Post by marinersmedia on Feb 22, 2010 18:18:20 GMT -5
Competitive Eastern Conference Stands between Mariners and AIFA Championship
BALTIMORE, MD (February 22, 2010) – With the Eastern Conference champion set to host AIFA Bowl IV, the American Indoor Football Association’s annual championship game, the Baltimore Mariners already have announced goals of bringing not only the championship game to Baltimore, but the championship. Standing in the way of these aspirations are six eastern conference foes, including two with championship credentials.
The Mariners’ Eastern Conference opponents stretch from the outskirts of New York City to the heart of North Carolina. They also include some of the most successful franchises in the history of indoor football and an expansion franchise in Richmond, Virginia. And as a group over the last four seasons they have earned six division titles, played in 17 playoff games, and won two national titles.
At the top of the list in any discussions on the Eastern Conference championship, has to be the Reading Express. The defending AIFA champions have compiled a 47-11 regular season record in four seasons, have made four straight playoff berths and advanced each year to the conference championship game, and have two title games under their belt; winning it all in 2009. The good news for Mariners’ faithful is Baltimore topped Reading in both regular season match-ups in 2009 before falling to the Express in the playoffs.
Founded in 2003 as the Myrtle Beach Stingrays and establishing their home in North Carolina in 2005, the Fayetteville Guard has also been one of indoor football’s premier franchises. They have qualified for the playoffs in four of their seven seasons, won two divisions titles, and during one two-year stretch (2006-2007) they racked up an amazing 24-1 regular season record, made two championship game appearances and won the title game in 2007. 2010 will mark the first time the Mariners face Fayetteville.
Entering their fourth season of play, and their first as the Storm, is the AIFA’s Erie franchise. Founded in 2007 as the Pittsburgh River Rats, the indoor football team moved to northern Pennsylvania in 2008 and found a home in Erie. In their first two seasons, under the leadership of Coach Shawn Liotta, the then River Rats earned a 17-11 regular season record, made two playoff appearances, but fell both seasons in the first round. Liotta resigned following the 2008 season, but following a disappointing 3-11 campaign in 2009 Erie has re-signed Liotta for the 2010 campaign.
In 2009 the Mariners developed a strong rivalry with their I-83 rivals, the Harrisburg Stampede. Last season the two teams split two games in Harrisburg, with the Stampede winning 37-24 and Baltimore taking the second match in Pennsylvania 37-27. The Mariners won the lone game in Baltimore, 58-55 in another nail biter. Harrisburg finished their inaugural season in 2009 at 4-10 and suffered many close losses, but with a lot of returnees and some key additions Harrisburg looks to be more competitive.
Two franchises will be making their debut in the AIFA in 2010. The New Jersey Revolution, located about thirty miles outside of New York City, in Morristown, New Jersey, will be entering their fifth season of play. Hoping to tap into the wealth of football talent in New Jersey and the New York metro area, the Revolution hope to make a big splash in their AIFA debut after four seasons affiliated with the Continental Indoor Football League (CIFL). The other new team in the AIFA Eastern Conference in 2010 is the Richmond Raiders; an expansion team. The Raiders will be led by Head Coach Mike Siani, a former Baltimore Colts and Oakland Raiders player. They had an impressive showing both in the stands and on the field in their 49-45 win over a group of AIFA All-Stars in the annual Kickoff Classic.
For the Mariners to bring the title game and trophy to Baltimore this summer, they must best their Eastern foes to earn one of three playoff spots. The first place team will earn a bye, while the second and third seeds will battle in the first round. The first seed will then host the winner of that match-up for the Eastern Conference Championship, with the right to host AIFA Bowl IV.
With a mix of proven champions, seasoned playoff teams, and an injection of new teams to the Eastern Conference, the Mariners road to the title game should not be easy, but following their 9-5 playoff season in 2009 Baltimore hopes to build on that success and bring the fans of Charm City another football championship.
For more information about the Baltimore Mariners go to www.baltimoremariners.com
BALTIMORE, MD (February 22, 2010) – With the Eastern Conference champion set to host AIFA Bowl IV, the American Indoor Football Association’s annual championship game, the Baltimore Mariners already have announced goals of bringing not only the championship game to Baltimore, but the championship. Standing in the way of these aspirations are six eastern conference foes, including two with championship credentials.
The Mariners’ Eastern Conference opponents stretch from the outskirts of New York City to the heart of North Carolina. They also include some of the most successful franchises in the history of indoor football and an expansion franchise in Richmond, Virginia. And as a group over the last four seasons they have earned six division titles, played in 17 playoff games, and won two national titles.
At the top of the list in any discussions on the Eastern Conference championship, has to be the Reading Express. The defending AIFA champions have compiled a 47-11 regular season record in four seasons, have made four straight playoff berths and advanced each year to the conference championship game, and have two title games under their belt; winning it all in 2009. The good news for Mariners’ faithful is Baltimore topped Reading in both regular season match-ups in 2009 before falling to the Express in the playoffs.
Founded in 2003 as the Myrtle Beach Stingrays and establishing their home in North Carolina in 2005, the Fayetteville Guard has also been one of indoor football’s premier franchises. They have qualified for the playoffs in four of their seven seasons, won two divisions titles, and during one two-year stretch (2006-2007) they racked up an amazing 24-1 regular season record, made two championship game appearances and won the title game in 2007. 2010 will mark the first time the Mariners face Fayetteville.
Entering their fourth season of play, and their first as the Storm, is the AIFA’s Erie franchise. Founded in 2007 as the Pittsburgh River Rats, the indoor football team moved to northern Pennsylvania in 2008 and found a home in Erie. In their first two seasons, under the leadership of Coach Shawn Liotta, the then River Rats earned a 17-11 regular season record, made two playoff appearances, but fell both seasons in the first round. Liotta resigned following the 2008 season, but following a disappointing 3-11 campaign in 2009 Erie has re-signed Liotta for the 2010 campaign.
In 2009 the Mariners developed a strong rivalry with their I-83 rivals, the Harrisburg Stampede. Last season the two teams split two games in Harrisburg, with the Stampede winning 37-24 and Baltimore taking the second match in Pennsylvania 37-27. The Mariners won the lone game in Baltimore, 58-55 in another nail biter. Harrisburg finished their inaugural season in 2009 at 4-10 and suffered many close losses, but with a lot of returnees and some key additions Harrisburg looks to be more competitive.
Two franchises will be making their debut in the AIFA in 2010. The New Jersey Revolution, located about thirty miles outside of New York City, in Morristown, New Jersey, will be entering their fifth season of play. Hoping to tap into the wealth of football talent in New Jersey and the New York metro area, the Revolution hope to make a big splash in their AIFA debut after four seasons affiliated with the Continental Indoor Football League (CIFL). The other new team in the AIFA Eastern Conference in 2010 is the Richmond Raiders; an expansion team. The Raiders will be led by Head Coach Mike Siani, a former Baltimore Colts and Oakland Raiders player. They had an impressive showing both in the stands and on the field in their 49-45 win over a group of AIFA All-Stars in the annual Kickoff Classic.
For the Mariners to bring the title game and trophy to Baltimore this summer, they must best their Eastern foes to earn one of three playoff spots. The first place team will earn a bye, while the second and third seeds will battle in the first round. The first seed will then host the winner of that match-up for the Eastern Conference Championship, with the right to host AIFA Bowl IV.
With a mix of proven champions, seasoned playoff teams, and an injection of new teams to the Eastern Conference, the Mariners road to the title game should not be easy, but following their 9-5 playoff season in 2009 Baltimore hopes to build on that success and bring the fans of Charm City another football championship.
For more information about the Baltimore Mariners go to www.baltimoremariners.com
