Wanted to extend congratulations to two members of our 2010 Erie Storm coaching staff on their recent accomplishments. Defensive Coordinator Mike Fox was recently named to a front office position and the defensive coordinator of the Abilene Rough Riders of the Southern Indoor Football League. Coach Fox will reunite with Head Coach Shon King, who he previously worked with as a member of the Quad City Steamwheelers coaching staff in the AF2. Mike Fox will be greatly missed and I wish him all the best in his latest coaching opportunity. I am very appreciative of all of the contributions that Coach Fox made to our team in Erie during the 2008 and 2010 season. He is a tremendous defensive football coach and was a major part of the success that we shared in Erie during those years. I wish my friend all the best this season, and hopefully our paths will cross on the field this year in the 2011 SIFL Championship Game.

A second round of congratulations goes out to my brother Jeremy who led his team to a developmental indoor football league championship this weekend. Jeremy led the Harmar Hurricanes to a 36 – 28 double overtime win in the 2011 PISA Bowl I Championship over the Pittsburgh Rebels. I had the opportunity to view several of the developmental league games over the course of the season and I was very impressed with the level of talent on display each week at the Pittsburgh Indoor Sports Arena. Developmental leagues like this give players an excellent platform to stay in game shape and showcase their talents for indoor and arena franchises. We have a few young players under contract who competed for the Hurricanes and it was great experience for them to learn the indoor game and I was very happy to see the Hurricanes win the league title. Jeremy will be back with us as an assistant coach in 2011 when we open camp on March 4th.

SL

Well Erie fans it is almost here….48 days until we open training camp. It is a very exciting time of the year as all of our signed players will come together for the first time to work towards the goals that we have set for the 2011 season. It will be a very competitive training camp as we have veteran players competing for roster spots along with the young talent that we have assembled on this year’s team. It will take a tremendous amount of hard work, focus, attention to detail, and some luck along the way for us to reach our ultimate goal of being 2011 SIFL Champions. I feel that the SIFL has some tremendous talent and outstanding coaching, and each week’s opponent will be a fierce challenge for every team in the league.
The north division is shaping up to be a very competitive one with the Harrisburg Stampede and Trenton Steel standing in our way of the division title and playoff spot. Each week will be a tremendous battle as both teams have experienced rosters and coaching staffs leading their respective clubs. We embrace that challenge and look forward to competing with all of the franchises in our league for the right to be called “Champions”.
I will attempt to take you “inside the walls” for an in-depth view of how we are building our team for the 2011 season opener March 20th when we visit the Harrisburg Stampede. It will be a hard-fought three straight weeks for us on the road before we get a chance to return home in-front of our home fans in Erie on Saturday April 9th when we host the Trenton Steel. We look forward to continuing our vision of putting an exciting, high flying, explosive, fan friendly product on the field each week during the season. Stay tuned for more information on player transactions, camp reports, and further insight into our preparation as we work towards the 2011 SIFL Championship.
SL