Diesel Monthly
April 2, 2002 - National Indoor Football League (NIFL)
Tri-City Diesel News Release
Youngsters Get Diesel Price Break
by Lynn McBride
Because of an announcement from the Diesel front office late last month the young ones amongst us get a better-than-ever deal when it comes to ticket prices.
For the rest of the season those 12 years of age and under get into the Diesel games for half price,said General Manager Mike Skeen.
Obviously a good deal for a family night out at the Diesel Dome,the special price applies to any seat bought fro each of the six remaining home games on the Diesel schedule.This goes for any of the reserved seating available,as well as the general admission tickets,Skeen added.
Anyone in attendance at the opening game with LaCrosse on the 16th can attest to the fine evening s entertainment a game at the Diesel Dome can be.
The action is fast-paced,the hits are hard,the atmosphere is charged with excitement,and there is something interesting going on all the time,whether it be between-the-quarters high jinks with some sort of contest,or a precision drill performed by the Diesel Locomotion Dancers during a timeout. The half price special for the 12-and-unders is a message from the Diesel that pure,wholesome family outings area priority that is not taken lightly.
Laker Girls To Perform at Diesel Dome
By Lynn McBride
Straight from Los Angeles and the cnfines of the Staples Center,the Laker Girls will be performing during the Billings game in the Diesel Dome on April 6th.
The showstoppers,dancers for the National Basketball Association s Los Angeles Lakers,are brought to Kearney through a cooperative ven- ture by the Diesel Operations,Crossroads Ford,The Chicken Coop,and Rock 101.5,an FM radio station,all in Kearney.
Sure to be a crowd pleaser,the performance will feature personal appearances around the arena during the evening as well as routines at various times during the game on Saturday.The nationally recognized dancers bring an extra level of excitement to the Tri-Cities.
On Saturday afternoon the Laker Girls can be welcomed to Kearney during an autograph session at Crossroads Ford from 1:00 until 3:00. Then,after teh game they will grace the atmosphere of the Chicken Coop in Kearney for another session of autographs.
Along with the feverish pitch of excitement that is usual in the Diesel Dome that comes with a football game,the Laker Girls will add another dimension to that on Saturday night,the 6th.Plans should be made now to attend the special event for the Diesel game with the Billings Outlaws.
Diesel Derails Night Train in Season Opener
By Lynn McBride
The Night Train from LaCrosse,Wisconsin,felt the sting of the Diesel in the season s opening game,being sent home with a 49-18 loss.The game took place in the Diesel Dome in Kearney.
Three names from last year loomed large in the decisive win.Jeremy Jensen pirated three Night Train passes,returning them for a total of 60 yards.One of the returns went back 30 yards and scored a TD for the Diesel.Dale Van Housen,the workhorse tail back on the O side of the ball,notched five touchdowns in the game.The longest scamper was a 12-yarder,with the others being from six,five,two,and two.The other name that was a household fixture last year was Jimmie Moore, the Diesel kick-return specialist.He carried four kicks back for a total of 103 yards,the longest being a 49-yard thriller that ended just inches short of the goal line.
Overall,the Diesel defense pretty much picked up from where they left off last season.The Night Train,although gaining 147 yards through the air,managed just 23 yards on the ground.
The Diesel played errorless ball in the fumbling department,but did, however,five up four interceptions.On the other side,though,Jensen s three picks were added to by a couple from Jay Christensen,and one each by Jimmie Moore and Craig Neuhaus.
Darin Tankersley,a newcomer from Eastern Oregon,handled the kick- ing chores,managing seven out of eight.Two field goals of 18 and 30 yards added to the Diesel point total quite nicely,and five-of-six conver- sion kicks booted in five more points.
Beef s First Quarter Dooms Diesel
By Lynn McBride
With a 21-point output in the first quarter,the Omaha Beef took com- mand early-on and coasted out with a 37-20 win.The game,played in Civic Auditorium in Omaha,was the first of the season for the Beef.The loss put the Diesel at one win and one loss in the young season.
The game,despite the score,was not without bright moments for the Diesel,however.Even though the Beef defense asserted itself through- out the game,the Diesel offense piled up 137 total yards.Darin Tanker- sley kicked field goals of 41 and 29 yards,and Tavares Thompson,the Diesel quarterback,threw for 67 yards,29 more than the Beef managed to gain through the air.Two of the catches went to Dale Van Housen and Eric Ryan,both for touchdowns.Van Housen s covered 38 yards,while the scoring toss to Ryan capped a 10-yard play.
The Diesel D snagged three Beef passes.Jeremy Jensen pirated two of them,returning a total of 39 yards.35 of those yards cam on one of the interceptions.Charles Verdone stole the other Beef interception.
The Beef outgunned the Diesel 21-7 in that opening quarter,but then was held to single digits after that.A blocked field goal attempt accounted for safety points in the second quarter,the only points the Beef got in that stanza.The Diesel,onthe other hand,managed just three in that same time frame,a field goal by Tankersley.The Diesel outscored the Beef 10-7 in the third quarter,but was blanked in the final frame as the Beef added the clincher with a TD with just over seven min- utes remaining in the game.
Eric Ryan had a team-leading five unassisted tackles on his way to a total of nine in the game.Jimmie Moore recorded four solos,one more than did Craig Neuhaus and Anthony Parker.
The Diesel and the Beef meet again on May 10 in the Diesel Dome.That will be the third game of a three-game home stand for the Diesel.
Major Addition to Quarterback Corps Announced
By Lynn McBride
In a gleeful statement from the Diesel front office the addition of Justin Coleman s name to the team s roster brings smiles to followers of the Diesel fortunes.
We re happy to announce the addition of Justin Coleman to the roster of the Diesel,was the announcement from General Manager Mike Skeen. Coleman,a McCook native,comes with lofty credentials.
Coming in at 6-5 and 235 pounds,Coleman had a stellar career at UNK, finishing his eligibility after the 2000 season.Almost every record deal- ing with the offensive side of the ball was rewritten during Coleman s tenure as a Loper.
Because of feats displayed while at UNK,Coleman was named to the All-RMAC (Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference)team all four years as a Loper.The All-American finished the 2001 season as a finalist for the Harlan Hill trophy,the NCAA Division II equivalent to the Heisman Trophy that is awarded to the top player in NCAA Division I each year.Better- ing that recognition after his senior year,Coleman finished second in the balloting for the Harlan Hill Trophy.
Coleman,coming in with indoor league experience,has been on the Chi- cago Rush roster,as well as that of an Indianapolis franchise.the return home puts him in touch with several former UNK teammates already on the Diesel roster.
Billings,Sioux City at Dome in April
By Lynn McBride
The Tri-City Diesel will entertain two teams in competition during the month of April.Billings will be in the Dome on Saturday,the 6th,and Sioux City will come visiting on Sunday,the 28th.
The Outlaws,the Billings team,comes in with a winning record for the short season.Playing three games so far,the Outlaws have won two and lost one.They will match wits with the Diesel s one win-one loss record.The Diesel had a bye in the schedule for the second week of the season.
Billings conquered the Diesel in a game at Billings last year,but lost to the Diesel later in the season in the Diesel Dome.The Outlaws ended the season with an even 500,posting a 7-7 record.This year the Billings team has beaten Casper and Rapid City,but has lost to Sioux Falls.The game on the 6th begins at 7:35 pm.
On April 28,a rare Sunday game,Sioux City Bandits come to the Tri-City area.The Bandits game is a departure from the norm,not only being a Sunday game,but the start time is slightly different.Game time on the 28th is 7:05 pm.
The Diesel are 2-1 all-time against the Bandits and 1-0 at home against the foe.Last year the Bandits ended the season with a disappointing 4-10 record last year.This year looks to be a little different than last,the Bandits are coming off an impressive week 1 win over Enid,Oklahoma, 63-3.
NEED AN EXTRA TICKET?
SINGLE GAME TICKET PRICES
SEAT LOCATION PRICE/TICKET
Bleachers $12.00
$15.00 $16.00
$20.00 $21.25
$25.00 $26.50
$30.00 $32.00 $40.00 $42.50
**CALL THE DIESEL OFFICE ABOUT GROUP DISCOUNTS **
• Discuss this story on the National Indoor Football League message board...
National Indoor Football League Stories from April 2, 2002
- Capitols Plan Special Events For Home Opener - Lincoln Capitols
- Diesel Monthly - Tri-City Diesel
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
