Lions Lose Panthers as In-State Rival, Catch Fire as New One
Published on February 26, 2014 under Professional Indoor Football League (PIFL)
Columbus Lions News Release
COLUMBUS, Ga. - The Columbus Lions of the Professional Indoor Football League (PIFL) announce today their main intrastate rival for the past four seasons in both the PIFL and the Southern Indoor Football League, the Albany Panthers, will not participate in the 2014 season. In their place, assuming the same schedule and division as Albany for 2014, will be the Georgia Fire, based in the northwest Georgia city of Rome.
The Fire will play in the PIFL's American Conference along with the Lions, the Alabama (Huntsville) Hammers, and the Nashville Venom. All three of the Fire's divisional opponents are less than a four-hour drive from Rome, creating optimum travel within the division.
The city of Rome is no stranger to indoor football, having hosted the Rome Renegades indoor football team in 2005 and 2006. The Renegades played in the National Indoor Football League in 2005, then the American Indoor Football League the following year. The Renegades were highly successful on the field, making it to the championship game in each league both seasons. However, they fell short of the league title both times, losing to the Tri-Cities (Wash.) Fever on the road in 2005 and the Canton (Ohio) Legends at home in 2006.
For 2014, the Fire will play in the 4,000-seat Rome Forum on the banks of the Oostanaula River in downtown Rome. The team assumes the PIFL rights of all players previously signed by the Panthers for 2014, with additional signings to be announced. Cos DeMatteo has been named head coach of the Fire. DeMatteo was a star quarterback and receiver for the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga prior to a career with various AFL and af2 teams. He was an assistant coach with the af2's Tennessee Valley Vipers in 2008 and 2009 while also working in the fall as an assistant at Baylor. He took an assistant coaching job north of the border with the CFL's Toronto Argonauts in 2010 and 2011 before returning to Baylor in 2012 as an assistant coach. Most recently, he was the head coach of the PIFL's Knoxville Nighthawks last season.
The Fire will face the Lions in the Columbus Civic Center on Friday, April 11th, and Saturday, April 26th, while Columbus will travel to Rome to face the Fire on Friday, June 27th. The Fire's first test in the league will be on April 5th in Rome when they face the defending PIFL champion Alabama Hammers.
"With the circumstances that presented itself, this was a great resolution to it. I want to give kudos to the PIFL staff and ownership to make this move to help our league improve," said Lions head coach Jason Gibson. "I'm looking forward to playing in Rome...I know they had great crowds when the Renegades played there. Unfortunately, bad things happen like this in the sport, but I feel we took a step back but took two steps forward."
The 2014 home schedule kicks off in a little over five weeks. The Lions' home opener is on Saturday, April 5 against the Richmond Raiders, followed by back-to-back home games against the Georgia Fire on April 11 and 26, with a new kickoff time this season of 7:00 PM EDT. The home opener also marks the 100th game in Lions franchise history. Season tickets and corporate sponsorships are available now by contacting the Lions at 706.322.3336.
Professional Indoor Football League Stories from February 26, 2014
- Lions Lose Panthers as In-State Rival, Catch Fire as New One - Columbus Lions
- PIFL Welcomes Georgia Fire - PIFL
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