Veteran Is Tabbed As New Coach

[Free Agent Fan]

chronicle.augusta.com/stories/111208/oth_483093.shtml

Veteran is tabbed as new coach
By Billy Byler| Staff Writer
Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Indoor football won't return to Augusta until 2010 at the earliest, but the Augusta Colts have shown they're still at work.

New Augusta Colts head coach Cedric Roach has served on the coaching staffs of seven different professional or semi-pro teams.
Click photo for optionsColts co-owner, general manager and team president John Sisson introduced Cedric Roach as the team's new head coach at a news conference Tuesday afternoon.

The Athens, Ga., resident won't have a team to coach when the American Indoor Football Association kicks off its 2009 season in March, but Sisson has pledged that the team, which has suspended operations, will return the following year with Roach at the helm.

"It was an opportunity for me to coach professional football and do it closer to home," Roach said. "We have 16 months to get ready."

Roach will bring more than 14 years of coaching experience to Augusta.

His resume includes seven different professional and semi-pro teams where he's served as either head coach or defensive coordinator.

The list included the Carolina Rhinos, who faced the Augusta Stallions multiple times during the 2001 and '02 arenafootball2 seasons when Roach was the Rhinos' defensive coordinator.

"I have an aggressive, military style of coaching," Roach said.

"I want to make sure our guys are conditioned. We want a team that's better than 7-7."

Last season, the team's first in the AIFA, the Colts went 7-7 under then-head coach Bubba Diggs who is no longer with the team after a contract dispute.

Roach's contract, which he signed Tuesday, runs through Dec. 31, 2009.

"Bottom line: I believe that this is the right man for this team at this time in our history," Sisson said.

"He's been a winner at all levels."

Roach said he plans to assemble a staff of four to five coaches before putting a team together for the 2010 season.

"Finding a coaching staff is the first priority," he said.

"Then we'll be recruiting players. I've talked to over 60 players so far who are interested in coming here."

Reach Billy Byler at [phone] or [e-mail].

[gonzo13]

www.wjbf.com/jbf/sports/professional/article/colts_hire_roach_as_new_head_coach/8536/

said in the press conference that he had been with football programs that are "no longer here"

...Works out well since the Colts are currently, "no longer here".

Good luck fellas...

[Free Agent Fan]

Indoor football won't return to Augusta until 2010 at the earliest, but the Augusta Colts have shown they're still at work.

[Gene]

They'd be the 1st team to return from a year hiatus. I hope they do return.

[lionsroar]

Danny has the right to be a lil' ill at the situation there but I still hope they return also for the Lions sake! They were the only consistant rival we've had even if it's been in different leagues and teams. The cities are all the same and let us not forget about the end user in all this. US!!

Good luck Colts! Sounds like some positive news for a crumbling southern division as it has seemed of late

[gonzo13]

Oh, don't get me wrong, I want them to return. I have always enjoyed going to and working games in the Civic Center. It's a great arena for this level, and Augusta can be a great town for this level, given the right situation. And I always hate to see one of these teams fail. I just don't believe that the current ownership can hack it.

[free agent fan2]

Yarn, Been sleeping this off season I to would like nothing better than to see football back in Augusta. Its a great market but, I know the current ownership can't hack it. No debate needed for Augusta to return alot will need to be done. We have investors waiting to buy the team if they will let it go who can run it and be sucessful they have proven it with their other sports programs.
The new coach I know he has a decent resume and may be just the thing for Augusta providing they return. In the mean time I'm changing flags for 2009 to Florence good luck Phantoms. Season ticket order coming shortly.

[gonzo13]

Tony, you talk about investors all the time. Why don't these guys just make an offer? I'm sure at this point, even Sisson would let go of the team for the right price.

[free agent fan2]

We did twice looks like we can put together close to 400,000 only problem is now the market is so tainted it would take at least a year to two years to clean up the mess left behind. One of my investors has expressed a desire to own one of these esspecially since he has two race teams, and auto parts business the other is too scared to invest in something so shaky in this economy but owns a rental trucking company. We have kicked around the possibility of bringing in several at 10 percent each.
We offered but it was tied in with certain folks still having a share of ownership they said no. Right now Athens GA, or purchasing shares in another franchise seems to be a better fit as one of my investors is located in Atlanta and his sponsor of his race team is located in Atlanta.

If Augusta can be bought the name needs to be changed and no one from the past needs to have anything to do with it. Its a crying shame that this market will go dark this season.

Last part of sentence(3 words) in post was deleted by Joe.

[Free Agent Fan]

I'm a betting man.......and I would say this. If you actually came up with $400,000, you would own the Augusta team. And I'd bet that if that money was raised, it would be an outright sale with no fringes attached. And I would call this bet a sure thing.

Anyone can say they made a couple offers. I could call down there right now and offer $100, then call back and offer $200. Then tell everyone that I made a couple offers to buy a team. So, if you really had $400,000 you'd be the owner right now.

[gonzo13]

Well it's too late this year to buy and build an existing team, or form one in a new market. So hopefully no jackasses will do anything of the sort.

And I just noticed something about this article that hasn't been brought up yet. It states that Roach's contract expires on December 31, 2009. By this time the Colts will have not even played a game.

If I were coming in as a new coach, I would want my contract to include at least one full season, especially in this situation where the last coach left due to a contract dispute.

In theory, when the time comes for the Colts to take the field again and they don't make it back, this guy has wasted a year working on building the team. And on the other side of that coin, if they do come back, they could still give this guy the axe and hire someone else after he does all the dirty work for a year.

I'm not saying either of these things will happen, and maybe the club has the best of intentions, but this IS indoor football.

[free agent fan2]

For the record and this is all I have to say about it. The money is in place has been for a year but I seriously question whether it would be feasable to make it in Augusta as do all the folks in the group of investors. Augusta has been damaged and it will take time to build an image again.By 2010 the new arena will be open in Columbia/Lexington and that might be a option as Columbia is a better market with USC.

Right now Id probably give you $100,000 for Augusta at best. Way too risky in this economy and with the strings attached to it.

I recently talked with an investor from the Columbia Stingers that team lost 800,000 in one year and didnt return.

[Takin' It All In]

Free Agent, Sir.

You talk a lot of *chit* for someone who never says anything and I highly doubt this will be the last we've heard from you on the subject of the Augusta Colts.

I happen to be a fan of the Augusta Colts and indoor football in Augusta and for better or for worse, I will continue to support the sport in this city. Agreed that without financial backing a team is not going to last very long; but also, neither will a team last very long without loyal fans.

The Augusta franchise was 'damaged' long before Sisson ever purchased it (take that to mean what you will) and I imagine that it has been an uphill battle for him to re-build a positive, fan-friendly, family-based image ever since. Free Agent, what you and others seem to not understand is that Sisson did make the purchase, thereby giving him ownership & thus the privilege & the responsibility for decisions, ALL the decisions, concerning the Augusta Colts ... whether you like or dislike / agree or disagree with those decisions.

The same reasoning can be applied to "your" investors, Free Agent (I have noticed that you tend to speak as if you financially own the Augusta Colts and therefore, can make the decisions in the purchase and sale of the franchise): It is their money (not yours, not Sisson's) to do with as they will. If they want to own a team in Augusta, then let them come forward and sign on the line; if not, then let them take their money elsewhere. Several new franchises are opening up and are available for purchase.

So, put up or shut up.

Oh, and contrary to popular belief ... Sisson does not "come with the team" if new ownership were to choose otherwise, so your excuse of his being in the way, i.e. strings attached, is a poor one.

The economy is shaky now for just about everyone, everywhere, in any business ... so that also is not a good excuse for not purchasing the Colts franchise. True, come 2010, the Colts may not return due to the economy, but they may also not return because of a dozen other reasons (consider the Mudcats and Florida); but it won't be for lack of trying.

Free Agent, all who read these message boards are well aware that you have your reasoning for not liking the Augusta Colts ... or at least not the present ownership ... that is your prerogative, your choice, but let me let you in a little secret: when you voice your displeasure and tear down the one team, you are in essence tearing down the whole franchise. To mention a few flaws (all clubs are flawed as they are owned and run by flawed men) is one thing; to drag all things and all people concerned thru the mud because you believe it "your duty" is quite another. Your "duty" to be judge and jury is not quite as expansive as you think it is.

Not only do we who read your words begin to roll our eyes and let out a small groan when we see you are once again on your "soapbox", but we also begin to wonder that if you speak continually as you do about one team, then you will most likely speak in the same manner about others. Soon, you will not be believed, nor will you be trusted.

My advice (which is purely your choice to take): Choose a team; connect with it and its people; support it with praise and loyalty ... no matter what the circumstances! ... and never speak in a derogatory manner of that which you do not know or nor fully understand. Even when you have the wisdom and the understanding, it is best to keep your mouth firmly shut.

Free Agent, may you find your place in 2009 and beyond and enjoy it to the fullest.

[JustMomma]

Nov 19, 2008 20:30:27 GMT -5 Takin' It All In said:

Free Agent, Sir.

You talk a lot of *chit* for someone who never says anything and I highly doubt this will be the last we've heard from you on the subject of the Augusta Colts.

I happen to be a fan of the Augusta Colts and indoor football in Augusta and for better or for worse, I will continue to support the sport in this city. Agreed that without financial backing a team is not going to last very long; but also, neither will a team last very long without loyal fans.

The Augusta franchise was 'damaged' long before Sisson ever purchased it (take that to mean what you will) and I imagine that it has been an uphill battle for him to re-build a positive, fan-friendly, family-based image ever since. Free Agent, what you and others seem to not understand is that Sisson did make the purchase, thereby giving him ownership & thus the privilege & the responsibility for decisions, ALL the decisions, concerning the Augusta Colts ... whether you like or dislike / agree or disagree with those decisions.

The same reasoning can be applied to "your" investors, Free Agent (I have noticed that you tend to speak as if you financially own the Augusta Colts and therefore, can make the decisions in the purchase and sale of the franchise): It is their money (not yours, not Sisson's) to do with as they will. If they want to own a team in Augusta, then let them come forward and sign on the line; if not, then let them take their money elsewhere. Several new franchises are opening up and are available for purchase.

So, put up or shut up.

Oh, and contrary to popular belief ... Sisson does not "come with the team" if new ownership were to choose otherwise, so your excuse of his being in the way, i.e. strings attached, is a poor one.

The economy is shaky now for just about everyone, everywhere, in any business ... so that also is not a good excuse for not purchasing the Colts franchise. True, come 2010, the Colts may not return due to the economy, but they may also not return because of a dozen other reasons (consider the Mudcats and Florida); but it won't be for lack of trying.

Free Agent, all who read these message boards are well aware that you have your reasoning for not liking the Augusta Colts ... or at least not the present ownership ... that is your prerogative, your choice, but let me let you in a little secret: when you voice your displeasure and tear down the one team, you are in essence tearing down the whole franchise. To mention a few flaws (all clubs are flawed as they are owned and run by flawed men) is one thing; to drag all things and all people concerned thru the mud because you believe it "your duty" is quite another. Your "duty" to be judge and jury is not quite as expansive as you think it is.

Not only do we who read your words begin to roll our eyes and let out a small groan when we see you are once again on your "soapbox", but we also begin to wonder that if you speak continually as you do about one team, then you will most likely speak in the same manner about others. Soon, you will not be believed, nor will you be trusted.

My advice (which is purely your choice to take): Choose a team; connect with it and its people; support it with praise and loyalty ... no matter what the circumstances! ... and never speak in a derogatory manner of that which you do not know or nor fully understand. Even when you have the wisdom and the understanding, it is best to keep your mouth firmly shut.

Free Agent, may you find your place in 2009 and beyond and enjoy it to the fullest.

Hi Carina! Welcome to the boards :-)

[Takin' It All In]

Hi Kelli!