02/12/03 Bayou Bucks Press Release

Friday, March 7th Omaha Civic Auditorium

 The Omaha Beef and Bayou Bucks are pleased to announce a mutual agreement to play a preseason contest on Friday, March 7 at the Omaha Civic Auditorium.  Sitting idle the first week of the National Indoor Football League season did not make Head Coach Jack Phillips comfortable.  Likewise, Coach Sanders and the Omaha Beef open their regular season with two straight bye weeks and have to wait until March 29 to kickoff their 2003 season.  “It’s always tough to make the final cuts without a real simulation,” said Coach Phillips who plans to bring 30 prospective players to the preseason game.

Coach Phillips on Omaha

“Omaha has always been considered one of the premier franchises of the NIFL.  It’s tough to replace a guy like Coach Buda, but if anyone can do it, Collin Sanders can.  Coach Sanders and I go way back and that friendship helped solidify this preseason contest.  I served as his Defensive Coordinator when he was Head Coach with the Bismarck Blaze and again with the Memphis Explorers.  We look forward to healthy competition between the two teams.”

Coach Phillips on preseason

“Guys get tired of hitting each other; they need a new target and I think that the pros far out weigh the cons,” explained Coach Phillips.  “Sure, injuries can happen in a preseason game but we need this experience to be a better football team.  I want to make sure that when I announce that final roster that I have the utmost confidence of every player that will wear a Buck’s uniform for the 2003 season.”