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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Hard work explains Shock’s big splash

Franchise appears built for success

The suggestion that there’s something in the water at the Spokane Shock’s practice facility drew a chuckle from Adam Shackleford.

“Wouldn’t that be nice?” the second-year coach responded.

As far as talent goes, the Shock always seem to be swimming in the deep end of the pool. Since the young arenafootball2 league franchise was born three seasons ago, it has been that way. One way or another, the Shock find ways to be a winning team.

“I think the environment is set up for success,” Shackleford said. “The organization – from the ownership down to the interns – does everything right. I’ve said it before, everyone works hard here. These guys take their work home with them. I’ve been in here at midnight working and the ticket guy Andrew (Dolan) is still here working.

“Nothing beats hard work.”

Combine that with loads of talented players, and it’s no wonder the Shock are on the brink of completing their most successful season.

In 2006, Spokane’s expansion season, the Shock danced their way into the ArenaCup championship game and brought home the trophy after a plane ride to Puerto Rico, where they rolled past the Green Bay Blizzard for the league title. But the Shock abruptly and unexpectedly lost their head coach, Chris Siegfried, to the AFL, and owners Brady Nelson and Adam Nebeker were immediately in the hunt for a new leader.

Around town, people also wondered if it was beginner’s luck.

Enter Shackleford – a humble, non-assuming guy who was in the process of paying his dues coaching offenses in the af2. “The first thing I said, when I came in here, was that, ‘I’m not Chris Siegfried,’ ” Shackleford said.

He recruited a mix of veterans from the 2006 team and a group of talented newcomers on the rise, and the Shock assembled a 12-4 regular-season record and won their second straight Western Division title. But as soon as the playoffs began, they ended.

“It’s just so hard to repeat (as champions),” Shackleford said. “Last year we battled some injuries, we battled some attitudes with people thinking, ‘Well, we didn’t do it this way last year when we won the championship, why are you asking us to do it this way?’ ”

Turns out, his way works pretty well, too.

After the surprising first-round exit against Louisville, in a year they certainly appeared poised to make another deep postseason run, Shackleford and the Shock (18-1) are on the brink of completing a nearly perfect third season. The Shock’s only blemish so far is a midseason loss at home to the South Georgia Wildcats.

“Everybody just be lovin’ on each other – in the right way,” three-year veteran center Rico Ochoa joked about the chemistry of this year’s team. “This is a special group. The majority of the people that were here on Day One (of training camp) are still here and that’s unheard of. There’s a lot of turnover in this league. Like in (2006), I came the third week and (Siegfried) was always moving people in and out.

“This season everyone has exceeded coaches’ expectations, so we all still here makin’ things happen.”

Come Monday night, the expectation is that the Shock – this year’s National Conference champs – will raise the ArenaCup for the second time in three years in front of a home crowd. To do so, they’ll need one more win, over the American Conference champion Tennessee Valley Vipers.

“We’ve had success in the last two years, so I think that’s definitely helped form this year’s team,” said three-year veteran receiver Raul Vijil. “We’re able to bring talent in because of the nice practice facility and the fact that they do things right here, and this year we have more talent than the other two teams.”

There’s also another motivating factor that seems to tip the scale in the Shock’s favor.

When a team wins as much as Spokane does, not only does it mean more money for the players, it means more exposure. In the af2, players make a modest $200 a game (and an extra $50 for a win). They are also provided with an apartment during the season.

Even with the free housing, the money is tough to live on, especially for those with a family. They do it in hopes of moving up to the AFL, where players can make a pretty decent living while playing a game they love.

Shackleford said he has received calls on about approximately 15 of his players, including but not limited to quarterback Nick Davila, defensive backs Sergio Gilliam, Roshawn Marshall, Tremaine Tyler and Nygel Rogers, linebacker and defensive lineman Justin Warren, linebacker Kevin McCullough, Vijil and fellow three-year veteran Katon Bethay and a handful of others.

“It seems to be working really well here,” said rookie receiver Andy Olson, who is married and has a child.

Olson is one of several current Shock players hoping to move on to something bigger.

“(Former Shock defensive back) Rob Keefe moved on and won a ring in his first year in the AFL, and there’s some other guys who are starting and playing,” Olson said. “If we can move up, that’s what will make it worth it.”

“Hopefully it will pay off in the end.”

Hard work usually does. If not, there’s always that water they’re drinking out there.