03/23/08
from the story written by By David Buck, Star-Tribune staff writer
Page D1, D7

Cavs have sights set on title

The league is new, but the will to win is the same.

The Wyoming Cavalry held a media day on Saturday at the Casper Events Center and one thing is clear: The team wants to win the American Indoor Football Association championship.

"We are going to win the championship, man. It's plain and simple," defensive lineman Tyrone Saterfield said. "If you are not out to win championships, why are you playing? So that's our main goal, to come out, play Cavs football, and win the championship."

The Cavalry are competing in the AIFA for the first year this season. They will play in the Western Conference along with the Utah Saints, Arizona Adrenaline, and the New Mexico Wildcats.

Players and coaches alike expect the new league to be better than the National Indoor Football League, the team's old league.

"The group is stronger as a league and it's more of a functional deal," Cavalry coach Dan Maciejczak said, "where if I have problems or whatever we can get an answer."

Wyoming's first game is Saturday at Utah. Maciejczak said the Cavalry have been practicing for the past week.

The Cavs' season is 14 games, with all of them against Western Conference teams. Wyoming is the only pre-existing team going into the season. The other teams are new franchises.

"I expect us to do really well. And, the biggest thing is that we are in an established franchise here," quarterback Matt Strand said. 

With no game film on their opponents, Maciejczak said the team will have to focus on itself to start the season.

"There's a lot of question marks as far as who we are playing, what they have, what they are going to do," Maciejczak said. "We're just going to concentrate on ourselves and what we can do. If we play perfect football, and not make mistakes, not fumble, not throw interceptions, make tackles, I think we'll be competitive."

In all, Maciejczak said fans can expect the same thing from the team as last season. Many of last year's players are returning. [click here to see full Cavalry roster] "Hopefully we can win enough games to try to set ourselves up to win a national championship."

"We are also continuing to do great things in the community," continues Maciejczak. "We are part of a great community." [click here to see Cavalry Calendar]

Season tickets are still available. Single game tickets go on sale, March 24. Call the Cav office at 232.8170 or the Casper Events Center Box office at 307.577.3030 or go online to www.caspereventscenter.com .

Argeri Layton, Cavs Director of Business Operations, announced Saturday there will be an audio webcast of the team's seven road games. Layton said the webcast will include a pre-and postgame show.