Post by Canton Cougar Fan on Oct 3, 2007 9:59:30 GMT -5
www.scnow.com/midatlantic/scp/sports.apx.-content-articles-FMN-2007-10-02-0019.html
Tuesday, Oct 02, 2007 - 11:13 PM
By Shawn Singleton
Three months after the American Indoor Football Association held its all-star and championship games at the Florence Civic Center, the league has made some sweeping changes.
Due to an illness to Joey Shannon, AIFA owner and president John Morris has assumed temporary ownership of the Florence Phantoms.
The move allayed any fears Florence could lose the team to another city. Morris said keeping the Phantoms in the Civic Center was his main reason for taking over the team.
Morris and the league are looking for another local owner for the team.
“(The AIFA) stepped in because (Florence) was too good of a market to lose,” Morris said. “We’re going to run this thing, but we’re still actively searching for an owner for this team.
“The last thing we wanted to do was put an owner in that isn’t able to give this team what it needs financially.”
One of the first things Morris will do as owner is to name a new coach. Carlos Clayton, the 2007 AIFA coach of the year with the Montgomery Bears, will be named coach of the Phantoms in a press conference set for 1 p.m. on Friday.
“Carlos gets the most out of his players, and that’s why I respect him so much,” Morris said. “Florence is going to be very excited to have someone like him running this team.”
After an 0-5 start in Montgomery last season, Clayton took control of both the offensive and defensive playcalling. The result was five wins in the Bears’ last nine games of the season, and the respect of the league.
“Carlos made some adjustments after that bad start,” Morris said. “After that, the Montgomery Bears were the most feared team in the league toward the end of the season.”
Five new teams will join the AIFA for the 2008 season, which gets under way on Feb. 2. Another team will join in 2009.
The Fayetteville Guard and the Wyoming Calvary, last season’s champions and runners-up of the National Indoor Football League, respectively, will join the AIFA in 2008.
From the World Indoor Football League, the Augusta (Ga.) Spartans and the Columbus (Ga.) Lions enter the AIFA. Augusta defeated Columbus 63-60 in last season’s WIFL championship game.
In addition, the Fort Myers (Fla.) Stingrays — a startup franchise — will join the AIFA in 2008. The franchise that will join the league in 2009 has been awarded to Harrisburg, Pa.
The Guard, Lions and Spartans are centrally located in relation to existing AIFA teams. This will help keep travel costs at a reasonable level, while enhancing the possibilities for some regional rivalries.
Fayetteville’s entry into the league gives the Phantoms a geographical rival just 87 miles away.
“That has been one of our focuses. You put Columbus and Augusta in that mix, it’s just a great fit,” Morris said.
“We couldn’t be happier with the situation. When you look at these teams, you truly can say that we’re probably one of the best leagues out there as far as talent is concerned.”
Tuesday, Oct 02, 2007 - 11:13 PM
By Shawn Singleton
Three months after the American Indoor Football Association held its all-star and championship games at the Florence Civic Center, the league has made some sweeping changes.
Due to an illness to Joey Shannon, AIFA owner and president John Morris has assumed temporary ownership of the Florence Phantoms.
The move allayed any fears Florence could lose the team to another city. Morris said keeping the Phantoms in the Civic Center was his main reason for taking over the team.
Morris and the league are looking for another local owner for the team.
“(The AIFA) stepped in because (Florence) was too good of a market to lose,” Morris said. “We’re going to run this thing, but we’re still actively searching for an owner for this team.
“The last thing we wanted to do was put an owner in that isn’t able to give this team what it needs financially.”
One of the first things Morris will do as owner is to name a new coach. Carlos Clayton, the 2007 AIFA coach of the year with the Montgomery Bears, will be named coach of the Phantoms in a press conference set for 1 p.m. on Friday.
“Carlos gets the most out of his players, and that’s why I respect him so much,” Morris said. “Florence is going to be very excited to have someone like him running this team.”
After an 0-5 start in Montgomery last season, Clayton took control of both the offensive and defensive playcalling. The result was five wins in the Bears’ last nine games of the season, and the respect of the league.
“Carlos made some adjustments after that bad start,” Morris said. “After that, the Montgomery Bears were the most feared team in the league toward the end of the season.”
Five new teams will join the AIFA for the 2008 season, which gets under way on Feb. 2. Another team will join in 2009.
The Fayetteville Guard and the Wyoming Calvary, last season’s champions and runners-up of the National Indoor Football League, respectively, will join the AIFA in 2008.
From the World Indoor Football League, the Augusta (Ga.) Spartans and the Columbus (Ga.) Lions enter the AIFA. Augusta defeated Columbus 63-60 in last season’s WIFL championship game.
In addition, the Fort Myers (Fla.) Stingrays — a startup franchise — will join the AIFA in 2008. The franchise that will join the league in 2009 has been awarded to Harrisburg, Pa.
The Guard, Lions and Spartans are centrally located in relation to existing AIFA teams. This will help keep travel costs at a reasonable level, while enhancing the possibilities for some regional rivalries.
Fayetteville’s entry into the league gives the Phantoms a geographical rival just 87 miles away.
“That has been one of our focuses. You put Columbus and Augusta in that mix, it’s just a great fit,” Morris said.
“We couldn’t be happier with the situation. When you look at these teams, you truly can say that we’re probably one of the best leagues out there as far as talent is concerned.”
