Warriors Using Bye Week to Prepare for Playoff Run
June 11, 2004 - National Indoor Football League (NIFL)
Utah Warriors News Release
West Valley City, UT â The Utah Warriors are off this week, but they are focusing their efforts on a final push towards the playoffs. On Tuesday the National Indoor Football League announced a change to its playoff format. Instead of the three division winners and one wild card per conference, it is now similar to the NFL with the three division winners and three wild cards. The two division winners with the best records will receive first round byes.
"With the various schedule changes, we had several teams playing an unbalanced schedule of opponents...some teams played too many divisional contests, some not enough," NIFL President Carolyn Shiver said. "League owners approved a proposal to change the rules and go with a 12-team format for the playoffs. Overall, it helps ensure that playoffs are fair for all teams, and I think you will see some great competitive games when the post season rolls around."
With the change, the Warriors now sit in the final spot in the Pacific Conference at 5-7. They are percentage points ahead of the Wyoming Cavalry who are 4-6. Utah finishes at Show Me (MO) next Thursday and at home against the Billings Outlaws on June 26. Wyoming has four games remaining, including two with Billings and one with the Omaha Beef this Saturday night. Should the two teams finish with identical records the tie would be broken with conference record as the teams split two games this season, each winning on the road. They both have identical 4-6 conference records, but Utah has one conference game remaining (Billings) while all four games for Wyoming are against conference foes.
ABOUT THE UTAH WARRIORS
The Utah Warriors is a professional indoor football team playing in the National Indoor Football League. Defending their 2003 Pacific Conference Championship, the Warriors are currently 5-7 in the 2004 season, which runs through June 26, and they hold the sixth and final playoff spot in the Pacific Conference.
With home field at The E-Center, the Warriors offer a fast-paced, exciting brand of football for fans of all ages. For schedule and ticket information, contact the Warriors front office at 801.973.7311, or visit www.utahwarriors.com.
Next Game: Thursday, June 17 2004 at Show Me (MO) Believers. Kickoff is at 6:30 pm MST. The game can be heard live on KALL 700 AM with Ric Miller providing the play-by-play.
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