After splitting their first two games on the road, the Peoria Pirates finally get to settle down in Saturday's home opener.

Bruce Cowdrey has seen it before – the carpet and the game plan being installed simultaneously for a Pirates' home opener.

"If the second time is déjà vu the third time is Billy Martin," Cowdrey said. "I guess I'm the Billy Martin of Peoria football. I'm glad to be back and looking forward to tomorrow night. It's going to be fun."

Cowdrey's hands are decorated with championship rings – one from the Mike Ditka's Chicago Rush. But this team is his jewel. And tomorrow night's game with Wilkes Barre–Scranton will be the first at Carver Arena for a team called the Pirates since 2004.

"It's kind of neat," Cowdrey said. " I'm glad to see the old skull and crossbones. It's fun to be back on this turf and it's good to see the end zones with black and silver again. Hopefully we'll get as many fans as we've had in here in the past."

During the season's first two weeks Cowdrey's been part coach, part history teacher. He's told these Pirates about the championship years here and how he plans to turn Carver Arena back into a house of pain.

"He was the coach for 6 years and he went to the championship game four times," said Pirates defensive end Tank Smith. "That's pretty good. I feel like he's a legendary coach. That's good for me to play for a legendary coach like coach Cowdrey."

"We know people around here love football," said Pirates quarterback Justin Rascati. " There's no university around here that has football or any pro team, we're the only team. We look forward to coming here and playing in front of these fans."

After almost 50 hours riding buses the first two weeks of the season these Pirates are glad to be home.