By Kris Henry

Skeptics of the National Indoor Football League will be saddened to know the second week of play has come and gone without a hitch.

Instead of losing steam as the novelty wears off, the NIFL appears to be getting stronger as more teams take the field and more fans like what they are seeing.

"The league as a whole looks pretty solid all the way across right now," says Southern Oregon Heat owner Kevin Wells.

Of the 18 teams in the NIFL, only the Tupelo (Miss.) FireAnts and the Mobile (Ala.) Seagulls have yet to take the field.

Chief concern for the Southern Oregon Heat is how the Western Division is shaping up, as well as how its upcoming opponent is faring in the first-year league.

The Utah Express of Orem, Utah, grabbed the Western Division lead with Saturday’s 39-25 win over the Yakima Shockwave. The Shockwave dropped to 1-1 in league play. It opened the season with a 27-21 win over the Heat (0-1).

The Heat’s game Saturday will be at the Tri-City Diesel of Kearney, Neb.

Fortunately for the Heat, home hasn’t been where the wins are for the Diesel as the Nebraska squad is 0-2 in its friendly confines.

After being rudely bounced 34-9 in their season-opener against the Wyoming Cavalry, the Diesel had a dramatic comeback cut short in a 42-41 loss to the Sioux Falls Storm last Saturday.

The Diesel trailed 42-22 heading into the fourth quarter before scoring 19 unanswered points — missing an extra point that would have tied the game in the final minutes.

ABOUT TWO WEEKS removed from their season and home opener, the Southern Oregon Heat players and coaches have had plenty of time for reflection.

From a football standpoint, the biggest concern for the Heat was having a winnable game elude it after being shut out in the second half. A few days of practice have helped the team regroup, as well as plan ahead a little better for their second game.

"I learned so much from that first game," says player and defensive coordinator Will Salade. "While playing, it’s hard to substitute guys when you’re sweating and not really thinking as good as you should. That’s the thing we’re going to work on — have different packages for different situations."

On the technical side, Wells says he was pleased with the turnout at the Jackson County Expo and the reaction from fans following the game.

What wasn’t pleasing were the concession sale numbers, which were below projections made prior to the opener. Part of that loss in revenue, however, was because most fans remained in their seats for the Heat’s debut, opting to soak in the game action and halftime festivities.

"If we’re doing the job right on the field, then the fans aren’t going to leave their seats," says Wells. "But that’s a great problem to have. I’ll take that problem every day."

Wells says more will be done to get concession items out to the stands so fans won’t have to miss any action.

"Each game we’ll try to take it at least one notch up and try to move forward," he says. "We’ll have some new wrinkles each time. Our goal is to change the production each time we do it so it’s always a little different for the fans."

Another area to be addressed is numbered seating in the reserved section so fans can more easily find their seats.

THE QUESTION Wells has had to face the most in the days since the opener had nothing to do with his players or coaches.

"Everybody’s been pounding on me, ‘Where were our cheerleaders? Where were our cheerleaders?’" he says.

Putting together an event for the first time tends to bring a few surprises, and the absence of cheerleaders certainly was one for Wells and those in attendance.

"They got stuck in Eugene and never got out of Eugene," says Wells. "I’m not really sure what happened, but we’re not doing that again. We’ve got Southern Oregon girls that will be here next time. I guarantee the cheerleaders will be there."

In fact, Wells says the Heat plans to have two sets of cheerleaders, including a replacement group waiting in the wings should the need arise.

ONE PART of the sideline entertainment that won’t be in town for the April 19 game against the Sioux City Bandits is "Thor" the mascot.

Thor was one of the bright spots of the Heat opener, attracting the interest of young and old throughout the contest.

The big blue mascot tours the country, hitting most of the minor league markets. Wells says he has plans to bring Thor back "at least two more times."

STRAIGHT SHOOTING is nothing new to Omar Daniel. The only question is whether the Heat defensive back’s feet can move as fast as his mouth.

So it’s really of no surprise that the well-meaning personality of the Heat couldn’t contain himself when the subject of traveling to Kearney, Neb., for the team’s first road game came up recently.

"I’m pretty sure they’re not going to be nice," Daniel says of the Tri-City Diesel fans, "but my momma told me you don’t need too many friends as long as you have the right friends. I don’t know anybody in Nebraska so I’m not too worried about making friends."

The prospect of making friends will plummet further should the rest of Daniel’s plans come to fruition.

"If the ballers come and ball and the playmakers make plays, we should win," he says.

Reach reporter Kris Henry at 776-4488, or e-mail khenry@mailtribune.com 

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