Post by Banana Cat on Jan 4, 2011 15:55:10 GMT -5
www.americanchronicle.com/articles/yb/153845076
Expanded APFL schedule will provide fresh challenges for Outlaws
By Seth Stringer, The Sedalia Democrat, Sedalia, Mo.
Dec. 24--Chad Jackson admits that the Mid-Missouri Outlaws came about because he, along with co-owner Travis Jobe, just wanted to "pad up and play."
Five years later, he's putting away the pads and doing what owners typically are relegated to do: Market and promote the team. Despite being in one of the smallest arena league markets, promoting the Outlaws -- a team embraced annually by fans -- is becoming an easier task by the day.
The former three-time Central Plains Football League champions are fresh off a runner-up finish in the American Professional Football League -- won by the Iowa Blackhawks in a 31-28 overtime thriller at home -- and, as evidenced by recent management decisions, are committed to winning and growing the brand name.
"For me, the Outlaws bring an invaluable quality to the community from March to June," Jackson said. "It's cheap at $5 a ticket, which I'm going to keep it at, and it's just a football experience that's hard to rival in our local area."
With Jobe -- who will still serve as an co-owner/investor and be there for moral support -- stepping down as head coach, Jackson's been hard at work. His first responsibility as sole owner? Hiring a new head coach.
Stepping in to fill that role is former Outlaws receiver Ben Lyles, who parlayed his success as coach of the Junior Outlaws fifth-grade team into a head coaching position at Sacred Heart High School.
"He was in my ear all last year about coaching," Jackson said. "We originally planned on him being an offensive coordinator, but when Travis stepped down, he was first guy I visited and offered the job to."
The new era coincides with the makeover of the APFL, which recently expanded to six teams with the introduction of the Sioux City Bandits from the highly touted Indoor Football League. The extra team will allow the APFL to expand the regular season to 10 games.
"It's really going to bring our league to the next level with another potential powerhouse in the APFL," Jackson. "And along with that, comes a more enjoyable experience for the fans."
And he's not just talking about more games, but more competitive matchups. Last year, the Outlaws lacked those key tilts early in the season. The Outlaws didn't even play a contested game until the fourth game of the 2010 campaign, outscoring opponents 225-46 in the first three games.
This year, that will all change. With the schedule set to be released Jan. 1, the Outlaws will play 10 conference games and one non-league home game against an opponent from Colorado. And the Outlaws, who have been in discussion with several players from the University of Central Missouri Mules football team, are already gearing up for the new season.
By Seth Stringer, The Sedalia Democrat, Sedalia, Mo.
Dec. 24--Chad Jackson admits that the Mid-Missouri Outlaws came about because he, along with co-owner Travis Jobe, just wanted to "pad up and play."
Five years later, he's putting away the pads and doing what owners typically are relegated to do: Market and promote the team. Despite being in one of the smallest arena league markets, promoting the Outlaws -- a team embraced annually by fans -- is becoming an easier task by the day.
The former three-time Central Plains Football League champions are fresh off a runner-up finish in the American Professional Football League -- won by the Iowa Blackhawks in a 31-28 overtime thriller at home -- and, as evidenced by recent management decisions, are committed to winning and growing the brand name.
"For me, the Outlaws bring an invaluable quality to the community from March to June," Jackson said. "It's cheap at $5 a ticket, which I'm going to keep it at, and it's just a football experience that's hard to rival in our local area."
With Jobe -- who will still serve as an co-owner/investor and be there for moral support -- stepping down as head coach, Jackson's been hard at work. His first responsibility as sole owner? Hiring a new head coach.
Stepping in to fill that role is former Outlaws receiver Ben Lyles, who parlayed his success as coach of the Junior Outlaws fifth-grade team into a head coaching position at Sacred Heart High School.
"He was in my ear all last year about coaching," Jackson said. "We originally planned on him being an offensive coordinator, but when Travis stepped down, he was first guy I visited and offered the job to."
The new era coincides with the makeover of the APFL, which recently expanded to six teams with the introduction of the Sioux City Bandits from the highly touted Indoor Football League. The extra team will allow the APFL to expand the regular season to 10 games.
"It's really going to bring our league to the next level with another potential powerhouse in the APFL," Jackson. "And along with that, comes a more enjoyable experience for the fans."
And he's not just talking about more games, but more competitive matchups. Last year, the Outlaws lacked those key tilts early in the season. The Outlaws didn't even play a contested game until the fourth game of the 2010 campaign, outscoring opponents 225-46 in the first three games.
This year, that will all change. With the schedule set to be released Jan. 1, the Outlaws will play 10 conference games and one non-league home game against an opponent from Colorado. And the Outlaws, who have been in discussion with several players from the University of Central Missouri Mules football team, are already gearing up for the new season.