the offseason and then go and play against them," said Storm wide receiver Lawrence Samuels, who remains good friends with former Storm quarterback and current Predator Shane Stafford. "So it's fun."

David Murphy can be reached at dmurphy@sptimes.com or 352 848-1407.

[Last modified April 14, 2007, 01:37:17]