IFL BROADCAST TEAM IS READY FOR A BIG WEEKEND IN FLORIDA

When you think about the storied history of indoor football, you can't write the book without a chapter about the sport's connection to the state of Florida. Over the years, there have been a number of indoor football teams that have called the Sunshine State home, but today, there are two Florida teams who compete in the Indoor Football League.

Fun facts: They're both pretty good, both of them will be on display at home this weekend, and the same announce team will call both games on television. 

Brent Stover, the IFL's Director of Broadcasting and the Voice of the IFL, will be joined by former NFL safety Erik Coleman on Saturday when the Orlando Pirates host Fishers Freight at the Kia Center in Orlando (6pm ET Yahoo Sports). And then on Sunday, the duo will make the two-hour drive to Jacksonville where the Sharks will host the Tulsa Oilers (4pm ET Yahoo Sports).

Those are two huge Eastern Conference showdowns. 

"We get into this stretch of the season and there's so much on the line and jostling for position," said Stover. "The storylines kind of write themselves. Anytime you can get a doubleheader weekend with so much on the line and so much at stake, you can't beat it."

One state…two cities…four good teams competing in two highly-anticipated games.

"I'm incredibly excited to go call a game in both venues in one weekend," said Coleman. "It's going to be exciting with some great football. I'm just pumped."

ONE WEEK…TWO BROADCASTS 

Preparing to call a football game is not an easy process. For a broadcaster, there's a lot that goes into getting ready for a game including travel, talking to the coaches, learning the rosters, and researching backstories that the viewers will find interesting. 

In this case, Stover and Coleman will be spending this week preparing for not one, but two important games that will take place one day apart. 

"I think the big thing is just trying to simplify it as much as you can," said Stover. "A big part of the prep is being able to talk to all four head coaches (during the week) and getting their feelings. It's nice, at this point, that I have a very good feel for all four of these teams and then, it's pretty much getting my depth charts together towards the end of the week. It's an undertaking but it's a really fun challenge." 

For Coleman, who lives in Florida, it's going to be a busy week preparing for two games. After spending some time on the west coast for a business trip, he'll be trying to squeeze in as much prep time as he can.

"Part of my flight (to the west coast) was doing some initial preparation for the game," said Coleman. "On my way back, I'll do more prep and I'll watch some game film to stay on top of things." 

Whatever it takes is not just a saying for the players. It also applies to the broadcasters.

A BROADCAST TEAM NEEDS CHEMISTRY

It goes without saying that chemistry is very important for a football team to be successful. It's also important for the broadcasters to be comfortable with each other and that's what IFL fans will see this weekend. Stover and Coleman have already worked together this season having called the Orlando/Jacksonville game on April 17^th and that was the first time that they had ever met. 

"I had an absolute blast," said Stover. "He's a true professional and he's very good on television. His ability to break down the game and see the field, the way that I can't see it, is phenomenal. I can see how much fun he's having and he's enjoying calling these games." 

"He's such a professional and the energy was great," said Coleman."

With a terrific broadcast booth in place, the stories are set to be told for two outstanding games.

FISHERS FREIGHT AT ORLANDO PIRATES

Both teams enter Saturday night's game with a big chip on their shoulders.

The Freight (5-2) is coming off of a tough 57-52 home loss to the Green Bay Blizzard in this past weekend's first-place showdown. The loss snapped the Freight's four-game winning streak, but despite the setback, Fishers has certainly opened up a lot of eyes around the IFL this season.

"Fishers has been one of the best teams so far," said Stover. 

"That's an incredible matchup," said Coleman. "Fishers is a great organization and they've been playing really well all season long and so has Orlando. It's a home game for the Pirates and their crowd is nuts. It's going to be a thrilling environment."

Meanwhile, after a 3-0 start to the season, the Orlando Pirates (3-2) have lost two games in a row and they are coming off a bye this past weekend. The Pirates made a coaching change just before their victory over Tulsa back on April 12^th with Rod Windsor replacing Rob Keefe.

Perhaps the week off will help Orlando. 

"They've dropped two in a row but now they've had the opportunity to push the reset button," said Stover. "I think they're going to be a playoff team and I think they could end up playing for the Eastern Conference championship. The roster is sensational."

Both teams look to get back in the win column after tasting defeat in their last game. 

TULSA OILERS AT JACKSONVILLE SHARKS

Sunday's contest on True Vet Field at the Vystar Veterans Memorial Arena is a critical Eastern Conference matchup as well. 

Tulsa snapped their three-game losing streak this past Saturday with a 51-42 win over San Diego. With a 2-3 record, the Oilers will be fishing for their first conference win that would get them back to .500. The Sharks meanwhile ran their record to 4-1 win a 43-32 victory over New Mexico on Saturday. 

"I think that's a toss-up game," said Stover. "The fact that Jacksonville is hosting it and that is such a tough place to play, I give them the edge but based on what I saw from Tulsa against a very good San Diego Strike Force team last week, it makes me feel like they have every shot in the world to go in there and to make it a game and possibly pull it off."

"Tulsa vs Jacksonville is going to be awesome," said Coleman. "Tulsa is a very tough and physical team and so is Jacksonville so that's a matchup I'm really looking forward to. It's going to be a crazy environment in Jacksonville."

The Sharks have a perfect 3-0 conference record. 

PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES

Like many of the broadcasters around the Indoor Football League, Stover and Coleman will be travelling to their Florida destinations to call both games.

And these are two important games in state that loves football.

"Anytime I can get down there to call a game with one of those teams involved, it's great," said Stover. "But when you get the opportunity to go back-to-back in the state of Florida with Orlando and then Jacksonville, honestly you can't beat it."

It's worth noting how Stover and Coleman are going to get from point A to B and even to point C this weekend.

Stover will fly from New York to Orlando to call the Saturday game while Coleman will take the train from his home in South Florida. On Sunday morning, they will drive together from Orlando to Jacksonville to call game number two. 

On Monday morning, Stover will fly back to New York while Coleman flies back to South Florida.

"It's going to be fun," said Coleman. "It's going to be a trial of my game preparation and my outfit preparation."

Now that's what you call getting around!

While the early-bird special is a popular thing down in Florida, fans in Orlando and Jacksonville should save their appetite for two really good IFL games this weekend.