http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/news/story?id=3279907 All-American Football League may scrap season for lack of funds ATLANTA -- On the 25th anniversary of the USFL's first game, another upstart professional football league is facing an uncertain future. The new All American Football League will have to postpone its 2008 season unless it finds new financial backing. The announcement Thursday came less than a week before camps were to open for the six-team league. The league, which held its inaugural draft in January, has rosters and staffs in place for six teams: Detroit; Little Rock, Ark; Gainesville, Fla.; Birmingham, Ala.; Knoxville, Tenn., and Houston. Training camps were scheduled to open Wednesday, followed by the first games in April. The league will push its plans back to 2009 unless it secures a TV deal or other funding. The league announced Thursday it was exploring "multiple financing options" to address its funding crisis. The AAFL was formed to fill the void created when the NFL shut down NFL Europe earlier this year after 16 seasons. The league was losing a reported $30 million a season, and now the AAFL, lacking a TV deal, also faces a financial crisis before it can stage its first game. Among the first players drafted on Jan. 26 were quarterbacks Bryan Randall, by Tennessee, and Eric Crouch, by Texas. Former Troy offensive lineman Zarah Yisrael was drafted No. 1 overall by Arkansas. According to a statement released by the league, the AAFL's financial crisis is tied to the national subprime mortgage crisis. League CEO Marcus Katz co-founded a company that provides student loans. The statement said camps would open Wednesday "if liquidity can be immediately restored." If not, plans for an inaugural season will be pushed back to 2009. Several calls to AAFL spokesman Risa Balayem were not immediately returned. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Did anyone think they were going to make any money on this? Seriously, are there people out there who are fanatical enough about watching *football*, ANY football, no matter what, that they could support such an endeavor? Now I can understand how the USFL managed to survive for a little while, back in the day when they had a decent TV contract, and every home was not wired with 500 channels of variety, thus limiting peoples' options for changing the channel. But now? No way. I can think of about a thousand things I would rather do that watch a bunch of nobodies playing cringe-inducing football. I do feel sorry for all those kids who have been led to get their hopes up of having a 'professional football career'.. over before it even starts.. sheesh.
Remember, the USFL was drafting NFL talent. Herschell Walker, Jim Kelly, Craig James, Steve Young...all these guys went on to be Pro Bowl players in the NFL. The argument has been that you can't compete with the NFL if you try to go head up with them like that.... the question is can you make it regionally? If contracts are small and no one is worried about TV money....just the gate and some merchandise. I don't think this is a "switch the channel" sport...because I don't think they were planning on TV coverage, to begin with.
This league is different. For starters, you HAVE to have a 4-year college degree to even be eligible to play in the AAFL. This also gives another option to College players that were great in College but weren't good enough for the NFL. This league was suppose to have more of a college atmosphere. It may be a bunch of nobodies to the average football fan, but fans who follow college football get a chance to watch these guys play at a Pro level.
Houston already has TWO indoor teams playing last season (Berry Center and Merrell Center) that nobody cared about.
Well wasn't the Texas entry supposed to play at cavernous Rice Stadium. Yeah I can see that being a real college football atmosphere...3,000 people in 80,000 seat, 7000 year old Rice Stadium. Most of the college football fans in Houston have a Texas or A&M bias...but the big name on this squad was Kliff Kingsbury from Tech, be a big draw here since Lubbock is so close and all Add to that John Jenkins bringing out the Run and Shoot, guaranteeing 5 and a half hour games, this sounds like fun for everybody.
