Commentary: NIFL daily buzz

by Jerry Hewitt
Published on May 1, 2006 under National Indoor Football League (NIFL)

Been a long weekend in the NIFL preceded by an even longer week, but not over quite yet as the Florida Frenzy entertains the Charleston Sandsharks tonight down in Hollywood.

A little bird told me

In a talk late yesterday with a source that seems to have all the info, but rarely gives me much, although what they have has been right on the money, told me Big Sky and these other fires are only the tip of the iceberg. I wonder how much worse things could be. I wonder what is it that is still out there waiting to blow up in the NIFL's face.

The last in week eight

Tonight 2-2 Charleston takes the trip to South Florida to take on the improving Florida Frenzy. The Sandsharks started the season 2-0, then lost two straight. Florida started slow, but then showed life in destroying Montgomery a couple weeks back, after playing it close with 5-0 Fayetteville the week before. Now after a week off, the 1-3 Frenzy look to continue winning. Charleston needs to step it up if they are going to stay in this game. Averaging 42 points a game won't be enough against Florida who is averaging only about 35 a game, but in their last two, averaged 53. I'd like to say that the defenses would play a big role here and they might, but neither teams defense has been anything but average so far this season. Florida has been busy recruiting, play at home, won their last game, played close the week before against one of the best in the league, while Charleston lost last week at home to Greensboro and the week before at Osceola. Take the Frenzy to win their second game on the NIFL version of Monday Night Football.

The rest of the way, the Pacific North

Since Billings has completed half of their season, we'll preview the second half of the Pacific North today. There isn't any question this is a two way race for the division title. Unless something dramatically happens, Big Sky won't figure in any part of it except to just continue to lose.

I've looked at both the Fever and the Outlaws schedules and overall they appear pretty even. The only major difference and its a big one is Billings trip to Wyoming in two weeks. Right now Billings is 6-1 and the Fever 4-2. The Fever have already paid their dues at the hands of Wyoming in Casper which accounts for one of their two losses. If Billings wins in Casper, they hold all the cards, but should they lose, its a wide open race again with June 24th looming at the key to who wins the division. That date marks the third time these two teams square off.

In this last meeting, neither team played up to their ability, but all that aside, the question mark for both still lies at the quarterback position. Billings has lost Chris Dixon to the af2 and evidentially the Outlaws have no confidence in their other two since they suited up offensive coordinator Bob Bees last game. In the Fever camp, they feel Joe Wiser is the answer to leading them to the promised land. Wiser may be and then again maybe not. I go back to who Wiser has played against and feel he has yet to be tested. If either of these teams ever gets the quarterback situation under control and stay healthy the rest of the way, either could be the next NIFL Champion.

Both teams have undefeated Raid City in their future, once at home, once on the road. I feel both teams will fare equally against the Aces. Billings has two games left against Big Sky, both should be wins. The only other game on their schedule is a visit from Tennessee, which again the Outlaws should win. The Fever also have Big Sky twice more, but also have St' Joseph twice as well. That should translate into four easy wins. If there is a stumbling block, it's the long road trip down to Beaumont. The Fever appear to be the better team, but long road trips can cause the better team to end up with a loss.

There is no reason for me to believe that these two will probably still be one game apart when June 24th rolls around with the winner taking the Pacific North. The Fever will have one game remaining after that, Billings will have completed their schedule and if the Fever need a win, that game is at St. Joseph.

Join the fun

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Fire watch

Our fire watch was updated yesterday to include Big Sky. No change in Greensboro and Dayton, although we are down grading the status in Palm Beach In all other areas, fire crews report no idea of containment time. That leaves Montgomery, Arkansas and Rapid City still raging out of control. Heavy thunderstorms are rolling through Arkansas and fire crews have been alerted to be ready to hit hot spots there if a fire is spotted.

Weather forecast

Official NIFL weather report and fire control updates. NIFL fire crews are hard at work trying to contain some of the fires, while they are just letting some burn themselves out. In some areas, local fire crews have been left on their own to battle the blazes. Reports from our watch towers are no new sightings, but the weather forecast includes a 90% chance of thunderstorms over the next eleven weeks. Additional fire crews have been put on alert that their services could be needed at a moments notice and should be prepared to go anywhere in the NIFL forest. As always, we have our own spotters that will be on the front lines covering the disasters as they happen.

National Indoor Football League Stories from May 1, 2006

• ThunderBolts Remain Perfect - Lakeland ThunderBolts
• Commentary: NIFL daily buzz - OSC Original by Jerry Hewitt

The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer(s), and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.