This story seems to have vanished online. Maybe I am just not looking in the right place. In any case, here's the Steelhawks story from Saturday's print edition of The Morning Call:
Steelhawks return home, but without Bednarik
No, snow wasn’t on the ground the last time the Lehigh Valley Steelhawks played a home game.
But it was a long time ago — May 17 — to be exact.
The Steelhawks hope their fans haven’t forgotten them over the last five weeks because they’ll be needed as the team takes on the Richmond Raiders at 7 p.m. Saturday with a Professional Indoor Football League playoff berth on the line.
However, those expecting to see former Bethlehem Catholic and West Virginia standout Adam Bednarik play quarterback in the last home game of the season and possibly the last game ever at Stabler Arena, period, will be disappointed.
Bednarik, who is pictured on the cover of the Steelhawks’ 2014 game program and has been the face of the franchise the last two years, left the team for personal reasons last week.
“There were some personnel and game-strategy issues between the coaching staff and myself,” Bednarik said. “We didn’t see eye-to-eye on some things. I don’t want to go into details, but I just felt it was best to part ways with the organization. It was a tough decision.”
Bednarik said he is healthy and hasn’t ruled out playing again, but it won’t be with the Steelhawks on Saturday night.
“I do want to wish the team and the organization the best of luck,” Bednarik said.
The Steelhawks began the season 4-0, but have since lost six of their last seven games, including four of five on the lengthy road trip that saw the team visit Trenton, Columbus, (Ala.), Richmond, Albany (Ga.) and Harrisburg.
Only an overtime win over the Albany Panthers on June 14 averted a seven-game skid and kept the Steelhawks’ playoff hopes alive.
Head coach, offensive coordinator and assistant GM Chris Thompson admits this has been a difficult season in a lot of ways and holds no ill will toward Bednarik.
“I love Adam and this organization loves Adam and he has been a huge asset to this organization,” Thompson said. “Obviously, there have been frustrations in a lot of always. We started out hot and then had the five-game losing streak and all of those games on the road. Things just didn’t go the way we wanted them to.
“We have the utmost respect for Adam and thought he was an outstanding representative for our organization. We’re disappointed he’s not here, but we have to move forward.”
The Steelhawks are moving forward with Shane McSweeny at quarterback.
The Wesley College product has played in eight games and has completed 47 of 66 passes (71.2 percent) for 531 yards ,14 touchdowns and four interceptions.
In nine games, Bednarik completed 137 of 230 passes (59.6 percent) for 1,552 yards, 26 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.
“Shane’s our starting quarterback and we’re very excited and proud of the way he has come along,” Thompson said of McSweeny. “When you back to our camp, we had three outstanding quarterbacks with us in Adam, Shane and Phil Konopka, who is now starting for Richmond and is the guy we’ll be facing. All three can start in this league. It’s ironic that Shane and Phil are now playing against each other.”
Thompson said he expects one of the best crowds of the season to say good-bye for 2014. Even if the team reaches the playoffs, the Steelhawks will be on the road.
“There’s a lot on the line with the winner of this game going on to the playoffs,” he said. “Even with all the bumps along the road this year, we’re still in the race. It’s a credit to the coaches and players for fighting through all of the adversity we’ve had to endure.”
Nashville (9-2) and Trenton (8-3) have clinched division titles and will have home playoff games next weekend. Columbus (6-5) has secured the other playoff berth. Both Lehigh Valley and Richmond are 5-6.
“Trenton only has three losses and two of them were to us and we played them tough a third time,” Thompson said. “If we put a complete 60 minutes together in all three phases of the game, we can beat anybody. We just haven’t done that yet. We know what we’re capable of.”
The Steelhawks have indicated interest in playing their home games next season in the new PPL Center in downtown Allentown, but Thompson said that nothing has been finalized in that regard.
“Either way, we’ll be back next year,” he said.
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