“When I heard about the 2011 Zombie-Walk, I started thinking,” said Huntington Hammer Administrative Assistant Amanda Southern, “and when I found out it was to benefit the Little Victories No-Kill Animal Shelter in Ona, we knew we had to make plans to be there.” Southern, whose husband Chad is also known throughout the Tri-State as Thoran, the Huntington Hammer mascot, headed out and picked up a few necessities and got to work on looking their best for the occasion. The event was a big hit and gave people a way to help the shelter and have a great time.

About 150 participants dressed as “the undead” and took the Zombie-Walk from Pullman Square around the Big Sandy Arena and down Veteran’s Memorial Boulevard, past Station Square and back down 3rd Avenue to Pullman Square to the delight of those driving, shopping, and preparing to attend other events in the downtown area for the evening. There were activities for all age groups including the very popular “Brain-Eating Contest” which saw children diving face-first into “brains” made from Jell-O. The evening ended with the crowning of the King and Queen of the Zombies, an award that was closely contested but was won by the Huntington Hammer’s husband and wife “undead royalty”.

The grand prize was a dozen cupcakes from Paula Vega, trophies, and crowns that were worn proudly by the Southerns as they continued to enjoy the evening downtown with dinner and conversations with many people who couldn’t help but notice something a little different about the couple.

The Huntington Hammer would like to help with your events and fund-raisers as well. Visit the Contact Us page of the team site at www.huntingtonhammer.com, visitors will find a place to click and register an Appearance Request Form. Requests and other information about the Huntington Hammer can also be found by calling the team office at 304-525-PASS (7277) or stopping by the office at 311 9^th Street in Huntington, WV.

A Tale of Two Seasons…

Ashton Hall & Brandon Burns

This time last year, the Huntington Hammer was still moving desks and chairs into the office at Pullman Plaza. The some of the management and coaching staff were still unpacking their clothes and just beginning to start the hunt for players. A new league had just been born, and was taking its first steps toward what would become a historic year. That, though just a year ago, is ancient history for the Hammer as they churn full steam ahead into the second season of the team in the Ultimate Indoor Football League. The front office team is purring like a fine tuned engine, the training camp roster is nearly set, and less people than ever are asking the old question, “What is the Hammer?

Na Brown

Indoor leagues of the past have had a hard time with the business end of the process, and that had a tendency of spilling over and causing payroll troubles. With a much more owner-friendly business model, the UIFL’s first season finished as it started. Payrolls were met, all games were played, and history was witness to the first ever Ultimate Bowl that ended in a high-scoring shoot-out with each team involved trading touchdowns twice in the last 40 seconds of the game.

Hiram Moore

Following the teams local tryout, the hours of research, the phone calls, the time invested by Head Coach Michael Owens, Player Personnel Coordinator Garry McPeek, Line Coach Chris Hughes, and General Manager Dan Fisher has the 40 man roster to go to training camp in February 2012 just 3 players from being filled. “In January last year,” Hughes stated, “we were still scrambling around trying to fill spots.” He continued, “Rounding up players who were willing to chase a dream in a new league was a bit more difficult than what we have now.” This time around, the office phone, the email boxes, and even the Facebook of the Huntington Hammer have been swamped with talent from all across the United States and Canada looking to be a part of the UIFL, and in particular, the Huntington Hammer.

Andre Portis

A move that the Huntington Hammer made this off-season was to formally bring Garry McPeek on as the teams Player Personnel Coordinator. McPeek has extensive experience in the indoor game, many connections in the area, and was very active in chasing down some of the best talent available. Another important factor was the teams relationships that were started last season with the nearby Arena Football League teams, teams in the Canadian Football League, and even the players from the 2011 team. General Manager Dan Fisher said, “The way that we treated our players last season, the way the fans got behind the guys, the way local businesses worked together with the team to create a great place to live and eat all made a big difference.” The league has its salary cap, but the way a team chooses to house, feed, and treat players during the down time can make all the difference in the word that gets passed between the players. “Not only did former players send us a few guys this season, we have had players steered our direction by the Arena League teams in both Cleveland and Pittsburgh,” stated Fisher.

The word is apparently out… Huntington is one of the best options out there for players at this level of competition. Because of that, the decisions that the front office personnel have to make in the coming months are going to be tough ones. “There are no guarantees,” said McPeek, “everyone coming in is going to have to compete for a spot, no matter what they did last season.” There are going to be new faces in the Hammer locker room and around town when the 2012 season begins in March, and that should make for a season to watch for the fans.

The Huntington Hammer will begin play in the new Southern Division of the UIFL in March of 2012. Season tickets, marketing partnerships, Kids Club registration, and internships are available by contacting the Huntington Hammer office in person, by phone, or online. The office is located at 311 9^th Street, Huntington, WV. The team website is available at www.huntingtonhammer.com and they can also be followed on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/HuntingtonHammerWV) and Twitter (@TheHammerNation). To reach the Huntington Hammer by phone, call 304-525-PASS (7277).

The Huntington Hammer could not have asked for better weather for the team’s only local tryout for the 2012 professional indoor football team. With recommendations being made to players by Arena League teams, information being shared on national free-agent websites, and some good publicity locally, the crowd that gathered at the Marshall University Recreation Center athletic field was as jumbled mix of athletes all chasing after the same basic dream. The dream of every child to ever pull on a helmet and charge out onto a football field is to someday become a professional in a sport that they love to play. With a total of less than 300 professional football teams in the world, opportunities are few, the competition is heavy and level of commitment and talent required to actually get a paycheck for what they love to do is amazing. The thirty athletes that gathered on the field under partly cloudy skies and a comfortable 72 degrees put on quite a show for front office, the coaches, and the fans that took a few hours out of their weekend came out to watch them give it all for a shot at a dream.

“A great number of players had been in touch with us for several weeks before making the trip to Huntington,” said General Manager Dan Fisher, “and the level of talent that we saw on Sunday was great.” Player Personnel Coordinator Garry McPeek stated that he hadn’t seen such a talented group that wasn’t part of something that was put together by invitation. “Garry has been involved with the indoor game for quite a while and knows what it takes to put together a winning team,” continued Fisher, “having his knowledge as a part of this team for 2012 is invaluable.” The Huntington Hammer came away from Sunday’s “local” tryout with several signings, some who drove more than 9 hours to participate.

Head Coach Michael Owens, Offensive Coordinator Fred Ray, and Line Coach Chris Hughes had invaluable assistance from a team of local volunteers in processing times, organizing events, and getting information into the computers. Green Acres and the crew at Lesage Water provided drinks for participants, the Marshall University Recreation Center provided the field, and the front office of the Hammer was able to gather advertising in the community to offset most of the cost of holding the tryout. Marketing Director, Veronica Hordubay, said “It seems that the Tri-State area is beginning to catch a little bit of Hammer Fever. We are starting to see businesses, fans, and the public as a whole get excited about what we have here in Huntington.” The team is gearing up for the start of the 2012 season at the Big Sandy Superstore Arena in March.

Season Tickets are on sale now with a special offer to save fans on the price of tickets, and also have a gift available for season ticket holders who purchase prior to the end 2011. The team will be holding tryouts on Saturday October 1^st, for the HammerGirls. The HammerGirls are a two-fold promotion and dance team that will be performing during games and will also be making appearances in the area with advertisers and working with the team to expand the Armstrong Huntington Hammer Kids Club. For more information, contact the Huntington Hammer office at 304-525-PASS (7277).