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Thursday, February 21, 2013

Daily News & Notes

American Indoor Football
AIF Adjusts Schedule Due To Unfortunate Circumstances
The AIF was recently informed that due to a serious illness to the owner of the Roc City Thunder, the team will not be able to move forward in 2013.
Jeff Teed, the principle owner has worked hard at keeping things going but unfortunately will be unable to proceed forward. After discussions with Mr. Teed, the AIF decided it was best to remove Rochester from the schedule for 2013 season and re-evaluate the situation in the future.
During the summer of 2012 Mr. Teed was diagnosed with a serious illness and in October he started treatment.
This past January, Mr. Teed's heath started to fade again and he decided at this time he must devote all his efforts to his health and recovery. Other options were explored including bringing on additional investors to the team but the time frame was too short for a full evaluation. The AIF and the Roc City Thunder have decided the best option is to remove the Roc City Thunder from the 2013 league schedule and the AIF has revised the 2013 schedule.

Arena Football League
Spokane Shock Selects Hyfiniti for Modern Customer Service
The Spokane Shock announced that it has selected Hyfiniti to enhance its customer service capabilities and complement the best customer experience value available today in American sports.
Hyfiniti is a network-based technology that modernizes the contact center by incorporating intelligent callback, social care, and advanced capabilities for smartphone users. The result is that customers get to choose how they communicate with the organization and never experience the frustration of waiting on hold listening to elevator music.
Utah Blaze to Host 2013 Fan Fest on March 15
The Utah Blaze will host its 2013 Fan Fest at the EnergySolutions Arena on Friday, March 15th, the franchise announced today. Fans will have the unique opportunity to watch the Utah Blaze in action, including 2012 Arena Football League MVP Tommy Grady, completely free of charge. Doors open to the public at 7:00 p.m.
The evening will begin with 2012 AFL Head Coach of the Year Ron James addressing the fan base from midfield. The Blaze will then hold an intersquad scrimmage in which all players on the training camp roster will complete in live game action in front of the fans. The event will conclude with an on-field autograph session, giving fans the opportunity to meet and greet all Utah Blaze players, dancers and coaches.
"Fan Fest is always an exciting evening," said Coach James. "It's the first opportunity our fans have to interact with the players and experience the fast-paced action of Arena Football. Because it's open to the public, it also gives fans that haven't seen the Blaze a chance to witness the excitement of an AFL game, free of charge. I encourage all football fans to come out on March 15th and see this team in action."
WHAT: 2013 Utah Blaze Fan Fest Live Intersquad Scrimmage On-field autograph session
WHEN: Friday, March 15th Doors open to the public at 7:00pm
WHERE: EnergySolutions Arena 301 W. South Temple Salt Lake City, UT 84101
DETAILS: There is no price for admission. The 2013 Utah Blaze Fan Fest is free and open to the public. No reservation is necessary.

Champions Professional Indoor Football League
Omaha Beef Announce Single Game Tickets on Sale Now
The Omaha Beef has announced that they have begun selling 2013 single game tickets today for as low as $15. The Beef also announced, to celebrate the move to the Ralston Arena, additional season ticket discounts will be offered through February 23, 2013. During the special, 7-game season ticket packages start at only $89.
Omaha Beef owner Rich Tokheim was pleased that the Beef will continue to offer affordable family entertainment in the new Ralston Arena, "Season ticket renewals have been occurring a record pace, and fans have expressed that the prices are really affordable. We wanted to extend our special discount until February 23 to reward our loyal fans and so far the fans are responding. We love the passion and excitement that Beef fans have been displaying!"
The Beef have moved to the brand new, 3,500 seat Ralston Arena after playing the last 13 seasons at the 8,100 seat Omaha Civic Auditorium. Fans are encouraged to secure their tickets fast and visit the Ralston Arena to personally select their seats. Visit the Omaha Beef at beeffootball.com or Facebook to see seat selection, or call 402.346.BEEF. Season ticket reservations are also currently available by email cari@beeffootball.com.
Omaha will play a six regular season game in the new Champions Professional Indoor Football League, and will host geographical rivals like Sioux City, Kansas City and Lincoln.

Indoor Football League
Colorado Ice Open Preseason Tonight
The Colorado Ice take on their first opponent of 2013 tonight at 7pm when they host Metro State Club Football at the Budweiser Events Center.
The training camp just completed by the Ice has given coaches a good idea of their players' talent level, but the preseason game will be an important evaluation for the team heading into their regular season schedule.
"Being able to have our players in a full game will help us make our final roster decisions going into the first home game on March 1st. Metro State has stepped up to help us so we will be helping them by having a fundraiser for their club" stated Ice Head Coach Heron O'Neal.
The Ice will be playing this one preseason game before kicking off the start of the 2013 IFL season with a game at home against the Tri-Cities Fever at 7:00 PM on Friday, March 1st.
The MSU Football Club is starting the 3rd year in program history, and they are a member of the APFL II (American Developmental Football League). The APFL II has teams in Colorado, South Dakota and Wyoming. Last season saw the Roadrunners make the playoffs after a 3-3 regular season before they were eliminated in the first round. The team is coached by Jim Cobb, a former coach in the Colorado Football Conference and has experience with the Indoor Football game as well.
Said Cobb about his team, "The players we are getting in the Club Program are transferring in and are looking at this as an opportunity for them to possibly get moved up to Division II or III programs."
This game will be a fundraising event for the Metro State team as well. Being a club sport, the players have to raise funds or pay out of pocket to participate.
The Colorado Ice are members of the Indoor Football League (IFL). All home games are played on Majestic Roofing Field at the Budweiser Events Center located in Loveland, Colorado. 2013 Season Ticket information is available by contacting the Colorado Ice offices at (970) 472-0128. For more information, please visit www.thecoloradoice.com.

Lone Star Football League
New Mexico Stars Local Tryout a Success
The New Mexico Stars open their 2013 campaign as any other team does, with tryouts. This year they held them at Cabazon Park in Rio Rancho, and the turnout was better than most expected. 41 players showed up and gave it the old college try, and 15 were invited to training camp.
The Stars currently have 15 players under contract, with another 12 players that are completing the contract process. Some of the players include Roland Bruno (University of New Mexico), Michael Carrasco of Eastern New Mexico University, Marcus Stars of New Mexico State, Joshua Floyd (Indoor Football League's leader in all-purpose yards leader in 2011), and Matt Caward, who is a Chaplin with the Rio Rancho Fire Department and back-up QB for the Stars. While no players were offered training camp contracts at the tryouts, the coaching staff is interested in bringing several of them into camp to give them a second look.
With the Stars making the switch from the IFL to the Lone Star Football League this season, there are plenty of questions surrounding the product fans will see on the field. Stars Coach Chris Williams downplayed those questions when he said "This is still football right? The game hasn't changed. The only difference you will see this season as compared to last season is that you will see more players from New Mexico on the field."
The Stars will play a 12-game schedule this season, and they kick it all off with an away game on March 16th against the San Angelo Bandits.
Amarillo Venom Unveils New Logo

In anticipation of the 2013 Lone Star Football League season, the Amarillo Venom has changed their logo to inspire a fresh look for a fresh new run at another LSFL championship. Facebook fans also already got a sneak peek at the new logo.
"We are excited about the new logo," Venom owner Stephanie Tucker said. "We are building off the success of last season with not only a new logo, but new contests, new promotions, and new ways to interact with the best fans in the LSFL."

Professional Indoor Football League
Columbus Lions To Host Meet And Greet This Sunday
The Columbus Lions of the Professional Indoor Football League (PIFL) will be hosting a meet and greet at Mr. Wing Sports Bar and Grill on Sunday February 24th at 6:30 PM for all fans, friends, and members of the media.
Head Coach Jason Gibson will be on-hand to discuss the first week of training camp and his thoughts on the upcoming season. Gibson is entering his seventh season at the helm of the Lions leading the organization to the playoffs every season.
Three of the most-longest tenured Lions in WR Gerald Gales, LB Justen Rivers, and OL Dion Small will also be on-hand to discuss their decision on returning for another season to Columbus is about "˜unfinished business.'
Sunday's meet and greet will also serve as a chance for season ticket holders to pick up their 2013 season tickets. Fans will also have an opportunity to get an early look at some of the new Lions gear for the upcoming season.
The 2013 season kicks off on Sunday March 10th when the Lions host the Knoxville Nighthawks for Military Appreciation Night. For more information about Sunday and season tickets, contact the Lions front office at 706-322-3336.

Ultimate Indoor Football League
Missouri Monsters Announce Broadcast Team
The Missouri Monsters, members of the professional Ultimate Indoor Football League, are proud to announce the hiring of Randy Moehlman and Jeff Stahlhut as game day broadcasters for the 2013 season.
Randy Moehlman is a native St. Louisian, who grew up in Creve Coeur and attended Parkway North High School. He graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 1994. He will serve as the Monsters radio play-by-play man. Randy is well known around the state of Missouri for his work as a Public Address Announcer. He is currently the PA Announcer for the Mizzou Tigers college football program, having just finished his third season in that role. He also has been the River City Rascals PA Announcer/On-Field Emcee for the past six seasons, and will continue that role this upcoming summer. The Rascals are a professional minor league baseball team located in O'Fallon, MO.
Other credits include being the full time PA Announcer for the University of Missouri-St. Louis women's college basketball program, and he has done PA work for the St. Louis University Billikens men's and women's basketball programs as well as Mizzou basketball. He can also be seen working PA in various high school tournaments around the state, and also as the Webster Groves High School basketball PA Announcer. Randy's background is in play-by-play, and he is thrilled to be back in that seat. "It is exciting to get back to what I love doing, and that's play-by-play broadcasting. The Missouri Monsters have given me an opportunity to get back to my roots, and I can't thank them enough. I am thrilled to be a part of their first season at the Family Arena in St. Charles. I can't wait to get started." Moehlman currently resides in Shrewsbury with his wife Karen, daughters Abby (11) and Bridget (9), and son Danny (5).
Stahlhut is also a native of the St. Louis region, having grown up in Maryland Heights - a graduate of Pattonville High School. From there he went to Drury University, graduating in 1994 with a degree in Communications. "I spent most of my time at Drury in the Communications building, at the radio station, or in the newspaper office," said Stahlhut, who will do color analysis for the Monsters. "I never had much doubt what I wanted to do - even way back then - and I'm very much looking forward to getting back in the booth with Randy to call Monsters football."
Stahlhut started his professional career in the Suburban Journals Marketing Department, and has since worked with the Houston Chronicle, Yahoo! Sports, NFL.com, NFLPlayers.com, USAHockey.com,USAFootball.com, MLBPlayers.com, Rivals.com, MOSports.com, MetroMix.com, was sports editor atPatch.com, senior content manager and sports editor for HermannNews.com, served as content editor for "LeBron James: King On and Off the Court," has done PA work for the Pattonville High School football team, and will be reuniting with Moehlman in the broadcast booth where the two previously worked together broadcasting Hermann High School football. "Randy and I had a lot of fun working in Hermann, and I feel like we make a great team," he said. "He makes my job easy, and I in turn often find myself trying to make his as difficult as possible. I like to keep him on his toes."
Stahlhut has two children, who both attend Pattonville High School (Jacob is a sophomore and Tessa is a freshman). He also has four step-children (Taylor, Turner, Trey and Tristyn), and resides in St. Charles with his wife, Tera.
Tarpons Kick off Season of Giving Back
On March 18th, at 7:30 PM at Germain Arena in Southwest Florida the UIFL Southern Conference Champions Florida Tarpons are kicking off it's 2013 season of giving back. They are announcing that this year they are honoring those hero's that protect their community as well as our country will receive 2 FREE SEASON TICKETS to their home games. This is their way of saying 'THANK YOU'.
If your are an Active Duty Military, a Veteran, in Law Enforcement, a Firefighter or a EMS then come join them in honoring you for their fun filled games. at their home opener they will be naming their home field, "Hero's Field. They will also be honoring General Shelton Retired United States Army, Florida State Commander for American Legion Steve Slachta, Post Commander American Legion Kevin Boyd Retired Navy, Veterans from the community, The Brotherhood Riders (they ride bicycles to honor those police and firemen that lost their lives in the line of duty), Lee County Sheriff, Collier County Sheriff, FT. Myers Police Chief. Helping us honor our hero's will be Matt Pusatari District Director for Congressman Trey Radel, State Representive Matt Caldwell, City Councilmen from Bonita Springs. We are still waiting to hear back from the Governor Office.
At each of their home games they will be honoring more hero's from their community as well. They will help with the coin toss as well as be honored on the field. They would like to thank their sponsor for the naming of the field, "Real Time Wireless".

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