Schmitz, Extreme Prepare For Play-offs

Published on May 27, 2010 under Indoor Football League (IFL)
Bloomington Extreme News Release


There have been many ups and downs this season for the Bloomington Extreme (6-5), but under Head Coach Ted Schmitz, the Extreme are ending the season on a high note. With only three games left in the regular season, the Extreme are in the hunt for the play-offs and need to win these games to secure a spot in the post-season.

After an embarrassing loss to the Omaha Beef, Extreme General Manager Beau Bradle, called for a coaching change and brought in Schmitz to command the team before the play-offs arrived. Schmitz completely changed everything for the extreme, offense, defense, and special teams. This took a tremendous amount of effort by both the coaching staff and players, but their endeavors have reaped rewards by winning three straight games against the Chicago Slaughter and twice against the La Crosse Spartans. "[Changing the offense, defense, and special teams] took a great amount of concentration by the players, and we didn't know how well it would work, but the players got better because of it," said Schmitz. "You don't even realize it as a player sometimes, but everyone saw [improvement from the changes], and by concentrating and putting their minds together, we began to win games."

However the road to the play-offs will not be easy. Even though Bloomington dug themselves out of a proverbial play-off hole, they still need to take care of business. Next week the West Michigan Thunderhawks come to U.S. Cellular Coliseum with a 5-5 record, in what could be a pre-play-off match-up. "They scored 69 at Green Bay in three quarters and lost the game," said Schmitz. "We got to play hard, smart, and if everyone keeps their head in the game we can pull through." After West Michigan, Bloomington has two road games against the Maryland Maniacs and the La Crosse Spartans before the post-season begins.

The Extreme are the seventh of eight teams that are current in position to make the play-offs within the United Conference. West Michigan, Chicago, and the Sioux City Bandits all have a chance to steal this spot from the Extreme if they cannot close out the season with nothing but victories. The IFL play-off match-ups though are not determined by ranks, but instead by the region in which the teams play. This means the Extreme could play the best or worst team in the conference for their first play-off game. But Bloomington is ready for whatever challenge lies before them. "I don't care who we play in the play-offs," said Schmitz, "Whether we play at home or on the road, we just play the game, and we will be prepared for who ever."

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