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FireAnts Join New Professional Indoor Football League

November 17, 2004 - United Indoor Football Association (UIF)
Tupelo FireAnts News Release


Tupelo, MS--As the Tupelo FireAnts get ready to begin their fifth anniversary season of professional indoor football in Northeast Mississippi, the ‘Ants are looking forward to several key changes both on and off the field this upcoming year.

Starting with the 2005 season, the ‘Ants will make the jump to a brand new professional football league, United Indoor Football (UIF). The UIF was recently formed by twelve of the strongest indoor football teams across the United States, with three former league champions and five former conference champions among its ranks. Most of the teams in the new UIF have at least four years of previous operating experience along with a proven track record of success.

In addition to Tupelo, the UIF will have member teams in Huntsville, AL, Evansville, IN, Lexington, KY, Peoria, IL, Dayton, OH, Fort Wayne, IN, Wheeling, WV, Rapid City, SD, Sioux Falls, SD, Sioux City, IA, and Omaha, NE.

"When you look at the teams and ownership groups involved in the UIF, you know that this is the cream of the crop in the indoor football world," FireAnts Owner Monty Fletcher said. "Fans will continue to see the same quality indoor football they have come to expect, and so much more. The move to this league is also key for Tupelo, as we are able to build a strong regional rivalry with Huntsville and fans will still be able to enjoy familiar opponents we have hosted over the last four years like Ohio Valley, Fort Wayne, and Lexington."

On the field, the FireAnts are also looking to conclude coaching interviews in the next three weeks in order to find the next Head ‘Ant to lead the troops in 2005.

"There has been a lot of interest both locally and out of town, in terms of coaching candidates," Fletcher said. "We are trying to find the right fit that will help us build a strong, winning team for Tupelo and look to make this announcement by early December, with tryout following soon thereafter."

For more information about the Tupelo FireAnts, please call 662-620-BITE or visit www.fireantsfootball.com. You can also log on to the United Indoor Football website at www.unitedindoorfootball.com or call the league office at 1-888-433-4UIF for further information.

2005 UIF Division Alignment

South Division

Tupelo FireAnts (Tupelo, MS)

Tennessee Valley Pythons (Huntsville, AL)

Lexington Horsemen (Lexington, KY)

Evansville BlueCats (Evansville, IN)

Midwest Division

Dayton Warbirds (Dayton, OH)

Fort Wayne Freedom (Fort Wayne, IN)

Ohio Valley Greyhounds (Wheeling, WV)

Peoria, IL

North Division

Black Hills Red Dogs (Rapid City, SD)

Sioux Falls Storm (Sioux Falls, SD)

Sioux City Bandits (Sioux City, IA)

Omaha Beef (Omaha, NE)



United Indoor Football Association Stories from November 17, 2004


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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