Of all the ways to account for seven points in the game of indoor football, two safeties, a defensive two-point conversion and a blocked extra point is fairly low on the list of probable combinations. But it is exactly that combination that let the Sioux Falls Storm escape the Omaha Civic Auditorium with a win in the season opener Saturday night.
The Storm defense, led by eight year veteran Mark Blackburn, came up with a classic Storm defensive stop, tackling Beef quarterback Ben Sankey in the endzone to extend the Storm’s lead to the eventual final score, 54-47 with 1:06 to play. The game wasn’t the prettiest display of football I’ve ever witnessed, but it thrilled and frustrated everyone in the building, and for that both sides deserve kudos.
In order to save myself time and effort, and in an attempt to not to sound too much like a journalist, I’ll skip the stats and the rest of the game review and skip to the nuts and bolts. I’m borrowing a segment from local sports talk radio called “Thumbs Up, Thumbs Down”.
Thumbs Down:
- To the Beef fans that headed for the exits with :59 left down by 7 with two timeouts left. This is indoor football, crazier things have happened.
- To Mother Nature, for the crazy dense fog on the way home!
Thumbs Up:
- To the Beef fans, I might just detect the slightest bit of ringing in my ears, well done.
- To Storm owner Todd Tryon, without all your hard work and dedication, this season wouldn’t have been possible.
- To the Storm veterans, for coming back and giving us one more year.
- To the Storm fans that made the road trip, for being loud and proud!
A Win, is a Win. But this game left the Storm bench looking like a MASH Triage, with several players suffering injuries. Early in the game, Leif Murphy was assisted off the field by team medical staff and local paramedics with some sort of upper arm or elbow type of injury. Our thoughts and prayers go out to ‘ya Murph and here’s hoping for a speedy and successful recovery.
This week, the Storm travel to Wichita to take on a Wild team that thoroughly dismantled La Crosse in their season opener on February 26th. The Storm defense will be tasked with stopping the dangerous duo of Dixie Wooten and Clinton Solomon, a challenge that will certainly be a test for new defensive coordinator Andre Fields.
Lastly Storm fans, don’t forget the home opener is Monday, March 22nd when the reigning and defending IFL Champion Billings Outlaws come to town. Be Loud, Be Proud, GO STORM!
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
2010 Week One - A Short Rant
NO time for a blog just yet, but sit tight, I'll get to it at the Storm are set to kickoff their 2010 season this weekend.
I wanted to quickly rant, however about a fairly significant failure in week 1.
On Friday the IFL announced a partnership with Pointstreak for real time stats. This sounded great to me. I've used Pointstreak to follow the USHL (Tier 1 Junior Hockey) for a few years now. What the IFL had to offer this weekend however, did not meet my simple expectations.
1. A Box Score. An print industry standard, points by quarters, and scoring plays, individual game stats.. should not be that complicated to have one of these for a game review.
2. Individual game stats. As I'm looking at this thing not not only are the stats for the entire league, they're cumulative.
3. "LIVE"... yeah right - Half the games were not updated during the game, and as of this writing Alaska and Fairbanks game hasn't been touched.
I'd like to thank twitter for bringing us game updates ... freaking unacceptable for a "premiere" league.
I wanted to quickly rant, however about a fairly significant failure in week 1.
On Friday the IFL announced a partnership with Pointstreak for real time stats. This sounded great to me. I've used Pointstreak to follow the USHL (Tier 1 Junior Hockey) for a few years now. What the IFL had to offer this weekend however, did not meet my simple expectations.
1. A Box Score. An print industry standard, points by quarters, and scoring plays, individual game stats.. should not be that complicated to have one of these for a game review.
2. Individual game stats. As I'm looking at this thing not not only are the stats for the entire league, they're cumulative.
3. "LIVE"... yeah right - Half the games were not updated during the game, and as of this writing Alaska and Fairbanks game hasn't been touched.
I'd like to thank twitter for bringing us game updates ... freaking unacceptable for a "premiere" league.
30 Man Roster Released
# Name Position Height Weight College
1 Sean Treasure RB 6'1" 190 Minnesota State - Mankato
2 Bruce Peters WR/RB 5'9" 185 Arkansas - Pine Bluff
3 Kenneth Akridge DB 6'2" 190 Indianapolis
4 Kevin Adams DB 6'1" 185 Minnesota State - Mankato
5 Terrance Bryant QB 6'2" 210 Oregon State University
6 Stewart Franks DB 6'3" 190 Arkansas - Pine Bluff
8 James Jones WR/RB 5'7" 165 University of Northern Colorado
9 James Terry WR 6'4" 200 Kansas State
10 Lorenzo Brown QB 6'0" 185 University of Sioux Falls
11 Tommy Hofer WR 6'1" 190 Dakota State
14 Mark Blackburn LB 6'1" 235 University of South Dakota
15 Justiss Scales LB/DL 6'3" 240 University of South Dakota
23 T.J. Simmons DB 5'9" 185 University of South Dakota
24 Larry "Buddy" Williams DB 6'0" 190 Clemson
33 John Keith DB 5'11" 205 Arkansas-Pine Bluff
34 Brandon Blackmon DB 6'0" 190 Purdue University
38 Rob Zarrilli K 6'0" 175 Hofstra/Louisville
41 Brian McIntire DB 6'1" 210 Wartburg College
43 Leif Murphy DL 6'1" 265 North Dakota State
52 Rachman Crable DL 6'4" 290 Ball State
56 Bruce McCaleb OL 6'3" 300 Delta State/Memphis
74 Zach Tubbs OL 6'7" 365 University of Arkansas
75 Kyle Staudt OL 6'6" 302 University of Sioux Falls
77 Isaac Snell OL 6'6" 305 North Dakota State
78 Anthony "Big Daddy" Thomas OL 6'3" 315 University of Arizona
81 Brooks Little WR 6'2" 220 University of South Dakota
84 Dusty Hovorka WR 6'2" 200 University of Sioux Falls
90 Ledarius Anthony DL 6'4" 265 Arkansas-Pine Bluff
96 Cory Johnsen DL 6'1" 315 St. Cloud State
99 Tyrone Saterfield DL 6'3" 305 Louisville
Injured Reserve
40 Jeremy Huber RB 6'2" 240 Augustana College
51 Jason Bonwell DL 6'0" 245 South Dakota State
82 Jamie January WR 6'2" 200 Black Hills State
1 Sean Treasure RB 6'1" 190 Minnesota State - Mankato
2 Bruce Peters WR/RB 5'9" 185 Arkansas - Pine Bluff
3 Kenneth Akridge DB 6'2" 190 Indianapolis
4 Kevin Adams DB 6'1" 185 Minnesota State - Mankato
5 Terrance Bryant QB 6'2" 210 Oregon State University
6 Stewart Franks DB 6'3" 190 Arkansas - Pine Bluff
8 James Jones WR/RB 5'7" 165 University of Northern Colorado
9 James Terry WR 6'4" 200 Kansas State
10 Lorenzo Brown QB 6'0" 185 University of Sioux Falls
11 Tommy Hofer WR 6'1" 190 Dakota State
14 Mark Blackburn LB 6'1" 235 University of South Dakota
15 Justiss Scales LB/DL 6'3" 240 University of South Dakota
23 T.J. Simmons DB 5'9" 185 University of South Dakota
24 Larry "Buddy" Williams DB 6'0" 190 Clemson
33 John Keith DB 5'11" 205 Arkansas-Pine Bluff
34 Brandon Blackmon DB 6'0" 190 Purdue University
38 Rob Zarrilli K 6'0" 175 Hofstra/Louisville
41 Brian McIntire DB 6'1" 210 Wartburg College
43 Leif Murphy DL 6'1" 265 North Dakota State
52 Rachman Crable DL 6'4" 290 Ball State
56 Bruce McCaleb OL 6'3" 300 Delta State/Memphis
74 Zach Tubbs OL 6'7" 365 University of Arkansas
75 Kyle Staudt OL 6'6" 302 University of Sioux Falls
77 Isaac Snell OL 6'6" 305 North Dakota State
78 Anthony "Big Daddy" Thomas OL 6'3" 315 University of Arizona
81 Brooks Little WR 6'2" 220 University of South Dakota
84 Dusty Hovorka WR 6'2" 200 University of Sioux Falls
90 Ledarius Anthony DL 6'4" 265 Arkansas-Pine Bluff
96 Cory Johnsen DL 6'1" 315 St. Cloud State
99 Tyrone Saterfield DL 6'3" 305 Louisville
Injured Reserve
40 Jeremy Huber RB 6'2" 240 Augustana College
51 Jason Bonwell DL 6'0" 245 South Dakota State
82 Jamie January WR 6'2" 200 Black Hills State
Monday, December 7, 2009
Kurtiss Riggs Signs 3 Year Deal
The Sioux Falls Storm is pleased to announce that Kurtiss Riggs will be back for the 2010 Season of Redemption. Riggs has signed a 3-year contract with the Storm that will see him at the helm through the 2012 Season.
Riggs is entering his eighth year as Head Coach of the Sioux Falls Storm. Under the leadership of Riggs, the Sioux Falls Storm won four consecutive championships from 2005 to 2008. They also put together a winning streak of 40 straight games, which is the longest in professional sports history. In his tenure, Riggs has been named Coach of the Year three times, led the Storm to back-to-back undefeated seasons in 2006 and 2007, and has compiled a career record of 94-23.
"This is an exciting time for this franchise,” stated Storm owner, Todd Tryon. “Under Coach Riggs' leadership, we will be a major contender for the National Championship over the next 3 years."
Riggs began his indoor career as a player for the Sioux Falls Cobras in 2000 and continued playing as a member of the Sioux Falls Storm in 2001. Kurtiss began his coaching duties with the Storm in 2002 as the offensive coordinator, before taking over as head coach in 2003.
Kurtiss is a 1997 graduate of the University of Sioux Falls (USF), where he earned All-American honors after leading the Cougars to the NAIA National Championship in 1996. As a player, Riggs set numerous conference and national passing records.
In addition to his duties as the head coach of the Storm, Riggs has spent the past five years as the quarterback’s coach at USF. In that time, the team has compiled a record of 66-3, won two national championships and after USF’s 48-6 win over Saint Xavier University this past weekend, Riggs will go for his 3rd National Championship on Saturday, December 19 when USF travels to Rome, Georgia to battle Lindenwood University for the title.
Friday, November 20, 2009
TWO ADDITION TEAMS JOIN LEAGUE
TWO ADDITION TEAMS JOIN LEAGUE
Richmond, VA: In a new development this week, the Indoor Football League added two franchises to its recently expanding roster of teams. During a conference call on Thursday November 19, 2009, the IFL Board of Directors voted to accept the Arkansas Twisters and Tri-Cities Fever into America’s Premier Indoor Football League. “It is an exciting period of time in the young history of the IFL,” stated IFL Commissioner Tommy Benizio. “This was a rare opportunity to add two exceptional teams to the league and we are thrilled about what we feel they can bring to the IFL.”
The two new franchises will compete for the 2010 United Bowl along with the 17 returning teams from the 2009 season, and the seven expansion franchises previously announced. The IFL and its 26 franchises make up the largest indoor football league in the United States and is the second largest professional football league behind only the National Football League (NFL).
Arkansas Twisters
The Twisters are entering their 11th season of indoor football and join the IFL after competing in the af2. The Twisters have achieved remarkable success, making the playoffs in 6 out of the 10 years of their existence, including 2 championship trips. The Twisters will play their home games at the Verizon Arena in North Little Rock, Arkansas.
Tri-Cities Fever
The Fever are entering their 6th season of indoor football and join the IFL after achieving success in both the National Indoor Football League (NIFL) and the af2. In their inaugural season the Fever won the 2005 Indoor Bowl Championship while participating in the NIFL. The Fever will play their home games at the Toyota Center in Kennewick, Washington.
The 2010 IFL schedule and division structure is slated to be announced later in the month of November. For further information on these or any other Indoor Football League topics, please visit www.GoIFL.com or call (804) 643-PASS (7277).
Richmond, VA: In a new development this week, the Indoor Football League added two franchises to its recently expanding roster of teams. During a conference call on Thursday November 19, 2009, the IFL Board of Directors voted to accept the Arkansas Twisters and Tri-Cities Fever into America’s Premier Indoor Football League. “It is an exciting period of time in the young history of the IFL,” stated IFL Commissioner Tommy Benizio. “This was a rare opportunity to add two exceptional teams to the league and we are thrilled about what we feel they can bring to the IFL.”
The two new franchises will compete for the 2010 United Bowl along with the 17 returning teams from the 2009 season, and the seven expansion franchises previously announced. The IFL and its 26 franchises make up the largest indoor football league in the United States and is the second largest professional football league behind only the National Football League (NFL).
Arkansas Twisters
The Twisters are entering their 11th season of indoor football and join the IFL after competing in the af2. The Twisters have achieved remarkable success, making the playoffs in 6 out of the 10 years of their existence, including 2 championship trips. The Twisters will play their home games at the Verizon Arena in North Little Rock, Arkansas.
Tri-Cities Fever
The Fever are entering their 6th season of indoor football and join the IFL after achieving success in both the National Indoor Football League (NIFL) and the af2. In their inaugural season the Fever won the 2005 Indoor Bowl Championship while participating in the NIFL. The Fever will play their home games at the Toyota Center in Kennewick, Washington.
The 2010 IFL schedule and division structure is slated to be announced later in the month of November. For further information on these or any other Indoor Football League topics, please visit www.GoIFL.com or call (804) 643-PASS (7277).
Sean Treasure Returns for 2010!
http://www.siouxfallsstorm.com/news-mainmenu-2/1-team/161-sean-treasure-returns-for-2010
The Sioux Falls Storm is pleased to announce that Sean Treasure has officially signed on to lead the Storm running attack in 2010. Treasure will be entering his 4th Season as running back for the Storm. 2009 was a record setting season for Treasure with 812 yards in 13 games setting a Storm single season rushing record. The Storm veteran had a combined 32 touchdowns rushing and receiving. Treasure ended the season 2nd in the IFL in rushing averaging 4.0 yards per carry. "Sean is a workhorse and is vital to our success as we wear down teams late in the game," said Storm owner Todd Tryon. The Minnesota State University-Mankato alum finished second in the league in scoring in 2009 averaging just less than 15 points per game. Storm fans can visit www.siouxfallsstorm.com, and sign up to become a member of Storm Nation to be the first to receive all the exciting Storm news to come on.
The Sioux Falls Storm is pleased to announce that Sean Treasure has officially signed on to lead the Storm running attack in 2010. Treasure will be entering his 4th Season as running back for the Storm. 2009 was a record setting season for Treasure with 812 yards in 13 games setting a Storm single season rushing record. The Storm veteran had a combined 32 touchdowns rushing and receiving. Treasure ended the season 2nd in the IFL in rushing averaging 4.0 yards per carry. "Sean is a workhorse and is vital to our success as we wear down teams late in the game," said Storm owner Todd Tryon. The Minnesota State University-Mankato alum finished second in the league in scoring in 2009 averaging just less than 15 points per game. Storm fans can visit www.siouxfallsstorm.com, and sign up to become a member of Storm Nation to be the first to receive all the exciting Storm news to come on.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Cory Johnsen Returns for 2010 Season!
http://www.siouxfallsstorm.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=160:cory-johnsen-returns-for-2010-season&catid=1:team&Itemid=2
Cory Johnsen Returns for 2010 Season!
The Sioux Falls Storm is pleased to announce that veteran defensive lineman, Cory Johnsen, has officially signed to play for the Storm in 2010.
Johnsen will be entering his 5th Season as defensive lineman for the Storm where he is fifth on the Storm career sack list. 2009 was another standout season for the defensive lineman who finished the season with 11.5 sacks, 39 tackles, 13 tackles for a loss, a forced fumble and a safety.
Johnsen was notably named to the 2009 All-IFL 2nd team.
“Cory is arguably the best noseguard in the indoor game,” said Storm owner Todd Tryon. “We expect another All-IFL season out of Cory.”
The St. Cloud State University alum anchored a stout defensive line that ended 2009 with 41 sacks which tied for most in the IFL. They allowed only 52.9 yards on the ground per game.
Storm fans can visit www.siouxfallsstorm.com, and sign up to become a member of Storm Nation to be the first to receive all the exciting Storm news to come on.
Cory Johnsen Returns for 2010 Season!
The Sioux Falls Storm is pleased to announce that veteran defensive lineman, Cory Johnsen, has officially signed to play for the Storm in 2010.
Johnsen will be entering his 5th Season as defensive lineman for the Storm where he is fifth on the Storm career sack list. 2009 was another standout season for the defensive lineman who finished the season with 11.5 sacks, 39 tackles, 13 tackles for a loss, a forced fumble and a safety.
Johnsen was notably named to the 2009 All-IFL 2nd team.
“Cory is arguably the best noseguard in the indoor game,” said Storm owner Todd Tryon. “We expect another All-IFL season out of Cory.”
The St. Cloud State University alum anchored a stout defensive line that ended 2009 with 41 sacks which tied for most in the IFL. They allowed only 52.9 yards on the ground per game.
Storm fans can visit www.siouxfallsstorm.com, and sign up to become a member of Storm Nation to be the first to receive all the exciting Storm news to come on.
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