This is interesting

[gocavs1]

trib.com/sports/pro/article_b67eee71-89bd-5a6d-9a6f-dd1368e274f7.html

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Wyoming needs better competition, organization to thrive

Cavs must search for new league
StoryDiscussionBy JACK NOWLIN - Star-Tribune staff writer | Posted: Sunday, June 6, 2010 12:45 am | No Comments Posted

Font Size:Default font sizeLarger font sizeThe Wyoming Cavalry need to find a new home.

Casper, which has been home to the indoor football team since 2000, is perfectly fine and the Events Center gives the Cavs one of the best home-field advantages in the game. But the Cavs need to put the the American Indoor Football Association, which they joined in 2008, in their rearview mirror.

And the sooner the Cavs can get this done, the better.

The Cavs were originally scheduled to play in Wasilla, Alaska, this weekend, but for the third time this season the Wasilla ownership was unable to meet its financial obligation and the Cavs' trip was canceled.

So although Wyoming is credited with two victories over Wasilla, the forfeits -- combined with another forfeit over the flailing and failing Ogden team -- leave the Cavs standing on the sidelines until June 26.

"It's disappointing," Cavs coach Dan Maciejczak said. "I'm more nervous because we've worked hard to stay in game shape ... and we won't be playing for five weeks. We'll have to work to get our timing back for the last two games."

Wyoming (12-0) hasn't played since an 80-53 victory over the San Jose Wolves on May 22. The Cavs won't step inside the dasher boards again until June 26 when they host Wenatchee Valley.

In what's becoming an all-too-familiar script for the Cavs, they once again clinched the AIFA's Western Conference while other conference teams are struggling to stay afloat. Of the eight teams that comprised the AIFA Western Conference in 2008, the Cavs are the only team still in the league. And Ogden and Wyoming are the only franchises still remaining from last season.

Yes, the owners all appear to be on the same page and have continued to promote the merits of the AIFA despite the fact that the Wasilla and Ogden franchises are crumbling around them. Both ownership groups have repeatedly said they plan on improving their business model and returning to the AIFA next year. More power to them, but that doesn't mean the Cavs have to be along for the sideshow. Again.

Believe it or not, Cavs owners Mike and Argeri Layton, who did not return repeated calls, have other options.

The Indoor Football League, which was formed in 2008 with the merger between the Intense Football League and United Indoor Football, would seem to be a viable option.

For starters, the geographical location of many of the teams in the IFL would be a welcome change to the 13-hour bus rides the Cavs had to endure this season in traveling to games in Washington state; not to mention the plane ride to San Jose, Calif.

The IFL has teams in Billings, Mont., (222 miles from Casper); Loveland, Colo. (187 miles); and Rapid City, S.D. (179 miles). Currently, the Cavs' closest opponent is in Ogden, Utah, which is 405 miles away.

IFL Commissioner Tommy Benizio, who, having competed against the Cavs years ago in the National Indoor Football League, is familiar with the success of the Wyoming franchise and admitted to having "great interest" in expanding the IFL's reach into the Northwest.

It's probably too early to say if the IFL's soon-to-be announced expansion plans include the Cavalry. But with AIFA teams continuing to fall by the wayside as the Cavs march toward another possible championship game, it might not be a bad time for the Laytons to consider their options.

Not only would the travel be improved, but the quality of competition would likely be a step in the right direction as well.

In recent years, the Cavs have resembled the bully who continually thumps on everybody in school. And he does so until a kid from the tougher part of town (in this case, the AIFA Eastern Conference) comes in and puts the bully in his place.

Granted, a change in leagues might mean Wyoming loses a few more games during the season, but at some point the Cavs' faithful are going to get tired of watching their team beat up on helpless opponents.

It's time for the Cavalry to find a new league before that happens.

Contact sports reporter Jack Nowlin at [phone] [phone] or [e-mail].

[cavfan]

I read that today was getting ready to post it on here you beat me too it I'm not sure we will be joining the other league this next year coming up logistically it makes since with travel and etc. but we will see .

[gocavs1]

I know someone who is not one bit happy about that article and rightly so.... You don't see the paper saying Arbys should find different food to sell.....

[Gene]

The Laytons have thus far proven to be stubborn to consider joining another league for whatever reason but if they want to keep their fanbase they better do something quick. Quite honestly, i dont know what the heck theyre waiting for, in terms of joining the IFL. Kiss & makeup already & save your investment...

[sabermatt]

You would find better comp in another league I would think.........good luck

[gocavs1]

Gene, Where to begin.. Lets start it this way the story should have been written as an opinion and stated as such. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. But Jack did overstep and all news people do of the facts about how the other leagues are doing and what the Cavalry do for the community. With that being said the Laytons have asked for a retraction to the story. We will see if they get it.
Like I said before, The cavalry have a good product and a captive audience. They don't compete with other minor league sports here. It is a perfect fit for the community and they are not just trying to take everyones money and run. They have proven to be very helpful towards alot of organizations. Boys and Girls club gets alot of support from them as well as the elementary kids in the community with their reading programs and it goes on and on. Would a more stable division help the current situation. Yes it would but the Cavalry have actually marketed their organizion successfully to be more than just an indoor football organization. And the community has bought into it. Now it is my opinion that the Cavalry would have more fans attending games if we played closer teams and had our old rivals with Billings. I loved those games. But in actuallity if the Cavalry don't need that then that is their choice.
On another note, This is a message board for fans of all sorts of people and I do not believe because a fan states that he wishes their team and another league would get along doesn't give the ownership of that franchise the reason to email that fan and give them 20 questions to answer, That can be taken the wrong way. It could make that fan not want to buy any more tickets to that teams games...... After All IT'S A MESSAGE BOARD!!

[Daytonadan]

Jack wrote a column and it was a very solid one.

And here are the hard questions that need to be asked.

1) It's our understanding that there is a history when some of the UIF owners tried to put their own team in Casper and force you out. We also understand that you don't feel that IFL is any better than the AIFA. When do you put aside these differences and determine what it best for the team and its fans?

2) Who should be held accountable for Ogden and Wasilla?

3) Why does this still happen in minor league indoor football after a decade and what can be done to finally end the cycle.

And if one person in management pulls the "If you think it's so easy, why aren't you doing it?" card ... that shows, well something that just ain't right.

Jun 7, 2010 9:21:45 GMT -5 gocavs1 said:

Gene, Where to begin.. Lets start it this way the story should have been written as an opinion and stated as such. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. But Jack did overstep and all news people do of the facts about how the other leagues are doing and what the Cavalry do for the community. With that being said the Laytons have asked for a retraction to the story. We will see if they get it.
Like I said before, The cavalry have a good product and a captive audience. They don't compete with other minor league sports here. It is a perfect fit for the community and they are not just trying to take everyones money and run. They have proven to be very helpful towards alot of organizations. Boys and Girls club gets alot of support from them as well as the elementary kids in the community with their reading programs and it goes on and on. Would a more stable division help the current situation. Yes it would but the Cavalry have actually marketed their organizion successfully to be more than just an indoor football organization. And the community has bought into it. Now it is my opinion that the Cavalry would have more fans attending games if we played closer teams and had our old rivals with Billings. I loved those games. But in actuallity if the Cavalry don't need that then that is their choice.
On another note, This is a message board for fans of all sorts of people and I do not believe because a fan states that he wishes their team and another league would get along doesn't give the ownership of that franchise the reason to email that fan and give them 20 questions to answer, That can be taken the wrong way. It could make that fan not want to buy any more tickets to that teams games...... After All IT'S A MESSAGE BOARD!!

[Free Agent Fan]

I can answer the why question. Why goto another league when there is no competition for Wyoming? It's basically an automatic bid to the Championship Game every year. Maybe one of those times they would win it. Then, after the win.....jump. Just my opinion.

[cavfan]

I thought the story was a little harsh with out getting some facts straight for it first and gocavs1 i think your right about the email thing I would answer the email back with out any problems and than voice my concerns there also .

[UnoBomber]

Why a retraction? It's not even brutal, it's an honest assessment. It seems that the Wyoming ownership is hypersensitive to anything said about them. You can't please them all! If a newspaper columnist has these views, then how many fans also share a similar view? I know if I was a fan of Wyoming, I would start to care less about going to the games because the competition is a complete joke. The west is a two horse race at this point.

Now this is my OPINION of what will happen in the west:
* Wasilla will fold - I love you Alaska, but it's just not working out.
* San Jose will move to "greener" pastures (IFL or AF1)
* Wenatchee Valley - Probably will stay around if other teams are created close to Washingston State ( I could see this team defecting to the IFL)
* Yakima Valley - Same as Wenatchee, but I could see them folding if they don't move.
*Ogden - You can improve that business model all you want, it's not working. Another Fold.

Which leaves Wyo on an island. A very lonely island.