Southern Oregon Heat
{{Short description|American indoor football team}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox indoor American football team
| name = Southern Oregon Heat
| current =
| logo = Southern Oregon Heat.png
| helmet = Southern Oregon Heat Helmet Logo.png
| founded = 2000
| folded = 2001
| city = Central Point, Oregon
at Compton Arena
| misc =
| colors = Navy Blue, Orange, White
{{Color box|navy}} {{color box|#F76900}} {{Color box|white}}
| owner = Kevin Wells
| general manager = Kevin Wells
| coach = Eric VanderWegen
| cheerleaders =
| mascot =
| league =
National Indoor Football League (2001)
| team_history =
- Southern Oregon Heat (2001)
| no_league_champs = 0
| league_champs =
| no_conf_champs = 0
| conf_champs =
| no_div_champs = 0
| div_champs =
| no_playoff_appearances = 0
| playoff_appearances =
| arena_years =
- Compton Arena (2001)
}}
The Southern Oregon Heat was a professional indoor football team based out of Medford, Oregon, founded in 2000.[https://web.archive.org/web/20180704131835/http://mailtribune.com/archive/indoor-football-is-headed-here Indoor football is headed here], Greg Stiles, Medford Mail Tribune, July 1, 2000 They were a member of the National Indoor Football League and played their home games at Compton Arena (now the Seven Feathers Event Center) at the Jackson County Expo & Fairgrounds in Central Point, Oregon, affectionately called "The Inferno".[https://www.oursportscentral.com/footballhistory/football/?t_id=771 Indoor and Arena Football History], Our Sports Central The original franchise was owned by Kevin Wells.
History
The Heat were founded on July 1, 2000, by Sutherlin, Oregon, businessman Kevin Wells bringing professional indoor football to the Rogue Valley for the first time. Their logo was designed by Mike Lacey and looks strikingly similar to that of the New England Patriots. They were originally to have become a member of the American Indoor Football League,[https://web.archive.org/web/20180704131835/http://mailtribune.com/archive/indoor-football-is-headed-here Indoor football is headed here], Greg Stiles, Medford Mail Tribune, July 1, 2000 but opted for the NIFL instead. They had two head coaches during their one season with the NIFL. The starting quarterback throughout the season was Eric VanderWegen, who would later become head coach midway through the season. The team amassed a record of only 1–13 (1–7 at home and 0–6 on the road) and their main geographic rivals were the Yakima Shockwave. Their only victory of record came in a 22-19 win over the Sioux City Bandits (now of the National Arena League). The team averaged an attendance of only 1,469 fans.[https://web.archive.org/web/20180704130330/http://mailtribune.com/archive/tri-04-19-2018-083509443 Tri-City too much for Heat], Kris Henry, Medford Mail Tribune, April 27, 2001 The team failed to pay its rental fees to the Expo before the final scheduled home game of the season and were forced to cancel that game, which was a forfeit loss. They essentially ceased operations after their last road game.[https://web.archive.org/web/20180704131833/http://mailtribune.com/archive/the-heat-is-off-in-southern-oregon The Heat is off in Southern Oregon], Kris Henry, Medford Mail Tribune, January 24, 2002
They were to have resurfaced as the Eugene Mercury in 2002, but owner Wells was unable to find a new owner and the team folded before the season started.[http://www.indoorfootballencyclopedia.com Indoor Football Encyclopedia] Wells disappeared from the public shortly after the team folded.