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Indoor Football Preview 2009

by Danny Burnham
March 6, 2009 - Continental Indoor Football League (CIFL)


Indoor football kicks off this week, and I don't have a team or league to help out anymore.

First was the demise of my beloved Rome Renegades, then the WIFL, which had so much promise and the fall of the Augusta Colts (with whom I was briefly involved on an ankle deep level), and I'll say it was well-deserved. Then came the Arena Football League suspending 2009. It hasn't been fun.

I did manage to get several freelance writing gigs out of the sport, and it sparked a whole new line of thought for me. Maybe it'd be fun to cover the sport instead of spin it for a season! God knows the owners and players need someone to shadow their hijinks and with everything in transition, this is a key year where everything needs to be done better than ever before.

Mr. Paul Reeths has been kind enough to give me some space here, so let's see how this goes.

Best way to start is to go league-by-league

INDOOR FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Number of 2008 teams: 17 (8 in UIF, 9 in IFL)

Announced: 23 (2 new)

Will Start With 19

2009 Championship Game Prediction: Corpus Christi or Bloomington vs. Sioux Falls

The much-anticipated merger of the UIF and the IFL into a super league hasn't lived up to the hype; in fact, it was more of the same indoor stuff before things settled down. I didn't pick Rochester to make the championship game just to see what the owners would say on the message boards.

SOUTHERN INDOOR FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Number of 2008 teams: n/a

Announced: 6 (5 new)

Will Start With: 5 + one travel team

2009 Championship Game Prediction: Austin vs. Louisiana

The Louisiana Swashbucklers didn't like how the IFL was going and started their own party. This will be like the Steelers playing with five expansion teams, but a lot of eyes will be watching to see whether or not this works.

CONTINENTAL INDOOR FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Number of 2008 teams: 15

Announced: 8 (2 new)

Will Start With: 8 (Miami Valley replacing West Virginia)

2009 championship game prediction: Chicago vs. Milwaukee

The CIFL said goodbye to Rochester and a few others who went over to the IFL, and in some cases many people felt good riddance. It's a make a break year for these guys, but many are expecting a competitive season from top to bottom.

AMERICAN INDOOR FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION

Number of 2009 teams: 16

Announced: 16 (5 new)

Will Start With: 14

2009 Championship Game Prediction: Columbus at Wyoming.

Canton and Arizona went dark less than six weeks before kickoff but Harrisburg looks strong. It'd be nice to see all 14 teams return in 2010.

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Continental Indoor Football League Stories from March 6, 2009


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.


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