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Not the Same \'Ole Coyotes

April 27, 2005 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Central Valley Coyotes News Release


It took the 2004 Coyotes 18 weeks to earn their third victory of the season. This year's new-look team is poised to match that win total in Week 5 of the 2005 season when they take on the Bakersfield Blitz at Selland Arena this Saturday.

"My phone would ring and the caller would go ‘knock, knock,'" head coach Fred Biletnikoff Jr. said. "When asked ‘who's there?' they would say ‘Owen.' I would say ‘Owen who?' And they would say ‘0 and five.'"

These were the types of jokes Biletnikoff Jr. and the rest of the Coyotes were the brunt of last season when they lost their first five and stumbled to a 3-13 record, but this year they look to make their opponents feel the pain they became familiar with throughout their first season in Fresno.

Ask anyone that was associated with last year's team what the major difference is from this season to last, and you will get one common response—everything.

"Last year we started a franchise in early February and we had to get ready to play in March," Biletnikoff Jr. said. "There was virtually no offseason, which made it impossible to get players and prepare."

This year, the Coyotes took full advantage of their first real offseason since their move to Fresno. The franchise brought 18 new players to just seven returnees.

"Camp had a much different feel than last year," said OL/DL Nathan Frowsing, who played for the Coyotes last season. "Everyone was much more prepared, and we brought in a lot of experience."

Experience is exactly what the Coyotes brought in as only eight players on Central Valley's 25-man roster are in their rookie season.

"We were very successful in getting guys to come to Fresno from other teams," Biletnikoff Jr. said. "Guys feel like we have a great opportunity to turn this organization into a winning one."

Although the season is still too young for anyone to tell the contenders from the pretenders, it is safe to say the Coyotes have made huge strides.

Last week against Arkansas, the Coyotes finished the game with a 30-point quarter to seal a 71-41 victory over the Twisters.

"Last season we were lucky to score 30 points in a game," Biletnikoff Jr. said.

Whether or not these Coyotes can make a playoff run remains to be seen, but what can be seen is that the joke is no longer on them.

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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.

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