Document text
Heat will finish the season By KRIS HENRY At the risk of beating a dead horse, the Southern Oregon Heat apparently will have a chance to complete its inaugural season in the National Indoor Football League. According to Heat coach Eric VanderWegen, the league will finance travel and player payments for the Heat's final three road games. "They're not totally footing the bill," says VanderWegen, "but they're basically paying for our travel and making sure the players get paid for at least these three games." Reiterating a point NIFL President Carolyn Shiver made two weeks ago, VanderWegen says the league is not providing restitution for any of the Heat's prior debts. The final four weeks of the league schedule have also been modified, in part to help keep the Heat's costs down. Instead of traveling to play against the Yakima, Wash., Shockwave tonight as originally scheduled, Southern Oregon (1-10) has a bye this week and will travel to Yakima for a June 30 game. An originally scheduled July 7 game at Tupelo, Miss., has been replaced by a game on the same date at Utah. The Heat will still cap its season on July 12 with a game at Rapid City, S.D. In working around the schedule changes, the Shockwave will play host to the Billings Outlaws tonight and Yakima will play at Tupelo, Miss., on July 7. VanderWegen has been adamant that he intends to see his responsibilities through and will do all he can to field a competitive team for the remaining games. "Obviously, we want to finish the season and keep the franchise intact and (the league's) providing us an opportunity to do that," he says. "But it's kind of tough to keep guys together at this point of the season. "This last month of the season is going to be pretty tough, but it hasn't been easy at any point." VanderWegen says he has a core group of local players willing to finish off the season. That list includes Ryan McNiven, Mike Morrell, Freddie Taulani, Duane Patterson, Aaron Crawford, Lipano Lologo and Rockne Demello. "I've got those guys to build around," says the 26-year-old coach. "So if I can fill in the cracks and pick up a few more guys here and there, then I've got a pretty solid team to put on the field." With such low numbers, however, VanderWegen says having a full practice is out of the question. Local players will be able to get together, work on some drills and possibly review game film for their game preparation. VanderWegen admits his team is in a daunting position as the season winds down. "This is not about the Southern Oregon Heat, it's about saving face for the league and getting gate receipts for the other teams," he says. "It's not a great situation to be in, but I just want to see us finish as best we can and try to do the right thing." Caught in the middle, VanderWegen says he's not sure which way to turn these days. Heat owner Kevin Wells isn't really involved in day-to-day operations, and the league hasn't exactly bent over backwards. "I've heard so many stories from the league office right now that I hardly believe what I'm hearing from any side these days," says VanderWegen. "If all the stories I hear are true, we haven't been treated as fairly as all the other teams have been. But then again, I'm not sure the league's necessarily responsible for helping us." While in limbo, VanderWegen says he's been trying to help Wells in the search for someone to take over the Heat franchise. That task has proved more challenging than many of the Heat's on-field pursuits. "Personally, I don't know anybody with money so I guess I'm not helping matters in that sense," he says. "Utah was in the same situation as us earlier this season and now they probably have the best owner in the league. Maybe there's somebody out there like that for us." And maybe that person has a friend or two willing to put on the pads. Reach reporter Kris Henry at 776-4488, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.