I got an email today from the AAFL. They mentioned tryouts and cities that are interested.
If Michigan gets a team they should hire Mike Keller in some capacity. He would do a great job with the team.
Thank you for the interest you have expressed in the All American Football League. The following is information on our inaugural try-out camp to be conducted next month in Orlando.
The All American Football League (AAFL: http://www.allamericanfootballleague.com) will conduct the first of a series of national tryouts for roster positions on eight charter teams at Orlando's Citrus Bowl, July 2-3, 2007. The schedule of try-outs was announced by AAFL's Board Chairman and former NCAA President Cedric W. Dempsey.
The AAFL has scheduled its inaugural season to begin next spring. Venue agreements with university or municipal hosts have or are in the process of being finalized. Unlike other professional leagues, the AAFL is closely positioning itself to the traditional rivalries that help fuel the passion for college football to create and sustain team loyalty. Located in avid college football markets (i.e. Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, Mississippi, North Carolina, Tennessee and Texas), League teams will play a 10-game regular season schedule with a 42-man roster. The top four teams will advance to the two-round, post-season play-offs. The League's inaugural championship game is planned for July 3, 2008.
"The tryouts represent an important and symbolic milestone in the League's development since the concept of the league was initially formulated over one year ago," said Dempsey. "Based on the board's collective experience in intercollegiate sports, we know the passion for college football is unrivaled among fans in the markets we've identified to host franchises.
We also know from market research that fans in these markets are enthusiastic about having the opportunity to see players who competed for some of the most storied programs in college football once again brought together under the banner of their school colors and traditions, said Dempsey.
For example, League research conducted among college football fans in northern Florida revealed significant interest in a team comprised mostly of former University of Florida players competing against teams whose rosters feature former players from both traditional rivals and other college football powerhouses.
From a marketing perspective, the AAFLs point of differentiation is the existing team passion and loyalty, the year-round interest in embracing tradition and the desire to see longstanding rivalries played out in a way thats both familiar but also different, explained Dempsey. To the extent practical, players will be placed on the team hosted by or located closest to their alma-mater.
Another AAFL point of difference is its player eligibility requirement. Developed by the leagues Board members, who include former ACC Commissioner and Notre Dame Athletic Director Gene Corrigan, former UCLA Athletic Director Peter Dalis, former Tennessee head football coach and Athletic Director and Florida head football coach Doug Dickey and former U.S. Naval Academy Athletic Director Jack Lengyel, players must have earned their Bachelors degree in addition to exhausting their college football eligibility.
The AAFL is fully aligned with the academic missions of the universities that will serve as hosts for our franchises, said Dempsey. The university administrators weve met believe our eligibility requirements will help improve graduation rates among football student-athletes. Our players still have the desire and belief in their ability to compete at the highest level but are well prepared to pursue professional careers outside of football. As such, they will serve as excellent role models for college student-athletes and high school athletes who want to play at the college level and beyond, he said.
On July 2 from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., the Citrus Bowl in Orlando, FL will serve as the venue for the League's first try-out camp. Player candidates must complete an application available on the League's website. On July 3, a second camp will be conducted for invited player candidates from 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. The camp will include a non-contact passing and kicking game scrimmage from 7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. to which the public is invited.
Additional try-out camps are planned for early September in locations to be announced and in late September in Texas and Michigan at venues to be announced.
email sent out by the AAFL
I want to buy shares
I cant wait till they start selling shares of the teams i want to buy some.
a michigan team !
what chance do we have in getting a pro team that might be worthy of the designation cause the lions sure arent ?
Radio interview in Boise with an AAFL rep. Made it sound like they had SEC markets in hand, when I believe one-half has been actually announced.
Funny thing is that they appear to expect to do this without national TV (there is talk of a regional cable setup), and they expect to pay every player $100,000 per year.
The hosts were only semi-impressed... but they see the possibility that the schools would want to be involved because it guaranteed more of the COLLEGE program's recruits a good-paying football job for a few years after graduating.
I disagree. Mud.
Funny thing is that they appear to expect to do this without national TV (there is talk of a regional cable setup), and they expect to pay every player $100,000 per year.
The hosts were only semi-impressed... but they see the possibility that the schools would want to be involved because it guaranteed more of the COLLEGE program's recruits a good-paying football job for a few years after graduating.
I disagree. Mud.
