Post by Banana Cat on Jul 29, 2012 5:46:23 GMT -5
www.argusleader.com/article/20120728/COLUMNISTS0110/307280019/The-Storm-s-next-step
The Storm's next step
Status of IFL and Riggs looms in offseason
Jul 27, 2012
Matt Zimmer / Argus Leader
It looks likely that the Storm will be staying in the Indoor Football League.
Storm owner Todd Tryon said this week that he’s “optimistic” the Storm will return to play another season in 2013 and that the IFL will be their home. Meanwhile, IFL director of football operations Mike Allshouse said that he has no doubt the IFL will have a 2013 season and that he hopes the Storm will be a part of it.
IFL teams originally had until July 31 to recommit to the league, but the IFL recently pushed that date to August 15. Allshouse declined to say why the extra two weeks were added, but it looks like to give the league’s franchises more time to resolve their issues.
None of which is to say this couldn’t be an eventful off-season.
Tryon already made headlines by releasing the team’s rights to almost the entire roster, which was his way of challenging the IFL’s other franchises.
The Storm have felt under siege by the rest of the league’s owners, as coach Kurtiss Riggs was suspended for the first two games of the playoffs for what the team felt was a minor infraction, and owners from other teams in the league indicated that they would not remain in the IFL if the Storm returned with their roster intact.
So Tryon cut loose his players in what could be seen as an olive branch to the other owners or a line in the sand, depending on your point of view.
IFL values franchise
The IFL has been largely quiet when it comes to the controversies surrounding the Storm, and drew criticism from some for not sending a league representative to Sioux Falls for the United Bowl (which the Storm won 59-32 over Tri-Cities to capture their second straight IFL title).
When reached Friday, Allshouse offered a series of “no-comments” to questions about the relationships between some of the league’s franchises, or what issues the league will look to resolve in the coming weeks. He did say, however, that the league expects to take a step forward in 2013 and that the Storm will hopefully be a part of it.
“Of course,” Allshouse said when asked if he was confident in the league’s future. “There’s going to be an IFL, and we’re going to have the strongest stable of teams we’ve had in the history of the IFL. We’re always striving to improve each and every one of our teams. You’re only as strong as your weakest link, and we want each of our teams to be successful and profitable.”
Asked if the IFL values the Storm and their continued success, Allshouse answered: “Absolutely.”
He declined to speculate on other franchises’ attitude towards the Storm, and sources from two other IFL teams also declined to comment on the Storm when contacted by the Argus Leader.
Answering the critics
While Riggs was suspended because the Storm allowed players access to a van that was provided by a third party, the common feeling within the organization is that certain teams throughout the league have been trying to find ways to bring them down for a while.
The van incident was simply the best they could come up with.
Rumors and accusations that the Storm have been paying players under the table started circulating since the franchise’s first championship in 2005, but Tryon revealed this week that the IFL came to Sioux Falls last year for an “audit” of the team’s operations, finding they were in full compliance with league rules. The Storm were not targeted for an investigation — a handful of IFL teams were randomly audited, according to Tryon.
“People have been saying things for a long time,” said Riggs, who remains very much on the fence about returning as coach. “I mean, we heard that the reason (quarterback) Chris Dixon isn’t in the NFL is because we’re paying him an NFL salary. It’s pretty silly. When the league came here they had access to Chris’ financial records to see that he was making his own car payments and that he was getting financial aid for the classes he was taking at (Augustana). They went to the apartment where (then-Storm players) Michael Bazemore and Khadafi Tunsil were living, and followed guys around and got a very intensive look at our operation.
“We met all their requirements.”
Tryon says accusations of overpaying players are off-base. They simply don’t have the money to do it. Players are paid a $250 game salary, and the team is allowed to pay expenses like housing and food. Combine that with uniforms, equipment, field usage, worker’s compensation, staffing, travel, etc., and Tryon’s expenses are enormous.
The team’s only revenue comes from eight home games, which draw an average of 3,000 to 4,000 fans per game, plus sponsorships and merchandise sales. Tryon says he lost a significant amount of money in 2010 and is still in the red despite improved numbers.
While Tryon’s gym franchise and health supplement business have been successful for him, Riggs pokes fun at the suggestion that Tryon is a tycoon-style owner with an endless supply of cash.
In addition, Tryon says a lot of the under-the-table-pay rumors come from players who use supposed offers as leverage to get more money — that it’s a ploy by players owners are catching on to.
“We recruit players and we hear it,” Tryon says. “We’ll talk to a guy and he’ll say, ‘Oh, well, this team’s offering me $500 a game, and that team is offering me this much, and you just sort of realize it’s part of the game. We tell guys what they can expect if they come to Sioux Falls, and they’re either in or they’re out.”
So why are the Storm able to assemble a roster that other teams disagree with?
“If everyone is being paid the same, isn’t the best player going to migrate to the best program? That’s how it is anywhere,” Tryon says. “Look at the SEC. That league dominates because they have the best programs. The best coaches, the best recruiters, the best fans and the best facilities.”
In it to win it
Tryon thinks another reason the Storm are so successful is that it’s a destination, rather than a rung on the ladder. The Storm don’t see themselves as a developmental franchise.
“What others don’t comprehend is that when our guys come here they settle here, get full-time jobs and live their lives here,” Tryon says. “Some teams view this as a developmental league and try to move guys up, and that’s fine. But we do it as a product for our community. We’re trying to win, and our guys come here to play for a championship and live in a great city while they do it.”
Tri-Cities coach Adam Shackleford seemed to give Tryon’s thought some credence after the United Bowl.
“We’re not as experienced as Sioux Falls,” Shackleford said. “We don’t have guys that have played for us for a couple of years like they do. We’re going to have 16 guys move up to the AFL after this. Our guys don’t stick around. They want to make more money somewhere else and there’s nothing wrong with that.”
Improving the league
While Allshouse wouldn’t comment, Tryon hinted that the league will look different next year, with a few teams possibly preparing to migrate to another league. That’s nothing new, as the IFL went from 22 teams last year to 16 this season. Charlotte is expected to join the league in 2013, and other additions are possible.
While the Storm have expressed frustration at the way some of the IFL owners have treated them, Tryon insists the IFL is still the best league for the team. It’s worth noting the IFL had no forfeits and had no teams fold during the season, which can not be said for the APFL that Sioux City now plays in.
That’s the league most commonly mentioned as a possible new home for the Storm, but Tryon doesn’t sound like he wants any part of it.
“We could probably join that league or another league somewhere,” he said. “But our fans are too educated about our sport. They’re used to a certain quality of product, and I’m not going to give them a lesser product. We want to be in the IFL.”
And in a further sign that Tryon’s frustration with the league has cooled, he says he believes he can do a better job of working with the league and its owners to make the IFL better overall.
“Part of my job is to help make this league better,” Tryon said. “I’ve always kind of put us out on an island because of how I felt like we were sometimes treated, and at times I even maybe enjoyed that role. But I need to do a better job of reaching out to them and not be such an outsider.”
Riggs' decision lingers
The Storm’s longtime coach and architect of their dynasty, Riggs has made it clear he’s considering stepping away from the indoor game.
He recently launched Riggs Premiere Football Academy, and is still a full-time teacher at Roosevelt, with two kids starting to get more serious about playing competitive sports.
Tryon is optimistic he will get Riggs to sign one more contract. Riggs said he backed Tryon’s decision to release the players, and likely will not make his decision based on what happens with the IFL. He says it’ll be a decision between himself, Tryon, and his family and friends.
“We went 17-0, and with everything that happened between the league stuff and a bunch of players getting in trouble, it just wasn’t a lot of fun,” Riggs said. “With everything piling up, it was just something I don’t think either Todd or I really wanted to be a part of at times.”
That said, Tryon is still trying to make it work, and Riggs feels a sense of loyalty, as it was Riggs who practically begged Tryon to take over the team when prior owner Kent Vucurevich had to give it up in 2009.
“Yep, I’m the one that called him,” Riggs says with a laugh. “I got him involved in this, and so I certainly don’t want to leave him in a bad situation. I don’t think people realize how much he did to basically save the Storm.
“He’s a close friend, and I trust him,” Riggs added. “If he can come up with something he thinks we can make work, he’ll be very honest about that with me. We’ll just see what happens.”
Status of IFL and Riggs looms in offseason
Jul 27, 2012
Matt Zimmer / Argus Leader
It looks likely that the Storm will be staying in the Indoor Football League.
Storm owner Todd Tryon said this week that he’s “optimistic” the Storm will return to play another season in 2013 and that the IFL will be their home. Meanwhile, IFL director of football operations Mike Allshouse said that he has no doubt the IFL will have a 2013 season and that he hopes the Storm will be a part of it.
IFL teams originally had until July 31 to recommit to the league, but the IFL recently pushed that date to August 15. Allshouse declined to say why the extra two weeks were added, but it looks like to give the league’s franchises more time to resolve their issues.
None of which is to say this couldn’t be an eventful off-season.
Tryon already made headlines by releasing the team’s rights to almost the entire roster, which was his way of challenging the IFL’s other franchises.
The Storm have felt under siege by the rest of the league’s owners, as coach Kurtiss Riggs was suspended for the first two games of the playoffs for what the team felt was a minor infraction, and owners from other teams in the league indicated that they would not remain in the IFL if the Storm returned with their roster intact.
So Tryon cut loose his players in what could be seen as an olive branch to the other owners or a line in the sand, depending on your point of view.
IFL values franchise
The IFL has been largely quiet when it comes to the controversies surrounding the Storm, and drew criticism from some for not sending a league representative to Sioux Falls for the United Bowl (which the Storm won 59-32 over Tri-Cities to capture their second straight IFL title).
When reached Friday, Allshouse offered a series of “no-comments” to questions about the relationships between some of the league’s franchises, or what issues the league will look to resolve in the coming weeks. He did say, however, that the league expects to take a step forward in 2013 and that the Storm will hopefully be a part of it.
“Of course,” Allshouse said when asked if he was confident in the league’s future. “There’s going to be an IFL, and we’re going to have the strongest stable of teams we’ve had in the history of the IFL. We’re always striving to improve each and every one of our teams. You’re only as strong as your weakest link, and we want each of our teams to be successful and profitable.”
Asked if the IFL values the Storm and their continued success, Allshouse answered: “Absolutely.”
He declined to speculate on other franchises’ attitude towards the Storm, and sources from two other IFL teams also declined to comment on the Storm when contacted by the Argus Leader.
Answering the critics
While Riggs was suspended because the Storm allowed players access to a van that was provided by a third party, the common feeling within the organization is that certain teams throughout the league have been trying to find ways to bring them down for a while.
The van incident was simply the best they could come up with.
Rumors and accusations that the Storm have been paying players under the table started circulating since the franchise’s first championship in 2005, but Tryon revealed this week that the IFL came to Sioux Falls last year for an “audit” of the team’s operations, finding they were in full compliance with league rules. The Storm were not targeted for an investigation — a handful of IFL teams were randomly audited, according to Tryon.
“People have been saying things for a long time,” said Riggs, who remains very much on the fence about returning as coach. “I mean, we heard that the reason (quarterback) Chris Dixon isn’t in the NFL is because we’re paying him an NFL salary. It’s pretty silly. When the league came here they had access to Chris’ financial records to see that he was making his own car payments and that he was getting financial aid for the classes he was taking at (Augustana). They went to the apartment where (then-Storm players) Michael Bazemore and Khadafi Tunsil were living, and followed guys around and got a very intensive look at our operation.
“We met all their requirements.”
Tryon says accusations of overpaying players are off-base. They simply don’t have the money to do it. Players are paid a $250 game salary, and the team is allowed to pay expenses like housing and food. Combine that with uniforms, equipment, field usage, worker’s compensation, staffing, travel, etc., and Tryon’s expenses are enormous.
The team’s only revenue comes from eight home games, which draw an average of 3,000 to 4,000 fans per game, plus sponsorships and merchandise sales. Tryon says he lost a significant amount of money in 2010 and is still in the red despite improved numbers.
While Tryon’s gym franchise and health supplement business have been successful for him, Riggs pokes fun at the suggestion that Tryon is a tycoon-style owner with an endless supply of cash.
In addition, Tryon says a lot of the under-the-table-pay rumors come from players who use supposed offers as leverage to get more money — that it’s a ploy by players owners are catching on to.
“We recruit players and we hear it,” Tryon says. “We’ll talk to a guy and he’ll say, ‘Oh, well, this team’s offering me $500 a game, and that team is offering me this much, and you just sort of realize it’s part of the game. We tell guys what they can expect if they come to Sioux Falls, and they’re either in or they’re out.”
So why are the Storm able to assemble a roster that other teams disagree with?
“If everyone is being paid the same, isn’t the best player going to migrate to the best program? That’s how it is anywhere,” Tryon says. “Look at the SEC. That league dominates because they have the best programs. The best coaches, the best recruiters, the best fans and the best facilities.”
In it to win it
Tryon thinks another reason the Storm are so successful is that it’s a destination, rather than a rung on the ladder. The Storm don’t see themselves as a developmental franchise.
“What others don’t comprehend is that when our guys come here they settle here, get full-time jobs and live their lives here,” Tryon says. “Some teams view this as a developmental league and try to move guys up, and that’s fine. But we do it as a product for our community. We’re trying to win, and our guys come here to play for a championship and live in a great city while they do it.”
Tri-Cities coach Adam Shackleford seemed to give Tryon’s thought some credence after the United Bowl.
“We’re not as experienced as Sioux Falls,” Shackleford said. “We don’t have guys that have played for us for a couple of years like they do. We’re going to have 16 guys move up to the AFL after this. Our guys don’t stick around. They want to make more money somewhere else and there’s nothing wrong with that.”
Improving the league
While Allshouse wouldn’t comment, Tryon hinted that the league will look different next year, with a few teams possibly preparing to migrate to another league. That’s nothing new, as the IFL went from 22 teams last year to 16 this season. Charlotte is expected to join the league in 2013, and other additions are possible.
While the Storm have expressed frustration at the way some of the IFL owners have treated them, Tryon insists the IFL is still the best league for the team. It’s worth noting the IFL had no forfeits and had no teams fold during the season, which can not be said for the APFL that Sioux City now plays in.
That’s the league most commonly mentioned as a possible new home for the Storm, but Tryon doesn’t sound like he wants any part of it.
“We could probably join that league or another league somewhere,” he said. “But our fans are too educated about our sport. They’re used to a certain quality of product, and I’m not going to give them a lesser product. We want to be in the IFL.”
And in a further sign that Tryon’s frustration with the league has cooled, he says he believes he can do a better job of working with the league and its owners to make the IFL better overall.
“Part of my job is to help make this league better,” Tryon said. “I’ve always kind of put us out on an island because of how I felt like we were sometimes treated, and at times I even maybe enjoyed that role. But I need to do a better job of reaching out to them and not be such an outsider.”
Riggs' decision lingers
The Storm’s longtime coach and architect of their dynasty, Riggs has made it clear he’s considering stepping away from the indoor game.
He recently launched Riggs Premiere Football Academy, and is still a full-time teacher at Roosevelt, with two kids starting to get more serious about playing competitive sports.
Tryon is optimistic he will get Riggs to sign one more contract. Riggs said he backed Tryon’s decision to release the players, and likely will not make his decision based on what happens with the IFL. He says it’ll be a decision between himself, Tryon, and his family and friends.
“We went 17-0, and with everything that happened between the league stuff and a bunch of players getting in trouble, it just wasn’t a lot of fun,” Riggs said. “With everything piling up, it was just something I don’t think either Todd or I really wanted to be a part of at times.”
That said, Tryon is still trying to make it work, and Riggs feels a sense of loyalty, as it was Riggs who practically begged Tryon to take over the team when prior owner Kent Vucurevich had to give it up in 2009.
“Yep, I’m the one that called him,” Riggs says with a laugh. “I got him involved in this, and so I certainly don’t want to leave him in a bad situation. I don’t think people realize how much he did to basically save the Storm.
“He’s a close friend, and I trust him,” Riggs added. “If he can come up with something he thinks we can make work, he’ll be very honest about that with me. We’ll just see what happens.”