All American Football League

[GA Russell]

Raleigh has a chance to get a team in the proposed United Football League, and that is what we have been reading about in this area. Here is an article about another proposed league that I had not heard about.

http://www.globesports.com/servlet/story/R...tsFootball/home

New football league holds first draft

GEORGE HENRY

Associated Press

January 26, 2008 at 8:23 PM EST

ATLANTA — Bryan Randall and Eric Crouch still long to play professional football.

Though the two quarterbacks might not earn another NFL paycheque, Randall and Crouch are grateful that the All American Football League will debut in April.

Former college standouts Randall and Crouch were the second and third picks in the league's inaugural draft on Saturday, with Randall going to Tennessee and Crouch going to Texas.

Randall, a former Virginia Tech standout who spent time on the Atlanta Falcons' squad, went to training camp last year with the Pittsburgh Steelers but didn't make the team.

"It's a great opportunity for me, and I can't wait to get back on the field and compete," Randall said. "I guess I've learned that you never get football out of your blood, or at least I haven't been able to, over the last few months."

The league will fill the void created when the NFL shut down NFL Europe earlier this year after 16 seasons. The league was losing a reported US$30 million a season.

With teams in Detroit; Little Rock, Ark; Gainesville, Fla.; Birmingham, Ala.; Knoxville, Tenn.; and a yet-to-be-determined city in Texas, the league hopes to build on fans' identification with former collegiate stars.

Former Troy offensive lineman Zarah Yisrael was drafted No. 1 overall by Arkansas.

Florida picked Marshall quarterback Eric Kresser fourth overall, and another quarterback, David Koral of UCLA, went to Michigan in the No. 5 spot.

Alabama drafted centre Josh Sewell, formerly of Nebraska, with the sixth and final pick of the first round.

Crouch, who won the 2001 Heisman Trophy at Nebraska, is eager to show American fans that he can still play quarterback. Drafted No. 3 overall by the Texas team, Crouch was an NFL receiver for St. Louis and Green Bay.

Kansas City later designated him to NFL Europe, where he remained a wideout in 2006 for Hamburg. But not long after leaving Germany, Crouch was allowed to play quarterback again when he signed with the CFL's Toronto Argonauts.

"I love the game of football, but quarterback really is my passion," Crouch said. "I can't deny that I'd like to get another chance to play in the NFL, but the fact remains that I'm really excited to play this spring for Texas. I think the atmosphere will be great."

League CEO Marcus Katz, who made a fortune after co-founding a company that provided student loans, first announced plans last year for a professional league that would lean heavily on the year-round craze of big-time college programs.

So when the All American debuted its colours, logos, helmets and mascots during the draft, it was no surprise that everything was nearly identical to those used by each state's most popular college program.

Florida, for example, will wear orange and blue and play three of its five home games at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville. Former Gators quarterback Shane Matthews is the head coach, and Kresser will face competition from Chris Leak, who helped the state's biggest university beat Ohio State for 2006 national title.

Hoping to avoid alienating fans from rival in-state schools, the league has encouraged teams to sign players with regional ties. Auburn running back Tre Smith will wear crimson and white and play at Birmingham's Legion Field after signing with Alabama.

Receiver Peter Warrick, who starred at Florida State before the Cincinnati Bengals drafted him No. 4 overall in 2000, will play for Florida.

The league has yet to complete a television contract, but it used many of the techniques on Saturday that have helped the NFL make its annual draft a media phenomenon.

A studio at TBS hosted a central draft show, and the league set up a "war room" at its headquarters in suburban Sandy Springs. Each team hosted a draft-day event that was televised from hotel ballrooms in the clubs' hometowns.

Former NFL stars and other celebrities made brief appearances in an attempt to lend credibility. Lem Barney, a Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee with the Detroit Lions, boxing legend Thomas Hearns and former current Cleveland Browns receiver Braylon Edwards announced picks in Michigan.

Actor David Keith, a renowned Tennessee fan, did the same in Knoxville. Former SMU running back Craig James and former Houston quarterback David Klingler appeared for Texas.

[Van Basten II]

America needs needs another football league like it needs another war.

[GA Russell]

Well, that was quick. The league has run out of money before training camps have opened.

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Football/CFL/New...4933076-ap.html

All American Football League on verge of scrapping inaugural season

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

ATLANTA - The new All American Football League will postpone its 2008 season unless it finds additional financial backing.

The announcement Thursday came less than a week before camps were to open for the six-team league.

The league, which held its inaugural draft in January, has rosters and staffs in place for six teams: Detroit; Little Rock, Ark; Gainesville, Fla.; Birmingham, Ala.; Knoxville, Tenn., and Houston.

Training camps were scheduled to open Wednesday, followed by the first games in April.

The league will push its plans back to 2009 unless it secures a TV deal or other funding.

The league announced Thursday it was exploring "multiple financing options" to address its funding crisis.

League chief executive officer Marcus Katz said Thursday night that discussions continue with several prospective investors. A statement released by the league and attributed to Katz said the start of pre-season training camps will be "delayed briefly" with plans for games to begin on April 12.

The AAFL was formed to fill the void created when the NFL shut down NFL Europe earlier this year after 16 seasons. That league was losing a reported US$30 million a season, and now the AAFL, lacking a TV deal, also faces a financial crisis before it can stage its first game.

Among the first players drafted on Jan. 26 were quarterbacks Bryan Randall, by Tennessee, and Eric Crouch, by Texas. Former Troy offensive lineman Zarah Yisrael was drafted No. 1 overall by Arkansas.

According to a statement released by the league, the AAFL's financial problems are tied to the national subprime mortgage crisis.

Katz co-founded a company that provides student loans.

The statement said camps would open Wednesday "if liquidity can be immediately restored."

If not, plans for an inaugural season will be pushed back to 2009.

Edited March 7, 2008 by GA Russell

[GA Russell]

$29 million for nothing!

http://www.globesports.com/servlet/story/R...tsFootball/home

All American Football League scraps inaugural season

Associated Press

March 13, 2008 at 2:13 PM EDT

ATLANTA — The new All American Football League has scrapped plans for its 2008 inaugural season and will continue to search for financial backing for 2009.

Kennan Davis, the AAFL's vice president of league operations, said sponsors have commitments to remain with the league in 2009.

The league's decision to postpone its 2008 season was first reported by KRIV-TV in Dallas.

The league's chief executive officer, Marcus Katz, said economic conditions forced the decision to scrap plans for this year.

"I invested $29 million in cash to roll out the operations of the league," Katz told the station, adding he was owed "a lot more money" by a student loan company.

"When I told the board I would subsidize the league, that was before the bond market collapsed," Katz said.

The league announced last week it was exploring "multiple financing options," including a TV deal, to address its funding crisis.

The league announced Thursday refunds will be given for tickets purchased for 2008 games.

The league planned to open training camps for its six teams this week. Games were scheduled to begin April 12.

The league held its inaugural draft in January for six teams: Detroit; Little Rock, Ark; Gainesville, Fla.; Birmingham, Ala.; Knoxville, Tenn.; and Houston.

The AAFL was formed to fill the void created when the NFL shut down NFL Europe earlier this year after 16 seasons. That league was losing a reported $30 million a season.

Among the first players drafted Jan. 26 were quarterbacks Bryan Randall, by Tennessee, and Eric Crouch, by Texas. Former Troy offensive lineman Zarah Yisrael was drafted No. 1 overall by Arkansas.

[Aggie87]

"I invested $29 million in cash to roll out the operations of the league," Katz told the station, adding he was owed "a lot more money" by a student loan company.

Student loans were going to help bankroll this league?

[Chuck Nessa]

Just another Georgia Russell obit.