BarbaraPatterson
08-10-2006, 10:11 AM
http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060810/SPORTS/608100350/1002
EXCLUSIVE: Maulers reborn as Bears
The Montgomery Maulers are dead.
But they'll be reincarnated today as a new team with a new name and a new league.
The owners will remain the same.
John Morris and Mike Mink, who took over the troubled franchise in the middle of last season, will announce the birth of the Montgomery Bears in a 4 p.m. news conference today at Buffalo Wild Wings.
The Bears will begin a 14-game season in February as members of the American Indoor Football League. The AIFL completed its second season this summer.
Morris and Mink will also be part owners of the league, which has 15 teams and plans to add at least three more in the near future.
"We wanted to keep indoor football in Montgomery, and we wanted more stability in the league," Morris said. "This is the ideal solution. The AIFL has had some challenges itself, but we're excited about it and we've seen good things that it's doing."
The league currently has franchises in Tupelo, Miss., Tallahassee, Fla., Florence, S.C., and Columbus, Ga.
Mink and Morris said teams in nearby cities can reduce travel costs and perhaps improve attendance and road presence.
"We hope that having teams close by will make it possible for our fans to travel to some of the away games," said Mink, who will continue to coach the team. "That's something that wasn't possible in the previous league."
The Maulers were members of the National Indoor Football League, which saw failed franchises and rampant financial woes last year.
Andrew Haines, the president of the AIFL, believes his league attracts a higher caliber of athletes as well.
"We had 20 guys who signed contracts with the Arena Football League or the Canadian Football League," Haines said. "That's what we want to see -- our players move up and play at a higher level."
The AIFL pays $50 more per game the NIFL.
The minimum salary in the new league is $250 per game -- and each member of the winning team gets a $50 bonus.
A single franchise player will be paid $500 per game.
Each team has an 18-man active roster, but expanding the roster will be one of several possible changes discussed in the owners' meetings later this month.
Morris said the team will continue to play at Garrett Coliseum. But they will have new turf, new uniforms and possibly air conditioning in the summer months.
"We'll do everything we can to make things as comfortable as possible for our fans," Morris said.
EXCLUSIVE: Maulers reborn as Bears
The Montgomery Maulers are dead.
But they'll be reincarnated today as a new team with a new name and a new league.
The owners will remain the same.
John Morris and Mike Mink, who took over the troubled franchise in the middle of last season, will announce the birth of the Montgomery Bears in a 4 p.m. news conference today at Buffalo Wild Wings.
The Bears will begin a 14-game season in February as members of the American Indoor Football League. The AIFL completed its second season this summer.
Morris and Mink will also be part owners of the league, which has 15 teams and plans to add at least three more in the near future.
"We wanted to keep indoor football in Montgomery, and we wanted more stability in the league," Morris said. "This is the ideal solution. The AIFL has had some challenges itself, but we're excited about it and we've seen good things that it's doing."
The league currently has franchises in Tupelo, Miss., Tallahassee, Fla., Florence, S.C., and Columbus, Ga.
Mink and Morris said teams in nearby cities can reduce travel costs and perhaps improve attendance and road presence.
"We hope that having teams close by will make it possible for our fans to travel to some of the away games," said Mink, who will continue to coach the team. "That's something that wasn't possible in the previous league."
The Maulers were members of the National Indoor Football League, which saw failed franchises and rampant financial woes last year.
Andrew Haines, the president of the AIFL, believes his league attracts a higher caliber of athletes as well.
"We had 20 guys who signed contracts with the Arena Football League or the Canadian Football League," Haines said. "That's what we want to see -- our players move up and play at a higher level."
The AIFL pays $50 more per game the NIFL.
The minimum salary in the new league is $250 per game -- and each member of the winning team gets a $50 bonus.
A single franchise player will be paid $500 per game.
Each team has an 18-man active roster, but expanding the roster will be one of several possible changes discussed in the owners' meetings later this month.
Morris said the team will continue to play at Garrett Coliseum. But they will have new turf, new uniforms and possibly air conditioning in the summer months.
"We'll do everything we can to make things as comfortable as possible for our fans," Morris said.