I have to ask...

[indoor fan]

I know I am done reading about this semi pro league, but I have to ask, was the SIFL "replacement team (Crunch)", replacement team wearing different colored helmets in thier game? From the pic, it looks like the Crunch's "replacement team" had different colored helmets.


I know even the worst semi pro leagues have rules that at the very least, the teams have the same colored helmets. Has the SIFL sunk to this level (below semi pro) and what were the "transportation issues"?

[Independent]

The SIFL is a great league with good people. The charter company that we use out of McKinney Texas did not schedule a driver for us. We were schedule to leave at 5am Sat. morning. They didn't get us a driver until 12:30 so that would have put us in Houma at 9 pm. So my hat goes off to Travis to get a team to play. So some of the blame has to come the Crunch way.

[50 Yard Fan]

The Bayou Bulls helmets are the same color. #75 does not have the stripes or logo on his helmet.
http://www.houmatoday.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=HC&Date=20090627&Category=SPORTS20&ArtNo=906279940&Ref=AR&Profile=1032&MaxW=600&border=0

http://www.houmatoday.com/article/20090627/SPORTS20/906279940/1032/SPORTS?Title=Conquerors-thrash-replacement-team-66-0

[indoor fan]

http://www.southernifl.com/news/2009-06-28/conquerors-66-bayou-bulls-0.html


One player has a white helmet, the other has red.

[MUDBUG1]

Come back next year when both you and the SIFL have matured a little.
The Lafayette Bayou Bulls were gracious enough to fill a void at the last minute. Their season doesnt really start until mid July, though they have probably have been practicing for a month. It was more important for the Houma fans and players to have a game than worrying about the naysayer "fans" opinion of the SIFL. Unless you live in one of the SIFL markets, why would you care?

So really you didnt have to ask.

May I recommend the 12 step program for indoorfootballaholics.

2 of the stepr are:
Admit you are powerless over what happens in indoor football

Believe that the football gods, Halas, Grange, Thorpe, etc, while may not like the indoor game, they believe in it. After all George himself was part of the first real indoor game in 1932.

[indoor fan]

Come back next year when both you and the SIFL have matured a little.
The Lafayette Bayou Bulls were gracious enough to fill a void at the last minute. Their season doesnt really start until mid July, though they have probably have been practicing for a month. It was more important for the Houma fans and players to have a game than worrying about the naysayer "fans" opinion of the SIFL. Unless you live in one of the SIFL markets, why would you care?

So really you didnt have to ask.

May I recommend the 12 step program for indoorfootballaholics.

2 of the stepr are:
Admit you are powerless over what happens in indoor football

Believe that the football gods, Halas, Grange, Thorpe, etc, while may not like the indoor game, they believe in it. After all George himself was part of the first real indoor game in 1932.


huh????????????? You must of put down a few cold ones before you made that post?

I was hoping for a logical explaination from maybe Diablo or Daytona Dan, but I guess they have already jumped off the sinking SIFL ship.

[daytonadan]

Indoor Football Fan:

You've guessed wrong, and I'm going to let your assumption about my dedication slide.

Independent did an excellent job of answering your question

Feel free to PM me, including your real name. My new policy is not to quarrel with unnamed people, especially in a public forum.

[50 Yard Fan]

Okay, I will try to go slow and not use any big words.

As Mudbug1 explained...

The Lafayette Bayou Bulls were gracious enough to fill a void at the last minute. Their season doesn’t really start until mid July.

... The Bulls were a game day fill in due to transportation problems (Bus company failed to provide a driver in time) for the Crunch. Because of it was a last minute thing, the Bulls may have needed to pick up a few players from other teams (who's helmets would be a different color) to fill their roster.
This is one possible explanation.

It's not like it has not happened before:

I have pictures of a 2006 NIFL game between the Florida Frenzy and the Osceola (Football) Outlaws. It's the second week of the season and the Florida team has 3 different color helmets and look to be wearing practice jerseys.

The AIFL had teams fill in when the Syracuse Soldiers folded. These teams picked up players from other teams as well, and of course they had different color helmets.

[indoor fan]

So are the Crunch paying for their travel expenses or is the SIFL covering travel? In other words, who was responsible for paying for the charter bus and setting up the driver?

[Independent]

We (The Crunch) cover our own travel. The charter company supplies the bus driver for the trips and they didn't book a driver for us on the 27th. So they reimbursed my $2600 dollers and they are giving me half off on my next trip.

[MUDBUG1]

After reading your last 50 post's, under Indoor "Fan", I have come to the conclusion that you are also a pessimistic pessimist. Thats a double negative which is not a positive. You had a negative comment 45 times and a neutral comment 4, and i think you may have had 1 positive. As far as the SIFL is concerned you scored a perfect 25. Negative 25 that is. You choose to just trash everything you talk about. How about something positive for a change. Nah, you can take a positive and turn it around.
Not only am I pretty sure you are a liberal democrat, again due to your extreme negativity, but you just dont get it.
People , I should say ,REAL INDOOR FANS, come to these boards to get and share info. You will notice there arent a lot of different posters here. You might think its because there arent a lot of fans interested. Not true, I know several that read , but dont post. Because of "fans" like you and the gqkindaguy. Do us and this Sifl world a favor. LEAVE.
Whether you leave or not wont make much of a difference to tell you the truth. But it may make this board a lot more pleasant.
Thanks in advance

[indoor fan]

After reading your last 50 post's, under Indoor "Fan", I have come to the conclusion that you are also a pessimistic pessimist. Thats a double negative which is not a positive. You had a negative comment 45 times and a neutral comment 4, and i think you may have had 1 positive. As far as the SIFL is concerned you scored a perfect 25. Negative 25 that is. You choose to just trash everything you talk about. How about something positive for a change. Nah, you can take a positive and turn it around.
Not only am I pretty sure you are a liberal democrat, again due to your extreme negativity, but you just dont get it.
People , I should say ,REAL INDOOR FANS, come to these boards to get and share info. You will notice there arent a lot of different posters here. You might think its because there arent a lot of fans interested. Not true, I know several that read , but dont post. Because of "fans" like you and the gqkindaguy. Do us and this Sifl world a favor. LEAVE.
Whether you leave or not wont make much of a difference to tell you the truth. But it may make this board a lot more pleasant.
Thanks in advance

Bug, don't get mad at me because of the SIFL failures. I just simply ask questions. My main problem with the SIFL is how they came on putting down other leagues. Then when things started to head south, the SIFL "communication staff" tried to be deceiving and create lies for the fans.

I simply asked a couple of questions and got the answers (except from your garbage). I did leave this semi pro league board, but saw the different colored helmets and had to ask....

Not sure why you took this so personal. Your acting like the SIFL staff.

[mudbugsfan]

Did these SIFL "Communication Staff" pick on you when you were a little kid? I havent heard any lies what so ever, in fact, Ive heard nothing but truth, I dont think they have tried to cover anything up.

Did the SIFL "communication staff" steal your girlfriend and now your trying to get revenge? Your an idiot, go get help.

[preeths]

Enough with the insults. If it doesn't stop, some folks will be taking a forced break from the board.

[indoor fan]

Did these SIFL "Communication Staff" pick on you when you were a little kid? I havent heard any lies what so ever, in fact, Ive heard nothing but truth, I dont think they have tried to cover anything up.

Did the SIFL "communication staff" steal your girlfriend and now your trying to get revenge? Your an idiot, go get help.

Please read the above post. This comes from the people running and representing the SIFL. It's no wonder why this semi pro league has faltered.

[MUDBUG1]

TO PREETHS, YOU ARE SO RIGHT. i WILL STOP THIS SILLY "I THINK I KNOW MORE THAN YOU" GAME. MY APOLOGIES.

iN REGARD TO MUDBUGFAN BEING ON THE SIFL STAFF, THAT IS A DEFINATE NO.
HE IS JUST A FAN WHO HAS HAD ENOUGH NEGATIVE.

[daytonadan]

Indoor Fan:

I am always happy to discuss issues with fans. PM and let us have a civil discourse.

[Caballo Diablo]

My main problem with the SIFL is how they came on putting down other leagues. Then when things started to head south, the SIFL "communication staff" tried to be deceiving and create lies for the fans.

Could you give us some specifics to discuss concerning these charges?
I believe it is the IFL proclaiming to be the "Premier" league and have a habit of dissing the others. After Tommy B took 5 wins from SF over the insurance issue he goes public with a statement the following week attacking 2 other leagues and even had the studity to to question their teams insurance.

They went south? really, haven't most on these boards admitted all of the leagues, both major and minor have their fair share of problems? Many of the established leagues have as many or more issues than the SIFL, which is an expansion league.

I know you're an Arena fan and quite aware of he issues surrounding the AFL and af2. Leagues with 20 and 10 years in service still haven't run a season without problems. It's all part of being in business.

What are some of the lies and deciet? Give us a list to start debating, I'm sure we can all do it in a civil manner.


Your acting like the SIFL staff.
From my perspective this means he's hard working, faces problems upfront and quickly. Works to resolve negative issues and grow the positive ones.
Notice in week one, 2 teams were fined for uniform violations. This week an owner and coach were fined for their negative behavior, they didn't wait 6 weeks like some leagues.

Their were issues with an ownership group and venue, the league ended up helping the team become a better franchise with a new owner instead of letting them die on the vine. Another team was in trouble and the league worked with the ownership on marketing and revising their business plan to help them grow stronger instead of leaving them hang out to dry all alone.

No matter what the issue is the SIFL front office has not hid from them, they have always looked for positive changes to improve the league as a whole. have they made some mistakes, sure, once again name me a league that hasn't.

I'm not implyingthe SIFL is the best or greatest league on the planet, it's far too early to judge their place in Indoor Football History. Other leagues are far more pompus and negative to competing leagues than the SIFL. Other leagues have hid from their problems and with held info from their fans in a much larger scale than you can accuse the SIFL of.

If you want to list specifics and have a "controlled" debate, I tink it would be welcomed by many.

[Caballo Diablo]

Please read the above post. This comes from the people running and representing the SIFL. It's no wonder why this semi pro league has faltered.
Once again you seem confused, you can't hold front office responsible for statements from fans.

Explain your "Semi-Pro" term other than trying to smack them. Is letting a proven cheater hold the championship cup very professional? I'm sure you've heard about the SteamCheaters. We can list many things from the history of your favored af2 that is far worse than anything the SIFL has done.

If you want to smack, at least give some backup instead of throwing a generic blanket over everything.

[indoor fan]

Once again you seem confused, you can't hold front office responsible for statements from fans.

Explain your "Semi-Pro" term other than trying to smack them. Is letting a proven cheater hold the championship cup very professional? I'm sure you've heard about the SteamCheaters. We can list many things from the history of your favored af2 that is far worse than anything the SIFL has done.

If you want to smack, at least give some backup instead of throwing a generic blanket over everything.

Thanks Diablo for giving a mature response and not reverting to idiotic personal attacks.

I really don't follow semi pro football, so I won't spend the time to go over all the responses, but here is why the SIFL is a semi pro league:

The Crunch, Bulls, Kings are all non paid semi pro teams listed on the SIFL standings. The Pirates were basicly a semi pro team, as well. This makes the SIFL in the same category as the APFL, which is not covered by OSC.

So basicly, half of the SIFL teams listed on their standings are semi pro. This makes it exactly like the APFL. Nothing personal, just calling it like it is.

[daytonadan]

I'm going to share a story from when I had to deal with the media coverage of Javan Camon's death on the field in 2007.

Instead of dealing primarily with sportswriters, I had to deal with news editors and news writers, who really didn't get sports in general and indoor football in particular. One of which was an Orlando Sentinel regional editor who back in the day pressed for the Dale Earnhardt autoposy photos and even though we had a cordial working relationship, had his own agenda and wasn't the guy you hung out with after work.

So in our twice daily communication following the incident and the media event, I expressed my disdain in one of his newswriters' articles about the use of the word "semi-pro" to describe all the players.

Ten minutes after we concluded, he called back and with a dictionary in front of him, read the dictionary definition of semi-pro, something along the lines of.

``A semi-professional athlete is one who is paid to play and thus is not an amateur, but for whom sport is not a full-time occupation, generally because the level of pay is too low to make a reasonable living based solely upon that source, thus making the athlete not a full professional athlete.''

I excused myself self from lunch and said -- ``well, the definition of gay in the dictionary is still `light-hearted and happy' but you wouldn't appreciate it if I called you that now, would you? ... and by the way, I know you're trying to file a court injunction for the release of the video, but since I let all the media see it on an eyes only basis until his parents come in, don't you believe in the concept of slack?''

Didn't have to deal with him again, even as his reporters continued to make errors he needed to run corrections for and even after he obtained a copy of the full incident video and ran it with inserted commercials. The sports department -- annoyed with how news was handling the coverage -- send over its lead columnist for the memorial service who wrote the perfect piece about how Javan played for the love of the game and what his death meant in the big picture. The news reporter filed five paragraphs and got Javan's game jersey wrong.

So that's my speech about looking at things at face value and in spirit.

So, yes, indoor fan, you're most certainly entitled to label us as semi-pro. I, however, will not respond and describe you with a term that means light-hearted. I'm still looking forward to a PM with you so we can have a civilized discussion using our real names.

[indoor fan]

I'm going to share a story from when I had to deal with the media coverage of Javan Camon's death on the field in 2007.

Instead of dealing primarily with sportswriters, I had to deal with news editors and news writers, who really didn't get sports in general and indoor football in particular. One of which was an Orlando Sentinel regional editor who back in the day pressed for the Dale Earnhardt autoposy photos and even though we had a cordial working relationship, had his own agenda and wasn't the guy you hung out with after work.

So in our twice daily communication following the incident and the media event, I expressed my disdain in one of his newswriters' articles about the use of the word "semi-pro" to describe all the players.

Ten minutes after we concluded, he called back and with a dictionary in front of him, read the dictionary definition of semi-pro, something along the lines of.

``A semi-professional athlete is one who is paid to play and thus is not an amateur, but for whom sport is not a full-time occupation, generally because the level of pay is too low to make a reasonable living based solely upon that source, thus making the athlete not a full professional athlete.''

I excused myself self from lunch and said -- ``well, the definition of gay in the dictionary is still `light-hearted and happy' but you wouldn't appreciate it if I called you that now, would you? ... and by the way, I know you're trying to file a court injunction for the release of the video, but since I let all the media see it on an eyes only basis until his parents come in, don't you believe in the concept of slack?''

Didn't have to deal with him again, even as his reporters continued to make errors he needed to run corrections for and even after he obtained a copy of the full incident video and ran it with inserted commercials. The sports department -- annoyed with how news was handling the coverage -- send over its lead columnist for the memorial service who wrote the perfect piece about how Javan played for the love of the game and what his death meant in the big picture. The news reporter filed five paragraphs and got Javan's game jersey wrong.

So that's my speech about looking at things at face value and in spirit.

So, yes, indoor fan, you're most certainly entitled to label us as semi-pro. I, however, will not respond and describe you with a term that means light-hearted. I'm still looking forward to a PM with you so we can have a civilized discussion using our real names.

Thanks Daytona for clearing this up. Straight from the SIFL Communications Director:

SIFL = semi pro football

Now I will read and keep up with the professional football leagues: NFL, CFL, AF2, IFL, AIFA and CIFL.

[Caballo Diablo]

Thanks Diablo for giving a mature response and not reverting to idiotic personal attacks.

I really don't follow semi pro football, so I won't spend the time to go over all the responses, but here is why the SIFL is a semi pro league:

The Crunch, Bulls, Kings are all non paid semi pro teams listed on the SIFL standings. The Pirates were basicly a semi pro team, as well. This makes the SIFL in the same category as the APFL, which is not covered by OSC.

So basicly, half of the SIFL teams listed on their standings are semi pro. This makes it exactly like the APFL. Nothing personal, just calling it like it is.
I disagree, we should all know by now why and how the Kings came to be a travel only team. They were anticipating joining as a full fledged franchise in 2010 and stepped up to cover the extra home game slot when an illness forced the pasadena team from starting play this season. Their players were supposed to be paid the same as the other SIFL teams players. The Crunch and Bulls no, but they looked at this as a great opportunity to get some experience and exposure for their players.

Austin started the season with 2 players that were on the Crunch last year, Joshua Sooter and Metric McHenry who was this weeks Vidswap player of the week. The semi-pro leagues don'r get enough respect from us so called fans of the sport. These players and coaches are doing it for the love of the game and hoping to move up the league ladders. I think the Crunch owner and staff are doing a wonderful job and dang glad there are groups out there supporting the up and comming players. Many of the af2 and AFL players spent some time trying to get noticed in the lowly semi-pro world of frustration.

They were not a semi-pro team, but some will say they were run like one - lol
They were never eligible for the playoffs even if they went undefeated and ended up 5-0. Once they wilted the Crunch (a true semi-Pro) team agreed to play the remainder of their games (4). Same rules applied, not eligible for squat, just filling a game season ticket holders had paid for. They had transportaion problems and the league did a great job of finding another semi-pro team to fill in this week. They were at even a worse situation since their league play had not begun yet.

So all 3 of these teams were filling in for the same thing, to give the 5 real teams their extra home game sold to the season ticket holders. Only 2 are semi-pro and were never expected to win one of these games. All 5 teams got a practice game and it seemed an even trade. None of the 3 were actually full fledged sanctioned SIFL franchises.

The Pirates were not a semi-pro team. Their biggest problem was finances which led to the use of an insufficient venue where they didn't have to buy walls, turf, etc. This situation seems to have been improved immensly.

I'm not sure why they are even listed in the standings beside making the real 5 teams records work out mathmatically instead of people going "HUH", how do they have that many games.

So the 3 biggest of your problems are all really the same problem and it was known before the first game kicked off.

yes, ther have been problems, but most have been addressed quickly and correctly. That's all you can ask of any first year business. I didn't know much about "semi-pro" leagues until this season and believe me, the SIFL is leaps and bounds above semi-pro.

[Caballo Diablo]

Thanks Daytona for clearing this up. Straight from the SIFL Communications Director:

SIFL = semi pro football
Once again you twist it, he never said the SIFL was semi-pro.
He said you can think of that way if you want. He's not dogging you for your opinion, even if it's wrong.

Now I will read and keep up with the professional football leagues: NFL, CFL, AF2, IFL, AIFA and CIFL.
Now that is funny you felt the need to include this. All of them get paid the same as the SIFL (well, over the table anyways - lol) None of them make enough playing in these leagues to be considered a full time or even able to sustain a living for an individual let alone a family. So by the dictionary definiton Dan supplied they're all semi-pro leagues - lol

Are you trying to tell us these leagues don't have some "semi-pro" problems you dislike the SIFL for ? The Slaughter have been blowing teams out all season with their AFL roster like they only play teams like the Kings, Crunc, and Bulls - haha. The IFL has been discussed adnauseam and is no better than the SIFL. The AIFA, are you serious ? The af2 is the best in my opinion, but 10 years of experience and the AFL really helped. Many players chose the af2 because of the opportunity to move up for a real paycheck to play the gamr they love, not because they were that much better. The af2 has some folding issues and terrible teams over the years. How's daytona beach doing this season? - lol

Throw those letter into a hat and pull out what ever because they'tre all on the same level. A niche sport that doesn't pay players squat. The AFL was the Premier league playing on the 50 yard field but I wasn't able to catch any of those games this year for some reason.

A fan of the sport doesn't always talk negative and pit the leagues against each other. they support all of the leagues and attend the games in their area no matter the letters in the name.

I used to be a huge NFL fan back in the day, now I'm more of a casual fan. It's not near as exciting as the indooe game and even a front row seat sucks for most of the game. You can get one ticket in the nose bleed section for what a season ticket cost for indoor. The NFL itself, the teams and their players could give a ratsazz about the fans. they get billions in TV and ad money, they can put a crowd in the background with computers - lol

I remember when you could hang outside of the NFL locker rooms for pictures and autographs. the players would actuall have a conversation with you, kind of like these so called semi-pro players still do. Now a days you can't get anywhere near the players and most won't even look at you as they go by. The NFL pays their players way too much, charge way too much for their merchandise. can you really afford to get a season ticket package for the family?
The NFL Sunday ticket is alright if you already have the right dish company. they pull good games off the networks to put on NFL network, which many people don't have. How long before all NFL is pay per view?

CFL, I don't know, I just never got into it.

[daytonadan]

Hey Cabby ...

Should I just say the heck with it and use the Ron White debate tactic when dealing with indoor fan?

[CoachSMB05]

Thanks Daytona for clearing this up. Straight from the SIFL Communications Director:

SIFL = semi pro football

Now I will read and keep up with the professional football leagues: NFL, CFL, AF2, IFL, AIFA and CIFL.

man if thats all it takes to get you to go play by yourself, we could have done this in April.

[exit322]

Every league has a "semipro" presence.

Miami Valley wasn't paid much, if anything, in the CIFL (I doubt they had "full" paychecks). Fort Wayne played a game or two for free.

Saginaw wasn't paid for most of the season in the IFL.

New Mexico likely wasn't paid in the AIFA.

Not seeing where the SIFL is any different, except maybe in the "design" of it. If you're honest to your fans about a team being a travel team, I truly don't have a problem with it. But you rarely get lucky with them (GLIFL NY/NJ in 2006 being the only "good" example I can think of, though AIFL Raleigh 2005 was OK, too).

[MUDBUG1]

hey indolt fan

na na naaa naaaaaaa
na na naaa naaaaaaa
hey hey hey
goodbye
they can haaave yoooooou
we dont waaant yoooooou
we will not
crrrryyyy

sorry i could not keep my promise about being nice
indoorfan has not kept his promise about leaving this board.
and i think i have given you mature responses, if you dont like it
PHFTTTTTTTTTTTTTT!!!!!!!!!
I don't want to talk to you no more, you empty headed animal food trough wiper. I fart in your general direction. Your mother was a hamster and your father smelt of elderberries.
now go away or I shall taunt you a second time

[preeths]

Enough, this thread is closed.