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By MIKE ZIMMER
Gazette Sports Editor
The Billings Outlaws' road to a league championship in 2009 could stretch from Corpus Christi, Texas, to Fairbanks, Alaska - a mere 8,517-mile round trip.
On Thursday, the United Indoor Football league (UIF) announced that it will merge with the Intense Football League (IFL) for the 2009 season.
"This is a move that will bring both credibility and stability to indoor football," IFL communications director Paul Winfrey said in a press release. "The IFL and UIF are two of the sport's most stable business organizations. Combining strengths and resources will create a partnership that will insure the long-term growth of the sport."
Winfrey said the new league's name will be announced on Aug. 3. Other details of the new league, such as conference and divisional alignments, final expansion for the 2009 season and playing rules, will be decided at the first-ever league meetings to be held in mid-September in Omaha, Neb.
The eight-team UIF currently includes teams in Billings, Sioux Falls, S.D., Fort Collins, Colo., Omaha, Neb., Sioux City, Iowa, Bloomington, Ill., Wichita, Kan., and St. Joseph, Mo.
The nine-team IFL currently includes six teams in Texas, one in Louisiana and two in Alaska - Fairbanks and Anchorage.
At least three additional cities have applied for franchises in the new league, meaning the league could include as many as 20 teams for the 2009 season.
"This merger of existing and long tenured teams is the most exciting thing to happen in indoor football," said Outlaws owner Mike Parnell. "It validates the UIF's model of teams owning the league and running the league in the same way that the NFL and Major League Baseball do.
"This new league will be the largest in indoor football and will have the most prestigious and continuously operating teams, great regional rivalries and significant opportunities for further expansion. The new combined dues income stream will also allow for some really fun marketing and branding investments."
Outlaws coach Heron O'Neal said the new league will be No. 2 in all of indoor football, ranking below only the Arena Football League.
"With this merger, I think we definitely surpass A2 (the arenafootball2 league)," said O'Neal. "We'll have teams all over the map, and teams with good, solid ownership. The UIF and IFL don't add teams just to add them. They do their research and make sure that the owners are solid financially.
"I'm looking forward to the added exposure and the added competition. And I'm definitely looking forward to taking a trip to Alaska to play those two teams."
Both the UIF and IFL will conclude their fourth season of play on Saturday, Aug. 2 when the league champions of both leagues meet in Sioux Falls, S.D., in what is being called the National Indoor Bowl. The UIF champion Sioux Falls Storm will host either the Corpus Christi Hammerheads or the Louisiana Swashbucklers, who meet for the IFL title Saturday in Lake Charles, La.
Louisiana has been the IFL's dominant team for the past two seasons. The Swashbucklers went 15-1 and won the league championship in 2007 and are 15-0 this season heading into Saturday's title game.
The new league will be the fourth league in the 10-year history of Billings indoor football. Billings teams have played in the Indoor Football League (2000), National Indoor Football League (2001-05) and UIF (2007-08). |
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Chris Dixon was a perfect 13-13 179yds 4TD, in 3Quarters as the starter for the West All-Stars. West Wins 57-39
http://www.qkstats.net/UIF/2008/uifindex.htm
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With an Adam Hicks kick, the Storm continued their habit of reaching championship games.
The sixth field goal of the night by the six-year veteran, a straightaway shot from 25 yards out as time expired, gave Sioux Falls a 46-44 victory against Billings and a fifth consecutive conference title before a crowd of 4,387.
It also saved the Storm from a bitter defeat - they led by 20 with the ball late in the third quarter - and clinched another game at the Arena, where they have won 30 games in a row.
Sioux Falls (12-3), aiming for a fourth consecutive United Indoor Football championship, will host the River City Rage or the Bloomington Extreme on July 12 in United Bowl IV.
"It was a huge win," Storm coach Kurtiss Riggs said, "and we're deserving of being in the championship again."
That seemed a mere formality for much of the contest.
Sioux Falls allowed just 51 yards in the first half against an Outlaws squad that had been averaging a league-best 51 points per game. The Storm led 30-10 and had the ball inside of three minutes remaining in the third.
But in less than four minutes, Billings (11-4) came up with a defensive stop, scored a touchdown, forced a turnover and scored another touchdown to get within 30-24 still with more than 13 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter.
What's more, Sioux Falls veteran quarterback Terrance Bryant had been dinged on his throwing shoulder. He didn't respond well to a shot administered by team doctors and spent the last quarter and a half on the sideline, although Riggs said after the game that the early indication is he should be OK for United Bowl.
The chase was on.
The Outlaws took a 44-43 lead with 52 seconds remaining on an extra point that followed a 10-yard touchdown run by quarterback Chris Dixon, the league MVP.
"Nothing really changed," Sioux Falls defensive back Justin Landis said of the difference between the first half and the second. "We just started making mistakes, missed tackles, had blown coverages. We just made mistakes. When we needed to make a play, we didn't."
Yet they made several in the final minute.
It started with Bryan Alberty - who fumbled earlier - returning the kickoff into Billings territory and ended with Hicks making good from 25 yards out as time expired. Riggs said he never thought about shooting for the end zone because Hicks, who played at the University of South Dakota, had been "money." He finished the night 6 of 8, hitting from 46, 40, 18, 45, 38 and 25 yards.
"I missed my first one and then later on I missed a long one, but all night I felt pretty good," said Hicks, who recalled hitting six field goals and a game-winner against Billings early in his pro career. "I was pretty mad about my kickoffs, but other than that I felt pretty good all night."
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07/11/2008 10:17 PM
(July 9, 2008-Sioux City, IA) Today the Sioux City Bandits as host for the United Indoor Football All Star Classic are pleased to announce the Head Coaches for the July 19 UIF All Star Game. Kickoff is scheduled at 7:05 at the Tyson Events Center/Gateway Arena in downtown Sioux City. Leading the West Squad will be Heron O’Neal from the Billings Outlaws, O’Neal led the Outlaws to a 11-5 record in 2008 and a berth in the UIF semi-finals, where they lost 46-44 to the 3 time champion Sioux Falls Storm on a last second field goal. The East Team will be led by Sioux City Bandits Head Coach Jarrod DeGeorgia. 2008 was DeGeorgia’s first as a Head Coach. Sioux City finished the season 4-11, qualified for the playoffs losing in the first round to the River City Rage 37-33. This is the second annual All Star Classic with last years game being played in Bloomington at US Cellular Coliseum. Tickets for the game are available at the Tyson Center Box Office, starting at $9.00 for Adults and $6.00 for Kids. Fans can also purchase the All You Can Eat-Bandits Buffet ticket for $24.00. It includes all you can eat hot dogs, taverns, nachos, popcorn, boneless wings, pop, water and beer. The price also includes a ticket in Sec 101 for the game. In addition the Bandits along with the City of Sioux City and Distinctive Gourmet are hosting the All Star Banquet at 7:00 on Friday July 18 at the Sioux City Convention Center. Tickets are available for $25.00 thru the Tyson Center Box Office. Finally, the Bandits are holding two touch football games before the All Star Game on Saturday. The event is called the Guns and Hoses Football Classic with all proceeds going to C.S.A.D.V. and the Make A Wish Foundation. At 2 pm the Sioux City Police Dept will play the Sioux City Fire Dept and at 3:30 the Woodbury County Deputies will play the County Rural Fire Departments. Tickets are only $5.00, available at the Tyson Box Office and gets you $5.00 off the price of an Adult Ticket to the All Star Game. |
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To: Letters to the Editor Fr: Chris Dixon, #5 for the Outlaws Dear Fans, On behalf of the Billings Outlaws, my teammates and I would like to thank you and our great corporate partners that supported us so enthusiastically this season! Our attendances was almost double every game and in some close games at the Metra this year you were the reason we were able to get through with a win. I would like to send a special thanks to all the companies in and around Billings for all that they do in supporting the team, proudly displaying their banners in our building and letting us know they are there for us. I would also like to thank Mike Zimmer and the Billings Gazette, for the wonderful job they do in reporting our success and our shortcomings to keep our fans involved and invested in our team. I would also like to thank our Outlaw staff for the hard work and dedication they put in every week to make our home and road games comfortable and enjoyable for us as players. Including the two young men, Tre'von and Austin, who brought water out to us during breaks in the game to keep us hydrated and gave us encouragement. My heart and affection goes out to Aaliyah, the little 5 yr old girl that suffers from Epilepsy for all that she has taught me about life and how to over come adversity. Chris Dixon Chris Dixon Foundation for Kids cdfk.net
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06/21/2008 12:55 PM
Omaha, NE – With his 10-yard touchdown pass to Bernie Lewis with 29 seconds remaining in his team’s June 7th game against the Wichita Wild, Billings Outlaws quarterback Chris Dixon entered the United Indoor Football (UIF) record books. The touchdown pass was his 60th touchdown pass on the season, which broke the previous record held by Lexington’s Dusty Bonner and Eddie Eviston. This past weekend, against the RiverCity Rage, Dixon added three more touchdown passes to finish the regular season with 63. He will look to add to his total this weekend when the Outlaws host the Omaha Beef Saturday evening at Rimrock Auto Arena at MetraPark. Earlier this week, Dixon was named Most Valuable Player/Player of the Year and Offensive Player of the Year by a vote of UIF coaches and team beat writers and broadcasters. So far this season, in addition to the 63 touchdown passes, he has completed 264 of 385 passes for 2,882 yards. Dixon leads the Outlaws in rushing with 382 yards and is second on the team with seven rushing touchdowns. He has even caught a touchdown on a one-yard pass thrown by teammate Charles Anthony in the team’s May 24th game against Sioux Falls. Dixon was recently named to his second UIF All-Star team. Last season, his first in the UIF, Dixon completed 184 of 286 passes for 1,922 yards and 52 touchdowns in the regular season. In the playoffs, he completed 38 of 49 passes for 378 yards and nine more touchdowns. In all, he finished the 2007 campaign, completing 222 of 335 passes for 2,300 yards and 61 touchdowns. United Indoor Football is the premier indoor football league of North America and is committed to serving its teams and fans. Please contact the UIF league office with any comments, concerns or suggestions.
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Chris Dixon is proud to announce his Passing Academy which will be held at the Billings Sports Plex located at 5000 Southgate Drive, Billings, Montana. Chris has developed his passing academy to give kids a chance to learn from the professional football athletes and coaches here in our community. The academy will help the student athlete develop the techniques and skills necessary to give him/her the competitive advantage over the competition.
This academy will push the student athlete to reach his/her full potential and development. There will be one on one instruction, post film review, confidence development, and skills repetition.
“Our goal is to teach fundamentals and pro-techniques for the Quarterback and Wide Receiver position,” states Dixon.
Student athletes must be between the ages of 8 to 18 years old. There are three sessions: (1) June 30th – July 2nd; (2) July 7th – July 9th; and the (3) July 14th – July 16th. Each session is $120 per person ($310 per person for all three sessions). The entry deadline is the first day of each session.
For more information, please contact Chris Dixon (406) 698-8704 or the Sports Plex at (406) 839-9080.
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The Billings Outlaws, under the direction of Chris Dixon, announce the first ever, Outlaws Mighty Might Football League for kids between the ages of 8 and 9 years old. The league will be held at the Billings Sports Plex, located at 5000 Southgate Drive, Billings, Montana.
The league is designed to develop the skills and knowledge of the younger kids before they enter Little Guy Football at the age of ten. This will be a full pads football league! The league will consist of 6 regular season games, playoffs, and a championship game. We will limit the number of teams to 6. (The standard 8 man indoor football rules apply).
The cost of the league is $110 per player. A tryout will be held (a fee of $30 to tryout) and if you make one of the six teams, your tryout fee will be deducted from the cost of the league. In addition to the games, which will be held on Saturdays, each team will participate in a week long training camp prior to the league games, and will have two (2) practice sessions each week during the season.
The entry deadline is July 25th, 2008. Each kid must be 8 years old by September 10th, 2008 (Birth Certificates are required). Please contact the Billings Sports Plex office at (406) 839-9080 or Chris Dixon at (406) 698-8704 if you have any questions.
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06/12/2008 11:00 PM
Omaha, NE – Dusty Burk, Chris Dixon, Joe Bevis, Travis Garcia and Andre Raymond have been selected as United Indoor Football (UIF) players of the week for their play in week 14 of the UIF season.
Burk, quarterback for the Bloomington Extreme, shares Offensive Player of the Week honors for his efforts in last week’s game. In Bloomington’s 64-43 win over the Omaha Beef, he completed 24 of 31 passes for 239 yards and five touchdown passes. Burk added 75 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns to finish his evening with 314 yards of total offense and eight total touchdowns. He currently leads the Extreme in both of the rushing and passing categories. So far this season, Burk has thrown for 2,388 yards and 45 touchdowns while also rushing for 311 yards and eight touchdowns. This weekend, he and his teammates will hit the road to take on the Sioux Falls Storm Saturday evening at the Sioux Falls Arena.
Dixon, quarterback for the Billings Outlaws, shares Offensive Player of the Week honors for his efforts in last week’s game. In Billings’ 58-31 win over the Wichita Wild, he completed 22 of 34 passes for 198 yards and six touchdown passes. Dixon added 27 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown to finish his evening with 225 yards of total offense and seven total touchdowns. He currently leads the Outlaws in both of the rushing and passing categories. So far this season, Dixon has thrown for 2,718 yards and 60 touchdowns while also rushing for 364 yards and six touchdowns. This weekend, he and his teammates will travel to St. Charles, Missouri to take on the RiverCity Rage Saturday evening at the Family Arena.
Bevis, linebacker for the RiverCity Rage, has been tabbed as co-Defensive Player of the Week. Last weekend, in the Rage’s 41-27 win over the Sioux City Bandits, he tallied 7.5 tackles, a tackle for loss while also forcing a fumble and had a quarterback hurry. Offensively, he ran twice for 10 yards. This weekend, he and his teammates will host the Billings Outlaws Saturday evening at the Family Arena.
Garcia, defensive back for the Colorado Ice, has been tabbed as co-Defensive Player of the Week. Last weekend, in the Ice’s 29-24 win over the Sioux Falls Storm, he tallied six tackles and also had an interception. This weekend, he and his teammates will host the Wichita Wild Friday evening at the Budweiser Events Center.
Raymond, running back for the Bloomington Extreme, is honored with Special Teams Player of the Week. In Bloomington’s 64-43 win over the Omaha Beef, he returned eight kickoffs for 125 yards. In addition to his return prowess, he rushed twice for nine yards and a touchdown while also catching three passes for 28 yards and another score. This weekend, he and his teammates will hit the road to take on the Sioux Falls Storm Saturday evening at the Sioux Falls Arena.
United Indoor Football is the premier indoor football league of North America and is committed to serving its teams and fans. Please contact the UIF league office with any comments, concerns or suggestions.
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