Post by fwp on Dec 18, 2009 21:38:02 GMT -5
www.tri-cityherald.com/1026/story/834628.html
Teri Carr was not overly excited when the Indoor Football League schedule was released Monday.
The Tri-Cities Fever's co-owner and general manager doesn't like that her team has a bye the first week of the season and then has back-to-back bye weeks after playing just three games.
But the one thing she has to like is who the Fever will be playing.
Tri-Cities was slotted in the Pacific North Division along with Kent, Billings, Alaska and Fairbanks, and will play 13 of its 14-game schedule against those four teams.
That could be a very good thing for the Fever as the franchise tries to pick itself back up after three disappointing years in the arenafootball2 league. The team went 15-34 from 2007-2009 and won just seven games the past two seasons.
Aside from Billings, the Pacific North Division is compiled of two teams that have had little success and one team that was added to the league just two weeks ago.
Billings is coming off a 12-2 season and won the first-ever IFL championship last season. The Outlaws' 12 wins were nine more than Alaska and Fairbanks combined. Alaska and Fairbanks, relative newcomers to the world of indoor football, have yet to have a winning season.
This does not guarantee anything for the upcoming season, but it could provide the Fever the opportunity to regain its footing and be more of a contender rather than a doormat.
IFL PACIFIC NORTH DIVISION
ALASKA WILD
Location: Anchorage, Alaska.
Population: 279,243.
Distance from Kennewick: 2,608 miles.
Arena (capacity): Sullivan Arena (6,500)
Started playing: 2007.
2009 record: 0-14.
Of note: Made its debut in 2007 and has won just eight games in three seasons ... made its only playoff appearance in 2008 despite a 6-8 record and lost in the first round.
Website: akwildfootball.com
BILLINGS OUTLAWS
Location: Billings, Mont.
Population: 103,994.
Distance from Kennewick: 680 miles.
Arena (capacity): Rimrock Auto Arena at MetraPark (8,700).
Started playing: 2000.
2009 record: 12-2, won championship.
Of note: Have a 30-12 record over the past three season, making the playoffs each year ...
Website: www.billingsoutlaws.com
FAIRBANKS GRIZZLIES
Location: Fairbanks, Ala.
Population: 35,132.
Distance from Kennewick: 2,494 miles.
Arena (capacity): Carlson Center (4,600).
Started playing: 2008.
2009 record: 7-7.
Of note: Have a 10-18 record over two seasons ... went 7-7 last season and made the playoffs for the first time before losing to Billings in the second round.
Website: fairbanksgrizzlies.com
KENT PREDATORS
Location: Kent, Wash.
Population: 83,978.
Distance from Kennewick: 224 miles.
Arena (capacity): ShoWare Center (6,500).
Started playing: 2009.
2009 record: DNP.
Of note: Was the final team for inclusion in the IFL for the 2010 season, making a last-minute move from Wasilla, Alaska. Other than having a schedule and a place to play, there is little known.
Website: kentpredators.com
NOTE:Billings played 2007-08 in the United Indoor Football league while Alaska and Fairbanks played in the Intense Football League. Those two leagues merged in 2009 to form the Indoor Football League.
Teri Carr was not overly excited when the Indoor Football League schedule was released Monday.
The Tri-Cities Fever's co-owner and general manager doesn't like that her team has a bye the first week of the season and then has back-to-back bye weeks after playing just three games.
But the one thing she has to like is who the Fever will be playing.
Tri-Cities was slotted in the Pacific North Division along with Kent, Billings, Alaska and Fairbanks, and will play 13 of its 14-game schedule against those four teams.
That could be a very good thing for the Fever as the franchise tries to pick itself back up after three disappointing years in the arenafootball2 league. The team went 15-34 from 2007-2009 and won just seven games the past two seasons.
Aside from Billings, the Pacific North Division is compiled of two teams that have had little success and one team that was added to the league just two weeks ago.
Billings is coming off a 12-2 season and won the first-ever IFL championship last season. The Outlaws' 12 wins were nine more than Alaska and Fairbanks combined. Alaska and Fairbanks, relative newcomers to the world of indoor football, have yet to have a winning season.
This does not guarantee anything for the upcoming season, but it could provide the Fever the opportunity to regain its footing and be more of a contender rather than a doormat.
IFL PACIFIC NORTH DIVISION
ALASKA WILD
Location: Anchorage, Alaska.
Population: 279,243.
Distance from Kennewick: 2,608 miles.
Arena (capacity): Sullivan Arena (6,500)
Started playing: 2007.
2009 record: 0-14.
Of note: Made its debut in 2007 and has won just eight games in three seasons ... made its only playoff appearance in 2008 despite a 6-8 record and lost in the first round.
Website: akwildfootball.com
BILLINGS OUTLAWS
Location: Billings, Mont.
Population: 103,994.
Distance from Kennewick: 680 miles.
Arena (capacity): Rimrock Auto Arena at MetraPark (8,700).
Started playing: 2000.
2009 record: 12-2, won championship.
Of note: Have a 30-12 record over the past three season, making the playoffs each year ...
Website: www.billingsoutlaws.com
FAIRBANKS GRIZZLIES
Location: Fairbanks, Ala.
Population: 35,132.
Distance from Kennewick: 2,494 miles.
Arena (capacity): Carlson Center (4,600).
Started playing: 2008.
2009 record: 7-7.
Of note: Have a 10-18 record over two seasons ... went 7-7 last season and made the playoffs for the first time before losing to Billings in the second round.
Website: fairbanksgrizzlies.com
KENT PREDATORS
Location: Kent, Wash.
Population: 83,978.
Distance from Kennewick: 224 miles.
Arena (capacity): ShoWare Center (6,500).
Started playing: 2009.
2009 record: DNP.
Of note: Was the final team for inclusion in the IFL for the 2010 season, making a last-minute move from Wasilla, Alaska. Other than having a schedule and a place to play, there is little known.
Website: kentpredators.com
NOTE:Billings played 2007-08 in the United Indoor Football league while Alaska and Fairbanks played in the Intense Football League. Those two leagues merged in 2009 to form the Indoor Football League.