Grizzlies fans celebrate first home game
Published Sunday, March 16, 2008
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Stumble It!In true football tradition — burgers and beer brats were sizzling on a portable grill on a truck tailgate in the Carlson Center parking lot Saturday night — fans partook in a prelude to Fairbanks’ first pro football game between the Fairbanks Grizzlies and the Katy Ruff Riders.
And in true Alaska tradition, tailgate chef Keith Bartusch was flipping moose burgers, of course.
“We’re here to enjoy the game,” said Bartusch, who organized the pre-game party.
In spite of 12-degree temperatures, the mood was merry.
“You don’t get to tailgate very often in Fairbanks,” Mike Smith said. “We’re excited. This is something new in town, and we hope it’s successful and it works.”
Tracey Lammer came out to hang out with friends and was looking forward to watching arena football.
“Arena football is a new experience,” she said.
Most of the tailgate attendees were hockey players or hockey fans, but hockey season is over and sports fans were looking to fill the spectator sports gap between hockey and baseball/soccer season.
Inside the Carlson Center, a half dozen of the official 13-member Fairbanks Grizzlies Dance Team were handing out complimentary thundersticks (2-foot long inflated, plastic cylinders) to entering football fans.
Darlene Arce of Sitka and Ashley Gardner of Fairbanks were among 20 or more young women who tried out for the Fairbanks Grizzlies Dance Team. Both are university students and have dance backgrounds.
The dance team has been practicing together three to four times per week in anticipation of its hometown halftime debut.
All of the Alaska dancers were dressed in orange, blue and white costumes featuring short skirts with tiered diamond-shaped hemlines and knee-high white boots.
Later, the dancers were introduced to the crowd, brought into the arena on the back seat of roaring motorcycles and alighted, one by one, in the spotlighted center.
The crowd’s excitement increased as the arena seats steadily started filling up. A table stocked with T-shirts, hoodies, polos, beanies and replica jerseys, all with the snarling Grizzlies logo, was swamped with customers.
A half hour before game time, Mike Chambers was bouncing up and down in time to the music blaring throughout the arena area.
Chambers had already purchased and donned a Grizzlies’ No. 9 jersey.
“I’m jacked up. I’ve been jacked up since 4 o’clock,” said Chambers, who was accompanied by his smiling wife, Lorraine.
“This is a very romantic evening out for us,” Lorraine, his wife of 24 years, jokingly said.
“This is the best thing that has hit Fairbanks,” Chambers said. “Alaska is associated with hockey, but a lot of people really know football ... plus they’ve got cheerleaders.”
Chambers predicts the Grizzlies' first season will be a learning experience.
“Next year, we’ll be competitive,” he said.
Also rooting for the home team and sporting the Grizzlies colors were Kevin Alexander, son Robert, 8, and Kristy Jones. The trio was colorfully made up — painting their faces orange on one side and blue on the other.
Kevin and Robert sported curly, orange wigs, and Jones was wearing flowing, shoulder-length, metallic tresses.
“Kristy’s from the Lower 48, and we both want to educate Fairbanksans on how to behave at a football game,” Alexander joked.
Community Discussion
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The game was great. It was a good loss. I dont think that the Wild will ever beat us again. No interceptions. Thats, awesome. My question is, when is the Perez guy going to get on the field and show his stuff. He's got to get on there. I'm sure he would be a great asset. I loved the way Coach Fourcade was on the Refs like, white on rice. He made sure his team didnt get shafted. Go Grizzlies. I'm already planning to go the Griz vs Wild game on the 10th of April. It will be a good one. And #2 QB Bo!!! Man he is good.
hmmm? you guys are ridiculous. I haven't quite figured out how you were able to gage Justin Ferringers performance, since he was unable to play last night because of an injury. He didn't even dress. If Justin had played last night the defense probably would not have struggled as much. With him out of the game they lost their speed inside. Against the Wild Justin did fine and the defense didn't do too bad. It was their offense that struggled. The difference between last weeks game and last nights game was the quality of the quarterback. Get real and quit being such hatters!
I think they all played great... I give them this yr to learn and form into their team. I don't think you played out there, did you??? Or did you try out and NOT get picked?? Is that the reason for the gripping???
It was great fun. Everybody that I saw had a great time. The team looked a lot better than I thought they would. Great QB. This is gonna be great entertainment.
I enjoyed the game. The new QB made a huge difference.
I've never seen Ferringer play. My understanding is that he's on IR. If he can come back soon, great. If not, sign someone else and get him on the field. Building the best team possible at this critical stage (i.e. the team's infancy in a new market) is likely the owner's number one priority. To that you need value on the field.
How exciting! The team did us proud, and I trust they felt supported. I do not think we should be content to "wait till next year." Coach Fourcade knows what's shaking, and the players displayed a high level of "gameness" over and over - the last touchdown run was a wonderful example. I too can't wait to get that Anchorage team again, in our house.
Any word on the injuries?
hey mary beth smetzer..hockey season is not over..the ICE DOGS are still playing. AND I WOULD MUCH RATHER PAY MONEY TO SEE THE DOGS THEN THE WINLESS GRIZZLYS...ANYDAY
“This is the best thing that has hit Fairbanks,” Chambers said. “Alaska is associated with hockey, but a lot of people really know football ... plus they’ve got cheerleaders.”
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHA..BEST THING TO HIT FAIRBANKS!!! GOOD JOKE CHAMBERS....
Jet-
Before you run your mouth about certain players on the team, you should know what you are talking about first. Justin Ferringer is one of our top defensive players and not having him last night was a big reason why the defense struggled. So don't criticize anyone on a professional team blindly.
grizzlies will pull it together. i was at the wild game last week, the grizzlies showed major improvement last night. the qb is helping out a helluva lot and dawkins is the man on defense. he had two picks in the wild game, so you can expect much more out of him. very excite!!
ICE DOGS 36-15-3
GRIZZLYS 0-???
AND..dogs games are just simply better...and they dont run out of beer..
Enjoyed watching the game via internet from Rome, Georgia. The crowd looked great and very enthusiastic. I look forward to watching this week as well and expect to see an improved Grizzly team.
It is their FIRST yr, come on.. 2nd game..NO one is great just out of the gate, they need to learn...
LOL,PROFESSIONAL????? If these boys were making what the PROFESSIONALS were making, would be a different story...And they are playing against established teams, like I said, give them a yr.
dear dog fan,the carlson center did NOT run out of beer.That was a wrong call from glenner(burnt out).It was actualy last call.If you don't like football stay at home and watch dog reruns.
Why's everyone hating on Justin Ferringer? He played one game. He's hurt. He's a good kid. Give him a chance!!!
you mean dog reruns as in the ice dogs winning again and again?? unlike the grizlys..you could watch re runs of the grizzlys to..of them loosing
Why is everyone getting so grumpy? I am not a football fan, seen NFL games live and up close, and my husband watches every game he can on tv, and he dragged me to this local game. I have to say that it was fun, even though the boys lost, the whole thing was great. I think Fairbanks is lucky to have something like this, and should thank Mr. Dittman for bringing it to us. He was great, showed spirit and lots of energy and actually got involved with the fans, terrific! I loved that the action was non-stop, the music was loud and there was ALWAYS something going on to keep everyone's interest. I say, "Very well done!" Our family has season tickets and we will attend all the games, hope the boys do well but even if they don't, the least we can all do is encourage them, jeez they just started playing together, give them a season to get into a groove!
tll2b,Were not being grumpy its just fun being competitive!Go GRIZZLYS eat them dogs!
average joe..0-2
1-2
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