Post by fwp on Mar 27, 2010 17:50:15 GMT -5
www.tri-cityherald.com/2010/03/27/954798/finding-tri-cities-fever-a-likeable.html
There are plenty of reasons to like the Tri-Cities Fever, which has its home opener at 7:05 p.m. today at the Toyota Center against the Kent Predators.
First, start at the top with local owners J.R. and Teri Carr.
"It's been a real blessing (working for the Carrs)," said Fever coach Adam Shackleford. "I've never worked for people who care so much about your personal life. They understand that family is important. We work together well. Teri Carr is in the office every day, first thing in the morning. She gets her hands dirty. She does a lot of work."
Next, Shackleford is one of the better offensive minds in the game, and Tri-Cities was fortunate to get him.
For reasons no one is willing to talk about, Spokane Shock owner Brady Nelson let Shackleford go after the team won the Arena Cup -- arenafootballeague2's championship -- last summer.
Nelson cited wanting the team to go in a different direction as it prepares to play in the new Arena Football League.
"I was out of work and (then-Fever coach) Pat O'Hara asked me about coming on as assistant," Shackleford said. When O'Hara took the AFL's Orlando Predators coaching job, Shackleford was promoted to Fever head coach.
With a resum that includes coaching in college football to indoor teams in Cincinnati, Louisville and Spokane -- and now Tri-Cities -- Shackleford knows the game.
"I got the sense when I got down here that the product on the field needed to improve and product off field needed to improve," he said. "It's still a work in progress."
Another reason to like the Fever: The team has strong talent.
Start with running back Tyson Thompson, a former Dallas Cowboys kick returner and running back who ranks third in the IFL in all-purpose yards with 315.
Quarterback Andy Collins is a Zillah High graduate who has a 104.8 QB rating after two games. He averages 196.5 yards a game and has eight touchdown passes.
Thyron Lewis is the team's top receiver after two games with 10 catches for 117 yards.
Kicker Brett Jaekle is 4-for-4 in field goals.
Despite missing half of the game against Billings with a knee injury, linebacker Derek Nicholson leads the Fever with 17 tackles. He and linebacker Jo Artis Ratti (a former University of Idaho standout who also injured his knee against Billings) will be game-time decisions as to whether they play.
Defensive back Montavis Pitts has 14 tackles and an interception. And wide receiver Kevin Heard, one of the original members of the Fever in 2005, is back at the tender age of 34.
Another reason to like the Fever: They run the ball. In fact, in the Indoor Football League, an effective team has to run the ball.
"The af2 is a lot different," Shackleford said. "The IFL is really going back to the outdoor game."
Why? The defense can drop linebackers into pass coverage, so as many as seven players can drop into pass coverage in the IFL. In the af2, it was just three.
"So to keep them honest, you have to run the football," said Shackleford.
With the Predators 0-3 and the Fever at 0-2, this game has a lot of meaning for both teams, trying to get that first win.
"I'm excited about the product," Shackleford said. "Want to get this win, start things off right at home."
There are plenty of reasons to like the Tri-Cities Fever, which has its home opener at 7:05 p.m. today at the Toyota Center against the Kent Predators.
First, start at the top with local owners J.R. and Teri Carr.
"It's been a real blessing (working for the Carrs)," said Fever coach Adam Shackleford. "I've never worked for people who care so much about your personal life. They understand that family is important. We work together well. Teri Carr is in the office every day, first thing in the morning. She gets her hands dirty. She does a lot of work."
Next, Shackleford is one of the better offensive minds in the game, and Tri-Cities was fortunate to get him.
For reasons no one is willing to talk about, Spokane Shock owner Brady Nelson let Shackleford go after the team won the Arena Cup -- arenafootballeague2's championship -- last summer.
Nelson cited wanting the team to go in a different direction as it prepares to play in the new Arena Football League.
"I was out of work and (then-Fever coach) Pat O'Hara asked me about coming on as assistant," Shackleford said. When O'Hara took the AFL's Orlando Predators coaching job, Shackleford was promoted to Fever head coach.
With a resum that includes coaching in college football to indoor teams in Cincinnati, Louisville and Spokane -- and now Tri-Cities -- Shackleford knows the game.
"I got the sense when I got down here that the product on the field needed to improve and product off field needed to improve," he said. "It's still a work in progress."
Another reason to like the Fever: The team has strong talent.
Start with running back Tyson Thompson, a former Dallas Cowboys kick returner and running back who ranks third in the IFL in all-purpose yards with 315.
Quarterback Andy Collins is a Zillah High graduate who has a 104.8 QB rating after two games. He averages 196.5 yards a game and has eight touchdown passes.
Thyron Lewis is the team's top receiver after two games with 10 catches for 117 yards.
Kicker Brett Jaekle is 4-for-4 in field goals.
Despite missing half of the game against Billings with a knee injury, linebacker Derek Nicholson leads the Fever with 17 tackles. He and linebacker Jo Artis Ratti (a former University of Idaho standout who also injured his knee against Billings) will be game-time decisions as to whether they play.
Defensive back Montavis Pitts has 14 tackles and an interception. And wide receiver Kevin Heard, one of the original members of the Fever in 2005, is back at the tender age of 34.
Another reason to like the Fever: They run the ball. In fact, in the Indoor Football League, an effective team has to run the ball.
"The af2 is a lot different," Shackleford said. "The IFL is really going back to the outdoor game."
Why? The defense can drop linebackers into pass coverage, so as many as seven players can drop into pass coverage in the IFL. In the af2, it was just three.
"So to keep them honest, you have to run the football," said Shackleford.
With the Predators 0-3 and the Fever at 0-2, this game has a lot of meaning for both teams, trying to get that first win.
"I'm excited about the product," Shackleford said. "Want to get this win, start things off right at home."