Post by 50yardfan on Feb 26, 2011 12:56:31 GMT -5
When Adam Shackleford was hired to coach the Tri-Cities Fever he could say it enough: "I want to bring stability back to the organization."
Just by returning for a second season he has down that, becoming the first coach in the in the seven-year history of the franchise to start two consecutive seasons. That's not much of a milestone for Shackleford who is driven to take the Fever to the top of the Indoor Football League. That begins Saturday night when the Fever opens the 2011 regular season at home against the expansion Arizona Adrenaline at 7:05 p.m.
"We're excited to get going," said Shackleford, who led the Fever to a 7-7 regular season record last season. "We think we got a pretty good group on paper and hopefully that will turn into a good team on the field."
Shackleford is also hoping to end a little dry spell for the Fever on Saturday night. Tri-Cities has not won a season opener since 2006. And while much may not be known about the Adrenaline, Shackleford Is not looking past anyone, especially after getting off to a 1-5 start a year ago.
"They are the best football team we are playing this week," he said.
The Fever enters the 2011 season some heightened expectations. The team returns a handful of their best players from last year's team that made a big push in the second-half and reached the playoffs. The Fever also has a lot of talent on this year's roster with several guys spending time on NFL rosters and others with major college experience.
"We are leaps and bounds ahead of where we were last year," Shackleford said.
One reason for that is the return of quarterback Houston Lillard, who led the Fever on its second-half run last season after starter Andy Collins suffered a season-ending shoulder injury.
The Fever also returns one of its top receivers in Joey Hew Len and defensive backs Lionell Singleton.
"I feel pretty good with where we are at," Shackleford said. "But we still have a lot of work to do."
That was evident in the Fever's 53-14 win over the Wenatchee Valley Venom in a preseason game last week. Despite running away in the second half, the Fever was saddled with penalties and some players struggled to get adjusted to the speed of the indoor game. Shackleford expects those two things will correct themselves Saturday night.
"Every year I walk in I expect to win a championship, that's the type of pressure I put on myself," Shackleford said. "I want us to be better than we ever have been in the Tri-Cities."
-- Shackleford cut his roster to 30 players Thursday. Some of the notable cuts were Jerome McGee (receiver); Kenny Simms (defensive back); DeAngelo Wilson (defensive back); and Jackie Chambers (receiver).
-- There are still good seats available for Saturday's game. For tickets call 222-2215.
-- Saturday night's game is Blackout Hunger Night where you can receive $1 off a walk-up ticket by bringing a non-perishable food item to the door. The food will be donated to Second Harvest. The first 1,000 fans will also receive a Blackout Hunger Night T-Shirt.
Just by returning for a second season he has down that, becoming the first coach in the in the seven-year history of the franchise to start two consecutive seasons. That's not much of a milestone for Shackleford who is driven to take the Fever to the top of the Indoor Football League. That begins Saturday night when the Fever opens the 2011 regular season at home against the expansion Arizona Adrenaline at 7:05 p.m.
"We're excited to get going," said Shackleford, who led the Fever to a 7-7 regular season record last season. "We think we got a pretty good group on paper and hopefully that will turn into a good team on the field."
Shackleford is also hoping to end a little dry spell for the Fever on Saturday night. Tri-Cities has not won a season opener since 2006. And while much may not be known about the Adrenaline, Shackleford Is not looking past anyone, especially after getting off to a 1-5 start a year ago.
"They are the best football team we are playing this week," he said.
The Fever enters the 2011 season some heightened expectations. The team returns a handful of their best players from last year's team that made a big push in the second-half and reached the playoffs. The Fever also has a lot of talent on this year's roster with several guys spending time on NFL rosters and others with major college experience.
"We are leaps and bounds ahead of where we were last year," Shackleford said.
One reason for that is the return of quarterback Houston Lillard, who led the Fever on its second-half run last season after starter Andy Collins suffered a season-ending shoulder injury.
The Fever also returns one of its top receivers in Joey Hew Len and defensive backs Lionell Singleton.
"I feel pretty good with where we are at," Shackleford said. "But we still have a lot of work to do."
That was evident in the Fever's 53-14 win over the Wenatchee Valley Venom in a preseason game last week. Despite running away in the second half, the Fever was saddled with penalties and some players struggled to get adjusted to the speed of the indoor game. Shackleford expects those two things will correct themselves Saturday night.
"Every year I walk in I expect to win a championship, that's the type of pressure I put on myself," Shackleford said. "I want us to be better than we ever have been in the Tri-Cities."
-- Shackleford cut his roster to 30 players Thursday. Some of the notable cuts were Jerome McGee (receiver); Kenny Simms (defensive back); DeAngelo Wilson (defensive back); and Jackie Chambers (receiver).
-- There are still good seats available for Saturday's game. For tickets call 222-2215.
-- Saturday night's game is Blackout Hunger Night where you can receive $1 off a walk-up ticket by bringing a non-perishable food item to the door. The food will be donated to Second Harvest. The first 1,000 fans will also receive a Blackout Hunger Night T-Shirt.