Post by The Grim Reaper on Mar 2, 2008 15:33:10 GMT -5
Phantoms' coaching carousel continues
Saturday, Mar 01, 2008 - 12:19 AM
By Shawn Singleton
When the Florence Phantoms face the Fayetteville Guard today in a preseason scrimmage, a new coach will be on the sideline.
Tavares Bowers takes over for Carlos Clayton, who left the team to take a coordinator’s job with Huntington and be closer to his family.
Bowers is the fourth coach the Phantoms have had since the start of last season.
“I didn’t ask any questions (about Clayton’s departure) because at this point, the team needed a coach,” Bowers said. “I saw how hungry these players are, and I’m happy to be here.”
Bowers added he was going to end the coaching carousel that has characterized the Phantoms.
“Too many things were in place for me not to take the job,”he said. “I’m here for the long haul. I’m here for the players and I’m here for the community.
“I apologize to the Florence fans. These are die-hard football fans. They want to see football players that are passionate. They want to see an ownership group that’s passionate.”
A native of Auburndale, Fla., Bowers played his college ball at Michigan and Division II Saginaw Valley State before moving on to the Miami Dolphins.
After several seasons on the practice squad, he played for Florida of the AFL before an injury ended his playing career.
Bowers served as an asssistant for the Orlando Predators of the AFL before joining the American Indoor Football Association’s Lakeland Thunderbolts.
Bowers was the team’s offensive and defensive line coach, leading them to the AIFA championship last year.
“When I came (to Florence for the AIFA championship game) with Lakeland, I saw how hungry these fans are,” he said. “These fans are screaming for a championship. They’re screaming for a good product.
“ This community deserves a winner (at the Civic Center), and I want to give them that.”
Bowers continued that fan support is critical to the present — and future — success of the Phantoms.
“I need help from the fans,” he said. “They are the juice that feeds this team, it’s lifeblood.
“I want to give them something worth seeing.”
One area Bowers’ new team wants to improve is the offensive line. With the signing of quarterback Omar Jacobs, keeping the former Bowling Green star upright is of paramount importance.
“Offensive line is a major concern for this team as well as any team in this league,” Bowers said. “If you find a good offensive lineman, you better hold on to him because he’ll find himself in the Arena Football League, or better, if you don’t.”