Steamwheelers coach expected to be suspended for rest of year

YOUNGSTOWN — The Quad City Steamwheelers are preparing to hear that head coach Sean Ponder will be suspended for the remainder of the 2007 season for an on-field incident Saturday at the Chevrolet Centre.

According to the Illinois newspaper Quad City Times, af2 president Jerry Kurz is expected to suspend Ponder for the rest of the season that ends in late July.

During a 63-34 loss to the Mahoning Valley Thunder, Ponder was ejected for kicking backwards and tripping former Steamwheeler Reggie Perkins after the talkative defensive back returned an interception for a touchdown.

Replays of the incident show Perkins jawing at the Quad City coach while running past Ponder to the sidelines.

Mike Bawden, the Steamwheelers managing owner, appeared on an internal af2 conference call with Kurz, Mahoning Valley’s ownership, an official from Saturday’s crew and an af2-assembled “peer review board” of veteran coaches.

After discussing the case, Bawden and the others were asked to leave the conference call so the peer review board could decide on a recommended punishment.

Bawden said the penalties could range from a fine to dismissal, but said a rest-of-the-season suspension sounded more likely.

The Midwest Division-leading Steamwheelers (7-4) host unbeaten and top-ranked Wilkes-Barre⁄Scranton on Friday. Former Quad City coach Rich Ingold, the head man at Wilkes-Barre, was among the veteran coaches on the review board, Bawden said.

Bawden said Ponder didn’t hurt his case by apologizing to the af2 Sunday night.

“I let my frustration of players and situations get the better of me,” Ponder said in a message board posting, linked on the Steamwheelers Web site.

“I respect you the fans from all the teams in this league. You support your teams with pride, and a coach should never do anything to doubt that support.”