Wolfpack Opens 2010 Season on Home Turf - by Mert Seaton COMMUNITY FREE PRESS ARTICLES

WolfPack First Home Game
4/15/2010


Wolfpack Opens 2010 Season
on Home Turf - by Mert Seaton

The Springfield WolfPack, Springfield’s only professional indoor football team, will open the 2010 season on their home turf this Saturday, April 17, at Mediacom Ice Park.
The WolfPack’s home-opener against the Central Plains Football League’s Topeka Thunder will be the first of four straight home games, and the team couldn’t be happier to start things off at home.

“It is always exciting to get to start things off at home,” Head Coach Mike Burris said. “The fans get the see new and old faces, and what this year’s team is going to look like. The players get to feed off the energy that our fans always seem to bring to the game.”
Burris said fans can expect to see a defense and offense that should rank at or near the top of the league.
“We are going to have an offense that will match up with our always solid defense,” he said. “There are going to be more points scored, especially when we get in the heart of our schedule. We have the balance and talent to win it all this year.”
One of the major players on this year’s offense will be Former Evangel University star, Derek Rasmussen. The American Professional Football League (APFL) rookie quarterback said he is excited about this team’s possibility and ready to get the season started.
“It is going to be a relief to see someone else on the other side of the field,” Rasmussen said. “We have been practicing hard for what seems like a long time and it will be nice to run up against someone in a different color jersey.
“We have tons of speed at receiver this year. We have at least four guys that are flat out fast. There is going to be a bigger mixture of arena type plays and a lot more scoring.”
Although this season is the first for Rasmussen in the APFL, he is no new comer to the indoor game. He has recently played for the Tulsa Talons of the Arena Football League and the Wichita Wild of the Indoor Football League (IFL).
“Derek’s experience is a huge positive for us,” Burris said. “His knowledge of the games is like having another coach out there.”
On the defensive side of the ball, the WolfPack will be led by a new comer off the field and a team MVP on it.
Shem Johnson has joined the coaching staff and has taken over as the team’s defensive coordinator. Johnson, who is a former IFL all-star defensive back and a former Springfield Rifle, brings an extensive background of playing and coaching experience.
“I am basically trying to pass on the simple knowledge of the game.” Johnson said. “We have a lot of new guys who have never played this style of football. It is a small confined area, where you put your head on a swivel and cover your zone. The game is simple if you do that.
“We are going to have a defense full of guys flying to the ball and using their athletic ability. Those who haven’t seen this style of football before are in for a great surprise. There is going to be some hard hitting and the players going over the boards will make it a lot of fun.”
The on-the-field leader of the defense will be last year’s team MVP and star defensive back Stanley Harris. Harris, a four-veteran, said fans will see an intense defense with a definite goal in mind.
“It is going to be electrifying,” Harris said. “We are all in this together and we are going to do what ever it takes to win and to make us number one.
“This year we are going to protect our house so we can bring a home playoff game and a championship to our fans.”

The WolfPack home-opener will start at 7:05 p.m. on Saturday, April 17 at Mediacom Ice Park. Doors will open at 6 p.m. Tickets for the game are still available and can be purchased on game day. For more information go to springfieldwolfpack.net.

SPRINGFIELD WOLFPACK 2010 HOME SCHEDULE
· April 17, 2010: TOPEKA THUNDER
· April 24, 2010: WEST MISSOURI KINGS
· May 8, 2010: MID-MISSOURI OUTLAWS
· May 15,2010: KANSAS KOYOTES
· May 29, 2010: IOWA BLACKHAWKS
· June 12, 2010: JUNCTION CITY FORCE
All games start at 7:05 p.m. and are played at Mediacom Ice Park