In The Locker Room With Blair Boynton
Published on April 22, 2010 under Indoor Football League (IFL)
Tri-Cities Fever News Release
Blair Boynton has learned quite a few things in his short time in the Indoor Football League.
But his most valuable lesson, and the one that could pay off big for him down the road, came less than thirty minutes into his first game with the Tri-Cities Fever.
"You have got to be versatile," the former Northern Arizona standout said.
Boynton (6-foot-3, 260 pounds) was signed by the Fever to help anchor the defensive line. In the Fever's season opener he was thrust onto the offensive line after
Tavita Thompson was ejected in the second quarter against the Fairbanks Grizzlies.
Boynton, who had played some tight end in college and receiver in middle school, wasn't completely unfamiliar about playing offensive.
He just knew when he got called to fill in, he was going to be in for a busy night. He just never imagined that the game would last nearly four hours and end after four overtimes.
"I was definitely tired," Boynton admitted.
But his goal was to help his team succeed even if that meant playing every down for more than 31/2 hours.
Since the opening night marathon, Boynton has returned to his more natural position at defensive end and has been one the Fever's most consistent pass rushers this season. And that is where he will be Saturday night when the Fever (1-4) hosts the defending IFL champion Billings Outlaws (5-1) at 7:05 p.m. at Toyota Center.
"He's a very self-less player that wants to win," said Fever coach Adam Shackleford.
This season is not Shackleford's first encounter with Boynton.
Boynton, who was an honorable mention all-Big Sky selection in 2007, was signed by the Shock in the arenafootball2 league last season. But before Boynton ever got to play a down for the Shock, he was traded to Amarillo. It's a move that Shackleford says he would like to have back.
"I wish I could have that decision back," Shackleford said.
But both Boynton and Shackleford understood the situation. Boynton was caught in the cross-hairs of the collapse of the Arena Football League. Several Shock players who moved up to the AFL were now back in Spokane, and Shackleford thought it was in his best interest that he trade Boynton so he could get acclimated with the arena game.
Boynton harbored no hard feelings about the trade, and was ready to prove himself with the Dusters. But that didn't go as planned. In his second game, he tore his ACL and his meniscus and was out for the season.
"That was tough," Boynton said.
The season-ending injury came less than three years after losing a season at Northern Arizona to an injury. In 2006, he played just nine plays for the Lumberjacks before breaking his arm.
He returned for a standout season in 2007 and was expecting to play again in 2008, but he was not granted a redshirt season for 2006 and was left scrambling.
He went to a few workouts, but nothing panned out until Shackleford contacted him prior to the 2009 season.
Just as things were getting on track, another injury.
But in his time in Amarillo, he and former Fever quarterback Colin Drafts became friends. And when Drafts signed with the Fever, he contacted Boynton about joining him.
Shackleford reached out again, and Boynton obliged.
Drafts eventually signed with the Dallas Vigilantes of the new AFL, but Boynton is here to stay. He is getting that experience and game film that Shackleford believes will take him to the next level whether it be the AFL or the Canadian Football League.
"He's going to get an opportunity," Shackleford said.
But right now, he just wants that next opportunity to get a win for the Fever.
"We'll get this thing turned around," Boynton said. "We have too many good players not to."
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