14 Years StrongâÃâ¬Ã"Family, Fun and Football
October 31, 2019 - National Arena League (NAL)
Columbus Lions News Release
The Columbus Lions organization has a new team motto and Head Coach Jason Gibson plans to see that it remains.
The Lions have a winning tradition! The team has won Championships in three different leagues in the last 14 years. In fact, Gibson's charges have only missed the playoffs only once in those 14 years.
That Lions are currently competing in the National Arena League for the 4th year and the league has a strong foundation with the Lions being one of the anchors.
In addition to the six returning teams from last season, Gibson reports that two new teams are being added to the lineup, one in New Jersey and another in West Virginia.
"The Lions organization is a family with local ownership since the team began 14 years ago. This experience is for everyone to enjoy, from adults to kids. We are a local team that is participating on a national level. As our new motto states, this is family, fun and football!" explained Coach Gibson.
Columbus has always been a football town, located in the SEC shadow of Alabama, Auburn and Georgia. Many of our players have ties to those SEC teams or call the Chattahoochee Valley home. Expected to return for the 2020 season are former players Desmond Reese, and Darren Daniels and the Lions have also signed local Marion County standout kicker AJ Wells.
Also returning is Coach Rayshaun Reed as defensive coach who played in the NFL for both the 49ers and Jets as well as former Central of Phenix city grad and "Wardogs" dancer Katie Joe Lewis, who will head up the Lady Lions. The Wardogs were the original team in Columbus before the Lions when they started in the old AF2.
This year the Lions are focusing on improving the fan experience with lots of tailgating and family-oriented events before the games kickoff. Each game will have a theme that will bring the community together such as our annual military appreciation night with Fort Benning. The team will also offer youth camps for players (male and female) and cheerleaders as well as the Lions NFL Flag Football Youth League.
"The Columbus Lions season will start at the end of March and we want to represent our community in a positive manner and want to keep our participation in local events and have a place for the family to come and enjoy a game," said Coach Gibson.
National Arena League Stories from October 31, 2019
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- Gray Named Assistant Head Coach & OC - Massachusetts Pirates
- Lions Add Former Alabama DE - Columbus Lions
- 14 Years StrongâÃâ¬ÃâFamily, Fun and Football - Columbus Lions
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