Adam Shackleford to coach the Tri-City Fever

Adam Shackleford, the former coach of the Spokane Shock will be taking to the sidelines once again, this time for the Tri-City Fever.

Sources close to KXLY have confirmed that former Spokane Shock head coach Adam Shackleford has agreed to be the head coach for the Tri-Cities Fever for the 2010 season.

The Fever will play in the Indoor Football League after dropping out of the Arena Football 1 league because of the economics involved. The Fever had previously named Pat O'Hara as their head coach, but our sources tell us that he has accepted a job elsewhere.

Good to see that he landed on his feet after being let go by the Shock. I'm still wondering why the two parties went separate directions, but again, good to see that he's coaching again. Best of luck to him.

Tri-Cities Fever moves to IFL

Back in September Brandon wrote about how the Spokane Shock were joining the new Arena Football 1 league. Well, at that time Tri-Cities was going to join too. But now they've changed their minds and are going to the Indoor Football League. I found this announcement on the Fever web site.

Fellow Fever Fans,

As you already know Arena Football 1 has had the intentions of there being two tiers within one league. Tier one would be made up of the larger markets, such as Chicago and Spokane, where they have arena’s that can sit 10,000 plus and have the population and infrastructure to support the financial model. Tier two would be made up of markets such as Tri-Cities.

In September it was determined that tier two would be made up of at least 8 teams. Due to a variety of circumstances that number dropped to 7 then just two weeks ago to 6. While competing in a tier with only 6 teams caused me great concern I felt that during the first year we could make it work and have future expansion to look forward to.

This past Monday I was on our regularly scheduled league owner’s conference call where I was shocked to hear that our tier two division had now dropped to 5 teams. This has left the 5 remaining tier two teams with a decision.

Do we make the jump to tier one, do we look to participate in another league or do we fold? All five teams have different markets and have to make a decision that is best for them. I have spent the last 2 days making arrangements to do what is best for the Tri-Cities. Folding IS NOT an option and the Tri-Cities could not financially support the Tier one model.

It would only be a matter of time before we failed at that level. I have researched other indoor leagues and have chosen (as well as been accepted into) the IFL. The IFL will now have 26 teams across the United States. We will once again be division rivals with the Billings Outlaws.

We will also be in a league with Odessa Roughnecks, who in 2005 with 2 seconds left on the clock we beat in the conference championship ending their 16 – 0 season. Along with Tri-Cities, my former tier two partner Arkansas has moved to the IFL from Arena Football 1.

Once the initial shock of the change wore off I was able to realize that this just may be the best thing that could have happened. It makes sense for Tri-Cities. We can be competitive in a league that is stable with business partners that I can count on such as Billings, Odessa, Corpus Christie.

The big question on everyone’s mind may be “What about Coach O’Hara”? Coach was my first call on Monday. His response to me was that he believes in us and Tri-Cities and if we are playing football he’s going to be here.

We talk several times a day and rest assured he is still our guy. The IFL was just a day away from announcing their schedule. Because of their accommodations to us they have had to go back to the drawing board.

I anticipate that they will be releasing the revised schedule very soon. You, our season ticket holders and sponsors, are the first to hear this news from me. As loyal supporters I wanted to tell you personally and I hope that you share my excitement (and relief) for the season that is ahead. I am already looking forward to facing the Outlaws!!!

For those of you that want to check out the new league further please visit their website at www.goifl.com. Thank you all for the support you have given the Fever. Your loyalty is appreciated by all of the Fever family.

I look forward to sharing more information with you very soon.

Best Regards,

Teri Carr


Personally I find it funny that the Fever compare Spokane to Chicago and call them a "big market." I guess that means we should tip our hats to the Shock fan base that they have put this idea of a large market into other indoor football teams around the nation.

Epic Photo: I guess this Tri-Cities fan wasn't happy

... or he's saying the Shock are No. 1.

Spokane Shock vs. Tri Cities Game Photos

The Shock crushed the Tri-City Fever 60-21 in a game that was pretty much in hand after the Fever fumbled on two straight possessions out of the gate. I got to take the trip down to Kennewick and shoot the game, so here are the photos from the matchup...

Off to Tri-Cities for the Shock game

I'm super pumped to be headed down to the Tri-Cities for the Shock game today. Not only will I be able to watch an arena football game be played in Costco (a.k.a. the Toyota Center) but I'll also be getting you all some game photos.

Here's the game advance from Spokane Shock Director of Communications Kevin Maloney

And somebody please pray that my car doesn't explode on the way down to Kennewick.

Bashing other football teams in the area

Boy am I glad I live in Spokane where I live near the cheapest source of burgers on the planet (Dicks Burgers), an endless comical supply of people (Spokies) and a rather odd combination of sports teams. We've got everything covered except for women's lacrosse and professional lawn darts.

And our teams are well run. Look at the attendance numbers. Look at the championships. We're spoiled here in Spokane. Which is more than we can say for our neighbors...

The Tri-City Fever are already selling on the season. At 0-6, the team is in the midst of a 13-game losing streak. And they've just traded away their best receiver Phil Goodman, who allegedly had gained some unwanted weight.

And in return, they got journeyman quarterback. And apparently they think that's going to turn things around. Excuse me as I go ask the Pittsburgh Pirates PR department how they twist these things around situations like these to their favor.

"Yeah we just traded our best player, but wait until you see our sparkly alternative jerseys we'll be showing off next week!"

Listen, when a team mentions "Journeyman" and "turn-around" in the same breath, chances are they're blowing smoke up your you-know-what. A journeyman af2 quarterback must be in hotel rooms more often than a call-up stripper. You have fun with that Tri-Cities

And a little Big Sky football news, two Idaho State football players were kicked off the team for shoplifting.

Hmmm, usually it takes something like murder for a University of Montana player to get kicked off the team.

Perhaps the Bengals are taking the higher ground... which is funny because I remember in high school our quarterback shoplifting with his JERSEY on at a store and then immediately getting caught. I guess cameras have a way of picking up YOUR LAST NAME and WHAT HIGH SCHOOL YOU WENT TO. If high schools are giving players a pass for shoplifting

Anyways, he started our playoff game that year. Which we were blown out in. Good times.