SIFL VidSwap.com Player of the week Poll

[Caballo Diablo]

Who should be this week's VidSwap.com Player Of The Week?
http://www.southernifl.com/

Deron Ellis, Austin TurfCats
Alvin Bartie, Louisiana Swashbucklers
Tommy Hebert, Louisiana Swashbucklers
Darrick Wallace, Austin TurfCats

[Caballo Diablo]

** Congrats Deron **

(Poll Closed)
Deron Ellis, Austin Turfcats . . . . . . 73%
Alvin Bartie, Louisiana Swashbucklers . 17%
Darrick Wallace, Austin TurfCats . . . . 8%
Tommy Hebert, Louisiana Swashbucklers 2%

[Caballo Diablo]

WEEK 6 - (5/23/09)
Polls are Closed
They will close tonight Tue 5/26 at 11:59pm
http://www.southernifl.com/

HERE ARE THE CHOICES:

Alvin Bartie, QB (LOU)
Tommy Hebert, K (LOU)
Darrick Wallace, WR/KR (AUS)
Kevin T. Earvine, DL (AUS)

[Caballo Diablo]

Congrats to Kevin T Earvine for winning the Vidswap.com Player of the Week award

POLL IS CLOSED

HERE ARE THE FINAL STANDINGS:

Alvin Bartie, QB (LOU) ............ 21%
Tommy Hebert, K (LA) ............. 5%
Darrick Wallace, WR/KR (AUS) 27%
Kevin T. Earvine, DL (AUS) .... 48%

[kadamsbeat]

shocking. :)

[El Gato Loco]

I'm a bit torn on the POTW poll... let's be honest, the first three weeks or so were total crap... hundreds and hundreds of votes? Yeah right. It's obvious the system was being gamed. The league apparently took steps to try to make the poll somewhat respectable, because now the system only lets you vote once.

Yet people are still "shocked" (more like annoyed) that Austin is winning. Are you mad just because Austin is using email, Twitter, and Facebook to get out the vote? How is that any different than any other poll or election? If you can't get your base to come out to the polls, you lose. Simple as that.

[Caballo Diablo]

What's shocking is Austin seems to be the only franchise trying to market the league. It would be nice if all of the teams would step up their efforts.
Remember, you can't have a team unless there's a league to play in.

I thought it was always set up so you could only vote once (per IP address that is). they changed it from showing vote counts to just percentages you crazy cat - lol

[Caballo Diablo]

Who should be this week's VidSwap.com Player of the Week? (Week 8)

Deron Ellis, ....... Austin TurfCats
J.R. Turner, ....... Austin TurfCats
Sebroyo Daniels, .Houma Conquerors
Omar Haughbook, Houma Conquerors
Brandon Thomas, .Louisiana Swashbucklers
Marcus Wilridge, .. Louisiana swashbucklers

Vote at;
http://www.southernifl.com/

[Caballo Diablo]

Week 8 VidSwap.com Player of the Week - (Poll Closed)
J.R. Turner .......... Austin 33%
Omar Haughbook . Houma 30%
Deron Ellis .......... Austin 19%
Sebroyo Daniels .. Houma 9%
Marcus Wilridge ... Louisiana 5%
Brandon Thomas . Louisiana 5%

CONGRATS J.R. !

[Caballo Diablo]

WHAT ??

Nobody is going to complain about this weeks winner - lol

I think a strong case could be made for Freddie, he came off the bench and lit it up. It's a good thing the AFL isn't playing this season or he would already have a contract in his hand.;)

[mace]

HAHAHA My problem isnt the who wins and who doesnt, because almost all of these guys are worthy. My problem is the fact that EVERYONE acts like this "award" holds water with the league, and its a "popularity vote" by the fans, not actual game changing performance vote from the league. But hey congrats to all of the winners for being "fan favorite"!!


SCARAMOUCHE!!

[mwhite212]

What's shocking is Austin seems to be the only franchise trying to market the league. It would be nice if all of the teams would step up their efforts.
Remember, you can't have a team unless there's a league to play in.



I agree with you here, Caballo. Austin is clearly outshining everyone in the marketing department. If you were to just isolate Austin and focus on them, you'd say to yourself "Hey, that's a nice looking minor league there." 'Bucs fans don't get upset with me, I'm talking about the inaugaral teams. Mudbugs are often late updating their site, the Conquerors haven't done anything to their site since day one, and the Pirates didn't even have a proper venue. And by the way....I'm sure glad Houston's changing the name to the Hurricanes. Only one swashbuckling themed team per league please.

[Caballo Diablo]

Austin's Robert Quiroga Snags VIDSWAP.com POTW Honor
June 24, 2009

LAKE CHARLES, La. (June 24, 2009) --Austin Turfcats wide receiver Robert Quiroga has been named the Southern Indoor Football League’s VIDSWAP.com Player Of The Week by virtue of his performance and fan vote.

Quiroga had five catches for 60 yards and a touchdown in the Turfcats’ 41-34 victory over the Texas Hurricanes and received over 50 percent of the weekly fan voting on www.southernifl.com.

For the season, Quiroga has 22 catches for 247 yards and seven touchdowns.

Each SIFL game has four MVPs for offensive, defensive, line and special teams. Two game MVPS are selected for balloting for the league-wide MVP by fans. The Hooters Players of The Third Quarter will be announced Thursday.

VidSwap.com Player of the Week Poll (Poll Closed)
Robert Quiroga, AUS 52%
Reggie Smith, AUS 15%
Damien Huren, LA 13%
Sam Samuels, ACA 8%
Stephen Barrett, ACA 6%
Marcus Wilridge, LA 5%

[mace]

Congrats on him being a FAN FAVORITE!! WOOHOO!! HAHAHAHA The player of the week isnt anything more than a popularity vote from the fans. There are only two awards that matter in this league, League MVP and the SIFL Champions! I laugh at this fan poll, "player of the week"!


SCARAMOUCHE!!

[Caballo Diablo]

Congrats on him being a FAN FAVORITE!! WOOHOO!! HAHAHAHA The player of the week isnt anything more than a popularity vote from the fans. There are only two awards that matter in this league, League MVP and the SIFL Champions! I laugh at this fan poll, "player of the week"!

Most understand and accept it for what it is, while a few get bent out of shape.

I understand peoples frustration over it but instead of getting upset at the fans and teams that participate in PR and support of the league, maybe they should direct their anger at the ones that dont.

Just a thought.

[mavlax20]

In order to be a 'fan favorite' and win the player of the week poll, it helps if you have fans who support the team OUTSIDE of the arena...which it seems not many teams have, according to the fan poll and using your logic.

[mace]

Couldnt agree with you more! I think that it's sad that our fans dont get on and support our team like the Turfcats fans. Its amazing that we can get 3k+ in for ALMOST every game, but cant get people to vote. But again, from a true athletic standpoint.... this award means nothing and you guys know it. I dont care if its one of our guys or one of someone elses. If this was based off of statistics then I would be with you guys... because we dont just have the best kicker in this league, we got a kicker that is number 2 in the nation as far as indoor kickers.



SCARAMOUCHE!!

[expressfb]

Couldnt agree with you more! I think that it's sad that our fans dont get on and support our team like the Turfcats fans. Its amazing that we can get 3k+ in for ALMOST every game, but cant get people to vote. But again, from a true athletic standpoint.... this award means nothing and you guys know it. I dont care if its one of our guys or one of someone elses. If this was based off of statistics then I would be with you guys... because we dont just have the best kicker in this league, we got a kicker that is number 2 in the nation as far as indoor kickers.



Do you believe the MLB all-star game is B.S.?

[Big Easy]

Most understand and accept it for what it is, while a few get bent out of shape.

I understand peoples frustration over it but instead of getting upset at the fans and teams that participate in PR and support of the league, maybe they should direct their anger at the ones that dont.

Just a thought.

It is what it is. I don't think enough people really care enough to be "bent out of shape" over it. In reality it's more of a joke than anything to take serious....and possibly a black eye to the league....though I'm sure they see it differently as they are happy to have people voting (even if it's only the Austin ballot stuffers). Anyway, it's pretty much a microcosm of the way Austin has gone about their self promotion (of sponsorship deals, etc.) this year. More spin than substance. We get it. No biggie.

[Caballo Diablo]

It is what it is. I don't think enough people really care enough to be "bent out of shape" over it.
That's why I said, "a few."
A few have made known here how P.O. ed they are, in a couple different threads - lol

In reality it's more of a joke than anything to take serious....
Most of us agree, nothing to get all serious about.

and possibly a black eye to the league....though I'm sure they see it differently as they are happy to have people voting
Why, has the screwy All-Star voting in the major leagues given them a black eye? How about the WWE and RAW, their entire sport is bogus fantasy.

It doesn't matter who votes or goes back to check the polls, hits on a site is one way advertising is priced so the more the better. You might even get a premium for a spike.


(even if it's only the Austin ballot stuffers).
So now loyal fan support is evil - lol
The evil ones are the people not supporting their teams.

Anyway, it's pretty much a microcosm of the way Austin has gone about their self promotion (of sponsorship deals, etc.) this year. More spin than substance.
Self promotion?
Is that also called advertising? Who else is going to support you, the people not voting? - lol First people complain there's no PR and local media's don't care, then when you push hard to get your name out there it's called spin?

Since it also promotes the league and we don't hear much from most of the teams maybe they should pony up some money to help cover it.

Watch some TV, you know those little skits that seem to out number the actual shows themselves. Those are a type of spin called commercials, advertising, and mostly BS exagerations. - lol

Sure, Austin has put out more spin than any other team. they've also put out more substance than any other team. Sounds like Austin is actually doing their job agressivly. That's a good thing.


No biggie.
I concur

[Big Easy]

Sure, Austin has put out more spin than any other team.


Thats the only real point I was trying to make. The Vidswap vote is just an extension of same.

Now...what would be embarassing and silly is an official release bragging about dominating this poll for the full season. Some people are embarassed by the same things that others beat their chest over. The final chapter is yet to be written.

[Caballo Diablo]

It's just silly to feel embarrassed over the poll, they should be embarrassed for not doing more PR and getting their team's name and information out to the public.

Congrats on the Tigers winning the National Champioship last night. That was a heck of a series.

[mace]

Wow... I hope that getting all of the VIDswap PLayers of the week works out for your team in the end, but I dont think that it will. Championships arent given out because of popularity. They awarded for heart, blood, sweat and tears... Seems dangerously like there will be a third in the Den....



SCARAMOUCHE!!

[football head 4ever]

Wow... I hope that getting all of the VIDswap PLayers of the week works out for your team in the end, but I dont think that it will. Championships arent given out because of popularity. They awarded for heart, blood, sweat and tears... Seems dangerously like there will be a third in the Den....



SCARAMOUCHE!!

Would you like some kleenex?

[mace]

Maybe you guys misunderstood what I was trying to say. I agree that its a good thing that the front office gets the idea about PR and you the people get out and vote for your team. I sure wish that our 3000+ that comes to a game would go out and vote, but it doesnt happen.


All I am sayin is that you may want to put a little more "water" in winning, as opposed to winning the VIDSWAP.com player of the week award. I could really care less about the player of the week award, because at the end of the last three years.... we had LEAGUE MVP, and two back to back championships. And you guys acting like you dont care about those awards, then you really arent a fan at all if thats the case. I enjoy the game and I love rivalries, but come on...

On a lighter note, I would like to say that the warm welcome that we got when we came to Austin was awesome... Wait, how many of you came here for the game.... oh thats right, I bet I didnt see 3 Turfcat fans. (and two of them sat right behind me)


SCARAMOUCHE!!

[mavlax20]

On a lighter note, I would like to say that the warm welcome that we got when we came to Austin was awesome... Wait, how many of you came here for the game.... oh thats right, I bet I didnt see 3 Turfcat fans. (and two of them sat right behind me)




Wow wow wow....Let's see...the first Austin-Louisiana game was on a Saturday, the 2nd was on a Monday, so it shouldn't be hard to figure out why there were not more Austin fans there...just a simple thing called WORK. While us Austin fans really love the team, people can not afford to just take off work on Monday and Tuesday, especially in this economy.

Bringing that up, I think it is horrible that there are 2 Monday games, and both involve Austin traveling to Louisiana, because the SIFL is not the main source of income for the Austin players, but Hager says the Swashbucklers draw better attendance on Mondays...so how come the Austin game was their first game on Monday? Oh yeah, favorable scheduling in the Swashbucklers favor (deny it if you want, but if you look at it, it is plain enough to slap you on the face...including the Swashbuckers getting their bye week the last week of the season, while now Austin is going to have to play 2 games in the final week, the Hurricanes are going to have to play 3 games the final week...conflict of interest? I think so. And yes, Austin is playing Acadiana on Monday also...but why? So 100 or 200 more people may show up? I can almost guarentee that if Austin was requesting to have some games on a Monday, such as the game against the Swashbucklers next year, Hager wouldn't allow it at all, due to the fact that his players have jobs and should not have to miss 2 days of work for a game, but it is ok for other teams players to miss multiple days of work.

I appreciate all that Hager has done for the first year of the SIFL, but as long as he is still president of the league, there will still be a major conflict of interest clearly favoring the Swashbucklers, and those who follow the league and know of the Hager/Swashbucklers connection will not take the league as serious...which in turn hurts the league more.

On a side note, I feel that any team owners should not be allowed to hold a part in the front office of any league, and that it should be someone who has no ties to any team in the league at all.

[mace]

Well, while bricks are being thrown. You must know that, our stadium is pretty nice compared to the others around the league(and we dont own it, its leased). So when there are scheduling conflicts like there was this year, because the Swashbucklers waited until late in the season to announce a SCHEDULE because of the SIFL creation, there were already some other events planned on the Saturday nights. I can assure you that your comments about Thom Hager are wrong, this man is the most sensible, understanding and fair person that I have seen in a ling time. Want to see a league owner that did things for his team, that was Chad Dittman.

But you can sit there and make all of complaints about the monday night game like you are being cheated, but the fact is league officials had to go to Austin for almost a MONTH straight due to the complaints about the timekepper and the officiating. But I guess thats not high on your list of priorities. Oh and believe me, I know that every league comes with a new set of problems and it would be foolish to think that this league WONT have it. And just for the record, we dont like the monday night games either. ALot of our fans work on mondays and its tough to get off work, go home, shower and change clothes and then get to the stadium in time for the game. Just to have the game end at 10pm and rush home so that you can start the next day. QUIT COMPLAINING!!! This is why girls dont play the game, there are a couple of people that give every fan base a bad name, dont be those fans, please..... I really liker Austin (it's weird). So enjoy the rest of the season and lets move forward....


SCARAMOUCHE!!

[Milli Vanilli]

Just FYI, the Acadiana/Austin game is on Monday night due to an event that was in the Blackham this weekend.

They are not big fans of Monday night games down here either. In fact, their head coach HATES Monday night games.

[mavlax20]

Well, while bricks are being thrown. You must know that, our stadium is pretty nice compared to the others around the league(and we dont own it, its leased). So when there are scheduling conflicts like there was this year, because the Swashbucklers waited until late in the season to announce a SCHEDULE because of the SIFL creation, there were already some other events planned on the Saturday nights. I can assure you that your comments about Thom Hager are wrong, this man is the most sensible, understanding and fair person that I have seen in a ling time. Want to see a league owner that did things for his team, that was Chad Dittman.

What you failed to leave out is that Hager TOLD Austin fans HIMSELF that he prefers to have the games on Monday nights because they draw a better attendance on Mondays. So don't act like it is all sour grapes, but it is a little fishy when you look at it from an outside view and see certain things like this happening. So why would Hager say that about having games on Monday if he had no choice about it? It sounds like he wanted the game on Monday, and he got what he wanted, granted he did create the SIFL, but in order to prevent any conflict of interest, he should of passed on the presidency to someone who is not involved with any team whatsoever.

[Caballo Diablo]

I'll second that. Mr Hager told me in person he prefers monday night games and draws better attendance. The reason Austin has 2 games in the last week, and the Hurricanes 3 is the lease for the Swashbucklers arena expires in July and he's afraid it'll mess up his negotiations by postponing the playoffs for a week or two and running past the lease date. He could work out a new one before the season is over or extend it for another month. But that might mess up his home field advantage and he might have to play a rested team - lol

League officials had to travel to other teams location? My god, please say it isn't so - lol.

A fan of a team coming off back to back championships puffing out his chest to expansion teams is funny. Everyone on the planet expected the `Bucs to easily waltz through the season undefeated to their 3rd championship.

An owner that supplies jobs and housing for his players has a huge advantage over the other teams. They can get off work to practice, travel, play, etc. Come on Mace, be realistic, we aren't talking apples to apples here. It's more like Peaches in Lake Charles and the rest of us have to work for the pits - haha

[mace]

You too are obviously mistaken! Thom Hager and the Swashbucklers do NOT employee a single football player off the field. These guys come here and stay in housing that the team provides(but what team doesnt) and they get jobs that help them get through the season. Dont even try to tell me that Austin doesnt do this because Tim Blackwell called me within 30 minutes of arriving in Austin to tell me "what all Austin is doing for him", so lets find something else to cry about. I have sat out of here all season just about and listened to the constant crying about how this and that is happening. Guys, its a game and a fun one, there isnt anything that we can do to change it. There was and will continue to be growing pains within the league and they are going to be delt with.

I didnt want to come off like the "beating on my chest" thing like it was reffered too, but I just got tired of hearing all of the mess in hear about how Lake Charles wasnt doing enough PR to get the votes. I agree that we dont have the "non-game night" participation, but last night at the game... almost 4K people. I am sure there would have been more but Monday's arent a good night for football in this area.

So I will say this in closing, if I have offended anyone I am sorry. I have the utmost respect for your team, organization and most of all.... YOU the fans. Because if you go to our forum you will see that I say, "without US the fans, these teams would be nothing".


SCARAMOUCHE!!

[mavlax20]

I agree that we dont have the "non-game night" participation, but last night at the game... almost 4K people. I am sure there would have been more but Monday's arent a good night for football in this area.


According to the owner of the Swashbucklers.....Mondays are the best night for football in the area attendance wise, or did you just not comprehend that?

[mace]

I KNOW THE OWNER AND THE GM.... I know the reason why we had monday night games this year and it had nothing to do with attendance. Are you not comprehending that? In fact, I have been assured from both the owner and the GM that next year, we wont have a SINGLE regular season home game on a monday night. Is it in the water Austin is weird, or is it just you??


SCARAMOUCHE!!

[mavlax20]

You say you know the owner and GM...ok, so you do...I am not disputing that fact...I am disputing the fact that you have avoided...that Hager even TOLD Austin fans that he preferred games on Monday nights due to them beting able to draw better attendance on Mondays...and you act like it was not a choice...but if it wasn't a choice, then why would Hager TELL Austin fans that he preferred Monday night games? You have avoided that the whole time.

[mace]

I dont know what is reasoning was? But I know for a fact due to the late scheduling of the league, they didnt have a choice for a saturday night game on the weeks that we HAD to have Monday night games. If he told you that he crapped Tiffany cufflinks, are you going to believe him? Listen, I am telling you now, THERE WILL NOT BE ANOTHER MONDAY REGULAR SEASON GAME NEXT YEAR!! It had nothing to do with attendence, EVERYTHING to do with scheduling conflicts with the Civic Center. This whole thing has been dreamed up by some AIRHEAD fan that the league president does something for the Swashbucklers that he doesnt do for the other teams and THAT IS LUDICROUS!! He has to be one of the fairest men that I have ever met.

I think that it would belittle you to know that this year because of his stance with the league... he has almost taken a "HANDS OFF" approach to the team. Don't believe me?? Ask the coach or the GM and lets see what they say? YOU WOULD BE SHOCKED!! So, please find another reason to cry or just shut up about this deal... ITS DONE!! We hate the monday night games TOO!!!

SCARAMOUCHE!!

[Caballo Diablo]

You too are obviously mistaken! Thom Hager and the Swashbucklers do NOT employee a single football player off the field. These guys come here and stay in housing that the team provides(but what team doesnt)
Umm, all of the other SIFL teams. Austin had players in camp, and some that even played some games that left for the IFL or af2 for the simple reason they supply housing and meals while the SIFL doesn't. There are af2 players from the Austin area that have told me they don't want to play for the Turfcats because they don't supply housing. And you expect us to believe no jobs were supplied to players, I guess they lied to me like Mr Hager then.
He did tell the entire tailgate in Austin he preferred Monday nights and you say it's not true, so I guess he lied to us.


Tim Blackwell called me within 30 minutes of arriving in Austin to tell me "what all Austin is doing for him", so lets find something else to cry about.
haha, now that is funny. You use him as a credible reference? - lol
You must know how full of it he is, he's a whinner and plays games to TRY to get everything he wants. He follows the stafffers around like a little puppy dog begging for freebies and gets upset when he doesn't get them. Yeah, I had a few long discussions with him also. even the other players around the league know aboutg his attitude and scam mentality.

I don't think you've offended any of us, but don't classify dissusion you disagree with as crying. I have supported the SIFL, Mr Hager, and all of the teams more than most I know. I want them all to improve and prosper, but I can't let all of the BS go by unquestioned - lol

Oh yeah, you never did addres the issue of the `Bucs arena contract forcing Austin to play 2 games in 5 days and Texas playing 3 in 6 days. This itself is a safety issue and puts both teams behind the 8 ball. Texas is fighting for the last playoff spot and can't afford to rest guys. If someone is hurt they still have to play with only a couple of days rest increasing the chance of that injury become far greater and possibly even career ending. There's a reaso football leagues only play onece a week. hell, MLB pitchers get more rest between games than this.

[Big Easy]

The idea is to be successful and put people in the stands right? IF Monday's were the best night for the LC franchise, they'd be dumb to play on any other night (if they had a choice). If there aren't successful teams/cities to travel to, visiting teams would be sitting home 7 nights a week....so first things first.

That said, I highly doubt Monday night is the best possible night to hold games. I don't care who said what......use common sense people and get past the BS.

OK, back on topic. Who will the Austin front office vote in this week? Or have they done so already?

[Caballo Diablo]

Who will the Austin front office vote in this week? Or have they done so already?
The polls are closed.



The VidSwap.com Player of the Week for week 11 (Poll Closed)

Metrick McHenry, AUSTIN 35%
Keith Clay, .......AUSTIN 29%
Clevan Landry, ...HOUMA 4%
Chris Brown, ......HOUMA 11%
Marcus Wilridge, LOUISIANA 6%
John Paul Jones, LOUISIANNA 14%

The % are misleading, the total number of votes isn't very large. If you could get 50 people to vote on a normal week you could probably win it.
64% to one team, don't hate on Austin for supporting their team, hate on those people in other cities that don't vote or care.

[Big Easy]

C'mon Caballo. It's not the fans that are voting. People here aren't stupid. This is why I've taken to task a few things you guys have released, claimed, etc. in the past. There is always over exageration and manipulation whenever possible. Like you said, the vote is very low. A front office, their kids and friends can sway the vote...and thats exactly what happens.

[Caballo Diablo]

C'mon Caballo. It's not the fans that are voting. People here aren't stupid. This is why I've taken to task a few things you guys have released, claimed, etc. in the past. There is always over exageration and manipulation whenever possible. Like you said, the vote is very low. A front office, their kids and friends can sway the vote...and thats exactly what happens.
I think you're wrong, and you can't hold my opinions against the front office. I'm just a fan and not officially assoiated with the franchise or league.

yes, the front office promotes itself and the poll. They send out emails to the season ticket holders and put it in their e-news letter. Isn't this what all teams and business should be doing?

It's called the Vidswap.com poll, do you know why? They paid for the advertising. It's also the job of ALL teams and league to promote their sponsors and use PR to get more hits on the site. To get more eyes on the Ads.

Most everyone in our tailgate group vote in this poll, we've got fans calling, emailing, etc other fans to remind them it's time to vote. Some of you act like it's evil or wrong to support your business or team. I don't really care if an Austin player wins or not, sure it's nice, but not important. I would prefer all teams to have 1,000 people a week vote.

Constantly having an Austin player win or two Austin players constantly at the top is a negative towards the other teams front offices and fans, not Austin's. The Swashbucklers are the only exisitng team in the league, they already had a large fan base and PR dept in place. This looks bad for the `Bucs front office and no one else.

If it were another team their fans would be proud and there wouldn't be near the whinning over the poll.

[mace]

See and I dont think that this makes the Bucs or the Bucs fans look bad in any way. How a fan supports its team can be done in many ways, in Austins case its the CONSTANT support from almost every fan that goes to a game. As to where the Bucs, the fans show up for game time. Case and point the night that we went to Austin there might have been 1000 people there and the population of Austin is 1Million+, and on an average night in Lake Charles we put in 3500+ with a population of 75000? I dont know, you do the math. So, its 6 one way... half a dozen another.

I do applaude the Austin Fan base... because what they have is VERY LOYAL, and that says alot for you guys!! I love when we have pasionate fans and GOOD rivalries, makes for a great season!! Make sure that when the Championship comes... you make the trip to Lake Charles. Let me know you are coming and we all get together and shoot the breeze.


SCARAMOUCHE!!

[Caballo Diablo]

See and I dont think that this makes the Bucs or the Bucs fans look bad in any way. How a fan supports its team can be done in many ways, in Austins case its the CONSTANT support from almost every fan that goes to a game. As to where the Bucs, the fans show up for game time. Case and point the night that we went to Austin there might have been 1000 people there and the population of Austin is 1Million+, and on an average night in Lake Charles we put in 3500+ with a population of 75000? I dont know, you do the math. So, its 6 one way... half a dozen another.

I do applaude the Austin Fan base... because what they have is VERY LOYAL, and that says alot for you guys!! I love when we have pasionate fans and GOOD rivalries, makes for a great season!! Make sure that when the Championship comes... you make the trip to Lake Charles. Let me know you are coming and we all get together and shoot the breeze.

I agree, in my mind it doesn't make them look bad. It was directed at the ones dogging Austin and trying to put them in a bad light over it.

The Austin market has lost most of the casual fans, the Turfcats are the 7th team in the area in the past decade. The AFL Wranglers were drawing an average around 12k for their 4 years of existence (04-07), when they moved to the af2 the fanbase cried foul and wouldn't support a "LOWER" league and the attendance dropped to around 3,500 for their only year (08.).

Now they even feel this is a much lower league and don't support it. A big problem with the Arena teams was there was only one venue in the area that met their arena restrictions. The Frank Erwin center, which seats 15k. The rent per game was over $20k and if there was an event in the next couple of days and it had to be transformed quickly the rent rose to $30k - OUCH !

For this reason the af2 Wranglers were the highest priced ticket in the league and the fan base refused to pay those prices for a "lesser quality product."
You could get TurfCats season tickets (family 4 pack) for $99, which works out to like $4.13 per game. You would think the casual fans would jump on it but it seems they've lost interest which is truly sad.

The million plus figure is misleading, that includes something like a 5 county area (not Austin Proper) which makes much of those people over an hours drive one way frm the venue. Casual fans won't travel that far.

I don't know anything about the Lake Charles area but I think Austin has more competition for the peoples discretionary income. They've got minor league football, baseball, basketball, hockey, soccer, and a few semi-pro football teams. Then of course the U of texas teams. their baseball team just took 2nd at the college world series and hosted a super regional the weekend of a home T-cat game. Austin it the Live Music capital and many spend their entertainment dollars watching bands instead of minor league sports.

I'm not making excuses, I'm often upset with the "Wierd" populous of the area. The local media refuses to even acknowldge the local football.
The T-Cats arte second in the league and no articles. Today the soccer team got a front page article with another half page inside for LOSING yesterday - WTF? And they also give tons of coverage to the Nolan Ryan owned Express. Both of these teams get ther schedule posted every single day.

So the math isn't cut and dry apples to apples. I'm with you though, I respect and appreciate great fans no matter who they root for. You can't have a team in your area without a league. You can't have a league without several successful teams. I'm very apprecitive of Mr Hager stareting this league and giving Austin another opportunity to watch the 50 yard game.
there aren't enough fans sport wide and we need to all support each other.

I expect Austin to be in lake Charles for the Championship game (the Mudbugs will try to prevent it though), I would love to come but at the monent have some conflicts preventing me from making the trip. Hopefully I can work something out but will have to butt heads with the Mrs - lol

[mudbugsfan]

Forgive me for saying, but Lake Charles is a tad stuck up. Not every team in this league has been up, in fact, with the exception of Houma, they are all EXPANSION. Sorry if owner that have thousands and thousands to spend on a team dont pop up. Sorry the teams are not established yet. Take foI r example, Mudbugs, you can go to any grocery store, and restaurant, and maybe 50% of people have heard of them, its most likely the same in Austin. I can imagine Austin has a lot of trouble with media, but Diablo can elaborate on that.

Since Lake Charles is established, they have a crap load of media coverage, not to mention years of publicity. I mean, yall have a Swashbuckler truck to roll around town, Ive seen it in Lafayette as well.

Media has just blown up in Lafayette, suddenly the Mudbugs are front page news, and that is the reason 3500 people showed up Monday, A MONDAY, i can only imagine what the attendance would have been if it was a Saturday game.

To conclude this rambling post, sorry Lake Charles, give us a few years, and we can possibly be on the same "level" as yall, but until then, please let progress move without criticism.

[MUDBUG1]

is the vidswap poll a popularity poll or a best performance of the week poll?
just asking, not being smartaleck.

[mudbugsfan]

I actually agree, Clay had three touchdowns, and McHenry had 1 interception. Diablo, explain.

[Caballo Diablo]

is the vidswap poll a popularity poll or a best performance of the week poll?
just asking, not being smartaleck.
I actually agree, Clay had three touchdowns, and McHenry had 1 interception. Diablo, explain.
It's more a popularity poll, but goes a little deeper than that.
All players in the poll are selected by their own front offices. Many tmes I've felt the teams selected the wrong guy as having the best performance on his own team. All players selected are typically worthy of the award.

I thought Freddie Harrison should have won it for coming off the bench and rallying a comeback to beat Austin, in my mind he had the best performance.

once the candidates are selected it's up to the front office and diehard fans to spread the word about the vote. Many times teams try to get different players in the running for an opportunity to win it. No, the final vote has nothing to do with who was most worthy, that's why I prefer the player of the quarter awards. they are choosen for actual performance by people involved in the league, not fans.

I guess we could break down stats, many times a player has multiple TD's but not great stats. Good example is Jerome Bettis for the Pittsburgh Steelers. The other guys did the work and set it up down by the goal line for him to come in and plunge into the end zone. Not many carries or minutes per game but he always seemed to be awarded the icing on the cake.

McHenry's pick was critical, but then again so was Shon Mitchells. many times when people come to vote if 2 players from the same team are up for it they vote for the guy already in the lead.

Everyone selected to be a candidate should hold his head high and be proud of his performance. After that it's just fans selecting their own guy no matter what the others did in their game.

[Big Easy]

is the vidswap poll a popularity poll or a best performance of the week poll?
just asking, not being smartaleck.

Based on how it has "progressed", neither. It's beomce a marketing tool for Austin. Very few people vote to begin with, so bragging about fan support on this is a joke. This has everything to do with a spin doctor asking a few friends to vote and/or clearing his cookies and voting numerous times himself. It's easy to shoot holes in some of the things that the Austin franchise claims. Honestly, this one would be tough, but I've pointed out a few inconsistencies in what they've claimed in their releases or other forms of spin from the past. In this case it's the full season of BS overload that makes me doubt the legitimacy. I don't question or point out the BS often because I don't want this to become a pissing match (and it won't, I'm happy with giving Cabballo the last word...and Lord knows he'll get it anyway....right or wrong). It's really not that important to me and I'll prove that by dropping the subject after this. I just understand the process and find it hard to sit by quietly when I see BS being spread. Saying a player played in af2 when he didn't isn't an accident, it's embellishment. Saying players played for you in several different places when you haven't actually run or coached these teams is an embellishment. Etc. See? The BS overlaod has me skeptical. I'm the type that CAN sit quietly by unless I feel that people have gone too far...and have become insulting. We aren't stupid. Just own up to the fact that it's "salesmanship" (some call it BS) but you can call it "salesmanship" and I'll be cool with that I guess. It's the car salesman mentality though...and who really likes a car salesman? I wish I didn't feel this way but it's a byproduct of intentional embellishment. You can fool some of the people some of the time...