Titans need a whole lot of money fast

[Gridiron Battle Sports]

www.tallahassee.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2007710030340

Originally published October 3, 2007
Titans need a whole lot of money, and they need it fast
By Bob Ferrante
DEMOCRAT CORRESPONDENT Print Email to a friend Subscribe

The Tallahassee Titans need a cash infusion from local investors or the team could be forced to shut down, owner David Morris said Tuesday night.

Morris was given an extension to repay the $30,000 the Titans borrowed from the Civic Center in April. The team had asked for $30,000 of its $75,000 security deposit to cover operating expenses, and the Civic Center's board of directors approved the move.

The deadline to return the money was Monday, but Civic Center director Ron Spencer has extended the deadline to Friday.

"I have to find somebody locally who wants to help," said Morris, who has been talking with an investment group. "Without an investor, indoor football will not be back in Tallahassee next year. Basically, I'm running out of time."

And the Titans are on the clock with another pressing matter.

The Titans joined the World Indoor Football League in August - but will never play a game in the league.

The five-team WIFL has been reduced to nothing after two Georgia teams - Augusta and Columbus - fled to the American Indoor Football Association. Daytona Beach has applied to join arenafootball2, and Osceola County will likely not play next season.

Dan Ryan, who was the Director of Communications for the WIFL, said he is no longer working for the league. When asked if it is defunct, he replied, "Technically."

The cash-strapped Titans jumped from the AIFA after their inaugural season, hoping to reduce travel expenses by joining a smaller, geographically friendly league. Morris had estimated that he could save tens of thousands of dollars on travel costs, and the WIFL also allowed the Titans to postpone league dues until the team got back on its feet.

One option for the Titans would be returning to the 16-team AIFA, which in the offseason has added teams in Fort Myers and Fayetteville, N.C., before the recent addition of Augusta and Columbus.

"We've always thought that it was a great city and the Titans are a great organization," AIFA co-owner John Morris said. "We need to know if it's right for the league."

Added AIFA co-owner Michael Mink: "They have to be economically viable."

[Gridiron Battle Sports]

Friday is the day we will all know the fate of the Titans. Atleast they are talking to the media now.

If we manage to play this season, it will be in the AIFA. There is no other option for us. It all comes down to proximity.

[xmradiodave]

Nothing like waiting until sunset to talk to the media. They could have asked for help a lot sooner. They would not be in this position now had they not waited so long to open up for investment offerings.

I hope they can get something done. It would be a fairy tale ending if they could get an investor(s) squared away, pay back the loan, and enter back into the AIFA. Good luck to you guys in Tallahassee. Hopefully we will see you playng in 2008.

[Gridiron Battle Sports]

Yeah, they have been looking for investors every since before the end of last season, but It has all been behind closed doors. My sources tell me that they have some interests, but the 30,000 is a huge factor.

They should have went to the media for help a long time ago. Now all we can do is wait and see what happens.

[xmradiodave]

I understand the pride factor and wanting to make things work on your own, but this was just a poor decision. I am not slamming the organization in any way. It seems like they can't get a break these days. Money problems plagued the team in the AIFA. They moved to WIFL in hopes of getting a fresh start. WIFL is "technically" defunct now before they even got a chance to prepare for the season. They are left holding onto a huge debt to the arena. Just an all around bad scenario.

The whole WIFL deal seemed a little unethical. The WIFL had to have known that their league was in dire straits. To welcome a new team with promises of milk and honey seemed a bit, predatory I suppose.

Once again, let it be known that this is not an attack on the WIFL per se. I am simply questioning their logic. It simply seems not to make sense. Of course, they (WIFL) had nothing to gain or lose as they granted the Titans access to the league sans their enrollment fees, but that seem kind of betraying to the Titans.

[Gridiron Battle Sports]

I agree, but we have much bigger problem than that. We just want to play ball. We need to get this team operational in order to play anywhere. Even if the WIFL was going to be around this season we still would have had to pay the Arena 30,000 so this is the main issue at this point.