Over a Cup of Coffee
by Jerry Hewitt
Published on March 24, 2010 under Southern Indoor Football League (SIFL)
The week that was
Monday morning I ran a check of league websites to see what had been updated over the weekend and what had not. The IFL had nothing new on their front page posted since last Thursday even though I know a number of its teams put out press releases. Granted there were scoring updates and I think some changes in the standings, but no "real" news. In the ongoing Pointstreak debate on whether it is a good replacement for other stat programs, not much of a change. Two games were not reported and one dubbed unofficial. Best news for the IFL over the weekend was their Richmond Revolution team drawing almost three times the crowd that their rival AIFA team did.
The SIFL kicked off its season with problems as Houston dropped out just a few days before they were scheduled against Louisiana in the leagues opener. The replacement, the IIFA North Texas Crunch although someone down in that area told me it wasn't the Crunch at all, but the IIFA Texas Pirates. No matter who it really was, the 88-6 win by the Swashbucklers was tarnished by bringing in a substandard team. Their use of Twitter to update fans on scores was good and they got up their releases in a more or less timely manner, but as of Monday morning I couldn't find stats for either of the two games played.
The AIFA had 12 games on their schedule. A quick check of their site found one story update, the Mariners win over Fayetteville. All the scores were in on their news ticker as was the standings update. Only four of the 11 games plated through Sunday were posted.
Overall the leagues failed to one degree or another in their reporting of games. No mention of the CIFL here today since they took the weekend off.
In the games, several of note. Last seasons undefeated CIFL Champion Chicago Slaughter fell to 0-3. What a difference a change in league means. The IFL Richmond Revolution continued to surprise by upping their record to 3-0, but bigger news than that was their AIFA rival across town, the Bandits drew a reported 1200 fans as opposed to the Revolution's over 3000. A double victory for the IFL team. The AIFA's Baltimore Mariners are looking like the class of the league as they are off to their best start in team history at 3-0 and recorded the leagues first ever shut out over Fayetteville this weekend. Also off to a great start are the West Michigan Thunderhawks as they are 2-0 after defeating Rochester this weekend on a buzzer beating late touchdown. Of note, the Alaska Wild recorded their first road win ever this weekend. That I find hard to believe, but true.
In the IFL we have four teams yet to suffer a loss. In the AIFA, four, although only Baltimore at 3-0 have played more than one game in that group. Not enough games played in the SIFL or CIFL to bother with who's undefeated as of yet. The disappointments, teams yet to win, number five in the AIFA and in the IFL, seven. Still a very young season though and win losses don't mean that much yet.
The Tri Cities Fever, IFL, is one of the few, if not the only team I've seen news coming out over a bye week. Appears even during time off they don't want fans forgetting about them.
The week that is
The AIFA opens Friday with one game, Wenatchee (1-0) at Wyoming (1-0), On Saturday action continues with New Jersey (0-2) at Fayetteville (0-1), Erie (1-1) at Reading, (1-2) and out west San Jose (1-0) at Ogden (9-1). The AIFA weekend winds up Sunday with two games, Yakima (0-1) up in Alaska at the Arctic Predators (0-1) and Richmond (1-1) visiting undefeated Baltimore (3-0)
Impact games. Wenatchee (1-0) at Wyoming (1-0) and Erie ((1-1) at Reading (1-2)
Best match ups. Wenatchee (1-0) at Wyoming (1-0)
Don't miss. ?
Possible upsets. Ogden (0-1) over San Jose (1-0)
AIFA Notes. Its a slow week in the AIFA with most of the games outcome not even a question, but still have to play the games. Out west it appears there may actually be a race for the first time in AIFA history and the crown not just handed to Wyoming. Ogden drew a whopping 1200 for their game this last Monday. I'll be interested to see if playing on Saturday makes any difference in attendance. Last years AIFA champion Reading is off to a slow start at 1-2, but the season still young although feel this game at home this weekend against Erie a must win for the Express.
The IFL has the most exciting line up of games this week with four days of action beginning on Friday with Bloomington (3-1) at Green Bay (2-1). Action continues Saturday with Abilene (0-2) at Arkansas (2-1), Corpus Christi (2-1) at San Angelo (1-1), West Texas (1-2) at Amarillo (0-1), Alaska (2-1) coming south to take on Chicago (0-3), Colorado (0-3) at Sioux City (1-2) and Tri Cities (0-2) hosting in state rival Kent (-3). Sunday has Sioux Falls (3-0) hosting LaCrosse (0-2) and what I find a strange quirk in the scheduling Rochester (1-1) at West Michigan (2-0) for the second week in a row. Monday Wichita (2-1) is at Omaha (1-1) to round off the weekend.
Impact games. Bloomington (3-1) at Green Bay (2-1)., Rochester (1-1) at West Michigan (2-0), and Wichita (2-1)at Omaha (1-1)
Best match ups. Rochester (1-1) at West Michigan (2-0), Wichita (2-1) is at Omaha (1-1)
Don't miss. Wichita (2-1) is at Omaha (1-1)
Possible upset. None
IFL Notes. This is the week we find out if Alaska is a contender as they go for the second road win against a winless Chicago team. I don't know who did the IFL scheduling, but maybe they should be shot. Last weekend West Michigan escaped at home with a close win over Rochester, now face them again. two weeks in a row folks? Come on.
The CIFL returns to action this weekend with just one game, Marion (0-0) at Chicago (0-0). And down south only one game scheduled in the SIFL, Louisiana (1-0) at Columbus (0-0)
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Southern Indoor Football League Stories from March 24, 2010
- Over a Cup of Coffee - OSC Original by Jerry Hewitt
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer(s), and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
