After The Fire, The Fire Still Burns
Kevin Sedelmeier
Wednesday September 14, 2005
A lot of the credit goes to majority owner Will Wolford, who took over the Fire in 2002 from an ownership group that had no real knowledge of arena football. They had no ties in Louisville, and most importantly, didn’t seem to have the interest or passion to make the Fire work on the field and in the community. Wolford, a former NFL All Pro, gave the Fire immediate credibility, and he brought in the right people. After the second game of the 2003 season, he promoted Tommy Johnson from defensive coordinator to head coach. Johnson’s leadership of this team can not be understated.
As is the norm for the humble Johnson, he doesn’t like to take the credit, but he does like where this organization is now and where it’s going. "It an overjoying feeling," Johnson said during the Fire’s ArenaCup playoff run. "Our fans have been with us through thick and thin." He reiterated his respect and appreciation to the fans by writing a letter that appeared in The Courier Journal sports editorials over the Labor Day weekend. In it, he offered heartfelt appreciation to the fans that got behind his team this year more than ever before.
It’s more than simply leading the league in attendance – which the Fire has done three of its five years in the league. It’s about the community awareness and news coverage, which has increased significantly this season. Not only did the Fire advance on the field further than they ever had, they made great strides in the area of public awareness and perception. Local news stations are offering more coverage, and it’s even happening during the week and not just for game coverage.
Such success, however, does not mean Johnson will simply rest and take it easy. There is a very real possibility that this talented team could lose nearly ten players to the AFL or CFL. Maybe even the NFL. That means, Johnson might have to do some rebuilding, but he’s prepared for that. "It’s my job right after this ArenaCup to go back out and find the next star," he said. "We just beat the bush, and you never know." Johnson closely watches college football and attends AFL camps, looking for players who don’t make the AFL but can still contribute at a high level.
Two of 2004’s most popular and productive players moved up – Anthony Payton to the AFL and Tony Stallings to the CFL. Still, the 2005 team won the American Conference championship. Johnson obviously looks for talent, but he also looks for, as he calls them, "character guys." He is concerned about what makes a team really a team.
Even with a potential influx in personnel, Johnson should have his team ready to play and succeed.
Into the Fire
One change, however, that would be welcomed by players and fans is better road uniforms. On TV, the Fire’s uniforms looked like something they smuggled from the Holy Spirit grade school locker room. They were bland, mismatched, and, well, frankly, they looked really cheap. Fans typically don’t get to see these versions, but maybe that’s a good thing. Conference champions deserve, as Fonzie might say, better threads. Maybe next year, if the Fire win one more game and take home the ArenaCup, they might even get stitched on numbers and letters on their jerseys.
The season just ended, but like Coach Johnson, PR and ticket guru Adam Luken and the entire Fire staff are already working on season ticket packages. That might be an easier job than it was two years ago. Their product is easier to sell now.
Kevin Sedelmeier is a native Louisvillian. A graduate of the University of Louisville with a B.A. in Communication and M.A. in English, he works as a technical writer and has written fifteen screenplays and numerous short
stories. He lives with his wife Elizabeth, son Lukas, and their dog Springsteen.
