Fort Wayne Freedom

[preeths]

There may not be a league switch in their future after all.

[uiffan]

Can you share what you are hearing about the Freedom, the sale, and next year?

[preeths]

Nothing concrete, but af2 looks a lot less certain than it did a week or two ago.

[Malepig]

Actually everything looks less right now there, not just the af2 but any indoor football in Fort Wayne.

[phydeaux72]

This is all very interesting. What's going on with the UIF all of a sudden? First, we hear that Fort Wayne is going af2. Then, we hear that they might not be going af2. Now we hear that they may not have a team at all. That, and the news that Peoria is going to fold for a year, then go back to the af2. I was under the impression that the UIF was a symbol of stability in indoor football. I'm a little out of the loop when it comes to the UIF. But, why are two of the founding members suddenly jumping ship? Can someone shed some light as to what's really going on here?

[Jamie]

The love and stability of the UIF was all a sham?

[preeths]

The love and stability of the UIF was all a sham?

That's going way too far. When we talk about stability in minor league sports, we are speaking in relative terms. Teams will fold and relocate during the offseason. That's the nature of the beast. We've seen a lot of ups and down in indoor football over the last several weeks. Let's see what actually gets set in concrete before we make any solid judgments. No indoor/arena football in Fort Wayne in 2007 would be a big surprise.

[rams80]

This is all very interesting. What's going on with the UIF all of a sudden? First, we hear that Fort Wayne is going af2. Then, we hear that they might not be going af2. Now we hear that they may not have a team at all. That, and the news that Peoria is going to fold for a year, then go back to the af2. I was under the impression that the UIF was a symbol of stability in indoor football. I'm a little out of the loop when it comes to the UIF. But, why are two of the founding members suddenly jumping ship? Can someone shed some light as to what's really going on here?

Barring shady out-of-town ownership, Peoria will not be in the af2 for 2008. Book it.

Peoria's problems really aren't indicative of the UIF being unstable-anyway the Peoria rumors involved a different owner. As for Fort Wayne, the af2 rumors also involved changes in the ownership group.

[fwp]

While I'm not a big UIF fan, hopefully things can somehow work out so that the Freedom fans still have indoor football. With the struggles with the Freedom franchise over the last few years, perhaps af2 would be successful for a while, but truly the indoor game that they've been able to enjoy up to this time is much more preferrable.

Speaking as someone who went through that situation in the past.

Best of luck.

[Malepig]

There may not be a league switch in their future after all.

Not so fast there....when this whole soap opera comes out it will be something else.

[preeths]

The group that gets the arena, gets Fort Wayne.

[Freedom]

And then what happens to the "Freedom" name?

That is what I don't like if it's not a clean sale.

[Freedom]

While I'm not a big UIF fan, hopefully things can somehow work out so that the Freedom fans still have indoor football. With the struggles with the Freedom franchise over the last few years, perhaps af2 would be successful for a while, but truly the indoor game that they've been able to enjoy up to this time is much more preferrable.

Speaking as someone who went through that situation in the past.

Best of luck.

I never agreed much with you in the past FWP, but thank you. I prefer the indoor game also, but willing to give arena ball a chance if need be.

[Freedom]

Not so fast there....when this whole soap opera comes out it will be something else.

Of course it will, we wouldn't have it any other way . . .

Why change now? . . . lol

[afdave]

Considering the elimination of the substitutions rules in the AFL (and I assume af2), the only big difference between the AFL/af2 and "indoor leagues" is the nets.

[ChampionOfSteel]

I was under the impression that the UIF was a symbol of stability in indoor football.

Shutting down teams in the offseason is fine. Shutting down teams during the season is unacceptable (ala NIFL).

What the UIF has done thus far IS stable. I wish every sports league would adopt this mode of operation.

[AllTheRage]

Considering the elimination of the substitutions rules in the AFL (and I assume af2), the only big difference between the AFL/af2 and "indoor leagues" is the nets.

The nets are still a difference, but the biggest difference is the AFL/AF2 version of the game will not recruit true running backs. It doesn't serve their purpose, even with free substitution becasue they have 5 players in the box. This virtually nullifies any running game that teams may hope to have. Most of the other leagues only put 4 in the box and that lends to more of a running attack.

So, that along with the nets will be the biggest difference.

[ChampionOfSteel]

The nets are still a difference, but the biggest difference is the AFL/AF2 version of the game will not recruit true running backs. It doesn't serve their purpose, even with free substitution becasue they have 5 players in the box. This virtually nullifies any running game that teams may hope to have. Most of the other leagues only put 4 in the box and that lends to more of a running attack.

So, that along with the nets will be the biggest difference.

I'm hoping the change in substitution rules will be the first of many changes. I think it would be great to see the NIFL defensive alignment/rules adopted rather than the current jack linebacker setup. I like the one linebacker lined up 5 yards off of the line of scrimmage rather than the current setup.

Once the AFL does that, the AFL will have a monopoly on indoor football.

[Tater]

Hard to have a monopoly when that rule system already exists in 6 other leagues around the country. Good idea to change the rules, yes. A monopoly? Not even close.

[ragefan]

the owner of Peoria lives in Peoria... Where did you get the idea it was out of town ownership?

[rams80]

the owner of Peoria lives in Peoria... Where did you get the idea it was out of town ownership?

I know, that was my point-Pat Ward folded the Rough Riders, and the owner they were suggesting, Bruce Saurs (who owns the Rivermen) said he wouldn't set up a team unless the Rivermen hit attendance levels they haven't been at since the IHL days.

Therefore the only way Peoria has an af2 team in 2008 would be with the shady out-of-town ownership groups.

[ragefan]

Got it... Thanks...