In the world of indoor football, there are very few bona fide superstars that can single handedly change every game they’re in. Chris Dixon is one of those players. I’m sure all Storm fans will remember him carrying his entire team in his back in the 2008 Western Conference Championship only to have an Adam Hicks last second field goal delay Chris’s first UIF-IFL title by a year. Dixon marks the third former Storm division rival QB to wind up playing for Coach Kurtiss Riggs. In 2004 Jose Fuentes came over from Wyoming, and in 2005 we obtained Terrance Bryant from Rapid City.
Today marks a bittersweet moment in Storm History. Dixon’s announcement means we’re likely only hours away from a press release announcing the retirement of one Terrance Bryant, who led the Storm to 4 straight UIF titles, and a 40 game winning streak including back-to-back perfect seasons in 2006 and 2007. Seeing Terrance ride off into the proverbial sunset after announcing his intentions to play in 2011 during the team’s post season fan appreciation party make me wonder if an aging body and off season got the better of him. Better to retire and let the younger guy take over than retire, unretire, and then wind up in Sioux City eh Packers fans?
Rumors and tidbits floating around indicate that Dixon isn’t the only league super star that might find their way to Sioux Falls. So buckle up Storm fans, this is sure to get interesting.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Downtowners, we need to get a grip
I'm afraid however we've reached a point where perception is reality. If the sheeple think that downtown has parking and traffic issues, then downtown has parking and traffic issues. These are the same folks who would gladly tear up majestic green space to connect 22nd, 26th, or 33rd street Louise to Kiwanis. These are the same folks who always speak in a condescending manner when it comes to speakers at a private college, and who demonize the educated and the wealthy. I'm all for being financially prudent. It's a balancing act between lower up front cost versus payback. Correctly termed return on investment.
Billings, MT has a 12,000 seat arena owned by the county. This arena is out at their fairgrounds, near the interstate, nowhere near downtown. They estimate it adds $100 MILLION back into the local economy by visitors from outside the county. This number is reached with a whopping 25-40 usage dates a year. Our current arena, half the size of the Rimrock Arena in Billings, sees about 150 usage dates a year. So, assuming economies of scale, half the $100 million, then triple that for our use dates, and we’re looking at $150 MILLION DOLLARS annually added back to the Sioux Falls economy from those outside of Minnehaha County.
Now, if we’re able to add to the payback ratio based on a downtown location significant enough to offset increased construction costs and an extended timeline, taking into account a limited amount of ancillary events since the convention center is where it is, then we should indeed build it downtown, I’d love to see it there myself personally. But, if we are simply able to operate a facility at a break-even point financially, and pump $200 MILLION annually back into the local economy (most arenas actually turn a profit the first few years they’re open) that’s win-win. Mayor Huthers plan would indeed recoup construction costs over the first few years of existence. If you’re adding 2 years and perhaps 50% to the price tag, I’m not convinced anymore that the increased return would be on scale with the initial investment. It wouldn’t be pretty, certainly not cool, and a cold walk from parking at the Legion, but it would get built unless the “downtown or nowhere” people come to their senses and realize we’re about out of shots to get this thing built at all.
Billings, MT has a 12,000 seat arena owned by the county. This arena is out at their fairgrounds, near the interstate, nowhere near downtown. They estimate it adds $100 MILLION back into the local economy by visitors from outside the county. This number is reached with a whopping 25-40 usage dates a year. Our current arena, half the size of the Rimrock Arena in Billings, sees about 150 usage dates a year. So, assuming economies of scale, half the $100 million, then triple that for our use dates, and we’re looking at $150 MILLION DOLLARS annually added back to the Sioux Falls economy from those outside of Minnehaha County.
Now, if we’re able to add to the payback ratio based on a downtown location significant enough to offset increased construction costs and an extended timeline, taking into account a limited amount of ancillary events since the convention center is where it is, then we should indeed build it downtown, I’d love to see it there myself personally. But, if we are simply able to operate a facility at a break-even point financially, and pump $200 MILLION annually back into the local economy (most arenas actually turn a profit the first few years they’re open) that’s win-win. Mayor Huthers plan would indeed recoup construction costs over the first few years of existence. If you’re adding 2 years and perhaps 50% to the price tag, I’m not convinced anymore that the increased return would be on scale with the initial investment. It wouldn’t be pretty, certainly not cool, and a cold walk from parking at the Legion, but it would get built unless the “downtown or nowhere” people come to their senses and realize we’re about out of shots to get this thing built at all.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
SIoux CIty Bandits, Dead
It’s a sad day in all of indoor football when one of the bedrock franchises decides to step down a level, or pack it up altogether. We all know that the problems Bob has is that he alleges, and perhaps rightfully so that every other team cheats and that's why he can't win games. But I haven't missed a Storm game in the Tyson in five years and it never seemed to matter what the Bandits record was, the place was rockin’. So, it can't really be just about winning games.
I don't pretend to know anything that goes on in Sioux City with regards to the way players are treated, housed, or fed. I know, much like you, that late in the year Coach Williams and the players had a meeting to discuss their grievances, so that coach could address them with Bob for next year (2011). Bob then basically told coach if you don’t like the way I run things there’s the door. Drama ensued; you know more about that than I do.
Now, all of this, or none of this might be connected at all. Bob was one of the few owners in the league to continually turn a profit, well again allegedly. If he was losing money at the rate money can be lost in indoor football, then yes he has decided to go the way of countless other teams in the past 12 years. Somehow I don’t think so, the Bandits never appeared to have sponsor issues, seemed to have some of the best fans in the league… a few of y’all are batsnot crazy, but it takes one to know one.
Sioux City as a town seems to get the short end of the stick more times than not. Gateway, and Morrell’s closing have both decimated the work force in a decidedly blue collar town. But their people have a passion; however misguided it seems from the outside, for things that are Sioux City. The Sioux City Bandits were Sioux City to the core. However, somewhere along the way, the players stopped being “Sioux City” players that played for their town and their team like Johnny Ostermeyer, Erv Strohbeen, Steve Schmidt, and many others, Bob began to recruit players that had seen how the other half lived, players from Sioux Falls, Billings, Wichita, and Omaha. They wanted to be treated like the royalty they were on this other markets, the fact is that in Sioux City respect is not given, it must be earned, and Bob’s not about to juggle any football player’s balls, let’s be fair here.
As a person, a human being and even “…f**k the storm and anything else that goes along with SF…” (Gee thanks JD) A Storm fan, today is a day I really never wanted to see. I can’t speak for everyone, but I’d like to think I’ve got my finger pretty squarely on the pulse of most Storm fans, so it is with no hesitation that I say you will be missed. I’ll miss BNDC and BLZ, both of whom I had the privilege of meeting and speaking to on a few occasions. To Doobi and Doom, whom I’m not sure I ever met, it’s been a heck of a ride on the boards the past 6 years or so. A special shout-out goes to BNDC for all the smuggled six-packs of Fat Tire.
I don't pretend to know anything that goes on in Sioux City with regards to the way players are treated, housed, or fed. I know, much like you, that late in the year Coach Williams and the players had a meeting to discuss their grievances, so that coach could address them with Bob for next year (2011). Bob then basically told coach if you don’t like the way I run things there’s the door. Drama ensued; you know more about that than I do.
Now, all of this, or none of this might be connected at all. Bob was one of the few owners in the league to continually turn a profit, well again allegedly. If he was losing money at the rate money can be lost in indoor football, then yes he has decided to go the way of countless other teams in the past 12 years. Somehow I don’t think so, the Bandits never appeared to have sponsor issues, seemed to have some of the best fans in the league… a few of y’all are batsnot crazy, but it takes one to know one.
Sioux City as a town seems to get the short end of the stick more times than not. Gateway, and Morrell’s closing have both decimated the work force in a decidedly blue collar town. But their people have a passion; however misguided it seems from the outside, for things that are Sioux City. The Sioux City Bandits were Sioux City to the core. However, somewhere along the way, the players stopped being “Sioux City” players that played for their town and their team like Johnny Ostermeyer, Erv Strohbeen, Steve Schmidt, and many others, Bob began to recruit players that had seen how the other half lived, players from Sioux Falls, Billings, Wichita, and Omaha. They wanted to be treated like the royalty they were on this other markets, the fact is that in Sioux City respect is not given, it must be earned, and Bob’s not about to juggle any football player’s balls, let’s be fair here.
As a person, a human being and even “…f**k the storm and anything else that goes along with SF…” (Gee thanks JD) A Storm fan, today is a day I really never wanted to see. I can’t speak for everyone, but I’d like to think I’ve got my finger pretty squarely on the pulse of most Storm fans, so it is with no hesitation that I say you will be missed. I’ll miss BNDC and BLZ, both of whom I had the privilege of meeting and speaking to on a few occasions. To Doobi and Doom, whom I’m not sure I ever met, it’s been a heck of a ride on the boards the past 6 years or so. A special shout-out goes to BNDC for all the smuggled six-packs of Fat Tire.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Heroes
They say excuses are like rear ends, everybody has one. The 2010 Sioux Falls Storm haven’t used any excuses to explain away any of their potential shortcomings on the field. Storm management labeled this season “The Season of Redemption.” A cute marketing ploy, but what did they need to redeem themselves from? Three 2009 on field losses to the Billings Outlaws? A mammoth off the field faux paus caused that 2009 team to miss the IFL playoffs and left us fans at home a month earlier than we’d been used to. That was last year and it was, for lack of a better term, what it was. Many of the same faces returned this season to address whatever issues they themselves had left unresolved after the abrupt end to last season. Our beloved “band of brothers” was back, but at times this season for various reasons they’ve looked less like brothers and more like a loose collection of 2nd cousins that get to see each other every other year at the family reunion. The boys have played their hearts out and at times it just hasn’t been enough.
Webster’s defines synergy as “The interaction of two or more agents or forces so that their combined effect is greater than the sum of their individual effects.” In order to win championships, sports teams need synergy. They need to know that the collective efforts of each of the players combined will be greater than the sum of the individual parts. That knowledge though, isn’t just given, it must be achieved, and once achieved it must be maintained. It must be maintained each and every week as the season or the playoffs wear on. Each player needs to be able to look to his left, and to his right and know, beyond a shadows of a doubt, that not only are they giving every ounce of themselves, but that the guy next to him is doing the same.
Being the best at anything, whether it’s indoor football or an adolescent spelling bee requires a level of hard work and determination that many of us, once we’re no longer competing, forget about. Our Storm players risk injury, they leave their families across the country in order to buckle up that red helmet that we so passionately cheer for every week. They work all off-season to stay in shape, lifting weights, plyometric drills, cardio, etc. All for the honor, such as it is, of putting on that black jersey and going to battle with their teammates.
For those of you that followed my blog last season, and saw my ire grow with every passing week, with not only with the IFL and Tommy Benizio, but with the inability of last year’s team to get past Billings. This was such a change from seasons past for us as Storm fans because it always seemed, when the chips were down and it was time to pay the dealer, that the Storm came out on top. Each player on those teams could look to his left and to his right and know that his fellow player was going to make a play when it was time to do so.
As a fan this season I’ve logged just short of 4000 miles traveling to 13 out of 14 regular season games. Eaten world-class bar-b-que, seen dramatic heart stopping finishes, and eaten potentially a gallon of post-game throat soothing ice cream. I’ve done this because there’s just something about indoor football. More specifically, there’s just something about the Sioux Falls Storm. The people I’ve road tripped with are some my closest and dearest friends, the players I’ve watched play are real people. There are rally monkeys, pineapple, 10 year old mesh jerseys, and a myriad of other odd and strange superstitions that, taken out of context, might make us seem rather insane. I can live with that. This season has been a joy and a privilege to share with my fellow fans, the players and coaches. But the best is certainly yet to come.
This week is the final weekend of the regular season in the 2010 Indoor Football League. The Sioux Falls Storm take on our backyard brethren to the south, the Sioux City Bandits. The Bandits come in a battered and beleaguered bunch. Head Coach Tommie Williams resigned prior to their last game due to differences of opinion with Bandit owner Bob Scott. The Bandits aren’t likely to look anything like the squad that were 1 yard away from breaking a 15 game losing streak to the Storm when the two teams collided in Sioux City back in May. Former Storm player Leon Hall and the ageless Spetlar Tonga will lead the mangled bunch into the Sioux Falls Arena this Saturday night. Bob Scott’s unwillingness, or inability to provide his players league approved benefits, such as housing, food, and decent practice facilities that aren’t a tennis court, has left the Bandits, and their fans, beat down, embarrassed, and utterly disgruntled.
After the Bandits leave town the regular season is officially over and the real fun begins. The Storm should face the Omaha Beef in the first round of the playoffs and if the last two games against the Beef here in Sioux Falls are indicative of anything, it should be one heck of a show.
The playoffs are a special time in any sport that uses such a tournament to decide its champion. It’s a time when heroes are made. The Sioux Falls Storm has had their share of playoff heroes. Adam Hicks and his ever so steady right foot that cemented United Bowl I in 2005 and put the Storm into United Bowl IV beating Billings in the Western Conference Finals in 2008. There’s Casey Veenhof’s catch over the boards in the north endzone, and a host of players like Tony Hermes who broke his leg, if memory serves, in United Bowl I but still led the Storm that game with 6 unassisted tackles. The playoffs are what turned a very average 2005 Sioux Falls Storm team during the regular season into National Champions. It’s time for us as fans to be loud each and every game. It’s time for the players to dig deeper within themselves and put it all on the line. Pick your favorite motivational speech and insert it here. Whether you prefer ringing the bell, being perfect, winning one for the gipper or finding the inches that are all around us, whatever motivates you, find it. Seize that passion, that fire, hold onto it.
It’s playoff time… Who wants to be a hero today?
Webster’s defines synergy as “The interaction of two or more agents or forces so that their combined effect is greater than the sum of their individual effects.” In order to win championships, sports teams need synergy. They need to know that the collective efforts of each of the players combined will be greater than the sum of the individual parts. That knowledge though, isn’t just given, it must be achieved, and once achieved it must be maintained. It must be maintained each and every week as the season or the playoffs wear on. Each player needs to be able to look to his left, and to his right and know, beyond a shadows of a doubt, that not only are they giving every ounce of themselves, but that the guy next to him is doing the same.
Being the best at anything, whether it’s indoor football or an adolescent spelling bee requires a level of hard work and determination that many of us, once we’re no longer competing, forget about. Our Storm players risk injury, they leave their families across the country in order to buckle up that red helmet that we so passionately cheer for every week. They work all off-season to stay in shape, lifting weights, plyometric drills, cardio, etc. All for the honor, such as it is, of putting on that black jersey and going to battle with their teammates.
For those of you that followed my blog last season, and saw my ire grow with every passing week, with not only with the IFL and Tommy Benizio, but with the inability of last year’s team to get past Billings. This was such a change from seasons past for us as Storm fans because it always seemed, when the chips were down and it was time to pay the dealer, that the Storm came out on top. Each player on those teams could look to his left and to his right and know that his fellow player was going to make a play when it was time to do so.
As a fan this season I’ve logged just short of 4000 miles traveling to 13 out of 14 regular season games. Eaten world-class bar-b-que, seen dramatic heart stopping finishes, and eaten potentially a gallon of post-game throat soothing ice cream. I’ve done this because there’s just something about indoor football. More specifically, there’s just something about the Sioux Falls Storm. The people I’ve road tripped with are some my closest and dearest friends, the players I’ve watched play are real people. There are rally monkeys, pineapple, 10 year old mesh jerseys, and a myriad of other odd and strange superstitions that, taken out of context, might make us seem rather insane. I can live with that. This season has been a joy and a privilege to share with my fellow fans, the players and coaches. But the best is certainly yet to come.
This week is the final weekend of the regular season in the 2010 Indoor Football League. The Sioux Falls Storm take on our backyard brethren to the south, the Sioux City Bandits. The Bandits come in a battered and beleaguered bunch. Head Coach Tommie Williams resigned prior to their last game due to differences of opinion with Bandit owner Bob Scott. The Bandits aren’t likely to look anything like the squad that were 1 yard away from breaking a 15 game losing streak to the Storm when the two teams collided in Sioux City back in May. Former Storm player Leon Hall and the ageless Spetlar Tonga will lead the mangled bunch into the Sioux Falls Arena this Saturday night. Bob Scott’s unwillingness, or inability to provide his players league approved benefits, such as housing, food, and decent practice facilities that aren’t a tennis court, has left the Bandits, and their fans, beat down, embarrassed, and utterly disgruntled.
After the Bandits leave town the regular season is officially over and the real fun begins. The Storm should face the Omaha Beef in the first round of the playoffs and if the last two games against the Beef here in Sioux Falls are indicative of anything, it should be one heck of a show.
The playoffs are a special time in any sport that uses such a tournament to decide its champion. It’s a time when heroes are made. The Sioux Falls Storm has had their share of playoff heroes. Adam Hicks and his ever so steady right foot that cemented United Bowl I in 2005 and put the Storm into United Bowl IV beating Billings in the Western Conference Finals in 2008. There’s Casey Veenhof’s catch over the boards in the north endzone, and a host of players like Tony Hermes who broke his leg, if memory serves, in United Bowl I but still led the Storm that game with 6 unassisted tackles. The playoffs are what turned a very average 2005 Sioux Falls Storm team during the regular season into National Champions. It’s time for us as fans to be loud each and every game. It’s time for the players to dig deeper within themselves and put it all on the line. Pick your favorite motivational speech and insert it here. Whether you prefer ringing the bell, being perfect, winning one for the gipper or finding the inches that are all around us, whatever motivates you, find it. Seize that passion, that fire, hold onto it.
It’s playoff time… Who wants to be a hero today?
Monday, May 10, 2010
Those That Don’t Learn From History…
Storm versus Bandits. There are few, if any, rivalries in the annals of indoor football that even come close. Two teams separated by 77 miles, with rosters that sport at least one player that has spent significant time on the other team. Two of the most passionate fan bases the sport has ever had. Two cities that are routinely punch lines for each other’s jokes. To quote an Old Milwaukee beer slogan “It doesn’t get any better than this.”
The Sioux Falls Storm have had some heart stopping games in the Tyson Event center against the Bandits over the years; this past Saturday I swore I heard MLB hall-of fame broadcaster, Jack Buck. Trailing 38-28 in the 4th quarter, the Storm marched 34 yards in 6 plays concluding with a Terrance Bryant touchdown pass to a wide open James Terry. Kicker Rob Zarilli continued an off night by missing the PAT, leaving the Storm down 4. After Sioux City missed a field goal on their next possession, the Storm promptly drove 30 yards where Zarilli connected on a 30 yard field goal to pull the Storm within one point.
Then things got crazy. Great Storm kickoff coverage forced the Bandits to take over at their own 4, and on their second play from scrimmage Mark Blackburn tipped a Scott Jensen pass right into the waiting arms of Rachman Crable, who walked into the end zone to give the Storm their first lead of the game. Former Storm all purpose back Leon Hall Jr. then muffed the ensuing kickoff giving the Storm the ball back on the Bandit 21.
Zarilli’s struggles continued however, as he missed a short field goal, but precious time had been taken off the clock and the Bandits were now out of timeouts with 45 ticks left on the 4th quarter clock. The Bandits needed just one play to make things interesting again, as Jensen completed a 44 yard bomb to T.J. Williams who was downed at the Storm 1 yard line with 35 seconds left in the game. Inexplicably, Jensen managed to fumble the snap on the following play and when Blackburn emerged from the bottom of the pile with the ball, the Storm had capped an improbable, impossible 43-38 victory. Queue Jack Buck… “I don’t believe… what I just saw.”
If you’re thinking to yourself, like I was, that somehow this all seems oddly familiar, you’d be correct. A chance sighting of former Storm kicker Adam Hicks made it all come back to me, and if history repeats itself, someday Scott Jensen will be in the NFL. Current Buffalo Bill’s running back Fred Jackson once fumbled at the Storm 1. That fumble cost the Bandits United Bowl 1, which was the first of 16 straight wins by the Storm over their I-29 rivals.
Up next for the Storm is a pair of home games against the Omaha Beef and their band of cowbell wielding fans. The Beef, all but left for dead at an uninspiring 3-4 this season, took themselves off life support by blowing out the Arkansas Diamonds, one of the Intense divisions best teams, 71-33. Game time is 7:05 at the Sioux Falls Arena.
The Sioux Falls Storm have had some heart stopping games in the Tyson Event center against the Bandits over the years; this past Saturday I swore I heard MLB hall-of fame broadcaster, Jack Buck. Trailing 38-28 in the 4th quarter, the Storm marched 34 yards in 6 plays concluding with a Terrance Bryant touchdown pass to a wide open James Terry. Kicker Rob Zarilli continued an off night by missing the PAT, leaving the Storm down 4. After Sioux City missed a field goal on their next possession, the Storm promptly drove 30 yards where Zarilli connected on a 30 yard field goal to pull the Storm within one point.
Then things got crazy. Great Storm kickoff coverage forced the Bandits to take over at their own 4, and on their second play from scrimmage Mark Blackburn tipped a Scott Jensen pass right into the waiting arms of Rachman Crable, who walked into the end zone to give the Storm their first lead of the game. Former Storm all purpose back Leon Hall Jr. then muffed the ensuing kickoff giving the Storm the ball back on the Bandit 21.
Zarilli’s struggles continued however, as he missed a short field goal, but precious time had been taken off the clock and the Bandits were now out of timeouts with 45 ticks left on the 4th quarter clock. The Bandits needed just one play to make things interesting again, as Jensen completed a 44 yard bomb to T.J. Williams who was downed at the Storm 1 yard line with 35 seconds left in the game. Inexplicably, Jensen managed to fumble the snap on the following play and when Blackburn emerged from the bottom of the pile with the ball, the Storm had capped an improbable, impossible 43-38 victory. Queue Jack Buck… “I don’t believe… what I just saw.”
If you’re thinking to yourself, like I was, that somehow this all seems oddly familiar, you’d be correct. A chance sighting of former Storm kicker Adam Hicks made it all come back to me, and if history repeats itself, someday Scott Jensen will be in the NFL. Current Buffalo Bill’s running back Fred Jackson once fumbled at the Storm 1. That fumble cost the Bandits United Bowl 1, which was the first of 16 straight wins by the Storm over their I-29 rivals.
Up next for the Storm is a pair of home games against the Omaha Beef and their band of cowbell wielding fans. The Beef, all but left for dead at an uninspiring 3-4 this season, took themselves off life support by blowing out the Arkansas Diamonds, one of the Intense divisions best teams, 71-33. Game time is 7:05 at the Sioux Falls Arena.
Monday, May 3, 2010
A win is a win
Welcome to a rare, post cross-town move edition of the Section O blog. I apologize to any avid readers, both of you, for not being more consistent this year, but frankly I’ve been busy getting my health in order, and also preparing for the aforementioned move. A great big huge thanks to two fellow Section O’ers for helping us move in on Friday evening so we could make the tailgate and the game on Saturday, you guys totally rock.
The Sioux Falls Storm defeated the Colorado Ice last Saturday 41-28 in a lackluster affair. Two quick things of note from the game
1. Defensive Coordinator Andre Fields was MIA, not sure what the deal was but Donny Hilsenroth was calling the defense. It may help explain some of the apparent confusion in the first half.
2. Normal long snapper Brian McIntire wasn't in uniform. I wasn't aware of any injuries, but that most definitely explains the long snapping issues all night.
The optimist in me wants to say the Colorado's defensive scheme prohibited the deep ball, and the 10 yard post patterns that we've become accustomed to seeing and that there's not something more serious wrong with the sputtering Storm offense. Having JJ, Sean, and JT running the ball effectively against Colorado sure helped. It's boring like watching a West Central high school game, but it gets the job done.
Colorado's offensive line was extremely effective with the cut blocks early in the evening giving a shorter QB time, and sight-lines to throw. How many completions did he have while being completely engulfed by a defender as well?
Never look a gift win in the mouth, Sioux City topped Wichita 48-47 with backup QB Scott Jensen at the helm of the Bandit ship. The Wild had it tied at 7 early in the first, but trailed the rest of the way. The Storm offense will need to be able to keep up with the Bandits, just like the first game or this could turn ugly fast.
I want to take some time in this blog and touch on some fan behavior issues I’ve heard about and been a part of over the last few weeks. I’d like to remind all Storm fans to conduct ourselves with some semblance of self control when attending Storm games both home and away. I had the misfortune of running into some less than friendly Wild fans in Wichita several weeks ago, and then was horrified to hear that some idiot Storm fan had thrown beer at a Wild staff member, his family, and a player when they visited us a few weeks before. This type of behavior shines a most negative light on all of us, and the team. I’m not suggesting that we yell any less loudly, or have Section O sit or anything crazy. Simply take a personal inventory of how your actions reflect the fan base as a whole as well as the players and coaches whom we are lucky enough to get to cheer for.
It’s the last official Storm Chaser trip of the season. Hopefully we can fill more than a single bus of loud, proud, respectful fans and rock the house in Sioux City.
The Sioux Falls Storm defeated the Colorado Ice last Saturday 41-28 in a lackluster affair. Two quick things of note from the game
1. Defensive Coordinator Andre Fields was MIA, not sure what the deal was but Donny Hilsenroth was calling the defense. It may help explain some of the apparent confusion in the first half.
2. Normal long snapper Brian McIntire wasn't in uniform. I wasn't aware of any injuries, but that most definitely explains the long snapping issues all night.
The optimist in me wants to say the Colorado's defensive scheme prohibited the deep ball, and the 10 yard post patterns that we've become accustomed to seeing and that there's not something more serious wrong with the sputtering Storm offense. Having JJ, Sean, and JT running the ball effectively against Colorado sure helped. It's boring like watching a West Central high school game, but it gets the job done.
Colorado's offensive line was extremely effective with the cut blocks early in the evening giving a shorter QB time, and sight-lines to throw. How many completions did he have while being completely engulfed by a defender as well?
Never look a gift win in the mouth, Sioux City topped Wichita 48-47 with backup QB Scott Jensen at the helm of the Bandit ship. The Wild had it tied at 7 early in the first, but trailed the rest of the way. The Storm offense will need to be able to keep up with the Bandits, just like the first game or this could turn ugly fast.
I want to take some time in this blog and touch on some fan behavior issues I’ve heard about and been a part of over the last few weeks. I’d like to remind all Storm fans to conduct ourselves with some semblance of self control when attending Storm games both home and away. I had the misfortune of running into some less than friendly Wild fans in Wichita several weeks ago, and then was horrified to hear that some idiot Storm fan had thrown beer at a Wild staff member, his family, and a player when they visited us a few weeks before. This type of behavior shines a most negative light on all of us, and the team. I’m not suggesting that we yell any less loudly, or have Section O sit or anything crazy. Simply take a personal inventory of how your actions reflect the fan base as a whole as well as the players and coaches whom we are lucky enough to get to cheer for.
It’s the last official Storm Chaser trip of the season. Hopefully we can fill more than a single bus of loud, proud, respectful fans and rock the house in Sioux City.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
First Home Game, and Some Issues.
Dear Sioux Falls Storm,
This season through the Storm web forum and the team facebook page, fans have been given access to give then team their feedback. I think we're lucky to have a place to voice our opinions almost directly to the team. I think Storm fans however; have come to expect certain things during our game-day production. Much like church, or a family reunion, some of us have been standing next to, or in front of the same people for 6, 7, 8 years. If this Sunday I went to service and they did communion before the readings, I'd be really confused. This is the same church I've always gone to, the same pastor, somehow things are just different. Much the same way, I'm sure a lot of Storm fans, myself included, felt when I was looking straight at the same PA guy I’ve had for the last 7 seasons, but something was different.
The attire was business casual, and yeah I think I’m ok with that. Wearing (now outdated) jerseys and cowboy hats was cool, but perhaps it ran its course. I mean I used to wear green Sears Toughskins back in the day, but today they’d be rather inappropriate. However it wasn’t just the attire that was different. The game had a mundane, almost mellow feel. Mellow is not what any come to expect from Storm games. We’ve come to expect our PA guy to be as into the game as we are.
I hate to sound like a pompous windbag here, but there’s a saying in business that I learned a LONG time ago. The customer is always right. The Storm fan that buys season tickets, tailgates, buys merchandise, goes to Chaamps on a Tuesday night to eat simply because the coaches show it there, these are the life blood of your business. Without the fans, the teams dies, just ask Alaska, or Colorado. By asking your PA announcer to pretend he’s announcing high school football instead of OUR TEAM, well that obviously hasn’t sat too well with some of the fans. Near the end of the game, the PA was better than at the beginning, and I do hope that the new administration can balance their visions of gameday with the fans wants and needs. Now, on to MY rant
*Please Note*
The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Sioux Falls Storm or the Indoor Football League, nor do they reflect official policies of the Sioux Falls Storm or the Indoor Football League.
Bolt, the red haired cannon shooter.. You’re fired… cheesy…seriously z cavaricci cheesy
Our Owner owns the finest collection of fitness gyms in the region not owned by a multi-billion dollar organization; surely a pudgy fat Blizzard mascot goes against some of his most core wellness principles. BRING BACK SKINNY BLIZZARD
Famous Dave’s Pigskin Pass…No Pig Suits, no promo, “Where’s the Pigs?”
Now, I don’t want anyone to think I’m just Mr. Negativity here…so here’s some things I DO like
Thank you for fully clothing the Ball Beauties. I saw the black and white striped outfits, and I wasn’t impressed.
You kept the Harleys during pre-game… Good call
The on-field promos were quick and snappy, none of last year’s kicking fiasco’s
Production quality of Midco’s TV coverage was phenomenal.
Sean “Bubba” Bryant back next to Mr. Roste, good to have you around, Rich doesn’t sound the same without you.
You win some, you lose some, and some get rained out. At the end of the day, it’s not like any of us won’t be back, let’s just work on melding the vision of the new ownership with what the fans want, and have come to expect.
This season through the Storm web forum and the team facebook page, fans have been given access to give then team their feedback. I think we're lucky to have a place to voice our opinions almost directly to the team. I think Storm fans however; have come to expect certain things during our game-day production. Much like church, or a family reunion, some of us have been standing next to, or in front of the same people for 6, 7, 8 years. If this Sunday I went to service and they did communion before the readings, I'd be really confused. This is the same church I've always gone to, the same pastor, somehow things are just different. Much the same way, I'm sure a lot of Storm fans, myself included, felt when I was looking straight at the same PA guy I’ve had for the last 7 seasons, but something was different.
The attire was business casual, and yeah I think I’m ok with that. Wearing (now outdated) jerseys and cowboy hats was cool, but perhaps it ran its course. I mean I used to wear green Sears Toughskins back in the day, but today they’d be rather inappropriate. However it wasn’t just the attire that was different. The game had a mundane, almost mellow feel. Mellow is not what any come to expect from Storm games. We’ve come to expect our PA guy to be as into the game as we are.
I hate to sound like a pompous windbag here, but there’s a saying in business that I learned a LONG time ago. The customer is always right. The Storm fan that buys season tickets, tailgates, buys merchandise, goes to Chaamps on a Tuesday night to eat simply because the coaches show it there, these are the life blood of your business. Without the fans, the teams dies, just ask Alaska, or Colorado. By asking your PA announcer to pretend he’s announcing high school football instead of OUR TEAM, well that obviously hasn’t sat too well with some of the fans. Near the end of the game, the PA was better than at the beginning, and I do hope that the new administration can balance their visions of gameday with the fans wants and needs. Now, on to MY rant
*Please Note*
The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Sioux Falls Storm or the Indoor Football League, nor do they reflect official policies of the Sioux Falls Storm or the Indoor Football League.
Bolt, the red haired cannon shooter.. You’re fired… cheesy…seriously z cavaricci cheesy
Our Owner owns the finest collection of fitness gyms in the region not owned by a multi-billion dollar organization; surely a pudgy fat Blizzard mascot goes against some of his most core wellness principles. BRING BACK SKINNY BLIZZARD
Famous Dave’s Pigskin Pass…No Pig Suits, no promo, “Where’s the Pigs?”
Now, I don’t want anyone to think I’m just Mr. Negativity here…so here’s some things I DO like
Thank you for fully clothing the Ball Beauties. I saw the black and white striped outfits, and I wasn’t impressed.
You kept the Harleys during pre-game… Good call
The on-field promos were quick and snappy, none of last year’s kicking fiasco’s
Production quality of Midco’s TV coverage was phenomenal.
Sean “Bubba” Bryant back next to Mr. Roste, good to have you around, Rich doesn’t sound the same without you.
You win some, you lose some, and some get rained out. At the end of the day, it’s not like any of us won’t be back, let’s just work on melding the vision of the new ownership with what the fans want, and have come to expect.
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