Post by Free Agent Fan on Feb 5, 2007 10:20:56 GMT -5
3rd arena season kicks off; Freeze prepare for opener
BY RON LEONARDI
ron.leonardi@timesnews.com [more details]
Published: February 05. 2007 6:00AM
The American Indoor Football Association opened its third season with one game Friday and two more Saturday.
The 14-team league was known as the American Indoor Football League in 2006, and as the Atlantic Indoor Football Association in 2005, its first season.
The most recent name change came during the offseason, when league ownership changed hands.
"I think this league now is more structured," Erie Freeze coach Arnold said. "A lot more sponsors and businesses are getting involved and backing the league. A lot depends on the coaches and what kind of product they can put on the field if this league is going to be effective and continue to grow."
Erie opens its season Friday at Canton.
Erie is a member of the seven-team Northern Division, which includes the Canton Legends, Danville Demolition, Huntington Heroes, Johnstown RiverHawks, Reading Express and the Pittsburgh RiverRats.
The seven-team Southern Division is composed of the Carolina Speed, Florence Phantoms, Lakeland Thunderbolts, Mississippi Mudcats, Montgomery Bears, Tallahassee Titans and Baltimore Blackbirds.
The Gulf Coast Pirates will be a league-run developmental team this season. The Gulf Coast franchise is expected to become a full AIFA member in 2008, headquartered in a Florida city that will be determined later.
"This league is getting better," Arnold said. "This is our third year and I've seen tremendous strides from then to now."
The Freeze, who were idle this past weekend, opened training camp in January with 31 players, including 10 holdovers from last season's team.
Returning players include former Gannon star Darmel Whitfield, defensive back Sam Reynolds, defensive back Chris Blackshear, defensive lineman Dave Smith, linebacker Roosevelt Benjamin, offensive lineman Shea D'Ambrosio, offensive lineman Anthony Peluso, offensive lineman Jon Sitter, wide receiver Manny Johnson and defensive end/linebacker Dajuan Smith.
Arnold has until Wednesday to reduce his active roster to 20 players.
Arnold scouted Friday's Johnstown-Canton game in Johnstown.
"Canton will have a game on us, but the extra week helps, too, because we can prepare a lot more and get our execution down," Arnold said.
Canton won the 2006 league championship, defeating Erie 54-45 in the first round of the playoffs. The Freeze finished 10-5 last season.
Former Freeze and Edinboro linebacker Seth Fragale recently signed with a team in National Football League Italy.
Fragale played last season for the Freeze. Fragale will remain on the Freeze's inactive roster so he would have the option of rejoining the Freeze later, Arnold said.
RON LEONARDI can be reached at 870-1680 or by e-mail.
BY RON LEONARDI
ron.leonardi@timesnews.com [more details]
Published: February 05. 2007 6:00AM
The American Indoor Football Association opened its third season with one game Friday and two more Saturday.
The 14-team league was known as the American Indoor Football League in 2006, and as the Atlantic Indoor Football Association in 2005, its first season.
The most recent name change came during the offseason, when league ownership changed hands.
"I think this league now is more structured," Erie Freeze coach Arnold said. "A lot more sponsors and businesses are getting involved and backing the league. A lot depends on the coaches and what kind of product they can put on the field if this league is going to be effective and continue to grow."
Erie opens its season Friday at Canton.
Erie is a member of the seven-team Northern Division, which includes the Canton Legends, Danville Demolition, Huntington Heroes, Johnstown RiverHawks, Reading Express and the Pittsburgh RiverRats.
The seven-team Southern Division is composed of the Carolina Speed, Florence Phantoms, Lakeland Thunderbolts, Mississippi Mudcats, Montgomery Bears, Tallahassee Titans and Baltimore Blackbirds.
The Gulf Coast Pirates will be a league-run developmental team this season. The Gulf Coast franchise is expected to become a full AIFA member in 2008, headquartered in a Florida city that will be determined later.
"This league is getting better," Arnold said. "This is our third year and I've seen tremendous strides from then to now."
The Freeze, who were idle this past weekend, opened training camp in January with 31 players, including 10 holdovers from last season's team.
Returning players include former Gannon star Darmel Whitfield, defensive back Sam Reynolds, defensive back Chris Blackshear, defensive lineman Dave Smith, linebacker Roosevelt Benjamin, offensive lineman Shea D'Ambrosio, offensive lineman Anthony Peluso, offensive lineman Jon Sitter, wide receiver Manny Johnson and defensive end/linebacker Dajuan Smith.
Arnold has until Wednesday to reduce his active roster to 20 players.
Arnold scouted Friday's Johnstown-Canton game in Johnstown.
"Canton will have a game on us, but the extra week helps, too, because we can prepare a lot more and get our execution down," Arnold said.
Canton won the 2006 league championship, defeating Erie 54-45 in the first round of the playoffs. The Freeze finished 10-5 last season.
Former Freeze and Edinboro linebacker Seth Fragale recently signed with a team in National Football League Italy.
Fragale played last season for the Freeze. Fragale will remain on the Freeze's inactive roster so he would have the option of rejoining the Freeze later, Arnold said.
RON LEONARDI can be reached at 870-1680 or by e-mail.
