Post by gocavs1 on May 11, 2008 8:58:37 GMT -5
By DAVID BUCK
Star-Tribune staff writer
Saturday, May 10, 2008 12:05 PM MDT
Utah allowed 95 points to Arizona one week, and Wyoming scored 103 points against the Saints the next week.
The scores were embarrassing for the team, opponents and the league.
The American Indoor Football Association, with its name and reputation on the line, decided to step in and try to change the situation in Utah.
"They've been struggling," AIFA owner Michael Mink said. "Look at the scoreboard and their record. We want to make them more competitive."
Mink went to Utah last week and started the process of assisting the Saints. The team had additional tryouts to look for better talent, and Mink helped coaches at practice and added a few pages to the team's playbook.
"We go into a lot of different cities and help out throughout the year," Mink said.
Other teams the AIFA have helped so far this season include those in Florence (S.C.) and Huntington (W.V.).
The AIFA's involvement just started, but the Saints (0-6) have already improved. Utah lost to Arizona 43-22 at home on Tuesday, compared to a 74-point loss in Arizona (5-1) earlier in the season.
Utah was close until the third quarter but were unable to overcome numerous mistakes. The Saints dropped passes and fumbled the ball away in the red zone, something Mink attributed to the team adjusting to new players.
"You see the scoreboard the last couple of games and the way they played Arizona Tuesday night -- they had some new players in, only lost 43-22 and played a solid game," Mink said. "It was a big reversal."
Wyoming coach Dan Maciejczak said he heard the league was helping Utah.
"I heard they went down there, talked to them and told them to get their poop in a group -- get things together," Maciejczak said. "... I hope they did and I hope it works out. They have a halfway decent organization. I think they just need to clean up a couple of things."
Mink will be in New Mexico for today's game, and a league official plans to attend the Wyoming at Utah game on May 17.
"The league will stay as long as we have to to make them more competitive on and off field and grow as a franchise," Mink said.
Saints owner and coach Michael Curran did not return messages left at his office and cell phone for this story.
EXPANSION PLANS: AIFA owner Michael Mink said the West division plans to expand from four teams � Wyoming, Arizona, New Mexico and Utah � to six teams in the near future.
Wenatchee, Wash., looks to be one of the new franchises. The Web site for the Greater Wenatchee Regional Events Center says an AIFA franchise coming in March 2009 will compete against Wyoming, Arizona, New Mexico and Utah.
"We have a deal with them," Mink said. "We have the first opportunity for an indoor football team in there."
The Events Center is owned by Global Entertainment, which also owns the New Mexico and Arizona arenas.
"I think it's great," Wyoming coach Dan Maciejczak said. "I coached in Seattle for a season and it's a great market in terms of football. ... I think it will be great for the league, especially our division as far as making it stronger."
The AIFA is also looking at locations in Colorado, California and Kansas for expansion teams.
"We are approaching it building by building and community by community," Mink said.
Contact sports reporter David Buck at (307) 266-0596 or david.buck@trib.com.
AIFA Tracker
SAINTS GET HELP: American Indoor Football Association owner Michael Mink has been in Utah assisting the Saints, one of the worst teams in the AIFA.
EARLY RESULTS: Utah (0-6) lost to Arizona 43-22 on Tuesday compared to a 95-21 loss to the Adrenaline earlier in the season.
EXPANSION PLANS: Mink said the West division plans to expand from four to six teams in the near future.
HE SAID IT: "The league will stay as long as we have to to make them more competitive on and off field and grow as a franchise." -- Mink, on the AIFA helping the Utah Saints.
Star-Tribune staff writer
Saturday, May 10, 2008 12:05 PM MDT
Utah allowed 95 points to Arizona one week, and Wyoming scored 103 points against the Saints the next week.
The scores were embarrassing for the team, opponents and the league.
The American Indoor Football Association, with its name and reputation on the line, decided to step in and try to change the situation in Utah.
"They've been struggling," AIFA owner Michael Mink said. "Look at the scoreboard and their record. We want to make them more competitive."
Mink went to Utah last week and started the process of assisting the Saints. The team had additional tryouts to look for better talent, and Mink helped coaches at practice and added a few pages to the team's playbook.
"We go into a lot of different cities and help out throughout the year," Mink said.
Other teams the AIFA have helped so far this season include those in Florence (S.C.) and Huntington (W.V.).
The AIFA's involvement just started, but the Saints (0-6) have already improved. Utah lost to Arizona 43-22 at home on Tuesday, compared to a 74-point loss in Arizona (5-1) earlier in the season.
Utah was close until the third quarter but were unable to overcome numerous mistakes. The Saints dropped passes and fumbled the ball away in the red zone, something Mink attributed to the team adjusting to new players.
"You see the scoreboard the last couple of games and the way they played Arizona Tuesday night -- they had some new players in, only lost 43-22 and played a solid game," Mink said. "It was a big reversal."
Wyoming coach Dan Maciejczak said he heard the league was helping Utah.
"I heard they went down there, talked to them and told them to get their poop in a group -- get things together," Maciejczak said. "... I hope they did and I hope it works out. They have a halfway decent organization. I think they just need to clean up a couple of things."
Mink will be in New Mexico for today's game, and a league official plans to attend the Wyoming at Utah game on May 17.
"The league will stay as long as we have to to make them more competitive on and off field and grow as a franchise," Mink said.
Saints owner and coach Michael Curran did not return messages left at his office and cell phone for this story.
EXPANSION PLANS: AIFA owner Michael Mink said the West division plans to expand from four teams � Wyoming, Arizona, New Mexico and Utah � to six teams in the near future.
Wenatchee, Wash., looks to be one of the new franchises. The Web site for the Greater Wenatchee Regional Events Center says an AIFA franchise coming in March 2009 will compete against Wyoming, Arizona, New Mexico and Utah.
"We have a deal with them," Mink said. "We have the first opportunity for an indoor football team in there."
The Events Center is owned by Global Entertainment, which also owns the New Mexico and Arizona arenas.
"I think it's great," Wyoming coach Dan Maciejczak said. "I coached in Seattle for a season and it's a great market in terms of football. ... I think it will be great for the league, especially our division as far as making it stronger."
The AIFA is also looking at locations in Colorado, California and Kansas for expansion teams.
"We are approaching it building by building and community by community," Mink said.
Contact sports reporter David Buck at (307) 266-0596 or david.buck@trib.com.
AIFA Tracker
SAINTS GET HELP: American Indoor Football Association owner Michael Mink has been in Utah assisting the Saints, one of the worst teams in the AIFA.
EARLY RESULTS: Utah (0-6) lost to Arizona 43-22 on Tuesday compared to a 95-21 loss to the Adrenaline earlier in the season.
EXPANSION PLANS: Mink said the West division plans to expand from four to six teams in the near future.
HE SAID IT: "The league will stay as long as we have to to make them more competitive on and off field and grow as a franchise." -- Mink, on the AIFA helping the Utah Saints.
