Week One Preview

March 7, 2008 - United Indoor Football Association (UIF) News Release


Omaha, NE - Nearly seven months have gone by without a United Indoor Football Association contest. The 2008 season is here with eight teams over two conferences. Week 1 calls for an "Extreme Storm" in Bloomington, a battle between the Wild and the Bandits, a playoff re-match involving the Beef and the Outlaws, and the Ice and Rage will clash.

SIOUX FALLS (0-0) vs. BLOOMINGTON (0-0)

At Bloomington, IL

Saturday, 7:05 p.m. Central

For only the second time, the Sioux Falls Storm and the Bloomington Extreme will meet, this time at U.S. Cellular Coliseum. The teams met during the 2006 season with the Storm winning at home 66-35. The Storm enter this contest on a 38-game winning streak but will be without quarterback Terrance Bryant and wide receiver Leon Hall. Bryant was suspended by the UIF as a result of an off-field incident last summer while Hall was suspended by the team. The Storm return a majority of the team who won United Bowl III last August. The Extreme are coming off a 9-8 season that saw them advance to the Eastern Conference Championship game before losing to the Lexington Horsemen. Quarterback Dusty Burk leads a handful of returning players that will mesh together with new faces to play for new Head Coach Kenton Carr.

SIOUX CITY (0-0) vs. WICHITA (0-0)

At Wichita, Kansas

Saturday, 7:05 p.m. Central

The Wichita Wild will make their UIF debut as they host the Sioux City Bandits at Kansas Coliseum. The Wild spent last season as an independent going 9-0 before joining the UIF last July. Head Coach Carl Caldwell's team returns most of the pieces from last year's team but has a new quarterback handling the reins, Tyler Schuerman. Schuerman will be facing the team he played for during the 2006 season. The Bandits look to rebound from a 3-12 season a year ago. New Head Coach Jarrod DeGeorgia looks for big things out of his team who will be led by new quarterback Chad Kapanui on offense and defensive stalwart Spetlar Tonga. The Bandits played a pre-season game last Sunday, March 2nd, and defeated the St. Joe Ravens 121-0, scoring a touchdown on every possession.

OMAHA (0-0) vs. BILLINGS (0-0)

At Billings, MT

Saturday, 7:05 p.m. Mountain

The Billings Outlaws and the Omaha Beef will meet at Rimrock Auto Arena at MetraPark. The game will be the first match-up between the teams this season, but the fifth in less than a calendar year. The two teams last met in the first round of playoffs last season. Billings hopes to build on a 9-7 2007 season that saw them advance to the Western Conference championship game before falling to the Sioux Falls Storm. Quarterback Chris Dixon leads a solid core of returning veterans with some new faces for Head Coach Heron O'Neal. Omaha has a new coach leading them this season. Former Nebraska Cornhusker and Green Bay Packer Steve Warren signed on as head coach in November of 2007. The Beef return a host of veterans on both sides of the ball and welcome some new faces to the bunch. Omaha hopes to build on their 8-8 record from last season.

COLORADO (0-0) vs. RIVERCITY (0-0)

At St. Charles, MO

Sunday, 3:00 p.m. Central

The Colorado Ice and the RiverCity Rage will meet at The Family Arena. The teams split two match-ups last season with each team winning at home. The Rage, who will be lead by former NFL player Ken Stills, return fifteen veterans from the team that went 9-7 in their first season in the UIF. The Ice, who became the UIF's second expansion team last season, want to build on their 6-10 record from last season. Collins Sanders leads a group of veterans including Travis Garcia, Ryan Palmer and Eugene Reed, who hope to blend with a host of new players for the Ice in 2008.



United Indoor Football Association Stories from March 7, 2008


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.


Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central