Post by fwp on Jul 23, 2009 12:35:47 GMT -5
www.houmatoday.com/article/20090723/OPINION01/907239964/1166/SPORTS?Title=What-s-next-for-Conquerors-
As the final seconds of the Houma Conquerors inaugural season ticked off the clock on Monday night in Lake Charles, it wasn't hard to see the disappointed faces along the team's sideline.
There were signs of anger, sadness and frustration coming from the players' faces as the reality of a 61-19 semifinal playoff loss to the Louisiana Swashbucklers started to set in.
The only thing that brought relief to the players was knowing that a season filled with highs and lows was finally over.
Whether it was the 0-5 start, the change in ownership, having their paychecks bounced or making the SIFL playoffs, the Conquerors have been through it all this season.
But as Houma interim coach C.J. Maiden said repeatedly after the Monday's game, it's time to move on.
But moving on won't be so easy for the Conquerors.
The team's future remains in doubt as an ownership battle brews between the SIFL and former owner Franklin Thomas. The league took over the team on July 7 after the previous owners — Thomas and his Conquest Sports organization — failed to pay their bills on time.
SIFL president Thom Hager has stated there will be a franchise with new owners in Houma next season.
That raises the question of whether or not professional sports can actually survive in Houma.
I know there are different opinions on this topic, and I've heard all of them throughout the course of the season.
I think the moves the SIFL makes in regards to the ownership situation will decide if the team can make it in Houma.
If I were Hager, here are five things I would do to turn the organization around.
1.) MAKE THE LOUISIANA SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT GROUP OWNERS
Since being hired on June 3, the Louisiana Sports and Entertainment Group, a marketing firm, became a valuable asset to the Conquerors.
When the Conquerors were struggling, the group stepped in and helped keep the team alive.
Not only did they bring in more sponsorships for the team and create more awareness in the community, they even paid the player's salaries with their own money.
The group brought leadership and organization to a franchise in desperate need of it. Their influence was the reason why the Conquerors won three of their final six games to make the playoffs.
2.) ATTRACT MORE FANS
The key to the team's survival will be how many tickets it sells in 2010.
In their six home games in 2009, the Conquerors didn't have any sellouts. The Knights of the Crawfish Table did a great job supporting the team, but there were still too many empty seats in the Houma-Terrebonne Civic Center.
The future owners must do a better job of marketing the team to the Houma-Thibodaux area. They have to make fans want to spend their time and money on indoor football.
3.) GIVE THE TEAM A MAKEOVER
If the team really wants to move on, it must ditch the Conquerors nickname, logo, uniforms and everything else associated with the 2009 season.
The Conquerors nickname never really caught on with the community, and after all the off-the-field problems, an identity change is needed.
For the 2010 season, the franchise should get the fans involved with naming process so it can truly represent the community.
4.) MAKE MAIDEN HEAD COACH
Since the 60-year-old Maiden took over the team, the Conquerors started playing better on the field.
Maiden, a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, has won seven championships as a coach. He has a great eye for evaluating talent and knows how to put a winning team on the field.
But most importantly, the players responded to the work ethic and discipline Maiden brought to the team.
5.) CREATE A WINNING ENVIRONMENT
In sports, it's no secret that football fans love supporting winning teams, so the Houma franchise cannot afford to have another 0-5 start in 2010.
From the start, the owners must create a winning environment by finding talented players to put on the field. If the team can put a winning product on the field, it will help raise excitement about indoor football in Houma.
Staff Writer Chris Singleton can be reached at 857-2213 or 448-1200 ext. 2213 or at chris.singleton@houmatoday.com
As the final seconds of the Houma Conquerors inaugural season ticked off the clock on Monday night in Lake Charles, it wasn't hard to see the disappointed faces along the team's sideline.
There were signs of anger, sadness and frustration coming from the players' faces as the reality of a 61-19 semifinal playoff loss to the Louisiana Swashbucklers started to set in.
The only thing that brought relief to the players was knowing that a season filled with highs and lows was finally over.
Whether it was the 0-5 start, the change in ownership, having their paychecks bounced or making the SIFL playoffs, the Conquerors have been through it all this season.
But as Houma interim coach C.J. Maiden said repeatedly after the Monday's game, it's time to move on.
But moving on won't be so easy for the Conquerors.
The team's future remains in doubt as an ownership battle brews between the SIFL and former owner Franklin Thomas. The league took over the team on July 7 after the previous owners — Thomas and his Conquest Sports organization — failed to pay their bills on time.
SIFL president Thom Hager has stated there will be a franchise with new owners in Houma next season.
That raises the question of whether or not professional sports can actually survive in Houma.
I know there are different opinions on this topic, and I've heard all of them throughout the course of the season.
I think the moves the SIFL makes in regards to the ownership situation will decide if the team can make it in Houma.
If I were Hager, here are five things I would do to turn the organization around.
1.) MAKE THE LOUISIANA SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT GROUP OWNERS
Since being hired on June 3, the Louisiana Sports and Entertainment Group, a marketing firm, became a valuable asset to the Conquerors.
When the Conquerors were struggling, the group stepped in and helped keep the team alive.
Not only did they bring in more sponsorships for the team and create more awareness in the community, they even paid the player's salaries with their own money.
The group brought leadership and organization to a franchise in desperate need of it. Their influence was the reason why the Conquerors won three of their final six games to make the playoffs.
2.) ATTRACT MORE FANS
The key to the team's survival will be how many tickets it sells in 2010.
In their six home games in 2009, the Conquerors didn't have any sellouts. The Knights of the Crawfish Table did a great job supporting the team, but there were still too many empty seats in the Houma-Terrebonne Civic Center.
The future owners must do a better job of marketing the team to the Houma-Thibodaux area. They have to make fans want to spend their time and money on indoor football.
3.) GIVE THE TEAM A MAKEOVER
If the team really wants to move on, it must ditch the Conquerors nickname, logo, uniforms and everything else associated with the 2009 season.
The Conquerors nickname never really caught on with the community, and after all the off-the-field problems, an identity change is needed.
For the 2010 season, the franchise should get the fans involved with naming process so it can truly represent the community.
4.) MAKE MAIDEN HEAD COACH
Since the 60-year-old Maiden took over the team, the Conquerors started playing better on the field.
Maiden, a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, has won seven championships as a coach. He has a great eye for evaluating talent and knows how to put a winning team on the field.
But most importantly, the players responded to the work ethic and discipline Maiden brought to the team.
5.) CREATE A WINNING ENVIRONMENT
In sports, it's no secret that football fans love supporting winning teams, so the Houma franchise cannot afford to have another 0-5 start in 2010.
From the start, the owners must create a winning environment by finding talented players to put on the field. If the team can put a winning product on the field, it will help raise excitement about indoor football in Houma.
Staff Writer Chris Singleton can be reached at 857-2213 or 448-1200 ext. 2213 or at chris.singleton@houmatoday.com