Over the past three seasons, the Sioux Falls Storm has been the most sure thing since death and taxes. The United Indoor Football league (UIF) team has posted 38 straight victories while racking up three consecutive league championships. Take that Belichick. On March 17th, the Storm returns to the Arena to kick off its 2008 home schedule. Can the team add a fourth title to its gaudy resume? Team vice president Ryan Rickert sat down with us and discussed the secret to the Storm’s success and what the future may hold for the team.

PRIME: What continues to motivate a team and an organization that has won 38 straight games and three straight championships?

Ryan Rickert: Believe me, we have plenty of motivation. As we have had success, we realize that there are still many areas where we can improve. We never feel comfortable. We know that the other teams in the league focus on us and make it their goal to knock us off. We realize that we have to work awfully hard to stay on top. The coaches and the players love the competition, and as an organization we thrive on it too.

P: In a league where team rosters see significant turnover from year to year, the Storm always seems to keep its core stars coming back. Why is that?

RR: I think the winning environment certainly helps. Our guys love the game of football and love playing together. I also think Kurtiss (head coach Kurtiss Riggs) is a huge part of it. He does a phenomenal job bringing guys in and defining their roles. He is honest and delivers on what he promises. In addition, Sioux Falls is such a great place to play. Our fans really identify with and get behind our players. Our guys are treated like kings in the community and that is a great recruiting tool.

P: Considering the Storm hasn’t lost in more than two seasons, what were your thoughts watching the New England Patriots experience the pressure of perfection?

RR: It’s really funny you mention that. Colin (team president Colin Steen) and I were talking after the Super Bowl and we realized that we were the only people at our parties who were pulling for the Patriots. Everyone loves the underdog but we understood what it was like to be that unbeaten team. Of course, what the Patriots did was at a completely different level. But for us, the pressure was just as real because we wanted to bring that accomplishment home for Sioux Falls.

P: How long can the streak go?

RR: I hate to say it, but sooner or later we are going to lose a game. People get the impression that because we’ve won 38 straight that we were blowing people out right and left. That’s not the case. We won two out of the three championship games in the last minute and we’ve trailed late and been taken to overtime several times during the streak. Our league is very competitive and I think that’s what makes the streak that much more impressive.

P: Most of the teams in the UIF have at least six or eight former Division I players on their roster. Yet the Storm – the league’s 800-pound gorilla – features a roster made up mostly of local kids from Division II, III, and NAIA programs. How is that possible?

RR: We are very proud of the players from around the area and we cherry pick the very best of them for the Storm. In our experience, sometimes guys from big programs come with a different attitude. They’ve been pampered all their life and expect to be pampered once they get here. The players we get from the local programs come to us ready to work their tail off with no expectations. They play great team football and that clearly is part of our success.

P: This season the UIF champion will face the champion of another league, the Intense Football League (IFL) in a contest to decide the National Indoor Football Championship. How did this come about? Does this say something about a future merger?

RR: By entering into this agreement with the IFL, we feel it is a great way to measure our league against another substantial indoor league. There are several indoor football leagues across the country and we feel this is a great way to brand the UIF as the real deal. There has been some talk about merging the two leagues somewhere down the road, but right now we look at it as a new challenge. Needless to say, we would love to be in a position to represent the UIF in that game.

The Storm kicks off their title defense on the road March 8th, against the Bloomington Extreme.