By Ron Wynn
NASHVILLE, TN — After being away for 16 years, the Nashville Kats and Arena League Football is back. The Kats played the first of their home games against Minnesota Saturday night, and they continue opening week Thursday night on the road against Albany.
In this third incarnation of the Kats, they’re one of four teams in the East Conference along with Minnesota, Albany and Philadelphia.
Their head coach is Dean Cokinos, and their top offensive weapon is dual threat QB Ramone Atkins, previously a veteran of the Indoor Football League. Last season for Tucson in the Indoor Football League Atkins had 31 touchdown passes and accumulated 1,984 yards in the air. He also rushed for 21 touchdownsand gained 691 yards rushing.
If the first game is any indication, this Kats team will be tough on both sides of the ball. They raced out to a 47-0 lead on Minnesota before settling for a 47-12 victory. Atkins had four touchdown passes while completing eight of 14 passes for 161 yards. The Kats also held Minnesota to 74 yards of total offense.
Former TSU offensive lineman Robert Lacey is another prominent member of the new Kats.
The team also has one of the nation’s premier play-by-play announcers in Eli Gold, who was the voice of University of Alabama sports for 35 years.
The next Kats home game is May 12 against Philadelphia at Municipal Auditorium.
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