04/19/24
July 27, 2006
All American Football League to launch in 2007: The League charter allows only those players who have both earned a 4-year degree and completed their college football eligibility to suit up and play in the League. The League teams will feature grads of their host university with other roster spots reserved for grads of conference schools which are not currently hosting a team. For some players, the All American Football League will be a stepping-stone into, or back into the NFL. For many, it will be a chance to continue playing football on the campus of their alma mater in front of the loyal and enthusiastic fan base that has grown to love them.
It will be a colossal waist of time and money. I'm sure it will be a waste of time and money, but since it's not my money or my time, I see no problem with it. All the other American professional sports have minor leagues in the USA, I'm surprised there wasn't one already for football*. *Arena football excluded as that's like comparing Archon to chess. *The CFL is probably a close proximity to the minor leagues, but players that land there usually end up staying in the CFL.
posted by grum@work at 04:08 PM on July 27, 2006
This is a cool idea for a semi-pro football league. It capitalizes on two football-crazed groups: Fans of big IA programs marking time until the fall and graduated college players who expected to turn pro but didn't make it. North Texas isn't likely to get a team in Denton, but I'd love to see some of its best grads back in uniform. This could be an Arena-killer.
posted by rcade at 04:20 PM on July 27, 2006
Nice comment and Archon reference, grum. Wouldn't it be nice if the NFL and AAFL work together and demote the players who are underperforming?
posted by Thisguy at 04:20 PM on July 27, 2006
It is a good idea, i like it.
posted by skins fan at 04:31 PM on July 27, 2006
Host fees from the League will partially reimburse universities for the considerable investment made in their athletic facilities. This is a professional for-profit league that is partially funded by universities?
posted by bperk at 04:55 PM on July 27, 2006
But isn't Canadian & World League Football the NFL's version of a minor league? Waste of time & money, ehh, sure, but I'm 100 % with Mr/Mrs/Ms Grum.
posted by RedStrike at 05:01 PM on July 27, 2006
your kidding right
posted by easyrider at 05:08 PM on July 27, 2006
I like the college degree part. We get a chance to see some of our favorite college players that didn't make it in the NFL. Cool idea. I wonder what cities will be involved.
posted by sgtcookzane at 05:23 PM on July 27, 2006
There is too much goddam pro ball (and football in general). This league will fail like the WFL and all the others.Enough is enough!
posted by sickleguy at 05:29 PM on July 27, 2006
There is too much goddam pro ball (and football in general I know, maybe we need some futball.....Your not forced to watch
posted by sgtcookzane at 05:34 PM on July 27, 2006
This is a professional for-profit league that is partially funded by universities? No. It's a professional league trying to sell itself as a financial windfall for universities that spent too much on their stadiums. There is too much goddam pro ball (and football in general). There are too many flavors of ice cream! Stop making so many and just give me the goddam chocolate chip cookie dough mixed with gummi bears I ordered!
posted by rcade at 05:44 PM on July 27, 2006
But what about the XFL?!?! *sigh*
posted by igottheblues at 06:13 PM on July 27, 2006
"But what about the XFL?!?!" We hate him.
posted by mr_crash_davis at 06:31 PM on July 27, 2006
"There are too many flavors of ice cream!" The great triumvirate of plain, white, and vanilla has served me well... Homemade, of course!
posted by mjkredliner at 06:41 PM on July 27, 2006
The XFL was never anything but a stunt. The WFL tried to be a competitor to the NFL and got crushed. The CFL keeps the vast majority of the guys it pulls in, though there are exceptions. The arena game does contribute some NFL players, but the differences in the game require somewhat different strengths that don't always translate well. NFL Europe is a legitimate farm league, but the very fact that it's based in Europe limits the exposure in the US. The fact that this will be a spring league, with only minor league expectations for attendance and the like, may give it a chance to succeed. Add the fact that the each team will be basically made up of mid level collegiate stars from a single popular program and this really may have legs. As a Michigan fan, I don't think I'd have any problem assembling an interesting team out of grads from the past five years or so who aren't in the NFL. It'll never be a big time league, but as long as they realize that ahead of time, it may turn out to be fun. It might be even easier to organize if they set it up with the major conferences though. You know, Big 10 vs. Pac 10 vs. SEC vs., well, you get the idea.
posted by ctal1999 at 06:43 PM on July 27, 2006
Kind of like a football "Minor league" for smart, more-motivated ex-college players. Why not? Give it a shot.
posted by dyams at 07:11 PM on July 27, 2006
The one reason I could see this working is that they aren't trying to put teams in cities that are already sports-loaded. They're planning to put teams in cities that are established college football towns, but have little else to do during the summer. A semi-pro league with teams in Lincoln, Norman, Gainesville, and other such places (I have no idea if those are cities involved...just good examples of places that could be) could certainly draw fans in those towns. If they were trying to put teams in New York, L.A., and the like they'd die fast because fans have other more appealing choices right there.
posted by TheQatarian at 07:56 PM on July 27, 2006
"There are too many flavors of ice cream!" "I don't want more choice. I just want better things!" Jennifer Saunders as Edina Monsoon, from Absolutely Fabulous. Sometimes she speaks for all of us.
posted by owlhouse at 07:58 PM on July 27, 2006
Who knows? Something like this might work. Doesn't anyone remember that when the AFL started it was never going to stack up to the NFL? I know that this is a little different, but something like this just might work out. I for one think that this is a good idea. I would definately watch. I mean, come on people. Aren't there some of your favorite college players that you feel could have made it into the NFL if they were only given a chance? I think this would be a great benefit for the NFL to have a sort of minor league. I would like to see a team for every NFL team and it be used just like the minor league in baseball. This could also work for some local CBS, NBC or ABC affiliates to pick up the games. If the league does well, it could mean some good money for them in the NFL's off season.
posted by grabofsky74 at 08:14 PM on July 27, 2006
Since baseball is my first love I can't see myself watching second rate football over first rate baseball, but my viewing preferences aside it reminds me more than anything of the glitz and marketing (but complete lack of substance) that was the XFL. I am the type of fan that believes more sports is good sports //en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caber_toss but I just don't see this league having any real long-term success.
posted by kyrilmitch_76 at 08:24 PM on July 27, 2006
This is pretty much the dumbest thing that I have heard about in a long time. Sometimes people just have too much time on their hands and they think too hard, trying to make some money. I say it will be bankrupt by the end of the first season. I'm out
posted by sportsg at 12:13 AM on July 28, 2006
hmmm... Developmental league? Aimed at the priveleged yet somehow still incapable? Partially funded by institutions who already have to slaughter arms and legs as tuition dollars as it is? I'm not sold...
posted by everett at 01:05 AM on July 28, 2006
No one has yet mentioned the $100,000 per year per player average salary. Multiply that by 40 and you are up to $4,000,000 a year in salaries per team. Tickets are $30, it is going to take a lot of tickets just to reach break even. I'm sure the universities will be reimbursed for the use of their facilities. Paid coaching staffs, trainers, referees, travel expenses; it all equals more tickets to be sold. They are also prepared to launch without a TV deal, and the TV deal would be the only thing able to keep them out of the red! It will fail miserably and quickly.
posted by PropIr at 08:10 AM on July 28, 2006
I'm sorry I can't see this being a lasting effort. People aren't loyal to players, they're loyal to teams. Hell, they're basically loyal to a jersey. You're going to pay $30 to see the guy on last year's squad (who graduated) who couldn't make the arena league play in, yet another football league? There are too many flavors of ice cream! Ah, the illusion of choice. Truth is there are about eight flavours of ice cream and they just throw different shit in them. Nothing like walking down the cereal isle at the supermarket and realizing that we have 138 different breakfast choices and 2 political parties. Mmmmmm... Progress.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 08:19 AM on July 28, 2006
Ah, the illusion of choice. Truth is there are about eight flavours of ice cream and they just throw different shit in them. I disagree. (flavours seen in this store include: Basalmic Vinegar, Aloe Vera, Durian, Pear Blue Cheese Gargonzola...I highly recommend visiting when in the Vancouver area)
posted by grum@work at 08:48 AM on July 28, 2006
I like it, particularly for the rule that all players must graduate. That being said, I don't think I'm enough of a college football fan to watch any of these games. But really, I think this league requires a "wait and see" approach. It might end up being pretty cool. I certainly like the idea of teams being affiliated with their colleges/conferences.
posted by DudeDykstra at 10:56 AM on July 28, 2006
I'm with Dude on the "wait and see" approach. I got burned when Bobby Hull said that he was going to start a new hockey league during the NHL lockout. That didn't last long. I would really like to see this new football league happen. I'm sure that countless college players got their hopes and dreams crushed when they weren't drafted by the NFL. Now maybe they can live their dream of playing professional football.
posted by wingnut4life at 11:30 AM on July 28, 2006
PropIr: No one has yet mentioned the $100,000 per year per player average salary. Did I miss something? I didn't see anything from the link that mentioned salaries, or even roster sizes or ticket prices for that matter. Are these just assumptions, or did I not scour the link thoroughly enough?
posted by ctal1999 at 03:43 PM on July 28, 2006
I think it could do a lot better than the XFL. That was probably the dumbest stunt in the history of football. But the AAFL will have guys that we have seen play college ball and playing in the stadiums like the Swamp in Gainsville. Better to watch than the Arena League I think.
posted by kidrayter2005 at 05:40 PM on July 28, 2006
It will be a colossal waist of time and money.