Barracudas drop from af2 ranks

by Walter L. Johnson II
November 13, 2002 - arenafootball2 (af2)

Add yet another af2 franchise to the number that have called it quits. The Pensacola (Fla.) Barracudas became the seventh franchise to fold this offseason, joining the Augusta (Ga.) Stallions, Carolina Rhinos, Fresno (Calif.) Frenzy, (Greenville, S.C.), Jacksonville Tomcats, Mobile (Ala.) Wizards, Roanoke (Va.) Steam, and Tallahassee (Fla.) Thunder.

Obviously, the news of another franchise's demise doesn't sit well with the folks at af2 headquarters in Chicago, who suddenly now find themselves having to organize a brand new schedule for the 2003 season. When a schedule is finally put together, it should not only reflect that four teams are gone, but also accomodate the new franchises in Lafayette, La. and Cincinnati.

There's also the possibility that Green Bay, Wis. (yes, that Green Bay), may get an af2 franchise before all is said and done. The only difference here that a potential Green Bay team would be facing the likes of Quad City, Peoria, Louisville, and maybe Wichita, as opposed to the Vikings, Lions, and Bears of NFL fame. But first, af2 officials must hope and pray that no more teams fold. After all, their parent league, Arena Football, already has a schedule in place for the 2003 season, with an expansion team in Colorado coming on board and the Toronto Phantoms choosing not to come back.

Speaking of the AFL, you may have heard by now that NBC will televise weekly games on a regional basis starting this February. In the past, the Arena Football season started in April, just shortly after the professional baseball season started. Now, with the season starting two months earlier, and a week after the Super Bowl, Arena football is basically competing against college basketball on CBS, as well as a limited schedule of NBA games on ABC each Sunday between February and April.

The big question that remains is this: will the viewers choose between seeing an exciting, high-scoring arena football game, watching a regular-season NBA contest that could be all but over by the fourth quarter, or watching the late scramble for berths in the NCAA tournament? Only time will tell.

As for expansion, the AFL may be looking at large markets such as Boston, Philadelphia, St. Louis, as well as smaller markets such as Columbus, Oh., Oklahoma City, and Jacksonville. In fact, Jacksonville Jaguars owner Wayne Weaver already owns the territory to a potential AFL franchise. For every Green Bay, the AFL could have their Buffalo, or Jacksonville, or even Nashville. To paraphrase the saying in a song: "The future is so bright, AFL commissioner David Baker may have to wear shades."

arenafootball2 Stories from November 13, 2002

• Barracudas drop from af2 ranks - OSC Original by Walter L. Johnson II
• Wolves Announce Open Tryout - Mohegan Wolves
• Wolves Name Mark Stoute New Coach - Mohegan Wolves
• Riptide Player Tryouts This Saturday - San Diego Riptide
• McClurgs Spectacular Game Sparks Spartan Win - San Diego Riptide

The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer(s), and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.