ASHWAUBENON Tom Collins and 15 other Chicago Slaughter fans made the 3½-hour drive to see their team play Saturday.
However, Slaughter coach Steve McMichael and some of the players decided not to make the trip.
The Green Bay Blizzards season finale against the Slaughter, scheduled for a 7 p.m. kickoff at the Resch Center, didnt begin until 8:19. The Blizzard eventually lost 60-57 on a missed field goal as time expired.
The 13 Slaughter players who did make the trek, like quarterbackCody Kirby, were late because they had not received their paychecks from several of their previous games until Saturday, according to Blizzard chief operating officer and part owner Art Clarkson.
Upset by the situation, several Chicago players were said to have gotten off the busto Green Bay.
Needing eight players to field a 21-man roster, the remaining players for the Slaughter were a mixture of semi-pro players from Northeastern Wisconsin and former Blizzard players.
I was chilling at my moms house, said Marjahone Twitty, who is a running back for the Manitowoc Mariners semi-pro team.
I was going through emails and (my coach) shot me an email telling me to come out.
Twitty started as a defensive back, wearing No. 23 with a different last name on the back of his jersey.
Whoever it belonged to originally, though, may not be playing in the Indoor Football League again.
Clarkson said he is going to ask the IFL to ban McMichael and the Chicago players who didnt make the trip from being a part of the league again.
I heard the IFL was supposed to be getting stronger, but now when I see this, it makes me question that, said Collins, who has been attending Slaughter games since 2007.
The problem is ownership. I love the entertainment, but it just turns you off when the ownership, the league isnt putting forth their best effort.
Following seven seasons in arenafootball2, the Blizzard joined the IFL in 2010, when the league consisted of 25 teams.
That number has dwindled to nine franchises in 2013, which with a 4-9 record entering the finale, has been Blizzards worst since going 2-14 in its inaugural season in 2003.
After getting off to a 1-5 start, the Blizzard fired coach Robert Fuller and promoted defensive coordinator Chad Baldwin to the position.
Green Bay won its first three games under Baldwin before going on a four-game losing streak. As a result, this season marks the first time the squad has missed the playoffs since 2004.
The Blizzard drew 3,035 fans Saturday, giving it an average of 3,810 for its seven home games. That included 5,880 on March 23, which was the most it has seen during its four years in the IFL.
But after having to scramble to ensure his team would have an opponent Saturday, Clarkson indicated his ownership group will have to look at all options this offseason.
Im going to be honest with you, were so upset right now were going to revaluate the whole thing, Clarkson said.
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/art ... -shortfall