View Full Version : New spring pro football league formed for college graduates
A La Jolla-based pro football league that requires its players to have college degrees has been formed and is scheduled to begin play in April in college stadiums in the Southeastern, Big Ten and Atlantic Coast Conferences.
The All-American Football League will announce its formation today at a news conference in New York City. It plans to start with eight yet-to-be-announced teams playing in college or bowl stadiums, though the league is still working on obtaining stadium usage agreements, a television deal, as well as owners to operate the teams.
Source (http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20060726/news_1s26sprngfb2.html)
The article then goes on to say that the style will resemble the college game moreso than the pros.
My questions are twofold: firstly, will you watch and secondly, do you see it succeeding (we all know that new football leagues find it hard to gain a foot hold, with this succeed on the strength of the college fans who've supported these players throughout college)?
Also, for those interested in reading more, the official site for the league is here (http://allamericanfootballleague.com/).
Snake
08-02-2006, 01:59 PM
Cool, I will definately watch. It wont cut into College or NFL due to the time of year it will be going on. Not sure if it will succeed or not, very tough to get a league going and to absorb the initial monetary loss, and to get a decent size fan base built up that will be able to support it.
Packer Backer
08-03-2006, 08:11 PM
First off, cool site...
Second, I know a guy that's trying out... He is a former Packer now living here in Tucson. I'll be sure to keep you all posted on his status. :)
Snake
08-04-2006, 01:17 AM
Lol, it's not Tony Mandarich is it? :D
Welcome to the site PackerBacker
Packer Backer
08-04-2006, 06:15 PM
Lol, it's not Tony Mandarich is it? :D
Welcome to the site PackerBacker
Thanks for the welcome... And nope! The dude's name is Bill Seymour. He went to Michigan and played for the Pack briefly.
redbuck
08-04-2006, 07:16 PM
We need more of those. I'd like to see more real minor league football, perhaps with bands, but played outside...not like arena football...I know they had it several years ago but it died out. Would be fun for a city like Canton, OH which has some of the most die hard football fans anywhere relegated to being high school fans because the city is small.
racosun
08-05-2006, 11:43 AM
Hopefully the league will be able to compensate their players enough to be able to compete with the real-world job market. After all, they'll all have college degrees. If it's just supplemental income, I don't see how the players would be able to leave their jobs every spring to play football. It's not like these guys graduate with a degree then stock shelves at K-Mart for the next five years.
Other than that, it looks like a fun league. I hope it does well. Any word yet on possible franchise locations yet?
Any word yet on possible franchise locations yet?
On their site people can vote for which schools should host games...It's under the teams section.
racosun
08-07-2006, 12:05 PM
On their site people can vote for which schools should host games...It's under the teams section.
Now that is a cool feature to use. The more the league can involve it's fans on what it does and how it operates, the better off it will be.
football junkie
08-09-2006, 09:25 PM
I think this is a great idea. I was watching a CFL game about a week ago and much to my delight Eric Crouch, 2001 Heisman Trophy winner from the U. of Nebraska, was playing QB for one of the teams in the game -- but he wasn't even a starter in that league, even though he was clearly out playing the starter.
I know I'd watch this league.
taltmansport
10-31-2006, 11:36 PM
They put up a new video on the ownership page on their site. Wanna own a team?
http://www.allamericanfootballleague.com/ownership.html
redlegsfan21
11-01-2006, 01:09 PM
I'll watch it only if it doesn't interfer with Reds' baseball.
brady_branch
11-01-2006, 02:46 PM
I'll watch no matter what.
I'll watch it only if it doesn't interfer with Reds' baseball.
Being in spring it won't interfere with imporatant baseball games, so if given the chance I'll watch...or at least get all the teams media guides. ;)
redlegsfan21
11-02-2006, 09:13 PM
Being in spring it won't interfere with imporatant baseball games, so if given the chance I'll watch...or at least get all the teams media guides. ;)
Yet, the Reds only win in the spring.
Now that is a cool feature to use. The more the league can involve it's fans on what it does and how it operates, the better off it will be.
They now have stadium agreements with Purdue, NC State, Florida, Tennessee and Alabama-Birmingham.
They now have stadium agreements with Purdue, NC State, Florida, Tennessee and Alabama-Birmingham.
I found an update just as I posted the last message...It is not good news, it looks like the league has been postponed until 2008.
Article (http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061129/SPORTS/61129024) (it's not too informative, it just gives the information that was in the last two posts of mine).
taltmansport
06-04-2007, 05:59 PM
The AAFL is having tryouts in the Citrus Bowl in Orlando on July 2-3, '07. They will kick off the league in the spring of '08. Check the website to sign up and new information:
http://www.allamericanfootballleague.com/
http://www.allamericanfootballleague.com/playerform.html
C. Snake
06-04-2007, 06:10 PM
The AAFL is having tryouts in the Citrus Bowl in Orlando on July 2-3, '07. They will kick off the league in the spring of '08. Check the website to sign up and new information:
http://www.allamericanfootballleague.com/
http://www.allamericanfootballleague.com/playerform.html
I wonder how many people will show up.
taltmansport
06-04-2007, 08:19 PM
I wonder how many people will show up.
Quite a few. They are having to limit, but there are open tryouts on July 2 and invited tryouts on July 3 which will include some selected guys from the 2nd. The word is getting around and it's getting a lot of buzz with football insiders.