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Isn�t indoor football the same thing as arena football? No way, says Garmez Parks, Director of Operations for the new National Indoor Football League (NIFL) franchise, the Greenville RiverHawks. Indoor football is just like real outdoor football, but is played indoors � that�s the only big difference from the original outdoor game that Upstate residents know and love. Unlike arena football, a game that is heavily dominated by passing plays, indoor football relies much more on running plays � just like the �real� game. About half the plays in indoor football are running plays, where only about ten percent are running plays in the arena game. The end result is a fast-paced, highly entertaining football game that has the look and feel of the outdoor game. An added perk with the indoor game is that the end zone seats are often the best ones in the house � any balls that are kicked into the end zones (extra points, field goals) are �finders keepers� items for lucky fans because the game does not include any nets to catch the balls to return to the field. Nice souvenir! The NIFL will begin its fourth season in 2004, with games running from March through the end of June; playoff games run through July. The Greenville RiverHawks will play in the NIFL�s Atlantic East Division, along with teams from Staten Island, NY, Atlantic City, NJ, Myrtle Beach, and two-time defending NIFL champion Ohio Valley Greyhounds (from Wheeling, WV). The league now has 25 teams nationwide, with teams as far away as Salt Lake City, UT. The RiverHawks head coach is Garrett Hagin, who coached the Bossier City (LA) Battlewings arena football 2 team last season. A former college-level coach (Offensive Coordinator for Mississippi College and a coach at the University of Central Florida), Hagin has family ties in the Greenville area. Hagin has also scouted for many NFL and CFL teams, as well as the Edmonton Eskimos, winners of Canada�s 2003 Grey Cup. Greenville-area football players have a unique opportunity with a new indoor football team coming to town. Since indoor football teams recruit most of their players from each team�s hometown locale, the Upstate�s ex-college and higher performing athletes have an opportunity to improve their skills and catch the attention of NFL and other league scouts by earning a spot on the RiverHawks roster. The Greenville RiverHawks will hold an open tryout on Sunday, December 14, 2003, at the Greenville Tennis Club located at 772 Adams Mill Road in Simpsonville. Registration will begin at 10 AM. There will be a $50 registration fee (cash only), and all participants will receive an official tryout t-shirt. Participants must be at least 18 years old and should wear athletic attire and running shoes (no cleats). All home games will be played at the BI-LO Center. Season tickets for the seven Greenville RiverHawks home games are currently on sale. Season ticket prices are $160 (Lower Bowl sideline), $90 (Lower Bowl end zone), and $70 (Lower Bowl corner sections). Season tickets may be ordered by calling the RiverHawks front office at 864-250-4947.
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