Fever Open IFL Play at Fairbanks
Published on March 7, 2010 under Indoor Football League (IFL)
Tri-Cities Fever News Release
The next chapter in Tri-Cities Fever football history begins today when it travels to take on the Fairbanks Grizzlies in its Indoor Football League debut.
The Fever, now it its sixth season of indoor football, joined the IFL in the offseason, after playing three seasons in the now defunct arenafootball2 league.
The Fever and new coach Adam Shackelford hopes the IFL will provide a fresh start for an organization.
"I really don't know what to expect," he said. "I'm kind of the new guy on the block.
I have a lot of confidence in my guys, but we haven't had a live hit or made a live block yet."
Shackleford is not alone in being new to the IFL. Not one player on the Fever roster has IFL experience and just a handful of players have played indoor football.
There are also several new faces on the Fever roster. Of the 21 players expected to dress for Monday's game, just three (Jo Artis Ratti, Curtis Terry and Ray Little) played for the Fever last season.
Despite the lack of experience, Shackleford has not lowered his expectations for the first game. Plainly put, he wants to win. But to do this, he knows his team needs to play well.
Fairbanks (1-0) is coming off a one-point victory over Alaska in its season opener last week and has played one exhibition game.
"We have a lot of young talent," Shackleford said. "I think it's going to come down to who can run the football better."
That will be the job of Tyson Thompson. The former Dallas Cowboys kick returner and running back will make his first IFL start and play in his first game since 2008. He will be backed up by Demetrius Crawford, a 5-foot-9, 195-pound running back from Montana State.
And don't forget quarterback Andy Collins, one of the veterans of indoor football on the Fever roster.
Collins, who played for the Stockton Lightning last season in the af2, will start behind center where he is equally dangerous with his arm and his legs.
In four games for the Lightning, Collins threw for 931 yards and 18 touchdowns. He also ran 25 times for 161 yards and seven more touchdowns. The 161 yards rushing turned out to be a team-high for the Lightning.
But, Collins, like Shackleford hopes that success will translate into the IFL, game that resembles more of the outdoor game than it does arena football.
"I'm a little nervous," said Shackleford, who was 49-8 as an af2 head coach. "This is not arena football anymore."
WEEK 1 PREVIEW:
Tri-Cities Fever (0-0) at Fairbanks (1-0) Grizzlies
When: 7:05 p.m., Monday, March 8.
Where: Carlson Center.
On the air: Radio: KONA 610 AM or watch the game live at KIMO's on the B2 Network.
Last week: Tri-Cities did not play. Fairbanks beat Alaska 29-28.
Series history: First meeting.
2009 records: Tri-Cities 3-13 (af2). Fairbanks 7-7 (IFL).
Notes: Tri-Cities has not won a season opener since beating Billings to open the 2006 season... has not won a road game since 2008... does not have a player on its roster with IFL experience... temperature was -1 degrees when the Fever landed Sunday in Fairbanks... Tri-Cities will wear Southridge High School jerseys for the game because the team's road jerseys were burned in a house fire earlier in the week.
Indoor Football League Stories from March 7, 2010
- Fever Open IFL Play at Fairbanks - Tri-Cities Fever
- Richmond Revolution Win 49-37 In Bloomington - Richmond Revolution
- Roughnecks Defeat Abilene 36-33 With Late Touchdown Off Blocked Field Goal - West Texas Roughnecks
- Blizzard Win Opener 69-61 - Green Bay Blizzard
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