Shock always hunt for talent

Sometimes it’s a call from an agent, an owner, a coach, a friend, a player or an ex-player. The search for arenafootball2 players never ends and it often involves unconventional means.

In the last few weeks, the Spokane Shock have signed offensive lineman Ed Ta’amu and defensive lineman Katon Bethay. The team Wednesday added former Eastern Washington Eagles defensive back Jesse Hendrix.

All three figure to be key players when Spokane visits Louisville on Saturday. Spokane, always on the lookout for players, sought linemen after several were injured during a loss to Bakersfield last month.

Shock coach Chris Siegfried, an af2 head coach for five years, said roster shuffling has been considerably less this season than at his previous stops, but he won’t pass on upgrading personnel when the opportunity arises.

“You’re constantly recruiting because you never know when somebody is going to get hurt or have family issues or a player might get complacent,” Siegfried said.

Siegfried became aware of Bethay through the player’s agent, a long-time friend of the coach.

Bethay started at nose guard in Spokane’s 61-59 win over Central Valley last Saturday. He probably would have played the week before, but he was completing his track and field career at Wofford College. Bethay, the Southern Conference champion in the shot put, placed 16th in the event at the NCAA East Regional on May 27.

“He went up against what we feel so far is the best center in the league (from Central Valley) and we thought he did a tremendous job,” Siegfried said. “It bolsters our defensive line that much more and it allows Jerome (Stevens), Neil (Purvis) and Levi (Madarieta) to really get after it around the edge because they know we have someone plugging up the middle.”

Ta’amu had spent time on the practice squad with the Utah Blaze of the Arena Football League. Shock majority owner Brady Nelson stays in contact with his Blaze counterparts, which led to Ta’amu’s arrival in Spokane.

“The only reason he’s not playing in the NFL is he had a minor knee injury, so he has to prove to the naysayers that he’s healthy,” Siegfried said. “It’s quite obvious he can play.”

Spokane has been interested for months in Hendrix, who was released Monday by the B.C. Lions of the CFL.

“We’re excited to have him,” Siegfried said, “and we anticipate him making the trip this week.”

Koker returns

Kicker Jon Koker, who missed last week’s game with a foot injury, has returned and is expected to play Saturday. “He’s not 100 percent, but he should be good to go,” Siegfried said.

Expansion close to home

As expected, af2 announced the addition of Boise, which will begin play in 2007. The team might be appealing to Spokane’s Chauncey Ako and Levi Madarieta. Ako played at Boise State and Madarieta is a product of Weiser High, about 75 miles northwest of Boise.

“If they’re in af2 next year, I’d be surprised if they didn’t come back here,” Siegfried said.

Notes

The Shock remained No. 1 in the coaches’ poll. They received 250 of 264 possible points and 15 of 23 first-place votes. … Former Eastern Washington Eagle Muhammad Shamsid-Deen, who was released during Shock training camp, was booted by the Tri-Cities Fever after the team’s National Indoor Football League game last Sunday. According to the Tri-City Herald, Shamsid-Deen was seen consorting with Rapid City players about the Fever’s game plan and was escorted from the arena by Tri-Cities co-owner Teri Carr.