Portland Thunder – Football Season Is Just Beginning

Maybe, reader, you are like me. A Seattle Seahawks fan who, while still reveling in a Super Bowl victory, pines for the lost action of the football season. Even with baseball season around the corner (and I can’t wait), there is a void in my sports life where football used to be. Talk of salary cap adjustments and speculative roster moves interest me, yes, but can’t fill that void. However, I have found something that just might. Football season isn’t over. On the contrary, for the Rose City, football season is just about to begin.

That’s because the city has a new sports team, sharing the Moda Center with the Portland Trail Blazers and the Portland Winterhawks … the Portland Thunder. The newest expansion team in the Arena Football League, the Thunder aim to provide this city with a professional football team that they haven’t had in years.

I went to Media Day on February 25^th and, although I’ve never been to an AFL game before in my life, I gathered a few things that you might see on the field that will defy your expectations.

The Field is Smaller

Probably, this is the most well-known fact about the AFL. However, seeing it up close and in person, you see a lot of big and fast men in a very small space. The field is literally half the length of an NFL football field and as wide as an NHL hockey rink. That puts a lot of high performing athletes in a very small space, keeping it action packed. As a result, AFL rules have only 8 players on the field.

Air Raid, All the Time

So where do the 3 less players on offense come from? First off, there is no halfback on the roster. Anywhere. Not even a spot. There is a fullback but he is meant to pick up a block more than anything else. This isn’t hyperbole. In a recent interview with ArenaFan.com, head coach Matthew Sauk claimed that his offense will run between 40 and 60 plays. However he said “running-wise, I’d say we do between zero and one.” That means the ball is in the air. A lot.

Going for the Century Mark

These ingredients result in one high scoring game. Many games flirt with, if not, exceed, a combined 100 points. The action is fast and non-stop. Adding to the speed and scoring is a unique rule to the AFL: a wide receiver can move forward in the backfield. This means that one receiver gets a running start, keeping the fast paced action of the game moving.

Some Familiar Faces

The Thunder realize they face a battle introducing a new team to the Rose City. A professional sports team needs to connect with its host city to have success. The Thunder realize this and are looking to incorporate familiar faces into the roster for the team. Thunder players include former college athletes from the University of Washington, Oregon State, Southern Oregon and more. However, the biggest headliner from the area has to be former Oregon Ducks quarterback Darron Thomas who will be competing for the starting job.

Although training camp just began, there is an excitement around the facility that is palpable. A new team is in town and they should be a lot of fun to watch. The Portland Thunder debut at home at the Moda Center on Monday, March 17th hosting the San Jose Sabercats.a