Over a Cup of Coffee

by Jerry Hewitt
Published on October 1, 2010 under Southern Indoor Football League (SIFL)

"In indoor football, if it makes sense, it won't happen." That my friends is a phrase coined by a colleague a couple of days ago in a conversation about recent developments in the game. He threw that at me saying it should be called "Jerry's Law". Well I'm not sure it's my law or just the law of most who have been around this sport for any length of time and take an interest in the game that extends beyond what happens on the field.

It's funny in a way, but those of us who have followed indoor football for a few years have developed this pessimistic attitude towards things. We've seen so much that appears logical, makes sense, yet never happens or the total opposite happens. We sit around on our computers, pick every decision a league makes apart, tell the world how things should be done, and then watch leagues and teams make decisions that make little to no sense. We'll leave that subject where it is for now and just say that some of us expect decisions that defy logic when it comes to indoor football.

This morning I'm looking at 2011 to be a good season overall. I do have a few concerns though. To start with much of how the season plays out depends on the AIFA and what happens in that league prior to the season.

Right now it remains to be seen whether the AIFA East stays in business and keeps all of the seven announced and rumored teams. Word is at least one is gone no matter what, and that means travel will be affected. Though no financial problems on a team level appear to be looming, I would expect attendance in Harrisburg not to improve. If the league is sold, I'm not sure what may happen. What would dramatically affect this division is if even more teams follow Reading's lead and join another league even if the AIFA is sold off. A merger or accomodation with another league still appears to be the most likely outcome for the AIFA East.

I feel the AIFA West is a joke, and I'm sorry if I offend some in saying that, but it's the truth. The AIFA hasn't taken care of business out west and will now pay the price. Wenatchee and Wyoming were two very big losses. One thing the AIFA can't afford, is to lose stable teams. I can say it's business as usual out west for the AIFA as it is rumored they will put a team in Eugene, Oregon, a place a team doesn't belong and has minimal chance of any success. Taking Tucson on was another mistake as it just adds unneeded travel expenses, which so many at this level can ill afford. Out of all the leagues and all the divisions this appears to be the worst and the most likely to have major in-season problems.

The CIFL is being very quiet, but I'm doubting they will step outside of their footprint. This will make for easy road trips. The only real question mark maybe if Cincinnati moves to another league. With team participation agreements due in to the IFL this week, and Cincinnati saying it will let fans know next week what league it will play in, it has to lead to the question of if the IFL is its destination. That would be a blow to the CIFL, but they are used to their league champion jumping ship.

For the most part IFL teams will enjoy a fairly good travel-friendly schedule with few exceptions. Traveling to Prescott, Arizona and Fairbanks, Alaska cannot be considered as travel friendly. I don't care if both are subsidizing travel, the money still comes out of some team's pocket. The east and midwest parts of the IFL are about as travel friendly as it will ever get. These areas also provide for the best rivalries. Out west travel will never be as friendly due to the longer distances between available cities, but going into 2011 it's about as friendly as it could be. Having three teams in Washington certainly helps.

The SIFL still remains much of a mystery as to their final plans for 2011, but from what we know so far looks to have fared well in the off season. Greenville will go dark, Houston may have a rough time anb Mobile is a question mark, but the league returns a larger core. The wild card here may be if they strike a deal with the AIFA. The SIFL remains travel friendly, although recent expansion in Texas will increase travel for some. An accomodation with AIFA could throw any travel advantages out the window.

The UIFL appears to be on target for its first season, at least from outside appearances. According to the league, they could have added a few more teams, including some existing ones out of other leagues, but chose to stay with the six they set up. I'm told all are on course marketing wise and have staff and coaches onboard. For the most part, travel is friendly within this league and if teams are as financially sound as I'm told, they should face no problems.

Depending on what happens with the AIFA this off season, 2011 could be mostly drama free, but there does appear to be a storm brewing for 2012. The AIFA West is maybe the biggest question mark facing the sport after the 2011 season. If the going is as rough as I expect, we may see that division scrapped, leaving several teams with few options. The CIFL needs a good season so they can escape any storms brewing in their area after this upcoming season. the IFL landscape could change dramatically for 2012 depending on if the league works hard to save its Texas area and of course the new Southwest Division, a current question mark. If no teams closer to Prescott are brought in, the IFL very well could scrap any future plans for that division. For 2012 it might just be the wise move to drop Prescott if no closer competition is brought in and let Fairbanks go as well. The SIFL might push harder into Texas putting more pressure on the IFL teams there to make the decision whether to jump or stay. The UIFL could be looking to expand in 2012 and my opinion is they will be entertaining more established teams from other leagues rather than start ups. They could benefit greatly if the CIFL has a rough season and/or the AIFA East remains as is. If the AIFA doesn't dissolve, I'm sure teams in that division will look to jump with the IFL and UIFL being the two most likely destinations. Much of what happens in 2012 will be the direct result of what happens with the AIFA now and during the season. What happens in that league most likely will have an effect on all the other leagues.

Here it is, only the end of September 2010 and I'm talking about 2012, but one almost has to look a year ahead at times. Every season played has a direct effect on the next, so when I look at what may transpire in 2011 it only makes sense that I look at how it will impact the next season.

Southern Indoor Football League Stories from October 1, 2010

• Over a Cup of Coffee - OSC Original by Jerry Hewitt

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.