Empire Prepared for Offseason and Free Agency
August 11, 2016 - Indoor Football League (IFL)
Spokane Empire News Release
SPOKANE, Washington (August 11, 2015) - Empire Head Coach Adam Shackleford reflects on Spokane's inaugural season as a member of the IFL in 2016 and looks ahead to 2017.
The Empire finished the regular season with a 12-4 overall record and then hosted the Intense Conference Championship game at Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena where they defeated the three-time defending conference champion, Nebraska Danger. Despite falling just shy of their final goal of a United Bowl Championship, the team accomplished a number of notable achievements in their first season.
A total of six Empire players received All-IFL honors in 2016. First team members included running back Trevor Kennedy, offensive lineman Dave Lefotu, and defensive back Robert Brown. Quarterback Charles Dowdell, linebacker Nick Haag, and defensive lineman Benjamin Perry earned second team accolades. Running back Trevor Kennedy was also named the IFL Offensive Rookie of the Year.
Tell us a little about the timetable for the offseason and key dates fans need to look out for:
"We are finishing up a few football operation related details from the 2016 season, primarily player housing and medical. Unfortunately, a few guys went down toward the end of our long stretch of regular season games and playoffs, so we want to make sure they are taken care of with our team doctors and medical partners. We have also started working toward 2017 with talking to guys about re-signing contracts, building our free agent database, and then working towards the free agency period which opens up on October 1. Before that date, coaches are not permitted to communicate with players that ended the 2016 IFL season signed to another team's roster. After October 1, free agency will officially be wide open, and coaches have the ability to sign veteran players. I know the league is working on the 2017 schedule. From what I understand the season will start at relatively the same time as last year, so we'll look to open up training camp in early February."
How does the offseason recruitment process work for an IFL staff?
"Just like it does during the regular season. It's a constant cycle and we're always recruiting. Outside of the restricted signing period that occurs from the start of playoffs to October 1, we're always scouting for new players that may be able to help us out. You have to stay proactive about finding the best players out there. This time of year is extremely busy as you watch NFL and CFL rosters, plus begin preparing your database with players entering their final collegiate season."
Do you have specific positions you are keying on in this offseason?
"Being limited to a 25-man active roster during the season and then only being able to sign 40 players for training camp, you need to focus on building depth and finding the best talent available. We'll look at all positions. You never know what may come up over the course of the offseason. There will be guys that get an opportunity in the NFL or CFL, an injury may occur, or even just when other life factors may change a young man's plans over the next 4-6 months."
Over your seven seasons so far in the IFL, have you found a "magic number" of players that you seek to re-sign to your roster from the previous year?
"With one-year contracts, you are always going to have some movement on your roster. You have limited roster spots, plus have to take into account the IFL vet rule where you can only have seven players out of twenty-five that has more than three seasons of experience. Guys are going to get opportunities in the NFL or CFL, guys are going to move between teams, and you always need to be recruiting the best talent available if you want to compete for a championship."
The team just announced an open tryout in Miami for the second consecutive season, what's your outlook in Florida? Do you have plans for additional workouts?
"We're very excited about the opportunity to work with The Chamber in Davie (FL) and Chris Chamber's staff for a second year. I won't take the credit on this one, however, the tryout in Florida is totally a product of my Assistant Coach Cleveland Pratt. It's his hometown area and he's been able to utilize his contacts down there to set it all up again. They have a great facility down there, and we all know how many talented players there are down in the southeast. Last year we found a guy that quickly made a name for himself this season as the IFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, Trevor Kennedy. We also have kept in contact with a few other guys that we got to take a look at last year that you may see one or two in training camp this year. As far as additional workouts, yes we plan to host more events. We're currently looking at additional opportunities in my hometown of Cincinnati (OH) and then a couple in the Northwest in Spokane and the Seattle area."
Sell me Spokane. Let's hear your pitch to a prospective young professional athlete and how you get them to play for you in the Inland Pacific Northwest:
"Spokane has a tradition, a winning tradition. We've had indoor and arena football here going on twelve consecutive seasons. We have a tremendous fan base and sponsors that support their local sports teams. We also provide our players with the best housing, meals, and medical coverage we can within the rules of the IFL in support of your effort to getting back to the NFL and CFL opportunities you are seeking. We are building an empire in Spokane and we want high-character, high-quality football players that are going to give their ultimate attention and focus on winning a championship. Are you ready -
The Empire went through a rebrand last season as a part of their transition to the IFL. With that, the team also had to battle some fan concerns about the change in the style of play. How do you think they liked the new league, game, and players?
"I talked to a lot of fans and received great feedback. They enjoy the game style more as it incorporates outdoor elements like the running game and play-action. They also really enjoyed the players and how hard they play. All of these young men are out here looking to get on NFL and CFL rosters, so they play with a tremendous amount of heart and determination. Another big piece of what we heard was also about the quality of men and great community members they were. We're looking forward to building with those fans and sponsors that stuck with us last year, getting some of our traditional supports back on board this season, and introducing an entirely new group of fans to the game of indoor football."
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Indoor Football League Stories from August 11, 2016
- Empire Prepared for Offseason and Free Agency - Spokane Empire
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