New City's New Football Team Excites Its Fans

-- FEDERAL WAY

It was only a matter of time before this newly incorporated city had a football team to call its own.

On July 21, the Federal Way Jets officially became that team. The new semipro club clashed with the Pierce County Bengals at Tacoma's Sparks Stadium on that date, losing 19-14 to the perennial Northwest Football League powerhouse.

``After the game, the players got together and had a meeting. They wanted to thank me for putting a team in Federal Way,'' said Ken Austin, the Jets' coach. ``It kind of lifted me up a little bit.''

Austin knew what the Jets were up against in their first game. He spent the previous three seasons as coach and general manager of the Bengals, leading the club to a record of 28-5. The Bengals advanced to the league's title game each season, winning the title in 1987.

The ability of its weekly opponent isn't all Federal Way must contend with. The team lacks a sponsor, and Austin says the money for the club's expenses comes from his own pocket.

``We're about the poorest team in the league,'' he said.

Austin's need to save money is reflected in the fate of the club's new jerseys. The jerseys that were designed to be snug have already ripped.

``They fit too tightly,'' he said. ``I think we're going to need new ones awfully quick.''

Then there's the practice structure, which depends on the number of players who show up - six attended one.

``We did 3 on 3, did our exercises and talked about our weekend,'' said Gary Carpenter, a defensive lineman.

Before trying out for the Jets, Carpenter's last game of organized football took place 15 years ago. At that time, Carpenter was in junior high.

``Hey, this is a dream for me,'' he said. ``Now that I'm playing, my wife is even taking an interest in football. She's calling people for the team and wants to know what it's all about.''

Any questions Carpenter has about playing the line can be answered quickly by a 6-foot-3-inch, 280-pound teammate, Russ Palmateer, whose size drew Austin's attention at a corporate luncheon the two attended at a downtown hotel.

``You just got to get a little uglier,'' said Palmateer.

Like Carpenter, Palmateer's wife also takes an interest in the team's fortunes. ``She likes to see me get beat up,'' he said.

More concerned with moving up than beating up are Jet players Chad Kearney and Billy Finch. Neither player is married or old. Both are 19 and aspire to play college football.

Kearney, a 6-foot-4, 235-pound offensive tackle, played at Mount Rainier High School. Finch, a 5-foot-8, 180-pound running back, reminds Austin of a former Auburn Panther teammate.

``He reminds me a lot of Mike Oliphant,'' said Austin. Oliphant went on to set school records at the University of Puget Sound and is now playing in the National Football League.

For now, the players must endure a typical Jets practice that lasts from 6:30 p.m. to midnight three days a week.

``If they don't expect to win, they shouldn't be part of the program,'' said Austin. ``My coaching goal is to be successful and win the Northwest Football League championship.''

To accomplish that, Federal Way must improve on last week's home debut.

In front of a vocal Federal Way Stadium crowd estimated at 800, the Jets lost 23-21 to the Snohomish/King County Blue Knights. It was a game Federal Way had a chance to win.

With 39 seconds left, the Jets drove down to the Snohomish 25-yard line. On third down, Jets quarterback Mike Fischlin had his pass intercepted. The late-game heroics the Jets were depending on might not have been necessary had the Blue Knights' quarterback not connected on a 42-yard touchdown pass just before halftime.

``I aged considerably in that game,'' said Austin. ``It seemed like all that we've worked for the past 2 1/2 months was starting to dissolve. We were shaken after we gave up that touchdown just before halftime.''

Providing a measure of consolation to Austin was the shaking going on in the stands of Federal Way Stadium.

``The fans were incredible,'' said Austin, who has spent eight years as a player and coach in semipro football. ``They were stomping in the bleachers, chanting `Let's go Jets.' It's the first time I've ever witnessed that at a semipro football game.''