Sting Set For Season Opener Friday

03.11.09 - story by Ben Murphy

With the kickoff to the Saginaw Sting's second season looming Friday at Muskegon, the changes surrounding the team are abundant. They joined a new league, have another player on the field during games, and have over 15 new players joining the team.

But what hasn't changed is what could bring this team home another championship in 2009. Back is head coach Karl Featherstone; back is starting quarterback Damon Dowdell; back are over 10 players from last year's championship team.

Featherstone, who coached the Sting to last year's Continental Indoor Football League (CIFL) Championship, says the Sting's new home in the Indoor Football League (IFL) is a great fit for his team.
“They are very strict and very well structured which I do like,” he said. “And the talent in this league is a step up. I'm impressed with everything up until this point.”

The IFL differs from the CIFL in that games are played 8-on-8, rather than 7-on-7. The head coach feels his team has made a quick progress in learning to play with an extra player.

“The transition was actually not too bad,” Featherstone said. “There are a few guys on the team that have played eight man before. So that isn't anything too surprising. The transition has gone over pretty well at this point.”

Featherstone believes the fans will like the eight man better.

“The speed of the game picks up,” he said. “You adding that extra guy on the field definitely picks up the action a little bit and guys have to react a lot quicker than in seven man.”

Dowdell, who threw 54 touchdown passes for the Sting last year, likes the change to the eight man game.

“Actually it's pretty simple, the same rules apply,” he said. “It really doesn't effect me. Its a lot more fun though.”

To help prepare for the upcoming season the Sting held a training camp, which helped the coaching staff dwindle the roster to the current 30 man squad.

“We had some good new talent and that was helpful,” Featherstone said about camp. “(I was) pleasantly surprised.”

The culmination of camp occurred when Saginaw traveled to Bloomington, Illinois to play the Extreme, a fellow IFL team.

“The purpose of the exhibition game in my eyes was to establish who's going to be with the team and who's not,” Featherstone said. “There were a few guys who were on the bubble. And also I wanted to see how the new guys would perform in a live game. I wasn't too worried about the score.”

While he wasn't concerned with the score, he does hope his team is starting to play as a team.

“Knowing how to play together, that's the key,” Featherstone said. “What you have to establish first is comradery and togetherness. Once you establish that you can have a very successful year.”

With his focus on playing as a team, the head coach hopes to get production out of all of his players this year.

“Everybody stands out,” Featherstone said. “I just want them to play as a team. If they play as a team everyone of them stands out.”

As for whether or not he sees his team being a favorite to win the IFL, Featherstone won't say much. But that doesn't mean he isn't confident.

“I have no doubt in my mind (that we will be competitive,)” he said. “I don't make predictions (but) if they weren't going to be competitive I wouldn't be doing it. But they will be competitive in this league.”
Dowdell can't wait for Friday's game to roll around.

“I'm looking forward to this game and see the progress on some of the stuff we worked on in practice  and see if it carries on in the game,” he said.

Friday's season opener will be played at Muskegon's LC Walker Arena. The Sting's home opener against the River City Rage will be Friday, March 20 at 7:05 p.m., at The Dow Event Center.