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IFL Indoor Football League

Over a Cup of Coffee

by Jerry Hewitt
September 14, 2010 - Indoor Football League (IFL)


At this point of the off season it's difficult to put anything comprehensive together as news is often more rumor than anything else, but from those rumors and what little real information is available, we can draw some conclusions. When discussing the state of any league we have to consider past actions as well as any announced or demonstrated changes. I'm going to look at each league and use a ten point system with ten being 100% 'perfect' and 0 being 'why are they even around.'

We'll start with the AIFA where we have maybe the least amount of real information as to the state of the league. There was much hype and optimism in the recent AIFA press release announcing their upcoming league meetings. There was nothing in that release that indicated anything other than business as usual. I don't think it matters what kind of deals are made in this league if there isn't the attempt to bring on more financially solid teams and a move to remove some of the league owned teams. If the attempt by the AIFA is to blow smoke and hope we fans buy it, then they are out of luck.

Looking ahead to 2011 I really have to wonder if the league will be comprised of mostly league owned and operated franchises void of any real attempts to market or endear themselves to communities. To add to my reasoning that there is maybe more smoke than real fire in the AIFA 2011 plan is two teams that jumped to the IFL, Reading and Wyoming. Both I'm sure had a chance to look over the new plan and opted out. Both of these franchises have been around long enough to make a good decision, and they chose the IFL. The Wenatchee Valley Venom also joined the IFL, and ownerships in Fayetteville and New Jersey called it quits. On my ten point system, I see the AIFA as maybe a weak two.

The CIFL had a bad season in that one team folded mid season and another shortly after. They were faced for the most part with low attendance and once again one really strong team with the rest mediocre at best. It is my understanding that for 2011 they are requiring a letter of credit, which is a move in the right direction. It is also heavily rumored they will go into 2011 with eight teams. History says that the CIFL generally has one or two dominating teams and the rest are bottom feeders. I have no way of knowing if this trend will continue into 2011, so I can only use history as my guide. The rumor is Cincinnati, last year's CIFL champ, is returning. That is a positive sign. I'm giving the CIFL a five on my scale. That five is based more on the fact that they seem to be trying to improve rather than simply maintain the staus quo.

The IFL just finished its league meetings and as of this writing nothing much has been made official by the league itself. Travel to Fairbanks, Alaska is still tortuous. Maryland dropping out is a positive. Rumor has it that Tucson will not field a team, while West Michigan has been given time to get its house in order. West Michigan only made it through last season because the league signed over the letter of credit, but even then rumors of unpaid players and staff remained. If the Thunderhawks didn't make good on their overdue accounts I can't see how anyone could look at them as a valuable asset. Outside of Fairbanks, the far west has been vastly improved with the addition of Wenatchee, Washington. The Midwest has been bolstered with the addition of Grand Island, Nebraska and Wyoming. In the East the IFL gained strength in Lehigh Valley and Reading. One could argue whether the positives outweigh the negatives, but overall the IFL did pick up some good teams. I'm still a little confused on some of the expansion obviously, but overall the IFL did well. Travel should be reduced which to me is one of the main things to look at when it comes to expansion. I'm giving the IFL a seven. Had they dropped Fairbanks I might have been inclined to rate them a bit higher.

Past history in the SIFL weighs heavily in my opinion as two years filled with the same mistakes is hard to put behind me even though they say 2011 will be different. I sincerely hope lessons have been learned and 2011 is a banner third year. I know many regard the pick up of Corpus Chris and Abilene as positives for the league, and that could be. Adding Mobile is certainly a plus if that ownership is solid and not like last year's Greenville fiasco. The SIFL hired a new commissioner to help out, but to date don't I don't see anything from him that says the commissioner's position is any stronger than it was. I'm guessing the SIFL is going to end up with around nine or ten teams. If all are solid and play by the rules, then it ought to be a good season, but if any are less than financially stable and ownerships start causing problems, things will be no different than 2009 and 2010. As I said at the start, history plays a big part in my only giving the SIFL a four.

Last we have the UIFL. There is nothing to go on here other than they have six markets to kick off with. Saginaw is the final team which makes little sense if the other rumor I heard of Wheeling offering the league a spot is true. Wheeling would fit the footprint much better, but my speculation is that no independent ownership was found in Wheeling, but was in Saginaw. If that's the case I have to give the UIFL credit on that. Past errors by one of the UIFL creators should be considered along with the business model the league has put forth. AI'm giving the new league the benefit of the doubt for the most part and giving them a six.

So there you have it. I rated the IFL highest in part because they appear to be the most stable at this point. I rated the AIFA lowest for reasons I think most can agree upon. The CIFL and SIFL still have a lot to prove if anyone is going to say they well be better than in previous seasons, but both appear to be headed in the right direction. The UIFL is the new kid, and in most fans' opinions has a lot to prove, but they appear to have six solid markets to get the ball rolling.



Indoor Football League Stories from September 14, 2010


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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