Osceola gives up the fight

[preeths]

That's according to an article in the Cincinnati paper within the last hour.
“As of 1:30 (p.m. Wednesday), we have no intention of traveling to RiverCity to play that game,” (Osceola General Manager Dave) Czech said. “I would be highly surprised if something were to change.”

As of right now, Cincinnati will face RiverCity Saturday.

[preeths]

I'll have more on this in the next couple of hours. The Cincinnati story confirms an email exchange I just received.

[Jaxen]

I learned of this about an hour ago ... wasn't going to post on it because I'm so disgusted ... but the Cincy Enquirer story left out a couple puzzle pieces.

Last night, Osceola's GM spoke with Shiver, he told her that they made their plans to go to St. Louis, she told him to carry those out ... a couple hours later, Osceola received a fax that both Cincinnati and Osceola had been told to report to St. Louis on Friday, play each other, and the winner would take on the Rage on Saturday. Osceola's people wanted no part of that scenario and bagged it.

1. How does that scenario benefit the Marshals or the 'Football'? This isn't flag football, you can't play tackle football twice in 2 nights. Someone would have gotten seriously hurt, and with the league's tenous insurance system, there'd have been legal ramifications if someone did, I'm sure.
2. How does this NOT help the Rage? Had that game been played, RiverCity would have gotten to play a team that had already played the night before. How the he!! is that fair?

What truly bugs me is that by Osceola taking the high road, the NIFL got the problem that they themselves created resolved for them.

RiverCity 62, Cincinnati 21.

[ragefan]

True it would be to the Rage's advantage to play a game after the team had already played the night before, but do not forget all this started because the two teams in question could not get things straight from the get go.. They put themselves in this position with a little help from a disorganized NIFL front office..

But how is the Rage suppose to get ready to play a team when they have no idea who the heck they are playing.. They have been practicing for Osceola now it is the Marshal's thank goodness we have played them before and know what to expect.

It is a shame it had to come to this but the game must go on...

Here is to Osceola for a great year ... Best of luck to you..

[fwp]

PIFL, folks!

That is the best option. Get in early to make sure things aren't a frikken mess like the leagues that exist now.

[goguard88]

Definitely. I can't wait for next year. As long as we join the PIFL, anyway.

[preeths]

As promised, here is the email exchange. The first is from Osceola, the second from the league office and that is followed by Osceola's response.

-------------------

From: Osceloa Football

The Osceola NIFL football team has been notified by the NIFL President of Operations, Cleveland Gary, via telephone this morning that we are disqualified from our playoff game in St Louis this weekend because we have not completed all league mandated paperwork.

To clarify our position, Osceola is current with all dues, has complied with all league operating rules all season, and is willing to sign all league participation documents except for any non-compete clauses.

After being allowed to "participate" in last weekends playoff game in which Cincinnati at the last minute could not arrange a venue and then cancelled the Monday night game we arranged to host in Florida I thought Cleveland Gary got a taste of this year's NIFL experience. Before committing to next year in the NIFL I want to see what actual changes are going to take place. We incurred over $9K in transportation and hotel expenses in last weekend's fiasco that we were allowed to participate in. It doesn't sound like Cincinnati had a safety fund with the NIFL. How could they have played?

As of 12:30 PM today St Louis has not been notified of any "pending" change in Saturday's game with us.

Questions to the NIFL and the Executive Committee:

Is Cleveland Gary President of Operations as he has explained to us? (Randy Wagley said he is a commissioned marketing guy)

Have we been officially disqualified from the playoffs?

Have all the other playoff teams that have outstanding league issues such as unsigned paperwork, unpaid dues/fines, unsigned non-competes or other issues been allowed to compete in the playoffs?

How is this late "enforcement" helping the NIFL public image?

-------------------------

Osceola
3033 Mercy Drive
Orlando, FL 32808

Re: Team Participation Agreement

Dear David,

The Executive Committee has reviewed the entire situation concerning this upcoming playoff game. We have determined
that Osceola must do the following to meet compliance with current league rules to be eligible for any playoff games.
Osceola must:
1. Post the standard $100,000 letter of credit per our standard required form
2. Post the safety fund per our current requirements.
I am attaching information on both of those for your completion. We are faxing back your signed copy of the Team
Participation Agreement.
Due to the lateness of your signing your Team Participation Agreement and your comments to Cleveland Gary that you were
not going to sign the Team Participation Agreement, we have already notified Cincinnati to prepare to play St. Louis this week on
Saturday. It is the Executive Committee’s decision to allow Cincinnati to proceed forward in the playoffs.
The Executive Committee has determined that if Osceola meets the requirements to be in the playoffs by completing the
required paperwork and financial assurances by noon on Wednesday, we will allow Osceola to play Cincinnati on Thursday or Friday
in St Louis. If Osceola wins that game, they will play St. Louis on Saturday. Reimbursement of costs will be as follows:
Osceola will pay their own costs to get to St. Louis for the first game with Cincinnati on Thursday or Friday. Cincinnati will
do the same. Tye Elliot, St. Louis’ owner, will arrange the playing facility, stats and officials for the game and those costs will be
deducted from the costs owed to the team that plays St. Louis.
The St. Louis team will be responsible for paying the team that wins the playoff game on Thursday or Friday for their travel
expenses and payroll. The other team will bear its own expenses for the trip.
This may not be the only solution, but bear in mind that this would not have happened if Osceola had completed the
paperwork and requirements that we have been requesting since September 2005.
Please let me know if you have any questions. Randy Wagley, Executive Director, or Cleveland Gary, President of
Operations, will both also be able to assist you if I am not available.

Sincerely,
Carolyn Shiver
NIFL President

-------------------------


We give up. Osceola will not be associated with an organization that continually says one thing and does another. Agreements made with league representative's changed or ignored by the league.

Osceola has never let down the league or the other NIFL franchise partners in any way. We've never been a league embarrassment by not paying players, not showing up for games, not having our players locked out of hotel rooms, not firing our team the day before we were to play one of you, by not playing indoor football outdoors, not paying the arena, not having medical insurance for it's players, not having to get our field out of hock from another facility, not playing on a 35 yard field, by not being an imposter, etc, etc, etc.

It seems that if things are going the way they should the NIFL looks for ways to increase bad press. Everyone agrees that the NIFL is in need of drastic overhaul. But should that take place the last 2 weeks of the season? Let's get the season over with with as little bad press as it can and then see what's left and make the necessary changes for next year. I don't understand what running us out of the league at this point will accomplish.

How will the continued turmoil help in recruiting new solid franchises for next season? The NIFL now has 30 more players looking for alternatives for next year outside of the NIFL. I really hope that some global plan will emerge shortly that explains the NIFL's actions.

The NIFL through Randy Wagley agreed yesterday at 3:30 PM to allow Osceola to sign the TPA with the exception of the non-compete clause. We signed and faxed to the league office and Randy. We talked to Randy at 5:30 and confirmed that the LOC would be issued today in the AM and that Osceola would be playing St Louis this Saturday. What Randy agreed to yesterday was what we had been asking for over a month in conversations with Randy, Carolyn and Cleveland Gary, President of Operations. Had they agreed then
this would have been cleared up weeks ago.

This morning we receive the attached letter changing our agreement. Randy said this AM that the executive committee overruled his negotiations.

Playing 2 games in 48 hours is ridiculous and an embarrassment to the NIFL.
I don't understand what the league gains by their actions.

----------------------

[sportznut]

Carolyn made her lake Charles landsharks play back to back nights in 2 different states and then one 3 days later in a different state.... If she could do it to her players, why cant she do it to other teams players....

[fwp]

I'd like to see the "Executive Committee" step forward and validate this parody that was released as a statement.

My money would be betting that they either didn't know about it, or that's not the way they voted.

Forget the playoffs. Shut'er down now!

[goguard88]

Well, being a Guard fan, I certainly want to finish the playoffs. It'll be kind of bittersweet if we win the Indoor Bowl, though. Winning the NIFL title in a season like this isn't really the best way to win a championship. Don't get me wrong, I'll go nuts if we win it all. Plus, there's still some great teams left. But still, if we win, it'll be like, "yeah, we're champions of a league in which half of its teams are unstable/defunct". You guys get what I'm saying?

[sportznut]

a championship is still a championship.. even against the league of the deaf and blind

[nksports]

This isn't flag football, you can't play tackle football twice in 2 nights. Someone would have gotten seriously hurt, and with the league's tenous insurance system, there'd have been legal ramifications if someone did, I'm sure.

The league scheduled several teams (most notably Dayton) with games on short rest last season. I don't think the league even has an insurance carrier. Some of the teams don't always carry the proper insurance.

This sounds like typical NIFL shannigans. Sounds like Osecola is another satisfied customer.

[preeths]

I'd like to see the "Executive Committee" step forward and validate this parody that was released as a statement.

My money would be betting that they either didn't know about it, or that's not the way they voted.

Does anyone know who exactly is on the executive committe? I would like to find out if they truly agreed with this course of action.

[nksports]

Does anyone know who exactly is on the executive committe? I would like to find out if they truly agreed with this course of action.

The NIFL Board of Directors consists of Moe Howard, Larry Fine, Curly Howard, Shemp Howard, Joe Besser and Curly Joe DeRita. CS serves as chairwoman. :)

[Malepig]

They may have lost the fight for this week but next eyar they will have naother fan. Even with it being 150 miles each way I will go up there when I can(and of course does not interfere with my Firecats).

[Billy5]

The NIFL Board of Directors consists of Moe Howard, Larry Fine, Curly Howard, Shemp Howard, Joe Besser and Curly Joe DeRita. CS serves as chairwoman.


H.P. serves as vice chair. He performs theses duties "over the phone" like Charlie on 'Charlie's Angels". I think CS looks more like Boz' than one of the angels.

[sportznut]

But what you neglected to say were these people were actually Professionals in their field.... Dr. Howard,Dr. Fine,Dr. Howard.....were they surgeons? Dentists? Con Men?.... Hmmmmm.. I see a pattern

[TheHulk]

The NIFL is more entertaining than the WWE. lol Besides the storylines are better! CS is "Vince McMahon" and the "Executive Committee" is taking the role of "The Spirit Squad". If you follow wrestling you'll understand where I'm going with this. The Osceola Football is taking the role of Degeneration X and telling the league "I have two words for ya!" (SUCK IT!!!!):cool:

[exit322]

But what you neglected to say were these people were actually Professionals in their field.... Dr. Howard,Dr. Fine,Dr. Howard.....were they surgeons? Dentists? Con Men?.... Hmmmmm.. I see a pattern


You sure it isn't the law firm of Dewey, Cheatem, and Howe?

[JackDiesel]

a championship is still a championship.. even against the league of the deaf and blind
Ya OK,
Winning your church league flag football championship is the same as winning the Super Bowl. GET REAL!!!

[yellowpages]

Not 100% sure but, I believe the groups out of Beaumont, Lincoln, Wyoming and River City are members of the Executive Committee.

Doubt seriously if they were in on the decision to outst Osceola.

[sportznut]

Ya OK,
Winning your church league flag football championship is the same as winning the Super Bowl. GET REAL!!!

The level may be different but the pride those church league players have is probably more genuine... But what ever legue you play in, you are ultimatly playing for a title, if not.. we call that youth Tee ball , where all the kids play and no one keeps score, And they all win a trophy at the end of the season so they All feel special......