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Spokane Empire era begins Saturday at Tri-Cities

Spokane Empire starting quarterback Charles Dowdell tries on his new jersey and pads on the first day of practice at the Spokane Soccer Center. Dowdell and the Empire start the season Saturday at the Tri-Cities. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. (Dan Pelle / The Spokesman-Review)
By Jim Meehan jimm@spokesman.com(509) 459-5585
Spokane Empire starting quarterback Charles Dowdell tries on his new jersey and pads on the first day of practice at the Spokane Soccer Center. Dowdell and the Empire start the season Saturday at the Tri-Cities. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. (Dan Pelle / The Spokesman-Review)

Ready or not, the Spokane Empire’s season opener has arrived with built-in storylines.

Among them: Spokane’s rebranded arena team debuts in the Indoor Football League against nearest rival Tri-Cities at 7 p.m. Saturday. It’s the return of Empire coach Adam Shackleford to Tri-Cities, where he was head coach for the last six seasons. Heck, it’s the return of Shackleford with Spokane, where he guided strong arenafootball2 squads from 2007-2009.

It’s Shackleford matching wits against several former players as well as Fever coach Ryan Lingenfelder, Shackleford’s former defensive coordinator. Can the Empire duplicate the success of Spokane’s previous milestone seasons, notably the inaugural 2006 campaign that resulted in an af2 championship and the 2010 season that ended with an AFL title?

“This is a big game for our franchise,” Shackleford said. “We want to get off to a fast start because we don’t want to be chasing anybody at the end of the year.

“I know there’s a group (of fans) that is in wait-and-see (mode), and that’s OK. Our focus is playing good football and once they get to know our guys and see the passion they play with I think we’ll be fine.”

Shackleford agonized over the last cuts to the 25-man roster, particularly at receiver and defensive line.

“We don’t have one receiver or defensive linemen we don’t like,” he said. “In the last six years, the first week we’ve said, ‘OK, these are five or six easy decisions.’ I don’t think we’ve had an easy decision yet. I’ve changed transactions five times before I’ve finally sent it in.”

With only two weeks of training camp, every IFL team faced a time crunch to settle on a roster and still prepare for a game. IFL veteran Charles Dowdell will start at quarterback over talented rookie Aaron Aiken. Six Empire players, including All-IFL running back Andrew Pierce, who played for Shackleford last year in Tri-Cities, aren’t available as they explore Major League Football, an outdoor league planning a spring debut.

Rookie Trevor Kennedy had an outstanding camp and won the running back job. Kennedy can also play receiver. Defensive back Josh Ferguson, a former Shock player, has seen time in the backfield.

“I see our defense run around, we haven’t had a defense run around like this in maybe six, seven years, that’s exciting,” Shackleford said. “The offense, the first game you just never know. We have a quarterback with experience and so do they. Their guy is a pocket passer, our guy is a dual-threat.

“The team that plays good defense and is able to run the ball is going to have success. When you only have two weeks to prepare you put the ball in the air too many times and bad things are going to happen. The timing just isn’t quite there in two weeks, even three weeks.”