Are you ready!!!!!!!!!!!

[dolbok]

Well training camp is just around the corner. Alot of new coaches, players, and front office staffs around the league. I will miss the firends that were made last year with the NiFL, and hope to make new ones with the IFL. San Angelo, Odessa, and Corpus are looking the best so far. Very well run office staffs and coaches. Odessa with a new coach, as well as San Angelo. One went up and the other went "no where". If CC can have a team this year they might be a contender. I see Coach Espo in Odessa already has a great team building. There will never be a team on the field like Odessa had last year though. I do see Odessa making the playoffs and winning this year though. With a H-U-G-E wieght lifted off my shoulder this year, I am really looking foward to the start of the season. So with that GO 'NECKS!!!!!!!!

[phydeaux72]

Odessa with a new coach, as well as San Angelo. One went up and the other went "no where".

The af2 is not a move up. It's a lateral move. The af2 is at the same level as the NIFL, Intense, AIFL, UIF, etc... Now, had Williams gone to the AFL, that would have been a move up.

[Minor League Man]

Yes I am!

My ideas for future expansion:

Beaumont Drillers
Katy Copperheads
Rio Grande Valley Dorados
Amarillo Dusters (bring back the king!)
Fort Worth
El Paso
Frisco
Tyler
Texarkana
Baton Rouge
Lafayette
Hammond Heroes
TC Gators
BS Battle Wings

Plus a few in Oklahoma.

[rams80]

Yes I am!

My ideas for future expansion:

Beaumont Drillers
Katy Copperheads
Rio Grande Valley Dorados
Amarillo Dusters (bring back the king!)
Fort Worth
El Paso
Frisco
Tyler
Texarkana
Baton Rouge
Lafayette
Hammond Heroes
TC Gators
BS Battle Wings

Plus a few in Oklahoma.

Is that the best you can do? I'm sure you forgot one or two podunk towns of 10,000 people that also happen to have arenas.
Once again you prove that you subscribe to the ABA school of rapid expansion
with little concern over whether or not the markets are actually viable.

[phydeaux72]

Yes I am!

My ideas for future expansion:

Beaumont Drillers
Katy Copperheads
Rio Grande Valley Dorados
Amarillo Dusters (bring back the king!)
Fort Worth
El Paso
Frisco
Tyler
Texarkana
Baton Rouge
Lafayette
Hammond Heroes
TC Gators
BS Battle Wings

Plus a few in Oklahoma.

I could see Katy switching to the IFL next season if they continue in the direction that they're going. The only way we will see Beaumont in the IFL is if (and when) the Drillers go under. But it would have to be a totally new franchise with strong, stable owners. From what I've been told, Amarillo has expressed interest in moving back to the IFL. I talked to one of the RGV owners (he's a business associate of mine) when I was in Hidalgo for the CHL all-star game. He isn't opposed to the idea of joining the IFL. But I think he would have to see the IFL have a few years of solid success before making that jump. It would definately benefit them travel-wise as the BS Battle Wings are their closest opponent followed by Amarillo. He says their cheepest road trip of the season costs their organization $12,000.

The IFL has already expressed the possibilities of expanding into Fort Worth, Lafayette and Baton Rouge. El Paso has some potential owners and we could see the IFL back there as soon as the 2007 season. Frisco is still a possibility, although the af2 is making a big push for that market now.

I don't know much about the Bossier City, Oklahoma City or Tulsa af2 franchises. It would be nice to see them in the IFL one day. But I think in the end what the IFL ultimately needs to focus on is slow steady expansion. If they expand too quickly, the IFL will just turn into another NIFL or AIFL.

[dolbok]

The af2 is not a move up. It's a lateral move. The af2 is at the same level as the NIFL, Intense, AIFL, UIF, etc... Now, had Williams gone to the AFL, that would have been a move up.
Ok, your right. The AF2 is more of a move over. However. There are more moving up from the AF2 than any other leagues. It helps very, very much to have a hand in with the Big Boys. It is easier for the scouts to see the guys in the same format as the AFL than try to figure them in from a different format. The Coach from San Angelo thought that way. He went from a "out"doors semi-pro league to an indoor league. See the difference??? When the scouts are looking at a team that has two or more in motion, than the one that is allowed in the AFL. It is a little hard to see the player. OK???? My personal opion, is that the AF2 is a slight move up. Later.
Please check out my Yahoo Group at www.groups.yahoo.com/groups/ruffnexfootball.com . I have posted pics from training camp to the fist game with more to come.

[Reichert]

I think the Katy Copperheads are definitely headed out of the NIFL after this season. And the NIFL is the poster child for irresponsible expansion...out of the 10 teams that they added for 2006 the Copperheads are the only ones where serious problems have not emerged. For that matter the Katy ownership is clearly VERY upset at the NIFL. One game they played in an arena on the road where the home team barely got the site secured in time for the game and the wall padding wasn't even up...not to mention only one set of goalposts were up and the home team was hitting up the Copperheads for basic athletic supplies such as tape. This weekend's game is probably canceled because the other team went belly up this week.

Katy has a nice, brand new facility to play their games in. The market, the ownership, and the team quite frankly is too good for the NIFL. If they want to plop down the increased budget funds they could go af2 and allow that league to capture the lucrative Katy/West Houston market. If not, I believe the Copperheads will be in the Intense league next year.

As for the rest of the teams I don't know enough to comment.

[Hammerhead]

From what I've heard around the IFL, I would be surprised if they expand by more than two teams a year. They might consider more if there are already established, solid teams wanting to come into the league. For example, if Katy (NIFL), Amarillo (AF2), and Bossier City (AF2) come in they might go ahead with a couple of cities they are already looking at. But I agree whole heartedly ... they need to go slow and after talking to the IFL president, I got the feeling he was in total agreement as well. Only time will tell.

As for the Hammond Heros, they never got off the ground and the TC Gators are struggling from what I've heard. I doubt they would even give them the time of day.

Also don't rule out Houma. They had a solid fan base and if the right owners pop up along with a good working relationship with their Civic Center, then they are also a possibility.