The St. Louis SLAM’s 2015 season recently concluded with a loss to Dallas in the opening round of the Women’s Football Alliance (WFA) national tournament.
Photo Credit: Mick Lite Photography
The numbers registered on the scoreboard that particular night during the women’s professional tackle football tilt were not in its favor. However upon reflection, the moment did register another positive benchmark for the squad.
The SLAM’s past season hit numerous highs, and they came at a time when the franchise had just cleared its biggest obstacle off the field.
One has to go back to recent history in order to see how the story unfolds. Founded in 2003, and WFA National Champions in 2009, the SLAM was inactive in 2014 due to ownership instability. Anyone that follows sports knows that a team’s absence in competition, even for one calendar year, could potentially lead to future failure.
However, for those involved internally during the SLAM’s 6-2 regular season finish and subsequent playoff appearance, the take away in the end can be best described by declaring a Latin phrase attributed to Julius Caesar.
“Veni, vidi, vici,” which translated to English means, “I came, I saw, I conquered.”
Photo Credit: Mick Lite Photography
“This season was important and special to me in many ways,” reflected SLAM running back Taylor Hay. “At the beginning of the season, it wasn’t 100 percent that we would have enough numbers or even financial support to have a team.”
Under a new collective brain trust headed by incoming co-owners Rohmell Glover and Quincy Davis, the squad conducted numerous public tryouts beginning last November. In the early sessions, there was a group that had played for the SLAM in prior seasons, and conversely, a number of newcomers that had never played one snap prior.
“A large portion of the team was first year players, meaning this was a learning year for them,” said SLAM quarterback Jelani Kelly. “Many were learning the game for the first time in their life, in addition to playing.”
Once the SLAM’s roster was solidified, the newbies adapted quickly.
Photo Credit: Mick Lite Photography
“I believe they did an excellent job in listening, learning, and applying what was taught, which is also a testament to our coaching staff and their ability to teach the game and mobilize players in an effective manner,” said Kelly.
“Our coaches worked their magic and the vets came together and encouraged the rookies to be a part of something great,” added Hay.
The SLAM began its 2015 season with two straight wins. Victories over Minnesota (27-18) and Tulsa (49-16) made those within the WFA circle take immediate notice.
A 10-point setback to Kansas City in Week 3 briefly halted the momentum, but then the SLAM rebounded with four straight dukes that pushed the team’s record to 6-1 and a clinch of the WFA’s Midwest Region – Great Plains Division.
The streak helped St. Louis, then 6-2, return to the governing body’s post-season. To earn one of the 16 playoff slots desired by the WFA’s collective 40 franchises was an impressive accomplishment, considering the team was silent the season prior.
Photo Credit: Mick Lite Photography
“We surprised fans, the league, every team we played and even ourselves,” said Hay.
The SLAM’s tournament run was short-lived as they faced top-seeded Dallas, an experienced team that was undefeated (8-0) and possessed a plethora of shutouts. The Elite topped the SLAM, 54-3, in the WFA opening round two Saturdays ago that ended the locals’ return.
“We put in a lot of hard work and came up short,” said Hay of the playoff setback. “But like our coach told us all after the loss, only one team can win, and today, we weren’t that team.”
Even though the SLAM’s season ended with a minus on the field, the experiences achieved by the players during the past eight months was considered, by all, as positive.
“This season led to new relationships which may have never been realized without the SLAM organization,” said Kelly. “Life long bonds developed, friendships, and families were realized. We were able to learn what it means to be a part of something more than just a sport or hobby but, instead, a family who worked together and made sacrifices for the betterment of the team. We picked each other up when things got rough and pushed past adversity.”
The SLAM’s finish of 6-3 already brings enthusiasm and anticipation for next year. The blue print, or more precisely the “orange and black”-print, is already being formulated for 2016.
“Moving forward, we hope to feed off this re-birth of women’s football in St. Louis,” said Hay. “The season started the day after we lost to Dallas. Next year will be even better and, of course, I’m looking forward to it already.”
Photo Credit: Mick Lite Photography
“We have a place to build from,” adds Kelly. “I think, after this season, we were able to get a taste of what success feels like and we are hungry for more. We were fortunate enough to make it to the first round of playoffs in our rebuilding year, but the realization that a championship win is attainable became tangible.”
And Kelly, along with her SLAM sistren, is already hungry for future challenges.
“Going into next season, there will be a stronger thirst for another winning season and an ambition and drive to work hard and bring a championship win to St. Louis,” she says.
The SLAM’s promotional battle cry this past year was “unfinished business.”
In 2016, one can already anticipate that that business will pick up.
For more information on the St. Louis SLAM, go to www.slamfootball.com.
By trade, he is a six-time, regional Emmy Award-winning news videographer/editor for KTVI/KPLR-TV. By hobby, he is a writer for Arch City Media, dating back to February 2014. Emphasis is on featuring and promoting local women's sports, but will cover anything that is not reported by traditional media outlets. Also a contributor to local concert reviews.
