Partlow and Campbell change AFL teams

Winchester Star
By Star Staff Report
Friday, November 2, 2007

Winchester’s own Brian Partlow and Lang Campbell will return for another season in the Arena Football League. It just won’t be where they finished up last year.

The Austin Wranglers were one of three AFL teams to fold or relocate after last season. The Wranglers dropped down to the af2 for financial reasons, while Nashville folded and the Las Vegas Gladiators relocated to Cleveland.

Partlow, a longtime AFL assistant who got his first head coaching opportunity with Austin last season, signed on as offensive coordinator for Las Vegas shortly before the team moved to Cleveland. It was as an offensive coordinator for the Colorado Crush where Partlow won an AFL title.

Campbell, who started eight games at quarterback for Partlow’s Wranglers during his first season in the AFL, was the second selection in the league’s dispersal draft this past week. Campbell, a former All-American at William & Mary, showed signs of promise by passing for 2,279 yards with 41 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.

"Obviously, I’m disappointed things didn’t work out in Austin," said Partlow, whose Wranglers went 4-12 in his first year as head coach. "We’d liked to have had a better year. But we have a good opportunity here."

Partlow rejoins head coach Mike Wilpolt in Cleveland. The two previously coached together for three seasons in Indiana and one in Albany.