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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

THURSDAY, JUNE 30, 2011

Meyer to start, Rowley No. 2 vs. Arizona

Spokane has settled on Erik Meyer as its starting quarterback vs. Arizona, but head coach Rob Keefe stressed that the appointment is on a one-game basis. Keefe emphasized that point several times during a phone interview this evening. Meyer will be backed up by Kyle…

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Gesser joins Idaho's coaching staff 

COUGARS, VANDALS • UPDATED: 8 P.M. Former Washington State quarterback Jason Gesser has been hired at Idaho, where he'll be reunited with former Cougar defensive coordinator Robb Akey. Just last month Gesser, after resigning as head coach at Eastside Catholic in Sammamish, Wash., told us…

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Meyer will start vs. Arizona

Erik Meyer has been named the starting quarterback for Spokane's game against Arizona in Phoenix on Saturday, Shock head coach Rob Keefe said. Meyer, who missed last week's game with a concussion, beat out Kyle Rowley and Bill Stull for the starting nod. No word…

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TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 2011

The more things change ...

Another week with the Shock and another three-player race for the quarterback job and another standout receiver leaving for the UFL. Read more in my weekly Shock notebook that will run in Wednesday's S-R. Here's the link.

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SATURDAY, JUNE 25, 2011

Shock even mark at 7-7

Spokane won big and easy in the Big Easy. The visiting Shock crushed New Orleans 75-54 on Saturday night for their third straight win. Spokane (7-7) had failed in two earlier chances to reach the .500 mark, but it cashed in against the hapless VooDoo…

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FRIDAY, JUNE 24, 2011

Rowley, Shock ready for VooDoo

With Kyle Rowley back as starting quarterback, the visiting Spokane Shock take on New Orleans on Saturday night. The Shock (6-7) are tied with Tulsa and Utah for the fourth and final playoff berth in the National Conference. You can read my game preview that…

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THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 2011

Thompson goes 11th to Golden State 

COUGARS • UPDATED: 9:40 P.M. Klay Thompson's decision to leave Washington State after three years turned out to be a good one as he was drafted No. 11 in Thursday's NBA draft by the Golden State Warriors. We'll have more about Thompson's selection, including our…

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Spokane Shock quarterback, Kyle Rowley, is surrounded by confetti at the end of their win over Iowa in the Arena Bowl in Spokane, Wash. (Christopher Anderson / The Spokesman-Review)

Rowley to start, Stull backing up

Spokane is back to where it started at starting quarterback. Opening-day starter Kyle Rowley (pictured from last year's ArenaBowl) has been named the starter for Saturday's road game against New Orleans. Bill Stull, who supplanted Rowley as the starter in the Week 9 game against…

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Chiefs announce preseason schedule

CORRECTED As usual, the Spokane Chiefs will play in two preseason tournaments before playing one game in Spokane prior to the Western Hockey League season. The Chiefs will play in the Everett tournament Sept. 2-4 and then the Tri-City tournament the next week, which features…

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Zags to Battle Arizona

This has been known for a year or two, but Gonzaga officially will take on Arizona in the Battle in Seattle on Dec. 17th. GU is 0-3 vs. Arizona, including a 69-64 loss in 2008, the most recent clash in Phoenix. Spokane pre-sale tickets will…

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 2011

Shock notes

As mentioned earlier, I put together a notebook from today's Shock practice that will run in Thursday's S-R. You can read it here. The first topic, of course, is the quarterback derby. Erik Meyer is out with a concussion. Kyle Rowley, Bill Stull and Steven…

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Meyer out, QB shuffle continues

A quick post after returning from Shock practice at the Arena. Erik Meyer (concussion) won't play Saturday against New Orleans, leaving the starting quarterback job up for grabs between Kyle Rowley, Bill Stull and Steven Sheffield. Head coach Rob Keefe said he'll name a starter…

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MONDAY, JUNE 20, 2011

Erik Meyer had the Shock offense rolling before being injured while making a tackle. (Christopher Anderson)

Meyer suffers concussion in Shock win

Just as Erik Meyer appeared to be settling in as the Shock's starting quarterback he had to leave the field with assistance from the training staff. Meyer, in his second start, departed in the third quarter after making a tackle on a Chicago defender who…

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FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 2011

Shock take on third-ranked Rush

The Spokane Shock have had several chances to string some wins together this season, but only once have they had back-to-back victories. They get another chance tomorrow when Chicago visits the Arena. Here's my game preview.

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THURSDAY, JUNE 16, 2011

Spokane doesn't crack Top 10

Shock coach Rob Keefe said earlier this week that his team might have opened some eyes around the AFL after thumping Philadelphia 75-54 and that could be reflected when the weekly coaches poll was released. The poll came out and Spokane (5-7) still didn't crack…

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 15, 2011

After Spokane Shock's Greg Orton hauls in a reception, Philapelphia's Chris Martin moves in for the tackle in the first half of their Arena Football League game, Friday, June 10, 2011, in the Spokane Arena.  (Colin Mulvany)

No Shock that Orton made it in Spokane

Greg Orton, the last cut of Spokane's 2010 training camp, has turned that negative into a positive. He returned at midseason when Spokane was hit by injuries to the receiving unit and he became a mainstay. Then, he got better. Read about Orton's journey from…

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TUESDAY, JUNE 14, 2011

Spokane Shock's return specialist, Ruschard Dodd-Masters, center, tries to dance between Cleveland Gladiators' Russell Monk,  left, and Joe Phinisee, right, on a return run on Saturday, March 19, 2011, at the Spokane Arena. (Jesse Tinsley / The Spokesman-Review)

Shock secondary making strides

Spokane's secondary, a sore spot most of the season, has been more productive the last five games, including a three-interception performance against Philadelphia on Friday. The unit will be relied on even more with the absence of DL standout Khreem Smith, who was traded to…

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WAC adds Seattle U. 

UPDATED: 4:35 p.m. Seattle University has accepted an invite to join the Western Athletic Conference, league commissioner Karl Benson announced this afternoon. Seattle U. is the second non-football playing school to join the WAC after the University of Denver came aboard with Texas State and…

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Arop transferring to Indiana State

Former Gonzaga Bulldog Manny Arop's basketball career will continue at Indiana State. Arop had narrowed his choices to Indiana State and Valparaiso. He will have two years of eligibility after sitting out the upcoming season. Indiana State plays in the Missouri Valley Conference. Former Zag…

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SUNDAY, JUNE 12, 2011

Crowded AFL playoff race

Tulsa blitzed Utah 81-51 Saturday night to create a four-way tie for the fourth and last National Conference playoff berth. Tulsa, Utah, Spokane and San Jose are 5-7. Kansas City is 4-9. More on Utah's third straight loss here and here. The game was another…

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FRIDAY, JUNE 10, 2011

Meyer leads Shock past Philly

Back with my game story and John Blanchette's column from Spokane's 75-54 win over Philadelphia on Friday at the Arena. Spokane scored a season-high 75 points. Erik Meyer threw seven touchdown passes and the defense scored twice on interceptions returns.

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Shock-Soul ready to go

About 25 minutes before kickoff between Spokane and Philadelphia at the Arena. Not sure how full the building will be, especially with the 5 p.m. kickoff and the nasty traffic jam on I-90 that started before Thor for those coming in from the east. The…

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THURSDAY, JUNE 9, 2011

Meyer, Shock set for Philadelphia

Spokane, coming off a bye week, tries to end a two-game losing streak when Philadelphia visits the Arena tomorrow night. The Shock (4-7) have seven regular-season games left as they try to earn an at-large playoff berth. Ryan Vena, the losing quarterback when Spokane crushed…

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