Alabama Hammers Set for 2011 SIFL Season
November 12, 2010 - Southern Indoor Football League (SIFL)
Alabama Hammers News Release
HUNTSVILLE, Ala - It's officially "Hammer Time" at the Von Braun Center's Propst Arena.
Southern Sports and Entertainment announced Friday that the Alabama Hammers would be Huntsville's expansion franchise in the newly revamped Southern Indoor Football League.
"Being raised in the city of Huntsville we felt the best thing we could do as a business was ensure that this quality entertainment product of indoor football stayed here,'' said Jeff Knight, Chief Executive of Southern Sports and Entertainment.
The Alabama front office will include former Vipers general manager Joe Stroud, who will serve as Director of Operations, and ex-Vipers assistant general manager Darrell Ponder, who will oversee marketing and media relations.
Stroud, who has called Huntsville home since 1999, said he is excited about the opportunity.
"I am so excited for Huntsville and the Tennessee Valley to have what it richly deserves to have - a locally owned professional football team," Stroud said. "An organization that will not only provide a total entertainment experience, but also provide Huntsville with a fantastic football team."
The SIFL kicks off its 12-game season March 19 with 16 teams and the Hammers make their debut March 20 against the Columbus (Ga.) Lions at the VBC. Alabama's division is set to include the Mobile Bay Tarpons and Albany (Ga.) Panthers along with Columbus.
Other member teams are: Erie (Pa.), Harrisburg (Pa.) Stampede, Trenton (NJ) Steel, Richmond (Va.) Raiders, Fayetteville (NC) Guard, Carolina (Charlotte, N.C.) Speed, Columbus, GA, Albany, GA, Lafayette (La.) Wildcatters, Lake Charles (La.) Swashbucklers, Houston Stallions, Corpus Christi Hammerheads, Rio Grande Valley (Texas) Magic and Abilene (Texas) Ruff Riders.
"It is with great pleasure we welcome Huntsville and the Hammers to the SIFL," Commissioner Gary Tufford said. "This is a veteran market in indoor football having been part of the (arenafootball2) family successfully for many years. It just makes perfect sense that they are a perfect fit for our league footprint".
The Arena Football League's Alabama Vipers - formerly a Tennessee Valley Vipers franchise that had a nine-year run in North Alabama - relocated to the Atlanta market in September. That opened the door for Knight's group.
"(Jeff's) enthusiasm and professionalism are second to none," Tufford said. "I know this team will be operated with the highest of standards, a team which Huntsville will be proud to call its own. I am elated to have Jeff Knight on board with our league. He'll bring the same element of professionalism with him that has made him successful in all of his business ventures."
2011 Alabama Hammers Schedule
(All Times TBA)
Date Day Opponent
March 20 Sunday COLUMBUS LIONS
March 26 Saturday @ Lake Charles Swashbucklers
April 9 Saturday @ Richmond Raiders
April 16 Saturday @ Albany Panthers
April 21 Thursday COLUMBUS LIONS
April 30 Saturday @ Mobile Bay Tarpons
May 6 Friday CAROLINA SPEED
May 14 Saturday MOBILE BAY TARPONS
May 21 Saturday ALBANY PANTHERS
May 28 Saturday @ Columbus Lions
June 4 Saturday FAYETTEVILLE GUARD
June 11 Saturday @ Albany Panthers
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Southern Indoor Football League Stories from November 12, 2010
- Alabama Hammers Set for 2011 SIFL Season - Alabama Hammers
- Lions add 1st team All-Southern Conference DE - Columbus Lions
- Richmond Raiders Add 15 More Players for 2011 - Richmond Raiders
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