Post by fwp on Dec 24, 2009 7:30:48 GMT -5
billingsgazette.com/sports/football/professional/arena/blog/article_94f0d9d8-f03d-11de-9029-001cc4c002e0.html
With the 2010 Indoor Football League season just over two months away, the second-year league may be in jeopardy of losing yet another top-level team -- for the second time in as many months.
Just over two months after the IFL-runner up, River City Rage, announced they would not return to action in 2010, The El Paso Generals may be the next fatality of small-market indoor football.
The Generals, who the Billings Outlaws defeated, 66-35, in last Augusts’ Intense Conference Championship Game at Rimrock Auto Arena at MetraPark, are one of three teams owned by Allegiance Pro Sports, LLC. and according to Josh Austin, an agent representing a player recently signed by the Generals, they will not be playing in the IFL this season.
“I was told by the league office that, while nothing was 100% confirmed, my client and any other player on the El Paso roster would be able to sign with anybody very shortly,” Austin told the Gazette via telephone late Wednesday afternoon. “Yesterday (Tuesday) at 10 a.m. I was told a decision would be made within 14 hours and I am still waiting to hear from them.”
IFL commissioner Tommy Benizio would neither confirm nor deny the agent's statement on Wednesday, saying only that he could not currently comment on anything regarding the El Paso Generals.
President of Allegiance Pro Sports LLC, Brandon Smith, did not return the Gazette’s phone calls on Wednesday, but his father Albert Smith, a representative of the Generals spoke on behalf of his son, saying “the El Paso Generals are not folding, but some of the Texas-based IFL teams are dealing with some ownership issues and there will be more information available by the end of business on Monday.”
Brandon Smith started Allegiance Pro Sports, LLC. in 2007 when him and his father bought the indoor football team in Katy, TX, and moved them to Abilene for the 2009 season.
They also purchased the Odessa Roughnecks in September of 2008 from Benizio prior to Benizio being named commissioner of the IFL.
Odessa and Abilene are members of the IFL's Lonestar Conference’s West Division, along with El Paso and Amarillo.
The IFL currently consists of 26 teams ranging from Alaska to Washington D.C.
With the 2010 Indoor Football League season just over two months away, the second-year league may be in jeopardy of losing yet another top-level team -- for the second time in as many months.
Just over two months after the IFL-runner up, River City Rage, announced they would not return to action in 2010, The El Paso Generals may be the next fatality of small-market indoor football.
The Generals, who the Billings Outlaws defeated, 66-35, in last Augusts’ Intense Conference Championship Game at Rimrock Auto Arena at MetraPark, are one of three teams owned by Allegiance Pro Sports, LLC. and according to Josh Austin, an agent representing a player recently signed by the Generals, they will not be playing in the IFL this season.
“I was told by the league office that, while nothing was 100% confirmed, my client and any other player on the El Paso roster would be able to sign with anybody very shortly,” Austin told the Gazette via telephone late Wednesday afternoon. “Yesterday (Tuesday) at 10 a.m. I was told a decision would be made within 14 hours and I am still waiting to hear from them.”
IFL commissioner Tommy Benizio would neither confirm nor deny the agent's statement on Wednesday, saying only that he could not currently comment on anything regarding the El Paso Generals.
President of Allegiance Pro Sports LLC, Brandon Smith, did not return the Gazette’s phone calls on Wednesday, but his father Albert Smith, a representative of the Generals spoke on behalf of his son, saying “the El Paso Generals are not folding, but some of the Texas-based IFL teams are dealing with some ownership issues and there will be more information available by the end of business on Monday.”
Brandon Smith started Allegiance Pro Sports, LLC. in 2007 when him and his father bought the indoor football team in Katy, TX, and moved them to Abilene for the 2009 season.
They also purchased the Odessa Roughnecks in September of 2008 from Benizio prior to Benizio being named commissioner of the IFL.
Odessa and Abilene are members of the IFL's Lonestar Conference’s West Division, along with El Paso and Amarillo.
The IFL currently consists of 26 teams ranging from Alaska to Washington D.C.