WildCats, Frenzy join af2

by af2 Press Release
October 17, 2001 - arenafootball2 (af2)

af2 Press Release

Around the League

WildCats claw their way into 2002
Today, the Cape Fear WildCats officially became a member of the Class of 2002 expansion teams with their press conference announcing their team name and intention to play in the 2002 season. Roddy Jones, who is the managing owner of the Arena Football Leauge's Carolina Cobras (in Raleigh, N.C.), will be the team's operator. In two seasons, the Cobras became one of the AFL's best teams. WildCats fans are hoping that Jones can bring the same success to the new team located just down the road in Fayetteville.

Fresno unveils Frenzy as team name, logo
Officials with the Fresno team revealed 'Frenzy' as the winner of a Name-the-Team contest that drew more than 2,500 suggestions. Fresno resident Patrick Tenyenhius won the contest, choosing Frenzy because "Arena Football is a whole lot of energy and action and I believe that 'Frenzy' captures the essence of the sport."

Two af2 coaches highlight inaugural East Coast Bowl Game
Richmond Speed coach Richard Davis and Greensboro Prowlers coach Gary Tufford will coach the Virginia and North Carolina teams, respectively, in the first East Coast Bowl Game All-Star Game on Nov. 24. The game will be the showcase for all-star players at Div. II and III schools in both states and will be played in Petersburg, Va., at 1 p.m.

Team tryouts

Listed below are the latest player tryout dates for af2 teams:

WICHITA
Jan. 27, 2002, at 9 a.m. at the Kansas Coliseum. Registration has already begun at the Wichita office. The cost is $45 per person. Only cash or cashiers checks accepted.

WILKES-BARRE/SCRANTON
Oct. 28, 2001, at Wyoming Valley Sports Dome (131 Bear Creek Blvd., Wilkes-Barre, PA, 18702). Linemen/fullbacks/linebackers register at 7 a.m., tryout begins at 9 a.m. Quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, defensive backs and kickers register at 11 a.m., tryout begins at 1 p.m. Pre-registration fee is $40, with checks accepted until Oct. 20, and credit cards until Oct. 26. Registration is $50 on Oct. 28, and only money orders or cash accepted that day (NOT credit cards). Call 570-970-4232 to pre-register.

af2 in the NFL

Since the inception of arenafootball2, 13 players from af2 have signed NFL contracts-including eight who played in the 2001 season.

The Week 5 statistics for the two who made the 53-man active roster are listed below. A third player-Justin Skaggs with the Washington Redskins-is on an NFL practice squad.

Reggie Swinton, Dallas Cowboys (Arkansas Twisters)
Swinton was not able to play in the Cowboys' 9-7 win against Washington on Monday. Though he took the field, Swinton had to leave minutes into the game because of a strained right hamstring. The Cowboys have a bye this week and say they plan to rest Swinton the remainder of the week. He will be reevaluated next week.

Jim Tarle, Jacksonville Jaguars (Jacksonville Tomcats)
Jacksonville had a bye last week

2002 Expansion Update

The league office of arenafootball2 has had several announcements in recent weeks concerning the expansion of the league for the 2002 season. The af2 consisted of 15 teams in its inaugural season before beginning the 2001 season with 28 teams.

The af2 continues with its original five-year plan of being a nationwide league with as many as 70 teams by the 2004 season. Fans of the fastest-paced, most in-your-face football on the planet have been clamoring for the af2 to land in their community and many recent cities have responded.

Listed below are the cities that have been approved and have publicly announced their intention to play in the 2002 season:
CITY (Date of Announcement)
Bakersfield, Calif. (April 3, 2001)
Mobile, Ala. (June, 15, 2001)
Albany, N.Y. (June 20, 2001)
Manchester, N.H. (June 21, 2001)
New Haven, Conn. (June 25, 2001)
Uncasville, Conn. (July 19, 2001)
Wilkes-Barre, Penn. (July 24, 2001)
Fresno, Calif. (Aug. 1, 2001)
Honolulu, Hawaii (Aug. 6, 2001)
Fayetteville, N.C. (Oct. 17, 2001)

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arenafootball2 Stories from October 17, 2001

• WildCats, Frenzy join af2 - OSC Original by af2 Press Release
• Fayetteville lands af2 team - OSC Original by Press Release

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