Post by tcfeverams on Aug 8, 2012 19:07:23 GMT -5
www.goifl.com/news/news-archive/77-tri-cities-fever/996-fever-release-all-ifl-qb-houston-lillard
KENNEWICK, WASH. — When the Tri-Cities Fever takes the field next season, it’ll do it with a different quarterback.
Fever coach Adam Shackleford said he plans to release Houston Lillard today and forge ahead with last year’s backup quarterback, Kasey Peters.
“Obviously, he and I discussed it,” said Shackleford. “We have to do this to protect the business side for us.”
Part of the problem is Peters wants a chance to play in the Indoor Football League, and if Lillard is still on the roster, he felt he wouldn’t have a chance to start.
“We do have a commitment to Kasey Peters,” said Shackleford. “I don’t want to go into January and not have a quarterback on the roster. (Lillard and the Fever) are not going to reunite in January. I’m not saying Houston is ruling out playing in the IFL again. It just won’t be with us. We can’t let Kasey Peters go.”
The move comes as no surprise to Lillard, who was helping out the quarterbacks Tuesday for the Columbia Basin College club football team.
“I told Coach before that I wanted to try to move up,” said Lillard. “I feel at this stage of my career, I had two good seasons in the IFL. I need to move up. People may be upset. But I feel right now this is the best move for my career.”
Lillard said he knew going through this past season, in which the Fever made it all the way to the IFL championship, this was going to be it for him in the Tri-Cities.
“I told Kasey he needed to play,” said Lillard. “So I tried to help Kasey as much as I could this season.”
As for Lillard’s opportunities, he has an agent looking for opportunities for him and some teams are interested, he said.
“Right now it’s a dead period,” Lillard said. “But around September and October it’ll pick up. I want to focus right now and train as hard as I can. I want to get faster.”
KENNEWICK, WASH. — When the Tri-Cities Fever takes the field next season, it’ll do it with a different quarterback.
Fever coach Adam Shackleford said he plans to release Houston Lillard today and forge ahead with last year’s backup quarterback, Kasey Peters.
“Obviously, he and I discussed it,” said Shackleford. “We have to do this to protect the business side for us.”
Part of the problem is Peters wants a chance to play in the Indoor Football League, and if Lillard is still on the roster, he felt he wouldn’t have a chance to start.
“We do have a commitment to Kasey Peters,” said Shackleford. “I don’t want to go into January and not have a quarterback on the roster. (Lillard and the Fever) are not going to reunite in January. I’m not saying Houston is ruling out playing in the IFL again. It just won’t be with us. We can’t let Kasey Peters go.”
The move comes as no surprise to Lillard, who was helping out the quarterbacks Tuesday for the Columbia Basin College club football team.
“I told Coach before that I wanted to try to move up,” said Lillard. “I feel at this stage of my career, I had two good seasons in the IFL. I need to move up. People may be upset. But I feel right now this is the best move for my career.”
Lillard said he knew going through this past season, in which the Fever made it all the way to the IFL championship, this was going to be it for him in the Tri-Cities.
“I told Kasey he needed to play,” said Lillard. “So I tried to help Kasey as much as I could this season.”
As for Lillard’s opportunities, he has an agent looking for opportunities for him and some teams are interested, he said.
“Right now it’s a dead period,” Lillard said. “But around September and October it’ll pick up. I want to focus right now and train as hard as I can. I want to get faster.”