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Outlaws Ride Into 2004 Playoffs

June 24, 2004 - National Indoor Football League (NIFL) News Release


LAFAYETTE, LA--With seven consecutive wins to start the 2004 National Indoor Football League season, the Billings Outlaws are enjoying one of their most successful starts to date in Big Sky Country.

With the playoffs looming around the corner, the Outlaws now find themselves in the driver's seat in the Pacific Conference. With a record of 10-2 so far on the season, the Outlaws boast the best winning percentage in the Pacific, and currently sit atop the Pacific Conference playoff standings with two more games to go in the regular season. Continued success on the field will ensure prime playoff placement for the Billings Outlaws when the regular season comes to a conclusion in one week.

Billings, one of the founding teams of the NIFL, knows what it is like to play for a championship. Back in 2002, the Outlaws lost Indoor Bowl II against the Ohio Valley Greyhounds, 55-25. But that has not stopped the Outlaws goal of winning a championship and bringing glory to the Pacific Conference.

"Winning a championship is very important for our fans, and all fans in the Pacific," Outlaws Head Coach Dan Maciejczak said. "The East has dominated the NIFL, and we built this team to bring a championship to the Pacific."

With key players like wide receiver Cory Grow and linebacker Travis Salter, the Outlaws have continued strong play all season long. Grow is currently second in the NIFL in both receptions and receiving yards per game. He has hauled in 78 passes for 903 yards and 24 touchdowns. On the defensive side of the ball, Salter leads the NIFL in fumbles recovered with five and is third on the NIFL leader board in tackles, with 95 in 12 games played.

Head Coach Dan Maciejczak attributes his team's success to chemistry in the player ranks.

"We have great team chemistry, hands down," Maciejczak continued. "A lot of people thought we were crazy for bringing in several veterans, but all of our players have accepted their roles."

Off the field, Billings is also enjoying much success within the community. With attendance figures upwards of 3,000 fans per game...Outlaws fans continue to support their team in full force.

"Community support has been great this season," Outlaws General Manager Chris Geiss said. "Sponsorship revenue was up 40% over last season and we also set a franchise attendance record for the regular season."

On June 12th, Billings GM Chris Geiss stepped out on a limb and guaranteed a victory over the Sioux Falls Storm, another top team in the Pacific. Geiss noted that if the Outlaws lost that home game on June 12, all fans would get a free ticket to their regular season finale in Billings. In a move that seemed a little unconventional, especially since Billings was playing another top rated team, Geiss' claim was done for one main reason...to help rally fan support behind his team.

"My thinking was that if we put an extra 1,500 people in the arena that night, it would help us win on the field and also be an investment into having home field advantage throughout the playoffs," Geiss said. "Our players were motivated to play the biggest game of the regular season, as we ended up with a key win over the Storm."

While Billings has done some innovative things to drum up attendance this season, the Outlaws main goal as the playoffs near remains clear.

"Our team goal since day one has been to win the NIFL Championship," Maciejczak said. "Anything less than that will be an underachievement."

With one of their most successful seasons in history, and more fun to come as the playoffs near, the Outlaws continue to work hard in and around the Billings community to get the job done.

"There are some critics out there that have called us the Billings Yankees," Geiss continued. "We operate within the league rules, and refute any claim by those that think differently. Players come to Billings because this is the best place for a player to be treated in the entire league. Players come to Billings because of how great Duane Anderson is and how the community treats them...and they most of all, players come to Billings because they want to win a title."

Keep following the Billings Outlaws as they wrap up the NIFL regular season. This Saturday, the Outlaws travel to Utah as they play the Warriors at the E-Center. The next week, Billings will conclude their regular season on the road against the Wyoming Cavalry on Sunday, July 4th. For more information about the Billings Outlaws, please call (406) 259-2226.

For the full NIFL Playoff rundown, be sure to visit www.nationalindoorfootballleague.net and click on standings.



National Indoor Football League Stories from June 24, 2004


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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