July 13, 2010
Today’s Play of the Week is Defensive Lineman Phil Tillman’s interception return for a touchdown in the playoff game vs. the Harrisburg Stampede. The University of Pittsburgh product had 10.5 tackles, 3.5 sacks, 5 tackles for a loss, and one fumble recovery during the 2010 AIFA regular season.
July 12, 2010
The American Indoor Football Association title game is set; The Baltimore Mariners (15-0) will host the Wyoming Calvary (14-1) for the 2010 championship on July 25, 2010 at First Mariner Arena in Baltimore. The Mariners secured the Eastern Conference Championship by defeating the Harrisburg Stampede by a score of 63 to 15, continuing their undefeated campaign. In Western Conference action the Wyoming Calvary punched their 3rd straight AIFA Championship game ticket with a 57-37 win over the San Jose Wolves in a contest that was not as close as the score indicates. Wyoming was dominant in this game, forcing the Wolves into early turnovers that led to an early double digit lead that the Cav’s would not relinquish. I will preview the 2010 AIFA Championship game in further detail in an upcoming post.
Championship games were set over the weekend in the Southern Indoor Football League and the Indoor Football League.
The Billings Outlaws and QB Chris Dixon will host the Sioux Falls Storm in the 2010 United Bowl
July 10, 2010
If you are a fan of the wide-open pass oriented game that we see each week in Arena/Indoor football, College Football, NFL, CFL, and High School Football; you owe a debt of thanks to the man known as “Mouse”. Darrel “Mouse” Davis regarded as the godfather of the Run and Shoot offense is responsible for re-defining the modern passing game. “Mouse” took a book that he read in the 1960’s authored by Glenn “Tiger” Ellison on the Run and Shoot and developed the modern version of the system that we see run by schools around the country and in the Arena Football League. Davis would take his system from the High School Level, Collegiate Level, Canadian Football League, United States Football League, and ultimately the National Football League.
Coach Darrel Mouse Davis Godfather of the Run and Shoot
His impact on the Arena/Indoor game is profound as he served as the Arena Football Leagues Director of Football Operations and designed the game play that we still see utilized today. Coach Davis developed the first Arena League Playbook and trained and recruited many coaches for the league (including current Tampa Bay Storm Coach Tim Marcum) during their informative years. He has coached for several Arena Football League teams including the Detroit Fury and the San Diego Riptide of the former AF2. Coach Davis has recently rejoined the coaching staff of the University of Hawaii to serve as the Wide Receivers coach for the 2010 season.
Every fan of the modern passing game needs to check out this documentary being released on the “History of the Run and Shoot Offense” and its developer Darrell “Mouse” Davis. The film is being produced by Roaring Mouse Productions LLC. in Portland Oregon, and is set to be released next year.
Visit the official website of the film at http://www.themousethatroarsmovie.com
July 9, 2010
Flashback Friday- Erie Invaders QB Ryan Vena
Flashback Friday will be a recurring feature where we will take a look a past teams, players, and coaches from Erie Professional Football. Today we start with the Erie Invaders. The Invaders played one season in the Indoor Football League and were coached by Gary Tufford who led the team to a (6-8) regular season record. The Invaders and the Indoor Football League featured many players and personalities who would go on to achieve great success in indoor and arena football.
The Erie Invaders Logo
QB Ryan Vena talks with Erie Invaders Coach Gary Tufford during the 2000 season
Stay posted as I plan to upload some archived footage of the Erie Invaders from the 2000 IFL season in a future article. To catch up on what Ryan Vena is doing today visit http://www.ryan7vena.com
July 8, 2010
Western Conference Championship Game
San Jose Wolves @ Wyoming Calvary
San Jose Wolves Coach Bennie King
The AIFA Western Conference playoff match-up features the San Jose Wolves visiting the Wyoming Calvary. The Calvary will be attempting to be the Western Conference representative in the AIFA Championship game for the third consecutive season. Wyoming (13-1) has been one of the top programs in Indoor Football over the past decade, and their Head Coach Dan Maciejczak is one of the best in the business. I have to admit while some fans don’t like it – I love his style of not kicking field goals and going for two after every score. Those things can hurt you in close games however, and I think it has played a role in their past championship game defeats. The San Jose Wolves put together a (9-5) expansion season with some of the most explosive talent in the league. Head Coach Bennie King has two AIFA Championships to his credit as a GM with the Lakeland Thunderbolts and the Florence Phantoms, and he will be looking to add his first as a Head Coach. The Wolves have been defeated 3 times by the Calvary including a 47-26 decision on July 4th. Don’t be fooled by this score however as the Wolves rested most of their starters in this one, while Wyoming used most of their regulars.
Prediction: If San Jose can slow down Matt Strand and the Wyoming passing attack they will have a chance in this one. If the Wolves and QB Omar Jacobs are operating on all cylinders they are a very dangerous and playoff experienced team.
Upset Special – San Jose Wolves 60 Wyoming Cavalry 56
July 7, 2010
The AIFA will have it’s conference championship games this weekend. Lets take a look at each game and provide a preview and prediction for each.
Eastern Conference Championship Game
Harrisburg Stampede @ Baltimore Mariners
The Baltimore Mariners will look to continue their quest for undefeated when they host the Harrisburg Stampede at First Mariner Arena. Both teams are extremely well coached and have outstanding talent. The Mariners have been an efficient and dominating force this season and they have defeated the Stampede twice this season including a blowout victory on May 2nd at the First Mariner Arena. Both teams feature efficient passing attacks, strong running games, stout defensive play, and powerful kicking games. I feel that this game will come down to two important match-ups; Harrisburg’s Skilled WR Corp vs. Baltimore’s Ball Hawking DB’s, and the outstanding pass rush of Baltimore vs. Harrisburg’s pass protection unit. Harrisburg has been a different team offensively with the addition of QB Aries Nelson and he has some outstanding weapons to get the football to in space. Baltimore will not make this easy on the Stampede as their pass rush led by Fearon Wright and Melik Brown will pressure the Stampede offense all game long. If this one comes down to the kicking game it would feature a dual from two of the leagues top kickers Baltimore’s J.R. Cipra and Harrisburg’s Phil Marfuggi. I would give an edge in that battle to Cipra who is no stranger to making clutch game winning kicks. This game could hinge on the turnover battle and the Mariners have dominated this season by taking care of the football and forcing turnovers by their opponents.
Prediction:
Harrisburg will bring their A Game to the First Mariner Arena, unfortunately so will the Baltimore Mariners. The Mariners have put together as special season, and it would take a monumental effort from the Stampede to blemish Baltimore’s perfect season.
Baltimore Mariners 57 Harrisburg Stampede 48
July 7, 2010
Being an official in professional indoor football is a difficult job. The speed and quickness of the game forces you to have to make split second decisions. I would like to share two clips with you from a recent AIFA Playoff Game. Both of these clips appear to be touchdowns – however they were ruled not touchdowns by the officiating crew on the field. Play #1 was the final play of the first half and was ruled a fumble on the field and was recovered by Harrisburg. A key rule to remember on this play is that the ground can not cause a fumble when impacted by an opposing player. This was a critical play prior to the end of the first half in what ended up as four point win for Harrisburg. Play #2 was in the 4th quarter and was ruled down at the one foot line. These appear to be touchdowns, or were they? You make the call- Have Fun!
You Make The Call
Play #1
Play #2
July 6, 2010
The play of the week will be a feature on the site that will highlight great individual plays or drives from current or past seasons. We hope you enjoy the Video.
The Current Play of the Week is a Highlight Reel Catch By Eugene Baker in the Playoff Game vs. Harrisburg Stampede
Thank You to All of the Players, Coaches, and Staff Members Who Made our 2010 Season Successful. Most of All Thank You to Our Outstanding Fans in Erie, PA.
July 5, 2010
I hope that everyone had a safe and fun 4th of July. Bear with us while this website is constructed. I think this will be an outstanding tool to interact with our fans in the future. Stay posted to this section for random thoughts and key info as we build towards the 2011 season. This page will also have the most recent news on the team and upcoming player recruitment and tryouts for 2011. At some point in the next few weeks I will reflect on our 2010 season and outline our goals for 2011.
SL
shawnliotta.com 