Post by 50yardfan on Apr 19, 2011 18:07:17 GMT -5
www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110419/A_SPORTS/104190327
STOCKTON - The first-year Stockton Wolves are trying to win games, establish credibility and build a fan base.
General manager and coach Bennie King knows what happened Sunday, when the Utah Stealth pulled a no-show and was replaced by the Las Vegas Cobras, can't help with credibility or in winning fans over.
Stockton beat the Cobras, 75-13, for the second time in nine days. King said the situation Sunday was bad, but it would have been worse to have canceled the game.
"You never want to have a game canceled in these leagues; it's bad for what you're trying to establish," King said. "When these
situations arise, you have one of two ways you can handle it - you either cancel the game or you try to assure that you get a game. I didn't want to have our second date here on Asparagus Festival weekend and cancel the game, and Las Vegas accommodated us."
The change of opponent was not announced to the 1,100 or so fans at Stockton Arena before the game, which led to some confusion as the Cobras were called the Stealth by the public address announcer. King said he did not release any word of the change because it happened so late in the week.
"I knew on Friday that the game was in jeopardy, but I worked until midnight or 1 a.m. (Sunday morning) to try to accommodate Utah and save it," King said. "You don't want to change. I did contact Vegas on Friday, when I knew there was a problem."
King said Utah's absence was due to an "internal issue," and attempts Monday to reach Utah coach Jeff Wissler were unsuccessful. Stockton Arena manager Mike Cera indicated he found out late last week there could be a different team playing the Wolves.
"Obviously it's a concern when something like this happens and you want to inform your fans, if possible," Cera said. "I know the Wolves are doing everything they can to build a fan base, so it was a tough situation."
The Cobras lost to Stockton 69-24 in the season opener on April 8 at the arena, and drove their personal vehicles back to Stockton for the rematch. They also picked up five members of the South Bay Stallions, a minor-league outdoor team from San Jose.
"We had a bye, thought is was a good opportunity to get some work and wanted to help out one of the teams in our league," said Jermaine Lewis, the Cobras' interim head coach.
The Wolves' next opponent, the Reno Barons, dealt with a similar situation on Sunday when the San Diego ThunderCats didn't show up and were replaced by the Tucson Trojans. Stockton is scheduled to play San Diego on May 14 at Stockton Arena. King plans to contact the ThunderCats this week to check on their status.
Reno owner Chez Jennings said the problems have come from nonleague opponents, and that teams in the American Indoor Football Association West - Stockton, Reno, Las Vegas and Tucson - are strong.
"I looked at scheduling Utah and decided against it, but I did schedule San Diego and the same thing happened," Jennings said. "Obviously these teams ended up having issues. But our four league teams are good and reliable, and we'll put out a good product."
FRIDAY'S GAME
Wolves at Barons
Kickoff: 7 p.m., Reno Events Center (Reno, Nevada)
Records: Stockton 2-0; Reno 1-0
Information: stocktonwolves.com
STOCKTON - The first-year Stockton Wolves are trying to win games, establish credibility and build a fan base.
General manager and coach Bennie King knows what happened Sunday, when the Utah Stealth pulled a no-show and was replaced by the Las Vegas Cobras, can't help with credibility or in winning fans over.
Stockton beat the Cobras, 75-13, for the second time in nine days. King said the situation Sunday was bad, but it would have been worse to have canceled the game.
"You never want to have a game canceled in these leagues; it's bad for what you're trying to establish," King said. "When these
situations arise, you have one of two ways you can handle it - you either cancel the game or you try to assure that you get a game. I didn't want to have our second date here on Asparagus Festival weekend and cancel the game, and Las Vegas accommodated us."
The change of opponent was not announced to the 1,100 or so fans at Stockton Arena before the game, which led to some confusion as the Cobras were called the Stealth by the public address announcer. King said he did not release any word of the change because it happened so late in the week.
"I knew on Friday that the game was in jeopardy, but I worked until midnight or 1 a.m. (Sunday morning) to try to accommodate Utah and save it," King said. "You don't want to change. I did contact Vegas on Friday, when I knew there was a problem."
King said Utah's absence was due to an "internal issue," and attempts Monday to reach Utah coach Jeff Wissler were unsuccessful. Stockton Arena manager Mike Cera indicated he found out late last week there could be a different team playing the Wolves.
"Obviously it's a concern when something like this happens and you want to inform your fans, if possible," Cera said. "I know the Wolves are doing everything they can to build a fan base, so it was a tough situation."
The Cobras lost to Stockton 69-24 in the season opener on April 8 at the arena, and drove their personal vehicles back to Stockton for the rematch. They also picked up five members of the South Bay Stallions, a minor-league outdoor team from San Jose.
"We had a bye, thought is was a good opportunity to get some work and wanted to help out one of the teams in our league," said Jermaine Lewis, the Cobras' interim head coach.
The Wolves' next opponent, the Reno Barons, dealt with a similar situation on Sunday when the San Diego ThunderCats didn't show up and were replaced by the Tucson Trojans. Stockton is scheduled to play San Diego on May 14 at Stockton Arena. King plans to contact the ThunderCats this week to check on their status.
Reno owner Chez Jennings said the problems have come from nonleague opponents, and that teams in the American Indoor Football Association West - Stockton, Reno, Las Vegas and Tucson - are strong.
"I looked at scheduling Utah and decided against it, but I did schedule San Diego and the same thing happened," Jennings said. "Obviously these teams ended up having issues. But our four league teams are good and reliable, and we'll put out a good product."
FRIDAY'S GAME
Wolves at Barons
Kickoff: 7 p.m., Reno Events Center (Reno, Nevada)
Records: Stockton 2-0; Reno 1-0
Information: stocktonwolves.com