Wikipedia

Tri-Cities Fever

The Tri-Cities Fever was a professional indoor football franchise based in Kennewick, Washington. The Fever joined National Indoor Football League (NIFL) in 2005 as an expansion team. The Fever were owned by Teri Carr. From 2005 to 2016, the Fever played their home games at the Toyota Center in Kennewick, Washington.[1] On June 30, 2016, the team announced it would go dormant for the 2017 season and beyond.[2]

Tri-Cities Fever
Established 2005
Folded 2016
Played in Toyota Center
in Kennewick, Washington
TriCitiesFever.com
League/conference affiliations
National Indoor Football League (2005–2006)
  • Pacific Conference (2005–2006)
    • Western (2005)
    • Northern (2006)

AF2 (2007–2009)

  • American (2007)
  • National (2008–2009)
    • West (2007–2009)

Indoor Football League (2010–2016)

  • Intense Conference (2010–2016)
    • Pacific North (2010)
    • Pacific (2011)
Current uniform
Team colorsNavy, Vegas Gold, white
     
MascotClutch
CheerleadersFever Girls
Personnel
Owner(s)Teri Carr
PresidentTeri Carr
General managerTeri Carr
Head coachRyan Lingenfelder
Team history
  • Tri-Cities Fever (2005–2016)
Championships
League championships (1)
2005
Conference championships (3)
2005, 2011, 2012
Division championships (1)
2012
Playoff appearances (7)
2005, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015
Home arena(s)

The Fever won one division title and three conference championships. They appeared in two United Bowls, most recently the 2012 United Bowl where they were defeated by the Sioux Falls Storm 59–32.

History

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Original Primary Logo 2007-2015

National Indoor Football League (NIFL)

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The Fever were founded and accepted into the National Indoor Football League (NIFL) September 2004.[3] Craig Beverlin was tabbed as the team's first ever head coach. After an 0–2 start, Beverlin resigned as the head coach of the Fever, and starting quarterback Scott Mitchell quit the team. The team promoted Special Teams Coach, Dan Whitsett to head coach, and signed quarterback Doug Coleman to lead the team.[4] The Fever rallied to a 9–5 regular season record, finishing 3rd in the Pacific West division. The Fever earned a berth in Indoor Bowl V on July 30, 2005, where they defeated the Rome Renegades 47–31 in Kennewick.[5]

Move to af2

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After the 2006 season, the Fever announced they were leaving the NIFL. On September 4, it was confirmed that they were moving to United Indoor Football, along with the Billings Outlaws and River City Rage.[6] The league was expected to make an official announcement at a press conference sometime on the weekend of September 11, and was also hoping to add the Rapid City Flying Aces and Wyoming Cavalry soon. However, Tri-Cities instead joined the af2 which had in-state rival Spokane.[7]

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Failed logo

The new ownership had introduced a new logo, with team colors and uniforms that were reminiscent of the Miami Dolphins on December 13, 2006 (left), but because of general fan dislike, the team announced on January 9, 2007, that they would be switching back to their old color scheme and logo.[8]

Back to the Carrs, on to the IFL

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There had been speculation that the Fever would fold after the 2009 season, however, on September 6, it was announced that J. R. and Teri Carr had bought back the team from Texas af2 holdings, ensuring the Fever would return for the 2010 season.[9] Later that month, it was announced that the af2 was shutting down and the new Arena Football 1 (AF1) was taking its place, including the Fever as a charter team. The Fever would drop out of the AF1 however on November 19 as the Tier 2 division, which the Fever were slated to be in, was scrapped by the league due to a lack of teams.[10] So the Fever joined the Indoor Football League based in Richmond, Virginia. The Fever joined former rival (NIFL) and defending IFL champion the Billings Outlaws and new in-state rival the Kent Predators.

On June 30, 2016, after seven years in the IFL, the Fever announced the franchise would go into dormancy but remain in good standing with the IFL for the 2017 season and beyond.[11] However, former owner Teri Carr has no intentions on bringing the team back.

Players of note

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Final roster

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Tri-Cities Fever roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

Linebackers

Defensive backs

Kickers

Injured reserve

Refused to report

  • currently vacant

Transfer list

  • currently vacant
  • rookies in italics
  • Roster updated June 21, 2016
  • 26 Active, 2 Inactive

Awards and honors

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The following is a list of all Fever players who have won league Awards

Season Player Position Award
2013 Lionell Singleton DB Adam Pringle
2015 Steven Whitehead WR Offensive Player of the Year
2015 Brady Beeson K Adam Pringle

All-IFL players

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The following Fever players have been named to All-IFL Teams:

  • QB Houston Lillard (2)
  • RB Keithon Flemming (1), Andrew Pierce (1)
  • WR Thyron Lewis (1), Joey Hew Len (1), Steven Whitehead (2)
  • OL William Falakiseni (1)
  • DL Jake Killeen (2)
  • DB Dennis Rogan (1), Lionell Singleton (3), Rudell Crim (1). Donyae Coleman (1), Troy Sanders (1), Boubacar Cissoko (1), Dee Maggitt (1)

Front office and coaching staff

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Coaching staff

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Tri-Cities Fever staff
Front office
  • Owner/General Manager – Teri Carr
  • Director of operations and corporate sales – Travis Vance
  • Director of ticketing – Donna Crisp
  • Group Sales and Graphic Design - Shawna Fisher
   Head coach
  • Head coach – Ryan Lingenfelder

Assistant coaches

  • Offensive coordinator – Brian Schmidt
  • Defensive Backs & Special Teams – Shon King
  • Strength and Conditioning - Steven Whitehead

Head coaches

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Craig Beverlin was the initial head coach for the Fever, but after a 0–2 start, Beverlin was fired, and the details of his dismissal were never shared publicly.[12] Beverlin was replaced by Special Teams coach, Dan Whitsett.[13] On July 8, 2006, Whitsett resigned from his coaching position, just days before the Fever were to start the playoffs.[14] On April 26, 2009 Head coach Richard Davis was fired after an 0–5 start to the season.[15] On April 27, Pat O'Hara, Head coach of the Arena Football League's Los Angeles Avengers was named Head coach of the Fever while the AFL was suspended.[16] O'Hara was going to remain Fever coach for the 2010 season in the IFL until he was offered head coaching job of the Orlando Predators of the af1. He was replaced by former Spokane Shock head coach Adam Shackleford. Shackleford coached the Fever to a record 50 wins in 6 seasons as the head coach.[17] On September 1, 2015, the Fever hired Ryan Lingenfelder as their next head coach.[18]

Name Term Regular season Playoffs Awards
W L T Win% W L
Craig Beverlin 2005 0 2 0 .000 0 0
Dan Whitsett 2005–2006 18 8 0 .692 4 0
Ed Simmons 2006 0 0 0 – 1 1
Tony Wells 2007 8 8 0 .500 0 1
Cedric Walker 2008 4 12 0 .250 0 0
Richard Davis 2009 0 5 0 .000 0 0
Pat O'Hara 2009 3 8 0 .273 0 0
Adam Shackleford 2010–2015 50 33 0 .602 5 4
Ryan Lingenfelder 2016 3 13 0 .188 0 0

Season-by-season results

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League Champions Conference Champions Division Champions Wild Card Berth League Leader
Season Team League Conference Division Regular season Postseason results
Finish Wins Losses Ties
2005 2005 NIFL Pacific Western 3rd 9 5 0 Won Wildcard (Wyoming) 35–31
Won Pacific Conference Semifinals (Everett) 55–53
Won Pacific Conference Championship (Odessa) 41–39
Won Indoor Bowl V (Rome) 47–31
2006 2006 NIFL Pacific Northern 2nd 9 5 0 Won Wildcard (Wyoming) 45–20
Lost Pacific Conference Semifinals (Billings) 21–48
2007 2007 AF2 American West 3rd 8 8 0 Lost First Round (Wilkes-Barre/Scranton) 54–57
2008 2008 AF2 National West 5th 4 12 0
2009 2009 AF2 National West 5th 3 13 0
2010 2010 IFL Intense Pacific North 3rd[19] 7 7 0 Lost First Round (Billings) 45–54
2011 2011 IFL Intense Pacific 2nd 10 4 0 Won First Round (West Texas) 61–49
Won Intense Conference Semifinals (Colorado) 45–42
Won Intense Conference Championship (Allen) 67–46
Lost 2011 United Bowl (Sioux Falls) 10–37
2012 2012 IFL Intense 1st 12 2 0 Won Intense Conference Semifinals (Colorado) 52–42
Won Intense Conference Championship (Wichita) 51–30
Lost 2012 United Bowl (Sioux Falls) 32–59
2013 2013 IFL Intense 3rd 6 8 0
2014 2014 IFL Intense 3rd 8 6 0
2015 2015 IFL Intense 2nd 8 6 0 Lost Intense Conference Championship (Nebraska) 43–86
2016 2016 IFL Intense 5th 3 13 0
Totals 87 89 0 All-time regular season record (2005–2016)
10 6 — All-time postseason record (2005–2016)
97 95 0 All-time regular season and postseason record (2005–2016)

Media coverage

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Previously 106.5 FM Eagle was the home of the Fever. Currently 610 KONA is the home of game broadcasts and a weekly Fever talk. The Fever have had a few games shown on local television channels, all home games of the 2011 season are viewed on a local FOX channel the following Thursday.

References

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  1. ^ Dial, Tracci (March 7, 2014). "Time Lapse: Toyota Center Changeover From Ice to Turf to Court". Tri-Cities, WA: KNDU. Retrieved March 8, 2014.
  2. ^ "IFL Issues Statement on Tri-Cities Fever". www.oursportscentral.com. OurSports Central. June 30, 2016. Retrieved July 1, 2016.
  3. ^ "Fever hits Tri-Cities". www.oursportscentral.com. OurSports Central. October 5, 2004. Retrieved September 30, 2015.
  4. ^ "Fever sign NIFL veteran quarterback and defensive back". www.oursportscentral.com. OurSports Central. April 13, 2005. Retrieved September 30, 2015.
  5. ^ "Defense, Coleman lead Fever to Indoor Bowl V win". www.oursportscentral.com. OurSports Central. July 31, 2005. Retrieved September 30, 2015.
  6. ^ http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2006/09/04/sports/local/25-outlaws.txt[permanent dead link‍]
  7. ^ http://www.tri-cityherald.com/tch/local/breaking/story/8411447p-8306334c.html[permanent dead link‍]
  8. ^ http://www.sportstricities.com/sportstc/football/fever/story/8549671p-8443512c.html Archived 2007-03-19 at the Wayback Machine
  9. ^ Ben Reynolds (September 6, 2009). "Carrs return to run franchise they began in 2005". www.tri-cityherald.com. Tri-City Herald. Archived from the original on September 15, 2012. Retrieved April 10, 2014.
  10. ^ "Fever break free from AF1". www.spokesman.com. The Spokesman-Review. November 20, 2009. Retrieved April 10, 2014.
  11. ^ "IFL Issues Statement on Tri-Cities Fever". OurSports Central. June 30, 2016.
  12. ^ "Statement from Fever ownership on Coach Beverlin and QB, Scott Mitchell". www.oursportscentral.com. OurSports Central. April 8, 2005. Retrieved September 30, 2015.
  13. ^ "State Rivals to Face-Off for First Time Ever". www.oursportscentral.com. OurSports Central. April 20, 2005. Retrieved September 30, 2015.
  14. ^ "Tri-Cities coach quits". www.trib.com. Casper Star Tribune. July 8, 2006. Retrieved September 30, 2015.
  15. ^ "Davis Fired As Fever Head Coach". KNDO.com. KNDO/KNDU. April 26, 2009. Retrieved April 28, 2009. [dead link‍]
  16. ^ "O'Hara is New Fever Head Coach". KNDO.com. KNDO/KNDU. April 27, 2009. Retrieved April 28, 2009.[dead link‍]
  17. ^ Jeff Morrow (August 18, 2015). "Shackleford leaving Tri-Cities Fever to coach Spokane Shock". www.tri-cityherald.com. Tri-City Herald. Retrieved August 19, 2015.
  18. ^ "Fever Tab Ryan Lingenfelder as Head Coach". www.oursportscentral.com. OurSports Central. September 1, 2015. Retrieved September 2, 2015.
  19. ^ "goifl.com: Home". 22 August 2010. Archived from the original on 22 August 2010. Retrieved 20 April 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
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