Post by Banana Cat on Jan 6, 2012 4:58:52 GMT -5
www.dailybulletin.com/ci_19685802
Warriors come out to play
Ontario will be home to American Indoor Football team
Louis Brewster, Staff Writer
01/05/2012
ONTARIO - Before the first player is signed, before the initial practice and eight weeks before the season even starts, Tom Mitchell has put his team on notice.
In a Thursday morning press conference that served as public debut of the Ontario Warriors of American Indoor Football, the owner didn't leave much wiggle room for his coaches or soon-to-be-signed players.
"I see top talent out there," Mitchell said in his opening remarks at Citizens Business Bank Arena. "There is no good reason why we can't be the top team. I will guarantee that we will win the championship."
We'll find out soon enough. The Warriors will start their 11-game schedule on March 4 at the arena against Stockton. Arizona, Las Vegas, Sacramento and Oakland will comprise the balance of the Western Division teams.
"Since before we opened the doors, one of my missions was to get indoor football," said arena general manager Steve Eckerson. "We know how popular football is in the area. I'm confident that we'll be successful and that this will be very well received."
The regular season will run from March 4 to May 28, with the playoffs to follow.
By that time, the Warriors will have conducted a pair of tryouts to fill the 20-man roster and another tryout for the dance team. The first tryout is set for Jan. 14 and is tentatively scheduled at Colony High School.
A veteran of indoor football marketing with teams in Phoenix and Milwaukee, Mitchell said the
area was best among the three or four cities he scouted.
"This is a small market with a big-market mentality," said Mitchell. "This is a good football location and the venue is great.
"The Inland Empire will take to this team, call it its own. This is going to be an atmosphere the fans want to see. It will be above and beyond other indoor leagues."
But it will be on head coach Keith Evans and assistants Anthony Atkins and Maurice Bryant to mold the team in a few short weeks. Evans has previous experience as a coach and player in the indoor game, having served as head coach for the Kent Oredators in 2011.
"We'll be looking for the younger guys who want to get into the next level, looking to get signed by the NFL, CFL or the UFL," said Evans, son of legendary track icon Lee Evans. "We're looking for players with speed, agility and smarts.
"This (AIF) will be adjustment for most. We're looking for athletes."
As the case with any indoor football team, there's a high premium on quarterbacks.
"This is primarily a passing league," said Evans. "The quarterback is very important, without a quarterback there are no points."
Evans said he will be looking for quarterbacks at the tryouts, but he's hedging his bet.
"I have a couple of guys," he said. "They have some experience and have worked with me in the past."
Under league rules, each team will carry a 20-man roster playing under a $3,700 per-game salary cap. Evans said he will start eight different players on both sides of the ball and will also carry a kicker, leaving few open roster slots.
"Hopefully we can get a lineman or wide receiver that can also kick to save us a roster spot," said Evans.
Mitchell said he has given the arena assurances this will not be a one-year deal.
"We're here for a while," said Mitchell.
Ontario will be home to American Indoor Football team
Louis Brewster, Staff Writer
01/05/2012
ONTARIO - Before the first player is signed, before the initial practice and eight weeks before the season even starts, Tom Mitchell has put his team on notice.
In a Thursday morning press conference that served as public debut of the Ontario Warriors of American Indoor Football, the owner didn't leave much wiggle room for his coaches or soon-to-be-signed players.
"I see top talent out there," Mitchell said in his opening remarks at Citizens Business Bank Arena. "There is no good reason why we can't be the top team. I will guarantee that we will win the championship."
We'll find out soon enough. The Warriors will start their 11-game schedule on March 4 at the arena against Stockton. Arizona, Las Vegas, Sacramento and Oakland will comprise the balance of the Western Division teams.
"Since before we opened the doors, one of my missions was to get indoor football," said arena general manager Steve Eckerson. "We know how popular football is in the area. I'm confident that we'll be successful and that this will be very well received."
The regular season will run from March 4 to May 28, with the playoffs to follow.
By that time, the Warriors will have conducted a pair of tryouts to fill the 20-man roster and another tryout for the dance team. The first tryout is set for Jan. 14 and is tentatively scheduled at Colony High School.
A veteran of indoor football marketing with teams in Phoenix and Milwaukee, Mitchell said the
area was best among the three or four cities he scouted.
"This is a small market with a big-market mentality," said Mitchell. "This is a good football location and the venue is great.
"The Inland Empire will take to this team, call it its own. This is going to be an atmosphere the fans want to see. It will be above and beyond other indoor leagues."
But it will be on head coach Keith Evans and assistants Anthony Atkins and Maurice Bryant to mold the team in a few short weeks. Evans has previous experience as a coach and player in the indoor game, having served as head coach for the Kent Oredators in 2011.
"We'll be looking for the younger guys who want to get into the next level, looking to get signed by the NFL, CFL or the UFL," said Evans, son of legendary track icon Lee Evans. "We're looking for players with speed, agility and smarts.
"This (AIF) will be adjustment for most. We're looking for athletes."
As the case with any indoor football team, there's a high premium on quarterbacks.
"This is primarily a passing league," said Evans. "The quarterback is very important, without a quarterback there are no points."
Evans said he will be looking for quarterbacks at the tryouts, but he's hedging his bet.
"I have a couple of guys," he said. "They have some experience and have worked with me in the past."
Under league rules, each team will carry a 20-man roster playing under a $3,700 per-game salary cap. Evans said he will start eight different players on both sides of the ball and will also carry a kicker, leaving few open roster slots.
"Hopefully we can get a lineman or wide receiver that can also kick to save us a roster spot," said Evans.
Mitchell said he has given the arena assurances this will not be a one-year deal.
"We're here for a while," said Mitchell.