KENNEWICK -- Tri-Cities Fever coach Pat O'Hara returned home to Orlando, Fla., on Saturday after spending two busy weeks in the Tri-Cities.
In addition to officially signing on to coach the Fever in 2010, O'Hara made the rounds in town, meeting sponsors, talking to ticket holders and starting to shape his coaching staff and roster.
"Everything went really well," O'Hara said. ""We got a lot of positive things done; the time went by really fast."
Before he left, he had four players confirmed to the 2010 roster and met with former Spokane Shock coach Adam Shackleford about the possibility of becoming one of his assistants.
O'Hara said a lot players are still playing the waiting game and will be more ready to commit to teams when all the details regarding the new league are announced.
"They are kind of feeling this whole thing out too," O'Hara said.
-- The Fever is holding its first open tryout Dec. 13 in Las Vegas.
-- The Stockton Record recently reported that the Lightning, which played in the af2 the past four seasons, is still weighing its options for 2010 and could possibly join the AF1.
-- The Toledo Bullfrogs, who were supposed to be an af2 expansion franchise in 2010, will not play in any league next season, according a team release.
-- Former Fever running back Paris Moore recently signed with the Ogden Knights of the American Indoor Football League.
Moore will be reunited with former Fever teammate Doug Coleman, who was recently hired to coach the Knights. Moore and Coleman were part of the 2005 National Indoor Football League championship team in the Tri-Cities. Moore also played for the Fever in 2006.
The Knights are owned by Trademark Sports Group, a local ownership group headed by Kevin Jinks, who made a bid for the Fever in the offseason.
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Shackleford builds Fever roster to 22
Shackleford builds Fever roster to 22
Tri-Cities Fever coach Adam Shackleford has an interesting problem.
Because his team made it all the way to the Indoor Football League championship last season -- losing 37-10 to the Sioux Falls Storm -- he's finding it quite easy to sign players for the upcoming season.
Too easy, in fact. He's had to slow things down, making sure he's bringing in the right guys.
Fever frantically preps for preseason camp
Fever frantically preps for preseason camp
KENNEWICK -- Let's call this the storm before the calm for the Tri-Cities Fever.
Training camp for the 2012 Indoor Football League season for the Fever kicks off this weekend, with a 2:30 p.m. practice Saturday inside the Toyota Center.
But to get there, plenty of details have to be tended to.
Killeen re-signs with Fever
Killeen re-signs with Fever
The Tri-Cities Fever has added some talent to its defense for the upcoming 2012 Indoor Football League season.
Defensive lineman Jake Killeen has re-signed with the Fever. The 6-foot-3, 255-pounder had 36 tackles, ranking seventh on the team, in eight regular-season games last year. He also had three tackles-for-loss and one interception. Killeen played in all four playoff games, recording six tackles.
The Fever also signed former Iowa State defensive lineman Bailey Johnson. Johnson (6-3, 280) started eight games for the Cyclones in 2010, recording 20 tackles, five tackles-for-losses and one forced fumble.
Fever adds 7 players
Fever adds 7 players
KENNEWICK -- When training camp for the Tri-Cities Fever opens in February, head coach Adam Shackleford has a good idea who is going to show up.
He also is a realist and knows some of the players he has signed will get an offer from a Canadian Football League team, or an Arena Football League squad.
So he's looking to put together a roster with depth -- one where someone steps in seamlessly for another player who leaves.
Fever getting close to training camp
Fever getting close to training camp
You know it’s getting close to indoor football season when Tri-Cities Fever coach Adam Shackleford packs his stuff up from his Spokane Valley home, gives his wife and two sons kisses goodbye, and moves down to the Tri-Cities.
“I usually try to come down Feb. 1, but it worked out a little earlier,” he said Tuesday after getting into town on Monday.
Now, training camp doesn’t really get going until Feb. 12. But players start arriving on Feb. 9 for physicals, collecting their gear, and generally getting settled in.
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