"The Power Source" - Week 2: Power Welcome Back Stull, Regulars After Season-Opening Win
By Matt Popchock
This edition of "The Power Source," our brand new weekly Pittsburgh Power podcast, recaps a bizarre beginning to the Power's second season in the Arena Football League, which ended with a 40-26 win in Orlando over the Predators.
I'll share my thoughts on the AFL labor dispute that initially wiped out the entire opening night roster, and ultimately cost two key players their jobs with the team, and we'll also hear from team owner Matt Shaner on that issue.
Shaner addressed the media at the Marriott City Center adjacent to CONSOL Energy Center Monday, which is why we're bringing this episode to you later than we normally would. The Power announced that day the return of quarterback Bill Stull, and, 48 hours later, tabbed him as the starting signal-caller for Friday's home opener against the East Division rival Philadelphia Soul at 8:00.
In anticipation of those events, we held off production so we could bring you some of Stull's remarks from earlier this week. He discusses his return to the Power, and how we will juggle his responsibilities to the team while he earns his communications degree from Pitt.
Head coach Chris Siegfried probably couldn't have picked a better game in which to insert the former Panther and Seton-LaSalle product. Stull debuted in the AFL with the former ArenaBowl champion Spokane Shock last year, with whom he was an understudy to Kyle Rowley (Rowley, ironically, was cut by the Power last week) before the team agreed to let the Power claim him so he could attend to family matters. Stull ultimately started in the season finale, at Philadelphia, throwing six TD's without an interception in a 61-48 victory.
You'll hear from Siegfried as well, as he talked about what it means to have Stull back in black and gold, and how the team has moved on from the abbreviated players' strike that took place in Orlando Mar. 9.
Check out the latest episode of "The Power Source"...
...and be sure to check back with us on Friday, when we'll preview the home opener against the Soul, including a few words from the team and highlights from Siegfried's weekly press conference.
In addition, should a nostalgic mood strike you, feel free to check out this interview I did with Stull the week he came home.
(Follow the Pittsburgh Power on Twitter @AFLPittsburgh.)
(Follow me on Twitter @mpopchock.)
