There is no shortage of impressive numbers associated with Chris Dixon. In four-plus seasons as the starting quarterback for the Billings Outlaws, Dixon has a won-lost record of 50-20. He’s thrown 287 touchdown passes (and just 32 interceptions) and has rushed for 48 touchdowns. More importantly to Dixon, he’s led Billings to two championships — the 2006 National Indoor Football League title and the 2009 Indoor Football League crown. As he prepares for the start of training camp for 2010 season, Gazette sports staffer Ryan Minch caught up with Dixon to chat about his past, present and future with the Outlaws. Following is a glimpse of their conversation:

Gazette: Where did you see yourself when you graduated from Humboldt State in 2003?

Dixon: I always said I would give everything I have to get to the NFL. I didn’t really ever think about playing indoor football. I did think about the arena game because it was pretty heavy at the time, but I am definitely enjoying myself.

Gazette: In your first year of indoor football in 2005 with the Rapid City Red Dogs, you struggled to find a spot in their offense. When you got your release from Rapid City and signed with Billings, when did it click for that you could be an elite quarterback in the indoor game?

Dixon: When I was in Rapid City a lot people told me ‘Hey, you’re good’ but then I realized what kind of team I was with and started moving around positions. I started wondering if I should have listened to the critics and switched to safety coming out of college but that wasn’t my dream. I can’t imagine playing a position where I don’t touch the ball on every play.

Gazette: Growing up in Oakland, you lived in a neighborhood dominated by drug use and gang violence, talk about how that and the relationship you had with your father.

Dixon: We all go through it. In the urban area, drugs are everywhere. I was never into that stuff, but a lot of people around me were. I just didn’t want to follow that lead. I had a lot of good role models around me. My father was into the doing (drugs) part and it was hard on me.

Gazette: Growing up, you didn’t have a good relationship with your father. In fact, he saw you play professionally for the first time this past summer when you helped the Outlaws to a dramatic 42-41 win over the Sioux Falls Storm. Talk about that game and what it meant for him to be in the stands that night.

Dixon: If I would have followed the path my father was on, I definitely would have been headed down the wrong path. I have one memory of my father as a father-son up until this past summer. We started talking and decided that I wanted to bring him back into my life.

Gazette: I know the Chris Dixon Foundation for Kids is very important to you. How did the foundation get started?

Dixon: I got a couple of calls from parents saying their kids needed a role model and it got me thinking that these kids need a positive influence. I want everyone to have that chance to play together and get a fair shot at life. It is about building up children and bringing everyone together.

Gazette: Have you noticed a different perception of the Outlaws in light of the recent arrests of former players and coaches on drug charges?

Dixon: In the first few days, a lot people were distancing themselves from anybody involved with the Outlaws. It was hard because a lot of the people who would say ‘yeah come out to the school’ were starting to say ‘I don’t know,’ so that was hard.

Gazette: When did you decide that Billings was a place that you want to settle down and raise your family here?

Dixon:It started for me two years ago, when I decided to stay in Billings during the offseason. But it really became a home this last year when my son Chrishon moved out here. Seeing him going to school and making friends showed me this is a close-knit community and a good place to live. It’s not just about me coming here and being a football player, it has helped me become a man.

Gazette: How did your teammates respond to you leaving for CFL and arenafootball2 tryouts in the middle of the 2006 season?

Dixon: When I came back, there were a lot of lies. No one wanted to step up and say ‘I asked Chris to come back here’ because at the time, I wasn’t coming back. I was ready to go home. There was too much drama with our team at the time, but some guys asked me to stay and I have been the quarterback ever since.

Gazette: Compare this winter to the offseason of 2006 when the Outlaws won their first championship.

Dixon: I was young then … I worked hard, but I was still a baby and looking for guidance. Now it’s like ‘I’m ready.’ (Outlaws wide receiver) James Walton and I have done a weight-training program all offseason.

Gazette: Talk about the 2007 season, going 9-7 and losing to Sioux Falls in the semifinals after winning the title the year before. Did you have doubts?

Dixon: I started to doubt myself. It was the worst feeling to start 0-4 after winning the championship. We had a lot of new guys on the team … it was hard. When (wide receivers) Robert Reed and Anthony Candler came back, we got things rolling. It made me who I am today.

Gazette: In 2008, the Outlaws lost to Sioux Falls in the semifinal round again. How did that loss motivate the Outlaws for the 2009 season?

Dixon: We had a long conversation after that game and I told Coach O (Outlaws head coach Heron O’Neal) that I was ready to be a leader of the team. I have been a winner all my life and I got tired of coming up short. I asked him to believe in me and give me chance to be that guy.

Gazette: How big was the come-from-behind win over Sioux Falls in April, considering the Storm basically had the Outlaws’ number coming in?

Dixon: It was fulfilling, but not enough. When we were watching film, I just kept saying ‘we should have blown them out.’ I am competitive type guy … my flag football teams will be the first ones to tell you that. I was happy we won, but I was not happy because I am better than how I played. We were still searching for who we were as a team.

Gazette: How good did it feel to end Sioux Falls’ four-year home winning streak last season?

Dixon: That game was emotional. I had to walk through that same door I walked through last year after losing in the playoffs. I actually had to put sunglasses on for pre-game so I could focus. After I threw the first TD pass to Walton, I heard some fans start chanting ‘MVP!’ and I realized that we were the best team in the IFL.

Gazette: Has it been tough to see other Outlaws move on to higher leagues, such as Travonti Johnson to the NFL and Michael Landry to the CFL?

Dixon: If you would have asked me that question four years ago, my answer would have been yes. It doesn’t faze me anymore. Once you take a different path in life, things become easier. If it’s meant for me to get picked up, I will. If it’s not, I won’t.

Gazette: Do you think you still have an opportunity to play in the NFL?

Dixon: Yeah, I was on a couple of teams’ emergency contacts this summer in case some guys got hurt. I am only 28 and I am throwing the ball better than I ever have. All I can do is keep pushing myself to get better and leave it up to that.

Gazette: With the future of offensive lineman, Anthony Bonner in question, what does it feel like to be the longest tenured Outlaw?

Dixon: I feel old if you really want to know. Up until about the last two seasons I was the baby of the team but now it’s my time to become the leader.