WIFL now in full throttle after staggered start
March 29, 2007 - World Indoor Football League 2 (WIFL 2) News Release
Everybody has played everybody else and all four teams have at least one home game under their belt in the inaugural season of the World Indoor Football League. So let's do it all again.
The first set or round of games concluded last Saturday night in Augusta, Ga., with the Spartans downing the Columbus Lions 49-45 in front of 5,200 fans in the James Brown Arena. It was the fourth game decided by four points or less this season, featured the largest crowd of the season and left three teams tied for first place at 2-1.
"This is a commissioner's dream,'' said WIFL boss Gary Tufford. "To have parity makes for a great sale and a wonderful product. Everyone loves a close contest and that's exactly what we've been seeing. This is indoor football at its best.
"My hat's off to Augusta for a great game, a great crowd and a fantastic presentation," Tufford added. "We'll build on this game have some momentum going into the heart of our season."
After a staggered start, the WIFL is now in full throttle. For the first time, all four teams will be in action at once on Saturday when Daytona Beach hosts Augusta and Osceola plays Columbus.
HOW COMPETITIVE IS THE WIFL TO OTHER LEAGUES? HERE'S A CHART
| Games | Margin Of Victory | 3-point Or less | 7-point Or less | Blowouts (21 or more) | Win Score | Lose Score | |
| WIFL | 6 | 8.8 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 47.6 | 38.8 |
| AIFL | 38 | 23.7 | 3 | 8 | 18 | 53.4 | 29.7 |
| CIFL | 6 | 34.3 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 57.0 | 22.7 |
| UIF | 5 | 8.4 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 38.2 | 29.8 |
| AFL | 35 | 14.4 | 6 | 11 | 9 | 60.5 | 46.1 |
"Now is the time we start to tighten up the ship," Tufford said. "We tweak the things that aren't working and pick up the things that have fallen through the cracks. The sorting out period is over. It's late March and all the leagues are playing - good luck to all the other leagues as they start up their seasons."
The four-team league has developed just as Tufford expected.
"We're building fantastic rivalries," Tufford said. "Fans are looking forward to seeing the teams come back. They are already developing favorites and foes amongst the rival teams. The players also feel comfortable against their opponents and that makes for better football. As a player, I loved multi-game rivalries. It made you that much more competitive knowing your opponent so well."
So far, Tufford has been impressed with the quality of players, especially linemen.
"We have an interesting cross section of players," Tufford said. "We've seen an influx of arena players finding their way into our camps and the guys who have been here all along are holding their own as well. This is what it is all about, great competition leading to the advancement of worthy personnel."
Other issues from the first round of the WIFL season:
The death of Javan Camon: "It is always tragic to lose a friend and comrade. Javan's death made all of us realize how blessed we are to have the opportunities we have in life. We miss him immensely. He will always be apart of our teams, our league and our souls."
Expansion: "It's amazing how we aren't even through the first half of season one and people are already talking year two," Tufford said. "All I'm going to say now is that we have many interested groups for various cities. It is an ongoing process and we will continue to analyze and qualify potential markets and ownership prospects."
On a team in another league using turf from a WIFL market: "Yes, we did lend our turf to a team in a competing league and I think that shows that the WIFL is above the pettiness and unnecessary drama in the sport. There was a cry for help and the WIFL was there. Our concern was for the sport and the city that needed help. Someday they will return the favor I am sure. That's it plain and simple."
• Discuss this story on the World Indoor Football League 2 message board...
World Indoor Football League 2 Stories from March 29, 2007
- AFL great Barry Wagner joins Thunder - Daytona Beach Thunder
- Barry Wagner signs with Daytona Beach Thunder - OSC Original by Jason Lucas
- WIFL now in full throttle after staggered start - WIFL 2
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.
