Post by Banana Cat on May 13, 2012 8:44:31 GMT -5
Game definitely over.
tribune-democrat.com/local/x241731279/Game-over-Generals-contest-canceled-rest-of-season-in-jeopardy
tribune-democrat.com/local/x241731279/Game-over-Generals-contest-canceled-rest-of-season-in-jeopardy
Game over? Generals’ contest canceled, rest of season in jeopardy
Shawn Curtis The Tribune-Democrat
— The Johnstown Generals canceled their Saturday night clash against the Western Pennsylvania Sting at Cambria County War Memorial Arena.
This cancellation, the second in as many weeks against the Sting, may also jeopardize the team’s remaining schedule.
A meeting involving the Cambria County War Memorial Authority and Generals/Sting owner Jeff Bollinger is slated for Monday morning. The team’s immediate and long-term future will be determined at that time.
The cancellation came two days after team officials had informed the War Memorial authority and SMG that the game would go on as scheduled.
“He assured us there would be two teams on the field,” said Dean Gindlesperger, who chairs the Cambria County War Memorial authority.
Johnstown was 2-5 through its first seven games this season.
The Generals’ next scheduled game is slated for May 26 when the team hosts Western Pennsylvania, a squad playing its entire 2012 season as a travel team.
“(Bollinger) feels he can salvage the rest of the season because they’re all home games, no travel expenses, and he doesn't own any other teams that they play, so there wouldn’t be those expenses,” Gindlesperger said.
“We will listen to him.”
Gindlesperger noted that the arena authority and arena manager, SMG, have helped to offset some of the Generals’ expenses.
He said SMG assisted with costs for officials earlier in the season and the arena authority had a role in making sure the team had the proper insurance for Saturday’s scheduled game.
“If this is going to be saved, it’s not going to be done without meeting us face to face,” Gindlesperger said. “We’re the ones who have got to face the people. These are our people and this is our town.”
The process of getting everything ready to go for Saturday’s 7 p.m. kickoff involved General Manager Colleen Flowers drumming up a full slate of game-day events, with volunteers along with pre- and post-game meals donated by community businesses.
Coach Quenteen Robinson had assembled a roster of players and coaches to take the field against the Sting.
“Everybody was pitching in,” Flowers said.
“Coach Quenteen had called all the players and coaches. We only had 24 hours to put this together and we had a full event scheduled.”
A little over two hours before the scheduled kickoff, a phone call to the War Memorial GM Mike Silva confirmed that the game had been canceled.
“You’ve got two games in a row now that they weren’t able to pull off,” Gindlesperger said. “It’s just not a good situation. They’re off next week, so he does have two weeks to try to put something together. Hopefully we’ll learn more on Monday.”
Gindlesperger gave notice to Flowers’ efforts.
“I’ve got to give Colleen credit. In less than a full day she got all the coaches on the line and they were on board, the players were on board. She had a halftime show set up. Johnstown was ready to play,” Gindlesperger said. “What fell apart on the other end, I have no idea.”
Through all of this, Robinson and his coaching staff, along with the Generals players, have not been paid at all this season.
“Nobody has been compensated for their time and/or efforts,” Robinson said. “We’ve had coaches resign. We’ve had staff members resign. I
didn’t even go to the last game (April 29 at Erie) because I’m not driving because this is a professional league and the owner needs to be professional about his business. ... We lost a lot, we were able to get players to move up (to other leagues), but there were people that weren’t playing because of the situation.”
Both Robinson and Flowers stated over the phone that they were resigning their positions with the franchise.
Multiple attempts to reach Bollinger for comment were unsuccessful.
Shawn Curtis The Tribune-Democrat
— The Johnstown Generals canceled their Saturday night clash against the Western Pennsylvania Sting at Cambria County War Memorial Arena.
This cancellation, the second in as many weeks against the Sting, may also jeopardize the team’s remaining schedule.
A meeting involving the Cambria County War Memorial Authority and Generals/Sting owner Jeff Bollinger is slated for Monday morning. The team’s immediate and long-term future will be determined at that time.
The cancellation came two days after team officials had informed the War Memorial authority and SMG that the game would go on as scheduled.
“He assured us there would be two teams on the field,” said Dean Gindlesperger, who chairs the Cambria County War Memorial authority.
Johnstown was 2-5 through its first seven games this season.
The Generals’ next scheduled game is slated for May 26 when the team hosts Western Pennsylvania, a squad playing its entire 2012 season as a travel team.
“(Bollinger) feels he can salvage the rest of the season because they’re all home games, no travel expenses, and he doesn't own any other teams that they play, so there wouldn’t be those expenses,” Gindlesperger said.
“We will listen to him.”
Gindlesperger noted that the arena authority and arena manager, SMG, have helped to offset some of the Generals’ expenses.
He said SMG assisted with costs for officials earlier in the season and the arena authority had a role in making sure the team had the proper insurance for Saturday’s scheduled game.
“If this is going to be saved, it’s not going to be done without meeting us face to face,” Gindlesperger said. “We’re the ones who have got to face the people. These are our people and this is our town.”
The process of getting everything ready to go for Saturday’s 7 p.m. kickoff involved General Manager Colleen Flowers drumming up a full slate of game-day events, with volunteers along with pre- and post-game meals donated by community businesses.
Coach Quenteen Robinson had assembled a roster of players and coaches to take the field against the Sting.
“Everybody was pitching in,” Flowers said.
“Coach Quenteen had called all the players and coaches. We only had 24 hours to put this together and we had a full event scheduled.”
A little over two hours before the scheduled kickoff, a phone call to the War Memorial GM Mike Silva confirmed that the game had been canceled.
“You’ve got two games in a row now that they weren’t able to pull off,” Gindlesperger said. “It’s just not a good situation. They’re off next week, so he does have two weeks to try to put something together. Hopefully we’ll learn more on Monday.”
Gindlesperger gave notice to Flowers’ efforts.
“I’ve got to give Colleen credit. In less than a full day she got all the coaches on the line and they were on board, the players were on board. She had a halftime show set up. Johnstown was ready to play,” Gindlesperger said. “What fell apart on the other end, I have no idea.”
Through all of this, Robinson and his coaching staff, along with the Generals players, have not been paid at all this season.
“Nobody has been compensated for their time and/or efforts,” Robinson said. “We’ve had coaches resign. We’ve had staff members resign. I
didn’t even go to the last game (April 29 at Erie) because I’m not driving because this is a professional league and the owner needs to be professional about his business. ... We lost a lot, we were able to get players to move up (to other leagues), but there were people that weren’t playing because of the situation.”
Both Robinson and Flowers stated over the phone that they were resigning their positions with the franchise.
Multiple attempts to reach Bollinger for comment were unsuccessful.