After announcing a personal leave of absence from the Memphis Showboats on March 24th, HC Ken Whisenhunt returned to the team on April 1st.
While no reason was given for his brief departure and no timeline for his return, it was believed to be temporary. During his absence, offensive line coach Jim Turner was named interim head coach, and T.J. Vernieri assumed play calling duties.
Both men did well in Whisenhunt’s absence. On Sunday, the Showboats hosted the Michigan Panthers in their season opener. Although the Panthers were favored to win, the much-improved Showboats’ defense made it a close game. Despite taking on one of the UFL’s best teams with an almost entirely new roster and coaching staff, the Showboats’ defense played well enough to give the offense a chance at a last-minute victory.
Unfortunately, the team’s rally was cut short when quarterback Troy Williams threw an interception that Panthers’ safety Kai Nacua ran back for the game-winning touchdown. The Panthers won the game 26-12.
With new defensive coordinator Jarren Horton getting the Showboats’ defense back on track, Whisenhunt’s return couldn’t come at a better time.
Now that Whisenhunt is back at the helm, the team will look to fine-tune the offensive scheme. Despite a shaky start, quarterback E.J. Perry began looking more confident late in the game. Perry found wide receiver Jonathan Adams open for a late-game touchdown that brought the Showboats within one score of the Panthers.
The Showboats’ next game is Saturday night. The team will take on the D.C. Defenders at Audi Field. Fresh off their 18-11 victory over the three-time champion Birmingham Stallions, the Defenders will be a formidable opponent. The game is scheduled for 8:00 pm ET and will be broadcast on ABC. Tickets are still available.
