Post by fwp on Jan 22, 2010 5:54:27 GMT -5
www.albanyherald.com/sports/headlines/82330622.html
ALBANY — After a week of rapid developments in the saga to return arena football to Albany — followed by nearly a week of silence from nearly all parties involved — new information came to light Thursday about the status of the proposed Southwest Georgia pro franchise.
The Southern Indoor Football League said Thursday in a press release that the Albany Panthers would, in fact, take part in the SIFL’s 2010 season, and that Atlanta businessman Rod Chappell will be the team’s new owner — a fact The Herald first reported late last week.
“We are set to move forward with Mr. Chappell. Chappell has his financials in order and has met all our requirements to become an official owner in the Southern Indoor Football League,” SIFL president Thom Hager said in the release, then later clarifying to The Herald via telephone that “financials in order” meant that Chappell’s one-time, $15,000 membership fee was received in the league’s bank account Thursday afternoon.
“Rod Chappell’s payment cleared (Thursday),” Hager said.
The Herald’s latest attempts to reach Chappell on Thursday to verify this, however, were unsuccessful.
But assuming the financial hurdles have been cleared by Chappell and the Panthers, there is still the issue of the SIFL’s 2010 schedule, which has yet to be released. A link on the SIFL’s Web site says the “schedule is under construction.” Opening day is March 19.
In an e-mail to The Herald, SIFL media relations director Matthew Hester clarified what was causing the delay.
“ ... With the addition of Albany, all that is holding up the schedule is two dates. Dates that the Albany Civic Center and new Albany ownership cannot seem to agree on,” Hester wrote. “We admit (the) schedule is past due, but we (would) rather have a complete correct schedule rather than having to continue sending out press releases about schedule changes like some other leagues have already had to do.”
Panthers GM Will Carter, meanwhile, did not immediately return a message from The Herald seeking comment to clarify where other details surrounding the team currently stand — specifically, whether a head coach had been chosen now that the Panthers are confirmed to be playing in 2010 — although Carter made it clear last week he would have no further comment until the Panthers’ first press conference, which Hester stated in his e-mail is scheduled for Tuesday.
Hager said it’s his understanding that Carter is trying to decide between two candidates at the moment: Lucious Davis, former defensive coordinator for Albany’s previous arena team, the South Georgia Wildcats, and D.J. Daniels, a veteran arena football coach who has worked for various teams over the years.
As for the city of Albany’s knowledge about Thursday’s developments, assistant city manager Wes Smith told The Herald, “I’ve received verbal confirmation that (the SIFL and Rod Chappell) worked something out. I’ll take specific action to request rent and to rescind the nullification letter when we receive written confirmation.”
The nullification letter Smith mentions is for Andre White, an Atlanta businessman who works for Chappell and was the original proposed owner before “failing to meet the criteria to join the SIFL,” according to the league’s press release Thursday announcing Albany’s inclusion.
ALBANY — After a week of rapid developments in the saga to return arena football to Albany — followed by nearly a week of silence from nearly all parties involved — new information came to light Thursday about the status of the proposed Southwest Georgia pro franchise.
The Southern Indoor Football League said Thursday in a press release that the Albany Panthers would, in fact, take part in the SIFL’s 2010 season, and that Atlanta businessman Rod Chappell will be the team’s new owner — a fact The Herald first reported late last week.
“We are set to move forward with Mr. Chappell. Chappell has his financials in order and has met all our requirements to become an official owner in the Southern Indoor Football League,” SIFL president Thom Hager said in the release, then later clarifying to The Herald via telephone that “financials in order” meant that Chappell’s one-time, $15,000 membership fee was received in the league’s bank account Thursday afternoon.
“Rod Chappell’s payment cleared (Thursday),” Hager said.
The Herald’s latest attempts to reach Chappell on Thursday to verify this, however, were unsuccessful.
But assuming the financial hurdles have been cleared by Chappell and the Panthers, there is still the issue of the SIFL’s 2010 schedule, which has yet to be released. A link on the SIFL’s Web site says the “schedule is under construction.” Opening day is March 19.
In an e-mail to The Herald, SIFL media relations director Matthew Hester clarified what was causing the delay.
“ ... With the addition of Albany, all that is holding up the schedule is two dates. Dates that the Albany Civic Center and new Albany ownership cannot seem to agree on,” Hester wrote. “We admit (the) schedule is past due, but we (would) rather have a complete correct schedule rather than having to continue sending out press releases about schedule changes like some other leagues have already had to do.”
Panthers GM Will Carter, meanwhile, did not immediately return a message from The Herald seeking comment to clarify where other details surrounding the team currently stand — specifically, whether a head coach had been chosen now that the Panthers are confirmed to be playing in 2010 — although Carter made it clear last week he would have no further comment until the Panthers’ first press conference, which Hester stated in his e-mail is scheduled for Tuesday.
Hager said it’s his understanding that Carter is trying to decide between two candidates at the moment: Lucious Davis, former defensive coordinator for Albany’s previous arena team, the South Georgia Wildcats, and D.J. Daniels, a veteran arena football coach who has worked for various teams over the years.
As for the city of Albany’s knowledge about Thursday’s developments, assistant city manager Wes Smith told The Herald, “I’ve received verbal confirmation that (the SIFL and Rod Chappell) worked something out. I’ll take specific action to request rent and to rescind the nullification letter when we receive written confirmation.”
The nullification letter Smith mentions is for Andre White, an Atlanta businessman who works for Chappell and was the original proposed owner before “failing to meet the criteria to join the SIFL,” according to the league’s press release Thursday announcing Albany’s inclusion.