KENNEWICK, Wash. -- In the three years the Tri-Cities Fever were owned by out of town owner Doug McGregor, the team's winning ways and positive reputation headed south. In 2010, original owner Terri Carr and family repurchased the team. Carr brought in head coach Adam Shackleford. Since then, the team's image has turned around.
"It's been a long process and it's required a lot of patience on both our parts. He (Shackleford) told me, he said Terri it's going to take me three years. Well, three years is it," Carr said.
No longer are players getting in fights at local bars. No longer are players getting banned from certain places in the community because of arrests. No longer are coaches getting fired. These Fever players run after school programs, run football camps and stay active in the community.
"We don't want to be known as a team of renegades and maybe some of the stuff that went on here in the past. We're as proud of our guys in the community as we are or what they do on the field," Shackleford said.
"We kind of stayed here in this community and let them know that we're here and that we're good guys and we happen to have another good group come in this year. The town has been very receptive to us and we can do nothing but be thankful," said Steven Whitehead, Fever wide receiver.
The Fever say it's about wanting to give back to the community.
"I mean we might not be able to give back money or buy facilities or like that but knowledge you know. Maybe the kids could bring back facilities one day," added Houston Lillard, Fever quarterback.
Today Fever players are no longer banned at local bars or anywhere else in-town. They are embraced, and welcomed by the Tri-City community.
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