The Utah Catzz just did the Texas Bullets, and the entire league, a big favor. Too bad Texas didn't notice.
With their 57-24 destruction of the Bullets on Saturday night, the Utah Catzz may have finally added a degree of credibility to the much-riduculed Professional Indoor Football League. The Catzz actually gave fans what was promised to them a long time ago.The advertising department of the PIFL has been underground for the past week. The ad reps went into hiding after swearing the new league would offer games where teams score 60-plus points and wrack up so many yards on offense that NASA scientists would be asked to come in and compute totals. All of which would keep fans (especially those who pay $38 for a front-row view) on the edge of their seats.
It didn't quite work out that way; at least early on. In last week's inaugural games, no PIFL team reached the 50-point mark, and the Catzz only managed 32. Consumers were beginning to assemble one giant false advertising lawsuit against the league.
Then the Catzz stepped in.
Utah's 57 points is a PIFL high and put the muzzle on at least a few naysayers out there. The high-powered, super-octane offense everybody came to see showed. And league officials couldn't be happier.
"I think this is the most points scored so far," said Catzz quarterback Paul Shoemaker. "(Texas) wasn't as fast up front, so I had a lot of time. It's easy to throw without any pressure on you."
Leading the Utah turbocharge was receiver Greg Hooks. The former Ute standout scored three touchdowns, on receptions of 48, 35 and 19 yards.
"Paul and I are a pretty good combo I guess," said Hooks. "I got open and he threw me perfect passes. It's easy when you do that. It was fun."
Well, it wasn't fun for everybody, Greg. After the game, several Texas players made thier way over to the Utah locker room. Words were exchanged and several players were ready to come to blows.
That's when angry Utah defensive coordinator Vince Taunuu stepped in, chasing several Texas players down the hall like an angry parent about to spank a child.
"They came down and started egging on our guys and I told them to go back. They started swearing at me and I won't take that," said Taunuu. "If they can't handle losing, don't come down (to Utah)."
The rivalry all started earlier this week when several Bullet players actually telephoned some Utah players just to taunt and threaten them.
"They called some of the guys and then before the game they said they were going to beat us," said Taunuu. "They didn't. If you can't back up what you're talking about, don't talk."