Football League Tries To Get Off Ground
Published: Jun 21, 2007
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GAINESVILLE - Doug Dickey explained Wednesday why he believes fans would attend a minor-league professional football game at Florida Field in May or perhaps Raymond James Stadium in June.
"You put a Florida-Alabama game together or a Florida-Tennessee game together," the former University of Tennessee athletic director said, "that's going to draw some folks out."
Dickey, also a former Florida quarterback and former Florida and Tennessee coach, serves on the board of directors of the All American Football League, which hopes to tap the passion of college football fans by stocking each team's roster with players who starred at that region's universities.
Dickey has worked with officials from his alma mater on a plan to stage three of the Florida team's games at Florida Field next spring, and league organizers have contacted officials at Raymond James Stadium and Orlando's Citrus Bowl about the possibility of staging games at one or both of the venues.
Florida associate athletic director Chip Howard confirmed Wednesday that Florida's athletic department has received a letter of agreement from the league and is receptive to the idea.
"Have we committed? We're interested," Howard said. "We're looking at them utilizing the stadium under certain parameters."
The league would have to pay a fee to Florida's athletic department to use the stadium and to cover the cost of game-management personnel. Tampa Sports Authority spokeswoman Barbara Casey said AAFL organizers contacted the TSA on May 24 to determine the cost of playing a game at Raymond James Stadium. Casey said the cost varies greatly depending on the expected crowd.
Dickey said the league, which will hold its first tryout July 2-3 at the Citrus Bowl, will regionalize each team. For example, the Florida team's roster would feature players from Florida, Florida State, Miami, USF and other state schools. The only catch for the players? They must have a college degree. According to the league's Web site, former Florida stars Shane Matthews, Vernell Brown and Travis McGriff are expected to attend the tryout.
The league already has agreements to place teams in Knoxville, Tenn., Birmingham, Ala., Raleigh, N.C., and West Lafayette, Ind., and Dickey said the AAFL could add more teams. League officials had hoped to kick off this past spring, but they could not secure financial backing or venue agreements in time.
Dickey said entrepreneur Marcus Katz - a Georgia grad who built his fortune through student-loan companies - dreamed up the league and will fund it. Whether Katz makes a return on his investment depends on fan interest.
"Our marketing studies show us," Dickey said, "that there are folks in Tampa, Orlando and Jacksonville that will support this."
Reporter Andy Staples can be reached at (352) 262-3719 or astaples@tampatrib.com.
