Post by Banana Cat on Jan 24, 2009 0:42:47 GMT -5
SIFL schedule due out Monday, 26 January 2009. 5 teams will play an 11 game schedule, while the just added Florida Kings will play 5 road games.
Personally, I don't like the Florida Kings added as a road team, too much like the semi-pro APFL way of doing things. The AIFL did it as well. I just think it reflects poorly on the league to allow a road only team to play and have the games count in the standings, all you're doing is padding the other teams' win record the cheap way (again...see APFL). I hope this is the only thing they will have in common with the APFL from here on out (although I do hope their teams can be as classy and as successful as the Iowa Blackhawks are).
We all know the Louisianna Swashbucklers will be fine. So far the Austin Turfcats sure have been a marketing machine so I hope they have as much success on the field.
Things I'll be watching for during the 2009 SIFL season:
- Looking to see how the 4 new teams fare.
- See if any of the teams can even challenge Louisiana on the field.
- See if the Kings can make all their road trips.
- See how much the Kings will be blown out by.
That aside I wish the league all success for the 2009 season and hope they start off right, play all their games, have all the teams return in 2010, and also can expand like they want to in 2010.
www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3768074
Personally, I don't like the Florida Kings added as a road team, too much like the semi-pro APFL way of doing things. The AIFL did it as well. I just think it reflects poorly on the league to allow a road only team to play and have the games count in the standings, all you're doing is padding the other teams' win record the cheap way (again...see APFL). I hope this is the only thing they will have in common with the APFL from here on out (although I do hope their teams can be as classy and as successful as the Iowa Blackhawks are).
We all know the Louisianna Swashbucklers will be fine. So far the Austin Turfcats sure have been a marketing machine so I hope they have as much success on the field.
Things I'll be watching for during the 2009 SIFL season:
- Looking to see how the 4 new teams fare.
- See if any of the teams can even challenge Louisiana on the field.
- See if the Kings can make all their road trips.
- See how much the Kings will be blown out by.
That aside I wish the league all success for the 2009 season and hope they start off right, play all their games, have all the teams return in 2010, and also can expand like they want to in 2010.
www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3768074
23 January 2009
SIFL Inaugural Season Efforts Continuing
OurSportsCentral
Continuing tenacious efforts to launch its inaugural season, the Southern Indoor Football League announced today minor modifications in its first-season team alignment.
Six teams will be featured in the first season of play. The Houston Crusaders, originally slated to play in 2009, have converted all focus on 2010 and will be replaced by the Tampa-based Florida Kings who will play a limited schedule in 2009 before joining the league in full in 2010.
The five charter teams - the Louisiana (Lake Charles) Swashbucklers, Acadiana (Lafayette, La.) Mudbugs, Houma Conquerors, Texas Pirates and Austin Turfcats - will play an 11-game regular season with six home games as originally planned and five away. Games against the Kings will count in league standings.
"We're excited about our 2010 Florida teams and having the opportunity to schedule five games with the Florida Kings from Tampa this season," said Robert Winfrey, Director of Operations for the SIFL.
``The Kings had everything in place for full participation in 2009, but the travel logistics did not fit our business model for 2009,'' Winfrey added. ``Due to unforeseen circumstances, Houston is not in a position to field a 2009 effort that would be a sound financial decision, but remains active in league development and is poised for 2010.''
Involving the Kings is beneficial for the SIFL's inaugural season, said SIFL President Thom Hager.
"We appreciate the enthusiasm of the Florida Kings this inaugural season and their commitment to our long-term success," Hager said. "The Kings will get five nights of real-time indoor football experience in 2009 that will enhance their 2010 chemistry and development.
``Yes, we would loved to have had the Houston Crusaders participate this season," Hager added. ``I'm looking forward to the Houston Crusaders participation in 2010 and am confident that our Pasadena team will carry the ball this season in that excellent football market.''
"It has been an exciting time for the SIFL as we have ramped up our efforts to kick off this April,'' Hager continued. `We've been focusing our attention on both 2009 and 2010 seasons as the SIFL footprint can allow up to sixteen teams with two divisions.
"The vision for the SIFL began with a three-year marketing campaign,'' Hager added. "Our concept is to offer affordable family entertainment in our markets and to grow our league incrementally over three seasons. We did not launch to compete with other indoor football leagues but to augment this great game with a manageable business plan using a regional footprint.''
Hager is very pleased with development of all the teams and has been working with each market using sales training programs, task lists with time lines, and even a syllabus to cover all start up elements for a new team.
" I'm most excited about our coaching staff, especially with the addition of Chris Duliban in Austin , Coach Darnell Lee returning to Louisiana, and the legendary John Fourcade in Acadiana,'' Hager said. "The quality of our product will be outstanding for an inaugural season and beyond. We're not interested in being the largest league. We're simply focused on delivering the best product while turning profits and showcasing very talented players. It's time fans stop losing their hometown teams due to escalating operating budgets and poor cash flow."
The league schedule is being finalized for release on Monday, January 26, 2009.
SIFL Inaugural Season Efforts Continuing
OurSportsCentral
Continuing tenacious efforts to launch its inaugural season, the Southern Indoor Football League announced today minor modifications in its first-season team alignment.
Six teams will be featured in the first season of play. The Houston Crusaders, originally slated to play in 2009, have converted all focus on 2010 and will be replaced by the Tampa-based Florida Kings who will play a limited schedule in 2009 before joining the league in full in 2010.
The five charter teams - the Louisiana (Lake Charles) Swashbucklers, Acadiana (Lafayette, La.) Mudbugs, Houma Conquerors, Texas Pirates and Austin Turfcats - will play an 11-game regular season with six home games as originally planned and five away. Games against the Kings will count in league standings.
"We're excited about our 2010 Florida teams and having the opportunity to schedule five games with the Florida Kings from Tampa this season," said Robert Winfrey, Director of Operations for the SIFL.
``The Kings had everything in place for full participation in 2009, but the travel logistics did not fit our business model for 2009,'' Winfrey added. ``Due to unforeseen circumstances, Houston is not in a position to field a 2009 effort that would be a sound financial decision, but remains active in league development and is poised for 2010.''
Involving the Kings is beneficial for the SIFL's inaugural season, said SIFL President Thom Hager.
"We appreciate the enthusiasm of the Florida Kings this inaugural season and their commitment to our long-term success," Hager said. "The Kings will get five nights of real-time indoor football experience in 2009 that will enhance their 2010 chemistry and development.
``Yes, we would loved to have had the Houston Crusaders participate this season," Hager added. ``I'm looking forward to the Houston Crusaders participation in 2010 and am confident that our Pasadena team will carry the ball this season in that excellent football market.''
"It has been an exciting time for the SIFL as we have ramped up our efforts to kick off this April,'' Hager continued. `We've been focusing our attention on both 2009 and 2010 seasons as the SIFL footprint can allow up to sixteen teams with two divisions.
"The vision for the SIFL began with a three-year marketing campaign,'' Hager added. "Our concept is to offer affordable family entertainment in our markets and to grow our league incrementally over three seasons. We did not launch to compete with other indoor football leagues but to augment this great game with a manageable business plan using a regional footprint.''
Hager is very pleased with development of all the teams and has been working with each market using sales training programs, task lists with time lines, and even a syllabus to cover all start up elements for a new team.
" I'm most excited about our coaching staff, especially with the addition of Chris Duliban in Austin , Coach Darnell Lee returning to Louisiana, and the legendary John Fourcade in Acadiana,'' Hager said. "The quality of our product will be outstanding for an inaugural season and beyond. We're not interested in being the largest league. We're simply focused on delivering the best product while turning profits and showcasing very talented players. It's time fans stop losing their hometown teams due to escalating operating budgets and poor cash flow."
The league schedule is being finalized for release on Monday, January 26, 2009.