Gene Simmons' LA Kiss Football Team Holds 1st Practice
WHITTIER (CBSLA.com) - Los Angeles' newest Arena Football League team the LA KISS held their first practice Saturday under head coach Bob McMillen at Whittier College.
Of the 34 players who participated in the team's first workout, only 24 will compete for LA's only pro football team.
The KISS, which is co-owned by singer Gene Simmons, was constructed through expansion drafts, trades and finding players from the AFL or washed up players from NFL.
2007 Heisman hopeful Colt Brenan, who was a standout Mater Dei High School, is KISS' best-known player.
The former Hawaii star quarterback was drafted by the Redskins in 2008 in the sixth round, but never played in a regular season game in the two years he spent in Washington.
The team will kick-off its season March 15 at San Antonio against the Talon. The home opener, which will be played at the Honda Center, will be on March 5 against the Portland Thunder
Former AFL player and veteran coach McMillen will oversee the expansion LA Kiss.
McMillen retired as a player in 2007, finishing as the AFL's second all-time leading rusher. He spent three years as coach of the league's Chicago Rush. Earlier this year, McMillen was elected into the league's hall of fame.
LA Kiss co-owners Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley helped announce McMillen's hiring on Tuesday.
Simmons says McMillen shares the ownership's philosophy of "go big or go home" in bringing "in-your-face football" to the region.