Salina Liberty celebrate Champions Indoor Football title with promise of more to come

One by one, the Salina Liberty's coaches and players grabbed the microphone, thanked their fans, owners and teammates, and then sounded a warning to the rest of Champions Indoor Football.

Their 2022 championship, they all agreed, was just the beginning.

That quickly turned into a common theme Monday as the Liberty celebrated Saturday night's Champions Bowl victory over Omaha with a rally on the downtown stage at the corner of Santa Fe Avenue and Ash Street.

More:How the Salina Liberty rallied from a 12-point halftime deficit to win their first Champions Bowl

"I'd like to thank the fans," said wide receiver Ed Smith, one of two current Liberty players who were a part of the team's original roster in 2016. "Thank you for everything, and we're going back-to-back."

Defensive back Dontra Matthews was the other link to that 2016 team, which went 2-10. After moving on to the Wichita Force, he returned to help the Liberty advance to three straight Champions Bowls and finally win it all this year.

"We started this from the bottom," Matthews said, acknowledging Smith standing next to him. "We said we were going to win a championship as rookies.

"We didn't do it as rookies, but we came back six years later and we're national champions, baby."

Coach Heron O'Neal leads the team

Much as they struggled during the expansion season, the Liberty were even worse the following year, finishing in last place with a 1-11 record. But in 2018, the owners brought in veteran coach Heron O'Neal, who had won championships with the Billings Outlaws both in the National Indoor Football League (2006) and Indoor Football League (2009-10).

More:Where's the Beef? In Salina, where Liberty await Champions Bowl rematch with Omaha

More:Revamped Salina Liberty line ready to take on Omaha in the championship game Saturday

O'Neal and longtime assistant George Martinez quickly turned things around, winning the North Conference regular-season title before falling in the playoff semifinals and finishing at 9-3 in their first year. The Liberty then advanced to their first Champions Bowl in 2019 and have made it every time since.

After falling to Duke City, 35-29, in the 2019 Champions Bowl, the Liberty returned last year and lost to Omaha in the closing seconds at home, 40-39. There was no 2020 season, thanks to COVID-19.

With the championship game back at Tony's Pizza Events Center on Saturday, the Liberty fought off a third straight loss, battling back from a 12-point halftime deficit to beat the Beef in a rematch, 38-34.

O'Neal, who last year was inducted into the IFL Hall of Fame, acknowledged the Liberty fans' contribution to the come-from-behind victory.

More:Kelvin McCoy brings stability to Salina Liberty's offense, readies for championship game

"You guys are the ninth men — and women — that make those plays, especially on defense," he said. "We needed big defensive stops in the second half and that crowd was crazy.

"I want to thank the city for everything, and coming to support us. I really appreciate it, and making my family like your family. I love that. So continue to show up and we're going to continue to show out."

Players vow to return next season

O'Neal said afterward that he expected at least 16 or 17 players from this year's team to be back in 2023. That's roughly double the number in a typical season.

Kicker Jimmy Allen, one of seven players to take part in all three Liberty championship games, said he is looking for at least one more.

"Coming in here four years ago, I had been part of nothing but losing organizations," he said. "I came here four years ago, and I was going to stay as long as I needed to, as long as you'll let me.

"I don't have to worry about anything, thanks to the owners, coaching staff (and my) teammates. They make this fun. Nine years I've been chasing that (championship trophy). One out of nine sounds good, but two out of 10 sounds better."

More:It's back to the Champions Bowl for Salina Liberty after 26-14 semifinal win over Billings

Defensive lineman Keenen Gibbs, who led the CIF in sacks with Wichita the last time he played, ended a four-year retirement to join the Liberty for their championship run.

"I'd like to thank everybody in this city, because this is what it's truly for," Gibbs said. "This is a blue-collar team, just like this town.

"We're going to get it done (and) we're going to fight every day. Without the guys next to me or behind me or in front of me, none of this would be possible. Everybody here is a piece of the puzzle."

And he stepped aside with a parting shot.

"We brought a national championship to Salina," he said. "It's time to bring another one."

SALINA LIBERTY AT A GLANCE

Owners

Dan Kieborz and Jennifer Main

Dan and Linda Mendicina

Jimmy and Robyne Sponder

Tom and Lori Perez

Josh and Gretchen Perez

Roy Lawrence

Chief operating officer/general manager

Francis Flax

Coaching staff

Heron O'Neal (head coach)

George Martinez (assistant head coach)

Carlos Cavanaugh (assistant)

Dylan Mendicina (assistant)