Quad-City Times from Davenport, Iowa • 48

SPORTS www.qctlmes.conisports STEAMWHEELERS NOTEBOOK New format for position In a sport where the starting position is key, the Indianapolis 500 will have a new qualifying format that could give each car a much greater chance to jockey for position in the 33-car lineup. Q-C still upset over officiating in last week's loss at Amarillo Starting line Starting positions Position 1 2 3 2) RowlBtej tJJ I ft 1 Old format Each car (primary or backup) had three chances to qualify for a position in the month before the race. The fastest 33 times from all the time trials occupied the 33 race positions. The cars with slower times were bumped and IK I eliminated entirely. If a car did not qualify i it had to be removed i from the race and the driver would have i to attempt to qualify in I a backup car.

STAT CORNER The Steamwheelers are eighth in the league in total offense (260.8 yards per game), but 15th in scoring offense (43.6 ppg). They are 10th in scoring defense (47.2 ppg) and 15th in total defense (265.8 ypg). The team is sixth in pass rating (1 17.4) and 13th in pass defense rating (1 12.6). They are seventh in passing offense (248.4). The Wheelers are 19th in third-down conversions (29 percent) and seventh in fourth-down conversions (58.3 percent).

They are eighth in third-down conversions against (39.4) and 19th in fourth-down conversions against (70.0). They are fifth in sacks (9) and 1 1th in sacks against (9). Matt Forbes continues to lead the league in interceptions (5) and interception return yards (106) and is sixth in passes defended (10). Sam demons is second in pass-completion percentage (68.4), sixth in passer rating (1 17.9) and 10th in passing yards (237.8 ypg), and 10th in total offense (239.4). Fred Barr is fourth in sacks (2.5).

Jeff Hewitt is eighth in missed field-goal return yardage (19.0 per return). Travis Burns is eighth in receptions (35), ninth in all-purpose yards (130.8) and 10th in kick return yards (19.5). Row 11 mbhUMUUmiUI John SchultzQUAD-CITY TIMES Steamwheelers quarterback Sam demons is second in the league in pass-completion percentage (68.4). Changes Each car (primary or i backup) has three chances i each day for four qualifying days for a position two weeks i before the event. The fastest 33 times still occupy the 33 positions, but cars that were bumped in the first three time i trials have the fourth day I to attempt to qualify again with better times.

If a car does not qualify or qualifies for a poor starting position, the driver can withdraw the car and be able to try to quality again with the same car based on the number of attempts he has remaining over the four-day qualifying period. Wm. J.CastelloAP.ia OP! Positions 23-33 will be set on the third day, May 21, and the. next day will be for bumping of the slowest cars anywhere in' the field. "It's going to give fans what they want.

It returns us to four days of qualifying, and at the same time adds some new twists," IRL president Brian Barnhart said. One of the twists involves the post-qualifying technical inspections of the cars, which' take an estimated 55 to 70 minutes. In order to make sure, there's enough time for a later, attempt, all cars that qualify between 4:45 p.m. and the 6 p.m.; end of qualifications will immediately be impounded, to prevent crews from making any changes. Then, if they want to make" another attempt, they may do' so without having to go through inspection.

"If they want to keep the cap in the impound area and play! the game with a spare then the same rules apply Barnhart said. "So once a ca gets in the impound area, th owners have multiple choices? This thing is going to have a lot of strategy." Mutt tickets: $7, $11, $13, $20 Kktt Bcfcats $5, $6 (14 under) On tale at The MARK box office or all tfcftsftwsferoutlets. Bed" Night for the Pioneers! SOURCE: Indianapolis Motor Speedway INDY Continued from Page Dl is pit selection." The fastest qualifiers will get the best pit spots in the race, nearest the entrance back onto the track. The toughest decision, Cin-dric said, might be whether to withdraw a car that qualifies second or third. "Going for the pole is prestigious.

But anything can happen," he said. "It would have to be something' you're pretty sure there's a lot more to be gained." Under the new format, only the fastest 11 qualifiers Saturday are in the tentative lineup. The speeds of everyone else will be wiped out, and they'll start the procedure again Sunday to fill spots 12-22. "The big thing here, and what everybody's going to be fighting for, is nobody wants to be 23rd," said Tom Anderson, the managing director and co-owner of Fernandez Racing. "You want to get in first week of qualifying.

That 22nd spot is going to be important, so there's tremendous drama added to the format this year." Kl l'Oi OrthopiaJie a rm mm we serious enough to keep guys out of games." He won't be back Oklahoma City put lineman Antonio Dingle on waivers this week after acquiring him in a trade with the Quad-City Steamwheelers earlier this year. Dingle was picked up by the Central Valley Coyotes, though the Steamwheelers did make a claim to pick him up off waivers. "I didn't really want to keep him on this team," Frazier said. "It's just he's such a talented lineman that I don't want to play against him. "He might have ended up being the first player that I traded twice in the same season." Alan Trubow can be contacted at (563) 383-2294 or atrubowqctimes.com.

ROCK IN TEE LOT, THEN B.Y.O.P. Bring Your Own Party In 2005 4-7 pm unit's By Alan Trubow QUAD-CITY TIMES They're not steaming, but the Quad-City Steamwheelers certainly haven't forgotten the calls that went against them. It's hard to determine what the Steamwheelers are more upset about, the interception that never was or the field goal that automatically was at Saturday's 58-48 loss at Amarillo. The first gripe came when Matt Forbes apparently snatched a pass off the netting for an interception and returned it for what would have been a touchdown. One of the field judges said the ball hit the wall before Forbes caught it and ruled the pass incomplete.

"When I heard the whistle, I was just hoping it was an inad-vertant whistle," Forbes said. "When the official explained to me what he saw, I just couldn't believe it. I don't see how it was possible for that ball to have hit the wall. The guy tipped it, and it hit the net. I just don't see how he could have seen that.

And then with the rafter call The rafter call came when Dusters kicker Jeremy Hershey booted a 27-yard field goal with 6 seconds remaining, giving Amarillo a 51-48 lead. The Steamwheelers said the field goal should have been ruled no good. "That ball traveled over a rafter, past a net and some wires and never came out of the ceiling that I could see," Steamwheelers coach Rick Fra-zier said. "And somehow they called that a good field goal." While the calls might have been incorrect, af2 media services director Ron Deuter said the score to.the game wouldn't be changed under any circumstances. "What I can tell you about that is, every week there is a losing team in the league that is unhappy with the officiating," Deuter said.

"What people have to remember is the af2 is a developmental league for players, coaches and officials. On occasion they are going to make mistakes. Officials are graded by the NFL supervisors in every game, and if they do make mistakes it hurts their chances of BURNS Continued from Page Dl been as reliable of a returner-receiver as he has a father. He leads the team with nine touchdowns. He leads the team in all-purpose yards, averaging 130.8 per game.

He leads the team with 35 receptions and receiving yards per game at 67.2. He leads the team in return yards with 312, which includes a 56-yard return for a touchdown. Burns has done it all despite missing the second half against Memphis with bruised ribs and seeing his role limited in the 36-29 victory against Bossier-Shreveport because he missed practice that week to witness Justin's birth. "Travis just has really good hands," Steamwheelers coach Rick Frazier said. "That's what makes him one of the best net guys in the business.

He's very dependable catching the ball off the net and if he gets a seam at all, he's going to get off a good return. I think it's vision." Not that Burns' success is a surprise. The 26-year-old Virginia native led in all-purpose yards with Norfolk in 2002-03, MALLARDS Continued from Page Dl him come back to the Double-A level. "I think it is time Mac's name started coming up for NHL head jobs, not UHL jobs." Cornfield said this hiring process would be much like the one that brought MacLean to the Mallards in 2000. He said he had Gillis in mind when MacLean left in 2002, and he had Matt Shaw in his sights when Gillis ended his first Q-C stint in 1999.

This year, as after Shaw's midsummer departure in 2000, Cornfield said he will keep an open mind and let the candidates 4- ball. No two stadiums are alike. It's part of the nature of the game. Some have square end zones, some are round. Some are tighter around the end zone." Injuries nagging While the Steamwheelers aren't dealing with any serious injuries, numerous players sat out of practice with minor problems earlier this week.

Fred Barr is dealing with swelling in his knee. Forbes has a foot injury. A.J. Novak is recovering from a groin strain, and Pete Traynor has a stiff back. Still, nothing is too serious.

"I'm worried about getting our guys 100 percent healthy," Frazier said. "These are all little injuries that I'm concerned about, but nothing should be you have to be able to run good routes in this league. There's just not enough room." He's not a home-run receiver, but Burns' reliable hands and his ability to run a route have made him perhaps the Steamwheelers' best possession wideout. "He's just a great route runner who's a very polished receiver," Steamwheelers quarterback Sam demons said. "He's the quiet storm who's got a great attitude with great character.

He comes in here to work every day "He's one of those guys who you know you can count on on first down, and you can count on him on fourth down. He's the possession receiver who can make the big catches when he has to. He's the whole package." But Burns' biggest reception will be saved for when Justin and Crystal finally get to the Quad-Cities. "I can't wait until they get here," Burns said. "One of the best feelings in the world is being a father, and it's hard to hear about everything when you're so far away.

Trust me, I'm excited for them to get here, very excited." Alan Trubow can be contacted at (56) 383-2294 or atrubowqctimes.com. two other seasons. He was 105-37-6 during his first two-year stint, then left the Mallards to coach junior hockey in Guelph, Ontario. He was 130-75-27 over the past three seasons. He led the 2002-03 Mallards to the Colonial Cup Finals, but his teams lost in the first round the past two postsea-sons.

"Danbury is hiring one of the best coaches in minor league hockey," Cornfield said, "and this move will make them the team to beat next season." The Mallards played the Trashers just once in their expansion season last year. Craig DeVrieze can be contacted at (563) 333-2610 or cdevriezeqctimes.com jfzr. Field Specialists na rS rRI-CARf TAIL CATS PARTY take on their Big New Rivals so wear red. Crab one of the FREE red shirts to be given away during party and after the game starts. Now in the West parking lot Party at your car, pickup, RV or SUV.

i LIVE on the Quad-City Times Stage: Rock to "HOUSE OF CARDS" Dwyer Michaels from Q-106 Plenty of fun stuff, stupid contests "'i and free aoodies moving on up to a higher level, or sometimes it hurts their chances of continuing to officiate at that level. "Bad calls are going to happen. When they do happen, we try to fix them so they don't happen again, and we just move on." Fields are fields While Frazier said the field in Amarillo was the worst he's seen in his arena football career, the af2 believes it's acceptable. "There are regulations in place with regards to dimensions and heights with fields," Deuter said. "But you have to remember, a lot of times we're dealing with arenas that are tight on space in the af2.

We're not in the major markets. "I always compare it to base with 3,392, including 109 receptions for 1,567 yards. Last year he had 499 all-purpose yards in six games with the Arena Football League's Grand Rapids Rampage. And he does it with a distinct style. The 5-foot-ll offensive specialist doesn't have Tim Dodge's speed or Jack Walker Jr'staU frame and long arms.

He succeeds another way "He has what some people like to call deceptive Burns speed," Dodge said of his teammate. "He's just a good all-around receiver. He has a way of getting where he needs to be. He's just a smooth route runner, and he really understands what coach Frazier wants out of the offense." Running tight routes is one thing Burns prides himself on. "The key to running a good route is getting a good cushion on the DB," Burns said.

"You've got to make sure your able to straighten them up when you're running a post route, so you can either break out or break in. The key to running any route is getting the DB up. "With the field being so small reveal themselves. "There is no list," he said. "I will get hundreds of calls in the next several weeks.

We will take our time, and the reputation of the Quad-Cities will bring us great candidates." In the meantime, Cornfield said he will continue the process of building the 2005-2006 Mallards roster. "I do most of the (player) recruiting, so it is not like we have to hire somebody in the next two weeks," he said. "The priority is to find the best coach we can find." Gillis was 235-112-3 and won three division titles over five Mallards seasons. He won a Colonial Cup in his first Q-C season in 1997-98 and reached the Finals in Its xSee LETS DRIVE SEEM' RE0I tJ8S.STElMTH Team OfficeTicket OfficeCaptain's Closet Team 200 West Third Street Downtown Davenport 1-866-STEAMTIX (toll free) 324-4888 (In The 7T BSSKB1 The Steamwheelers the Pioneers, 1500 special the tailgate for Sffi KKr free kids interactive t-uns zone with face painters, sponsored If if immerman Cars THE PIONEERS CRAZY "Pick 5" Season Tickets $30 and $50 Shop Open M-F Quad Cities) i f'f CAREER PAGE 4 Coming Sunday, May 1 5th in the Quad-City Times Classifieds. Are you searching for a career in health care? The Quad-City Times Health Care Career Page can help you complete that search! Check out the leading health care employers this Mayl5th! rTTQuad-City Minnies.