www.siouxcityjournal.com/sports/football/amateur/article_a6290e26-98de-5df3-8d01-7cb673171aaf.htmlBandit players: Forget the past, focus on presentby Jerry Giese
SIOUX CITY - Alex Ardley, Buddy Williams and Spetlar Tonga were just starting their indoor football careers back in 2005, when the Sioux City Bandits played the Sioux Falls Storm for the United Indoor Football championship.
Their roles have been reversed. Now, they're the veterans teaching the younger Bandits how to approach their positions and how to prepare for the American Professional Football League championship game.
Heading into Saturday night's APFL championship game at the Tyson Events Center against the two-time defending champion Iowa Blackhawks, Ardley, Williams and Tonga are playing in a championship game for the second time in their careers. They're anxious to bring the first championship in the 12-year history of the Sioux City franchise.
Ardley and Tonga had brief speaking turns Thursday night during a championship press conference, where coaches and players from both teams talked about what they expect in Saturday night's title game -- which will start at 7:05 at the Tyson Events Center.
"These guys have been in a playoff situation before and they have performed," said Williams, third on the Bandits (13-0) with 49 tackles. "All we have to do is stay focused, don't try to be a hero and just play your position. You have to trust the man who is next to you because they'll do their job. We'll be all right."
Each of the three veterans from the 15-3 2005 team that fell 40-38 to Sioux Falls in the UIF title game are ranked high among the Bandits' career tackle leaders. Tonga, a linebacker who had 54 tackles in 2005, is the runaway career leader with 571 tackles.
He currently leads Coach Butch Faulkenberry's squad with 105 tackles and six fumble recoveries. Ardley (36 tackles, 9 interceptions) has climbed to fourth on the career list with 316 tackles while Williams is eighth with 199.
Tonga didn't get a chance to play in the 2005 championship game that attracted 6,840 fans, because of injury. He played just seven games that season, but said missing the loss to Sioux Falls hasn't motivated him.
Fact is, Tonga has had plenty of other motivation throughout an indoor football career that included a 2009 season with the Omaha Beef.
"Winning my first championship, that's what motivates me now," said Tonga. "I just want to hit someone. Now that we're in and we have an opportunity to win one, we're going to do what we can to win.
"We have to play this like it's any other game," he added. "Obviously, this is a championship game, it's the most important game of the season. I'm trying to win a championship and I'm trying to help them as much as they are trying to help me."
Ardley said there's a similarity between the 2005 and 2011 seasons. The same group of players that started both seasons, he said, remained until the end.
"We've told these guys to play your role, play your spot and just encourage each other," Ardley said. "We tell them to encourage each other, talk to each other and be on the same page."
"They've been role models to these kids," said Faulkenberry. "They've taken them under their wing. These guys are good leaders and their teammates are good listeners. They've led by example and they've led by their actions. We're fortunate to have them.
"We've also talked about the 2005 team and these guys said that team is done," added the first-year head coach. "This is the 2011 team and the veterans stepped up and said that. When the younger guys heard that, that's when we became tighter as team. It was a big help when we had a comment like that from these guys in the locker room."
Tonga admitted that talking about the 2005 season was getting old.
Ardley agreed.
"We told everyone in the locker room that the 2005 season is going to be put to rest and this is going to be all about the 2011 season," said Tonga. "I think we have put that 2005 season to rest and hopefully, we'll win the championship in 2011."
Offensive coordinator Jarrod DeGeorgia quarterbacked the Bandits in 2005, passing for 2,309 yards and 54 touchdowns. His center was Erv Strohbeen, who now serves as offensive line coach.