Post by Gene on Jun 17, 2012 14:00:08 GMT -5
AIF title game between Cape Fear Heroes, California Eagles comes under fire
A sham.
That's what the owner of one American Indoor Football league franchise is calling Saturday's championship game between the California Eagles and Cape Fear Heroes.
But Cape Fear and AIF officials deny claims that the California roster will consist of players who didn't suit up for the Eagles during the regular season.
"That's not true,'' Cape Fear general manager and AIF national director Jack Bowman said Thursday. "Have they added some (players)? Probably. But if they've added players, it was done in the time frame allowed by the league before the rosters were frozen.''
But Tom Mitchell, president and owner of the AIF franchise in Ontario, Calif., said players from his squad had been contacted over the past week about playing for the Eagles in Saturday's game.
Brandon Johnson, a defensive lineman who played collegiately for Nebraska, backed Mitchell's claim. Johnson said he was contacted by Terry Foster, formerly the head coach of the AIF's Arizona entry, which suspended play in mid-April.
"He called me and asked me did I want to play in the championship game,'' Johnson said. "I was really surprised because they had suspended our team and told the players we wouldn't be allowed to play in the all-star game. But then he calls and says he needs to fill out the roster for the championship game.
"I just told him, 'No.' ''
'Numerous violations'
Mitchell's Warriors sailed through the Western Division with a 7-0 record before AIF announced May 17 that it had indefinitely suspended the franchise for "numerous violations of the membership agreement.'' Mitchell calls the violations "manufactured'' by league officials because of complaints he had voiced and inquiries he'd made with other leagues.
The Warriors, however, lasted longer than the Eagles. After a 3-2 start, the California franchise ceased operations in late April. According to reports in the Stockton Record newspaper, team owner Dan Whited failed to meet financial obligations with coaches, players, staff, the Stockton arena and creditors.
The Eagles played their last game April 7, defeating Arizona, 64-26. Since then, AIF director of West Coast operations and former Eagles offensive coordinator Bennie King has assumed head coaching duties.
"They don't know their roster right now because they are still looking for players,'' Mitchell said. "Bennie probably can't get any. I don't think anybody who played for the California Eagles would play for them because they didn't get paid."
Cape Fear coach Charles Gunnings expressed sympathy for the Ontario players. But Gunnings said the Heroes are only focused on winning the AIF championship, and it doesn't matter who they play.
"It's sad when the administrative part messes with the players and the actual game," Gunnings said. "But unfortunately, they (Ontario) are not playing. The game must go on and the next-best team from the West is the California Eagles. We're going to play them just like they were the champions from the West.''
Staff writer Sammy Batten can be reached at battens@fayobserver.com or 486-3534.
fayobserver.com/articles/2012/06/14/1184394
A sham.
That's what the owner of one American Indoor Football league franchise is calling Saturday's championship game between the California Eagles and Cape Fear Heroes.
But Cape Fear and AIF officials deny claims that the California roster will consist of players who didn't suit up for the Eagles during the regular season.
"That's not true,'' Cape Fear general manager and AIF national director Jack Bowman said Thursday. "Have they added some (players)? Probably. But if they've added players, it was done in the time frame allowed by the league before the rosters were frozen.''
But Tom Mitchell, president and owner of the AIF franchise in Ontario, Calif., said players from his squad had been contacted over the past week about playing for the Eagles in Saturday's game.
Brandon Johnson, a defensive lineman who played collegiately for Nebraska, backed Mitchell's claim. Johnson said he was contacted by Terry Foster, formerly the head coach of the AIF's Arizona entry, which suspended play in mid-April.
"He called me and asked me did I want to play in the championship game,'' Johnson said. "I was really surprised because they had suspended our team and told the players we wouldn't be allowed to play in the all-star game. But then he calls and says he needs to fill out the roster for the championship game.
"I just told him, 'No.' ''
'Numerous violations'
Mitchell's Warriors sailed through the Western Division with a 7-0 record before AIF announced May 17 that it had indefinitely suspended the franchise for "numerous violations of the membership agreement.'' Mitchell calls the violations "manufactured'' by league officials because of complaints he had voiced and inquiries he'd made with other leagues.
The Warriors, however, lasted longer than the Eagles. After a 3-2 start, the California franchise ceased operations in late April. According to reports in the Stockton Record newspaper, team owner Dan Whited failed to meet financial obligations with coaches, players, staff, the Stockton arena and creditors.
The Eagles played their last game April 7, defeating Arizona, 64-26. Since then, AIF director of West Coast operations and former Eagles offensive coordinator Bennie King has assumed head coaching duties.
"They don't know their roster right now because they are still looking for players,'' Mitchell said. "Bennie probably can't get any. I don't think anybody who played for the California Eagles would play for them because they didn't get paid."
Cape Fear coach Charles Gunnings expressed sympathy for the Ontario players. But Gunnings said the Heroes are only focused on winning the AIF championship, and it doesn't matter who they play.
"It's sad when the administrative part messes with the players and the actual game," Gunnings said. "But unfortunately, they (Ontario) are not playing. The game must go on and the next-best team from the West is the California Eagles. We're going to play them just like they were the champions from the West.''
Staff writer Sammy Batten can be reached at battens@fayobserver.com or 486-3534.
fayobserver.com/articles/2012/06/14/1184394
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