IFL Indoor Football League

Over a Cup of Coffee

by Jerry Hewitt
Published on April 8, 2010 under Indoor Football League (IFL)


First this morning I want to thank all who emailed me on yesterday's little piece on the new Ultimate Indoor Football League. It's gratifying to know that I can get agreement on some subjects.

I am first to admit that the sport has improved from all angles over the years. If we get another bad league into the mix, it could put the sport back. None of us want that. Indoor football may be closer to national recognition and acceptance than any of us may really know. It would be a crime for all who have worked hard toward this goal to see it take a step backward because one person with an unflattering history got involved.

I may point out the negative more than most, but I also support the efforts made to improve. Right now as I write this I can find little new in the negative to write about. Five years ago leagues and teams would have been giving me fresh ammunition almost daily. That in itself tells me there has been improvement.

I am not saying the UIFL is bad. There's not enough information to make any judgment, but if the man rumored to be behind it is true, there is reason for concern due to his track record of failure in minor league sports.

But now on with today, a great day here in Florida: a beautiful morning, no humidity and so peaceful. The humidity part will be changing all too soon I'm afraid. But beautiful or not, humidity or not, I want to look at the playoff picture in the IFL.

Overall I see the races in the AIFA, SIFL and IFL to be the best I've seen. I'm not leaving the CIFL out, but it's too soon to tell. To date this has been a great season for fans and may turn out to be one of the most completive on the field ever.

Let's start in the Atlantic East where the West Michigan Thunderhawks lead it all with a 3-0 record. Richmond is close on their heels at 3-1. Both teams have to be considered a surprise to be number one and two in their division, but they have proved they deserve it by beating teams favored before the season began. Should either slip, Rochester is close behind at 2-2 and ready to move up. Maryland at 0-3 could provide interest with an upset win or two. I'm not counting West Michigan, Richmond or Rochester to capture the division title at this point. I think there may be several lead changes before it is over.

In the Central North Green Bay, new to the IFL from the defunct af2, leads things at 4-1. This is a surprise to me as I would have expected second place 2-2 Bloomington to be leading the division. The Central North looks like a two team race with neither Chicago nor La Crosse looking like they are improving. A one point win at home against the Alaska Wild doesn't tell me anything about improvement in Chicago. No, in my opinion it is a two team race and right now the odds are on the Green Bays side with a two game lead.

The Central West has to be the most interesting of the division races, especially after Wichita upset the Storm last week in Sioux Falls, but let's back up to before the season. River City folded and the Omaha Beef hand-picked their best players. The Rage made it to the championship game last year and one would figure adding good players from there to what was already a good Beef team should lead to the playoffs, but they sit at third with a 2-2 record. So even if you didn't figure the Beef to be the division champ, you most likely looked at Sioux Falls. Even though Wichita made the playoffs last season, most would not expect them to be tied with Sioux Falls for the division lead at 4-1, let alone beating the Storm in Sioux Falls. It is all so interesting isn't it? Sioux City sits at 2-2 with the Beef this week and most likely will play a role in who takes the division as well. The Bandits are not a bad team, just inconsistent. I think on any given night they might beat any other team in their division. I won't even attempt to predict the winner in this division. I'd have to go too far out on a very weak limb to do that, but suffice to say, every game played for the top four will count.

Now we move over to the Lonestar East where Arkansas, another af2 refugee leads at 4-1 They are followed by San Angelo at 3-1, then Corpus and Austin. This is too simple: Arkansas will win the division. They are the best team, period. The battle here is for second place, nothing more. The biggest disappointment in the IFL this year is also in this division, Austin. Austin made it to the SIFL championship game last season and most figured them to have more of an impact than their 1-2 record. I know I expected more.

In the Lonestar West ex-af2 Amarillo leads it again with a 3-0 record. Amarillo should take this three team division easily with West Texas and Abilene only having one win between them.

Finally we come to the Pacific North where current records may be the most misleading of any of the IFL divisions. Clearly Billings is the best out west and maybe in the IFL. Last season's United Bowl winner stands at 3-1, a half game behind 4-1 leader Fairbanks. I doubt many would question that Billings could run the table, even having to face out of division Sioux Falls in Billings later this season. Fairbanks will lose steam as usual on the road, but remain tough at home. Alaska, at 2-3, is an improved team over last season, but unlikely to find the playoffs. Both Kent and Tri Cities still are looking to find their way. I can't figure out Kent. They might be better than they appear, and I know Tri-Cities is a good team still trying to figure out the indoor game after several years in af2. Tri-Cities is the one that may end up challenging Billings if any step up to that task.

This article and more archived at The Indoor Football Report located at www.IndoorFootballNetwork.com Comments about this article or suggestions can be made to indoorbowl@yahoo.com

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Indoor Football League Stories from April 8, 2010


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.


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