Shackleford excited about home debut on Saturday

The fuss over Adam Shackleford’s return to the Tri-Cities is old news.

The new fuss registers more with Shackleford, who will guide Spokane’s arena football team into a home game for the first time since 2009 when the Empire (1-0) takes on Wichita Falls (0-0) on Saturday at the Arena.

“For some reason, everyone made a big deal about going back to Tri-Cities for me,” said Shackleford, whose return was a success with a 60-51 road victory over the Fever, his coaching address from 2010-15. “This is the one I care about.

“I have great memories of playing at home. There are only three other guys (Samuel Charles, Dominique Duster and Josh Ferguson) that have experienced that on this team. There is something about our home crowd that is special.”

Spokane, often playing in front of 9,000-plus fans, went 27-5 (6-2 in the playoffs) at the Arena during Shackleford’s tenure from 2007-09. Shackleford’s squads made the playoffs each season, falling in the first round in 2007, losing at home by one point in the ’08 arenafootball2 title game and winning the ’09 championship in Las Vegas.

“I’m looking forward to it,” Empire rookie running back Trevor Kennedy said. “I know how passionate the fans are and you don’t want to let them down.”

There isn’t a downside to playing at home, Shackleford explained, but it does create an environment that can fuel both teams.

“It’s also special for visiting teams because it’s a fun environment,” he said. “Yes it’s an advantage when the opponent is on offense but they get up for these games, too, so we have to be ready.”

Wichita Falls will be the last team in the IFL to take the field in the 2016 season. Spokane obviously doesn’t have video of the Nighthawks but Shackleford knows some of the team’s personnel.

Shackleford’s defenses lined up against Charles McCullum several times when the dual-threat quarterback piloted Kent and Everett. Nighthawks coach Billy Back and Shackleford are Cincinnati natives.

“McCullum’s an excellent football player,” Shackleford said. “Their coach played in the IFL and he coached the Texas Revolution a few years ago in this league. He’ll have his team ready.”