Husker_Power Posted February 1, 2008 Share Posted February 1, 2008 link Marcus Katz, a San Diego entrepreneur who's bankrolling the fledgling All American Football League, apologized for sounding weary. Seems he's been putting in 18-hour days as his enterprise prepares for the mid-April start of its inaugural season. The AAFL initially will play in six college football hotbeds on otherwise sleepy spring and summer Saturdays (the season ends in early July), and feature alumni from major colleges. The 60-year-old Katz, who made his fortune in the student loan business, grew up an avid University of Georgia football fan, and he's trying to profit from the adoration fans have for former college players. Sometime soon, Katz says, he will dial up Nebraska athletic director Tom Osborne and gauge his interest in allowing an AAFL team to rent Memorial Stadium for home games, possibly as soon as 2009. I'm a sucker for these types of leagues, so here's hoping Osborne gives Katz a long listen. The AAFL is intriguing. At this point, however, Osborne knows little to nothing about it. Of course, one thing Katz will use to get Osborne's attention is money (the AAFL reportedly is paying the University of Tennessee $3 million to rent 102,000-seat Neyland Stadium). Another thing Katz might pitch is 2001 Heisman Trophy winner Eric Crouch's involvement. The 29-year-old former Husker quarterback was drafted third overall this past weekend by Team Texas. (Don't ask me why they call it "Team Texas" as opposed to a more conventional name. Whatever.) Crouch is elated to have a chance to extend his career. He says he has a lot of football left in him, having appeared in only 20 games since his senior season at NU. "I feel like I'm at the beginning of my career, not the end," he says. Crouch seeks to prove himself as a quarterback in a passing offense. He will operate in former University of Houston coach John Jenkins' run-and-shoot system, which may be a nice fit for the fleet and athletic Crouch, who's comfortable throwing on the run. So, can Crouch still electrify the way he did at Nebraska? Dunno. But I'd pay to find out. And I'm guessing tens of thousands of fans in our neck of the woods would join me. "Nebraska Cornhusker fans feel like they know the players on the team," Crouch says. "You start rattling off the names of ex-players, and fans sometimes remember the names better than the players themselves remember them. I think there would be a good following here because it's such a tight community when it comes to the Husker program. "Initially, I was a little bit leery of the AAFL, to be honest," Crouch admits. "But I researched it and found out the league is going to be tied in with universities, and that you have to have your degree to participate. Right away, I think they're trying to set a high standard. Just looking at those two things, I knew it was going to be a quality league." With teams in Detroit, Little Rock, Ark., Gainesville, Fla., Birmingham, Ala., Knoxville, Tenn., and Houston, the AAFL hopes to build on fans' identification with former college stars. In some cases, the team's colors will be similar to the local college team. In addition to Crouch, Team Texas features former Texas Tech quarterbacks Kliff Kingsbury and B.J. Symons, as well as ex-Husker Willie Amos (2000-04). The AAFL is wise in waiting to begin its season until after the NCAA men's basketball Final Four (April 5-7). But will fans in each AAFL city shell out significant money — the league hopes to keep its average ticket price at $25 — to watch a first-year franchise end its season about six weeks before their favorite college football team starts fall camp? At what point will enough be enough? What's more, AAFL teams likely will be vying for many of the same corporate sponsors as the college teams. Will fans stream into Rice Stadium in Houston (capacity 70,000) to watch Crouch and Co.? Katz has plenty of money to toss around. He anticipates a $12 million budget for each team, and players will make $50,000 to $100,000 for a 10-game regular season. The AAFL and the eight-team United Football League — which plans to play games on Fridays in the fall — will help fill the void in the wake of NFL Europe's demise. In addition to Crouch, ex-Husker center Josh Sewell was a first-round AAFL choice, selected with the sixth pick by Birmingham. Sewell, a starter at Nebraska in 2003, has been working in Lincoln as a banker. Like Crouch, Sewell's objective is to get another chance in the NFL. Also like Crouch, Sewell has high hopes for the AAFL. The XFL was too gimmicky. The USFL got too greedy. Maybe the AAFL will beat the odds, although nobody's saying it'll be easy. Sewell thinks the new league will be embraced in the southeast region. "You understand being from Nebraska, people here are crazy about football," Sewell says. "You go down there, and it moves to another level. It's like Nebraska tenfold. Starting it down there and building a good base, I think makes sense. "Plus, let's face it, there's no such thing as too much football." Maybe he's right. Just me talking here, but I could use a big dose of football in Lincoln in spring and early summer. Quote Link to comment
T_O_Bull Posted February 1, 2008 Share Posted February 1, 2008 I wish Mr. Katz all the luck in the world but if it were me I'd spend my money in some other spot. I myself would not drive 240 miles to see one of these games and I don't see thousands of fans filling up Memorial Stadium either. Can you say, "X-FL?" Mr. Katz should have a heart to heart with Vince McMahon. >>>T_O_B Quote Link to comment
husker B-rent Posted February 2, 2008 Share Posted February 2, 2008 I wish Mr. Katz all the luck in the world but if it were me I'd spend my money in some other spot. I myself would not drive 240 miles to see one of these games and I don't see thousands of fans filling up Memorial Stadium either. Can you say, "X-FL?" Mr. Katz should have a heart to heart with Vince McMahon. >>>T_O_B definitely disagree.......the xfl was a gimmick league at best, they were characters not athletes. seriously, HE HATE ME? the aafl should succeed if they properly promote it and if they actually get players from te surrounding colleges to play for each team. i know i would go watch eric crouch play! dont be negative about it before it even starts, because then if it is good you will have already had preconceived negative feelings about the league. just my opinion TO. Quote Link to comment
Dundermifflinite Posted February 2, 2008 Share Posted February 2, 2008 Memorial Stadium is awfully big...why not try starting at something like Caniglia Field... Quote Link to comment
hastingshusker Posted February 3, 2008 Share Posted February 3, 2008 Memorial Stadium is awfully big...why not try starting at something like Caniglia Field... Forgivce my ignorance but is Caniglia field UNO? I dont know. I think you should shoot for the moon. After reading that the tix will be around 20 bucks each Id sign up for season tickets. I think this is one of the smartest things to happen in a while and I am in FULL support of it. Ya gotta get a football fix in the spring somehow and watching television coverage about how teams are shaping up is not my idea of a fix. Gotta have live action....but maybe thats just me. Quote Link to comment
Dundermifflinite Posted February 3, 2008 Share Posted February 3, 2008 Memorial Stadium is awfully big...why not try starting at something like Caniglia Field... Forgivce my ignorance but is Caniglia field UNO? I dont know. I think you should shoot for the moon. After reading that the tix will be around 20 bucks each Id sign up for season tickets. I think this is one of the smartest things to happen in a while and I am in FULL support of it. Ya gotta get a football fix in the spring somehow and watching television coverage about how teams are shaping up is not my idea of a fix. Gotta have live action....but maybe thats just me. guess my point was, put 20,000 (that's purty generous) in a stadium that seats 80k, all atmosphere is lost...I really would like to think it could draw, but ask the Lincoln Lightning/Capitals what they think...and what does a full house mean for atmosphere? Right now the UNO hockey team is much better to watch in the Civic rather than the Quest... Quote Link to comment
Dundermifflinite Posted February 3, 2008 Share Posted February 3, 2008 add on: ever seen an 8-man play off game at memorial stadium? horrible...one of the many bad decisions the nsaa has made...seeing an eight man game with 400 people in an 80k stadium, and having sidelines taped on the field...stupid... Quote Link to comment
cornhuskers4ever Posted February 3, 2008 Share Posted February 3, 2008 If the AAFL would get a team in Lincoln, I'd go to the games. Does anybody know if the AAFL is going to get any TV time? Hopefully it does. In all honesty, if Vince McMahon would have come up with the AAFL's approach, instead of the confusing XFL, he might have had something there. Quote Link to comment
Dundermifflinite Posted February 3, 2008 Share Posted February 3, 2008 If the AAFL would get a team in Lincoln, I'd go to the games. Does anybody know if the AAFL is going to get any TV time? Hopefully it does. In all honesty, if Vince McMahon would have come up with the AAFL's approach, instead of the confusing XFL, he might have had something there. they had an nfl hall of famer on 1620 the zone the other day...can't remember his name...but he is working on marketing the league, said he thought Omaha would be an ideal spot for a team... Quote Link to comment
hack Posted February 3, 2008 Share Posted February 3, 2008 it would be worth it all if just one player would go by the name "he hate me". Quote Link to comment
clone Posted February 4, 2008 Share Posted February 4, 2008 Memorial Stadium is awfully big...why not try starting at something like Caniglia Field... Now that makes sense!! Caniglia field would be a great home for it. Quote Link to comment
T_O_Bull Posted February 4, 2008 Share Posted February 4, 2008 Omaha has a much larger population to draw from too. >>>T_O_B Quote Link to comment
BIGREDFAN_in_OMAHA Posted February 4, 2008 Share Posted February 4, 2008 Last week I just happened to be looking up Otto Graham because he was on a list of the all time greatest quarterbacks. He played with the Cleveland Browns whose first 4 years were with the All American Football Conference (AAFC) before the Browns joined the NFL. I thought that was interesting now that the AAFL is emerging. Quote Link to comment
kansas husker Posted February 5, 2008 Share Posted February 5, 2008 I was just messing around and a few other huskers were drafted it will be interesting to see if it takes off. Here is the linek for the aafl draft http://www.allamericanfootballleague.com/2...nd_by_Round.pdf Quote Link to comment
DaveH Posted February 5, 2008 Share Posted February 5, 2008 Nebraska is Husker crazy. I don't think it's necessarily football crazy. Quote Link to comment
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