Post by rkb on Apr 17, 2008 17:03:40 GMT -5
MudCats take on tougher foes on friendly grounds
4/17/2008 6:50:25 AM
Daily Journal
BY JOHN L. PITTS
Daily Journal
The first three teams on the Mississippi MudCats' schedule this season are a combined 1-11 -helped there, in part, by a combined four losses to the 'Cats.
The next three teams on the schedule? They're a combined 9-5.
"The teams we're facing are getting better and we've got to get better as well," MudCats coach Brian Brents said Wednesday. His 4-0 team opens a three-game homestand Saturday night against the Carolina Speed (3-2) at BancorpSouth Arena. "It's a question of keeping our intensity up and continuing the good play we've had while correcting the mistakes we've made."
Brents and his team are happy to be home after gruelling back-to-back road trips to Fort Myers, Fla., and Baltimore. "It's such a great feeling to be home, able to sleep in your own bed and know that we'll be back in front of the home fans this week," Brents said.
At BCS Arena, the MudCats are 11-0 since making their debut last year. They are 5-4 on the road.
While the MudCats' league, the American Indoor Football Association, played a 14-game schedule last season, this year's regular season is 12 games. At the end of this homestand, the MudCats will have two home games remaining in May -and five more road trips before the playoffs.
Mixed emotions
Last weekend's 63-47 win at Baltimore was the closest thing to a pure shootout the MudCats have faced this season. The team led 35-15 early in the third quarter and was outscored 32-28 the rest of the way in the second half.
"As an offensive coordinator, you're thinking to yourself this is fun,' " said Brents. "As a head coach, you're thinking, C'mon, we need a couple of stops on defense.
"Our guys know the game and they know there's going to be a lot of scoring. Whatever Baltimore did when they had the ball, we were able to keep our offense cranked up for the entire second half."
After the Baltimore win, the MudCats are No. 2 in the AIFA in scoring offense (70.0) and slipped to No. 6 from the lead in scoring defense (32.5).
AIFA updates
The AIFA has announced that it is "ending its relationship" with Simply Me TV, which was supposed to provide a platform for a national TV game of the week. A $2.5 million deal was announced at the league meeting in Tupelo before the season began. A visit by Columbus to the BCS Arena was scheduled to be the league's featured game on May 17. ... The Fayetteville (N.C.) Guard fired head coach Reggie Pinkney and his staff on Tuesday after an 0-3 start. The MudCats opened the season with an 82-34 home win against the Guard. Pinkney, a former NFL player (Lions and Colts, 1977-81), had no previous indoor coaching experience. ... No bids were received in the Canton Legends' attempt to sell its AIFA franchise on EBay. The minimum bid needed to be $300,000.
Appeared originally in the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal, 4/17/2008, section C , page 4
4/17/2008 6:50:25 AM
Daily Journal
BY JOHN L. PITTS
Daily Journal
The first three teams on the Mississippi MudCats' schedule this season are a combined 1-11 -helped there, in part, by a combined four losses to the 'Cats.
The next three teams on the schedule? They're a combined 9-5.
"The teams we're facing are getting better and we've got to get better as well," MudCats coach Brian Brents said Wednesday. His 4-0 team opens a three-game homestand Saturday night against the Carolina Speed (3-2) at BancorpSouth Arena. "It's a question of keeping our intensity up and continuing the good play we've had while correcting the mistakes we've made."
Brents and his team are happy to be home after gruelling back-to-back road trips to Fort Myers, Fla., and Baltimore. "It's such a great feeling to be home, able to sleep in your own bed and know that we'll be back in front of the home fans this week," Brents said.
At BCS Arena, the MudCats are 11-0 since making their debut last year. They are 5-4 on the road.
While the MudCats' league, the American Indoor Football Association, played a 14-game schedule last season, this year's regular season is 12 games. At the end of this homestand, the MudCats will have two home games remaining in May -and five more road trips before the playoffs.
Mixed emotions
Last weekend's 63-47 win at Baltimore was the closest thing to a pure shootout the MudCats have faced this season. The team led 35-15 early in the third quarter and was outscored 32-28 the rest of the way in the second half.
"As an offensive coordinator, you're thinking to yourself this is fun,' " said Brents. "As a head coach, you're thinking, C'mon, we need a couple of stops on defense.
"Our guys know the game and they know there's going to be a lot of scoring. Whatever Baltimore did when they had the ball, we were able to keep our offense cranked up for the entire second half."
After the Baltimore win, the MudCats are No. 2 in the AIFA in scoring offense (70.0) and slipped to No. 6 from the lead in scoring defense (32.5).
AIFA updates
The AIFA has announced that it is "ending its relationship" with Simply Me TV, which was supposed to provide a platform for a national TV game of the week. A $2.5 million deal was announced at the league meeting in Tupelo before the season began. A visit by Columbus to the BCS Arena was scheduled to be the league's featured game on May 17. ... The Fayetteville (N.C.) Guard fired head coach Reggie Pinkney and his staff on Tuesday after an 0-3 start. The MudCats opened the season with an 82-34 home win against the Guard. Pinkney, a former NFL player (Lions and Colts, 1977-81), had no previous indoor coaching experience. ... No bids were received in the Canton Legends' attempt to sell its AIFA franchise on EBay. The minimum bid needed to be $300,000.
Appeared originally in the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal, 4/17/2008, section C , page 4