Is today Fever's last stand?

Randy Schillinger has known for a while that he would not be back next season with the Tri-Cities Fever.

But as the Fever plays its last regular-season game tonight, he realizes his time with the franchise is down to just a few hours.

The time left for the franchise itself, though, could also be down to its final hours.

When tonight's game with Central Valley is over, there is plenty of uncertainty about the future of the Tri-Cities Fever. Will or won't the Fever be back in 2010?

"I am pretty optimistic things will work out," said Schillinger, who reportedly will have an investment group at tonight's game.

Owner Doug MacGregor said that if he cannot find local investors by the end of the summer, he was going to fold the franchise. It's something he has said repeatedly he doesn't want to do, but says he needs to do if he cannot find someone to either buy the team or share the expenses to stay in the arenafootball2 league.

For the most part this season, Schillinger has relinquished his duties as general manager and focused on his new business in Idaho. But before he steps away completely, he wants to make sure the franchise has a chance to be successful again.

In order for that to happen, he has been working nonstop the past couple of months to find an investment group that is willing to revive the once-proud franchise that was a national champion in 2005 in the National Indoor Football League.

It's not hard to see why Schillinger has put so much of himself into trying to save the Fever name and franchise.

In 2004, Schillinger along with his daughter Teri and brother-in-law JR Carr brought the Fever to the Tri-Cities.

In the past five seasons, Schillinger has been with the team through several coaching changes, a switch to a new league and now ultimately to the brink of extinction.

"It's been a passion of mine," Schillinger said. "It would be real disappointing if the Fever wasn't around. I've been working day and night trying to (keep the team in the Tri-Cities)."

But while Schillinger has passion to keep the team around -- he said he would even buy season tickets it the franchise was around next season -- it's not the most marketable franchise.

Since MacGregor took over in 2007 and moved the team to the af2, the Fever has struggled.

Its best season came in 2007 when it reached the playoffs with an 8-8 record under coach Tony Wells. Since then, the Fever has been through three coaches in the past two seasons and has posted just six wins in its last 31 games.

Coinciding with the losses, there has been a decrease in sponsorships and attendance.

Still, Schillinger thinks the franchise can be saved. It might not be back in the af2 next season, but he thinks it will be back on the field playing football.

Others share his hope.

"I would hate to see it leave town," said Dan Whitsett, who coached the Fever to the title in 2005 and the playoffs in 2006. "There is a market here for (arena football)."

Only time will tell to see if the Tri-Cities will catch the Fever again.