All American Football League holds first draft

[crawfish]

ATLANTA -- Bryan Randall and Eric Crouch still long to play professional football. Though the two quarterbacks might not earn another NFL paycheck, Randall and Crouch are grateful that the All American Football League will debut in April. Former college standouts Randall and Crouch were the second and third picks in the league's inaugural draft on Saturday, with Randall going to Tennessee and Crouch going to Texas.

Randall, a former Virginia Tech standout who spent time on the Atlanta Falcons' squad, went to training camp last year with the Pittsburgh Steelers but didn't make the team. "It's a great opportunity for me, and I can't wait to get back on the field and compete," Randall said. "I guess I've learned that you never get football out of your blood, or at least I haven't been able to, over the last few months."

The league will fill the void created when the NFL shut down NFL Europe earlier this year after 16 seasons. The league was losing a reported $30 million a season. With teams in Detroit; Little Rock, Ark; Gainesville, Fla.; Birmingham, Ala.; Knoxville, Tenn.; and a yet-to-be-determined city in Texas, the league hopes to build on fans' identification with former collegiate stars.

Former Troy offensive lineman Zarah Yisrael was drafted No. 1 overall by Arkansas. Florida picked Marshall quarterback Eric Kresser fourth overall, and another quarterback, David Koral of UCLA, went to Michigan in the No. 5 spot. Alabama drafted center Josh Sewell, formerly of Nebraska, with the sixth and final pick of the first round.

Crouch, who won the 2001 Heisman Trophy at Nebraska, is eager to show American fans that he can still play quarterback. Drafted No. 3 overall by the Texas team, Crouch was an NFL receiver for St. Louis and Green Bay.

Kansas City later designated him to NFL Europe, where he remained a wideout in 2006 for Hamburg. But not long after leaving Germany, Crouch was allowed to play quarterback again when he signed with the CFL's Toronto Argonauts. "I love the game of football, but quarterback really is my passion," Crouch said. "I can't deny that I'd like to get another chance to play in the NFL, but the fact remains that I'm really excited to play this spring for Texas. I think the atmosphere will be great." Read the rest of the article (http://www.sportsline.com/collegefootball/story/10601746/2)

[crusse10]

I still don't fully understand how the draft worked, but I wouldn't mind seeing Tee play in Neyland again!

Oh, and I looked at the Florida team...and you wouldn't BELIEVE how many out-of-work Gators exist...WOW. To think that a year removed from a National Championship, Chris Leak is in the AAFL.
...Score.

[bamagt]

Is this just like regular football or are there some kind of special rules or something? I hope it's just like regular football, it'd be nice to watch more than one football game this spring.

[Tider27]

I payed attention to the draft all day Saturday. I'm not satisfied with the QB Alabama got, but Alabama's OL and DL's will be stout!!

[gatorunvrsty]

Slb and I were at the Birmingham draft (I've been involved since it first came out, and we had VIP status), and it's just like the NFL draft. It was pretty cool, as we got to sit in on the coaches meeting during the draft to select players, and met and took pictures with slb's hero, Kenny Stabler. However, the teams have protected players, meaning they can play for the teams in the states where they went to school. For instance, because Florida has so many schools and players, they can protect all the players that went to UF, F$U, ThugU, USF, UCF, FAU, FIU, etc.; but only players in Florida, and protected players CANNOT be traded. Alabama is a smaller state, so they get to protect players from Al., Ga., and Ms.. Only players with 4-year degrees are eligible to play. Part of that is incentive to improve college APR's and GSR's.

It's professional football, with actual NFL refs; but the idea is to get people interested in the guys they watched and loved in college. It's for folks like me, who really like college football, and aren't so crazy about the pros. If you'll notice, the first teams are based in states with the proudest and most fervent college football fans, where there will be a lot of fan support. Players earn starting salaries of $50,000, and the league will be almost like AAA ball for baseball; where players can continue to play and improve, for a chance to get back in the NFL. In Florida's case, they don't have any more guys out of college than anyone else (UF has the second most NFL players of all SEC teams); but, what they do have are a lot of players who were in the NFL for a short time, and are still in good enough shape to actually play competitive football.

The league is counting on all us college fans, and the pageantry it brings. Most of Florida's games will be played at The Swamp. Bama's games will be at Legion field. Each team has leases with certain stadiums. The lease the Florida team has with UF, for instance, provides UF with an additional $1 million annually for its budget.:thumpsup: I think it's going to succeed where other start-up leagues have failed. It's well-organized and funded; with a lot of big names in football participating.

[sheluvsbama]

It seems that it will be fun, esp. with the lull in the Spring. It will help to feed our starvation for football at that time of the year. There are plenty of players we all know and it will be nice to see them on the field again. :happy:

[Tider27]

Anyone know if other states might join later and the league could possibly grow larger? Also how will the playoffs play out or will there be just a championship?

[gatorunvrsty]

Anyone know if other states might join later and the league could possibly grow larger? Also how will the playoffs play out or will there be just a championship?

I'm sure other states will want to join if it turns out to be successful; and the league will probably welcome expansion. I think there are playoffs and a championship game, but I'm not sure how it's organized yet.

[DEHIII]

Sorry to be debbie downer, but this thing will fail like most others.

They are trying to play the same football as the NFL but with much less quality. The stars are not there, and play isn't as good. All teams that have tried to do that, have failed.

The only league that has done well is the Arena league. I believe that is because it is a unique type of football. You have a shorter field, lots of points, weird rules, etc. It does not try to be exactly like the NFL without the quality of the players. It trys something completely and totally different from normal, average football.

IMO the best cliche to go along with the AAFL draft is: when a tree falls in the woods when there is no one there to hear it, does it make a sound? :laugh: :dry:

[gatorunvrsty]

Sorry to be debbie downer, but this thing will fail like most others.

They are trying to play the same football as the NFL but with much less quality. The stars are not there, and play isn't as good. All teams that have tried to do that, have failed.

The only league that has done well is the Arena league. I believe that is because it is a unique type of football. You have a shorter field, lots of points, weird rules, etc. It does not try to be exactly like the NFL without the quality of the players. It trys something completely and totally different from normal, average football.

IMO the best cliche to go along with the AAFL draft is: when a tree falls in the woods when there is no one there to hear it, does it make a sound? :laugh: :dry:

Well, that's just the thing... they're not trying to play NFL football. That's what the USFL tried to do... compete; and that's why they failed. The AAFL is trying to play college ball at the highest level, and enable the college guys to improve enough to make the NFL. College ball isn't as "quality" as pro ball, either; but, there are a lot more people filling up stadiums to watch that than any NFL stadiums... as many as 20-30,000 more. The AAFL won't bring in that many, but they should be able to attract half that. I don't see the Arena League being around much longer, really. Most pure fans can't stand that BS, as it doesn't showcase anything. Hell, any QB could throw it the length of the field. It's like comparing the PGA Tour to Putt-putt. Also, they usually have only 10,000 people at a game. This was their biggest year for attendance, and they averaged 12,000 fans. I can almost guarantee that there will be AT LEAST twice that many fans show up to watch some of their favorite college players in uniform again. That's their target audience... college football fans.

Don't know where you got the analogy about the AAFL draft, either; because we were at the one in B'ham, and it was slam packed with people. There were 3 venues to watch it in Florida, and the main one was even more packed.

[Bburton86]

Is the season in the spring??

[gatorunvrsty]

Is the season in the spring??

Yep, first game is April 12th, and there are 10 regular season games (each team plays a home/home with the other 5. The playoffs will be on 6/28, and the Championship game will be on either 7/3 or 7/5. They'll be finished just in time for the start of college ball. The website has a forum for each team with quite a few members so far, and there seems to be a great deal of interest.

[GetEmGamecocks]

It's professional football, with actual NFL refs; but the idea is to get people interested in the guys they watched and loved in college. It's for folks like me, who really like college football, and aren't so crazy about the pros. If you'll notice, the first teams are based in states with the proudest and most fervent college football fans, where there will be a lot of fan support. Players earn starting salaries of $50,000, and the league will be almost like AAA ball for baseball; where players can continue to play and improve, for a chance to get back in the NFL.

Sounds good.

Will games be on TV?

[adamsputnik]

I'll be interested to see how this league travels. I suppose holding it in the off-season for the NFL will be its greatest advantage. People who want football all year will be the main demographic who'll want to watch.

Does anyone know if the games are being broadcast on TV? What's the story, if any, there?

[ColonelKurtz]

Katz, the idea guy behind this, is a crook from way back and w/o a TV contract, I don't see them drawing enough fans to generate enough $$$ to make it worth the risk of injury to the players, much less cover all of the expenses.

Been wrong before....

[GatorBait15]

I am with everyone else I want to know if it will be on TV!?? Florida is gona dominate baha! what is our mascot? the gators?

at least this will give us a bit to talk about in april untell the real season!

[clockster]

They are in talks with broadcasters to get it put on TV and in the end I'm almost 100% positive they will get the deal done.

The newspaper said they were also going to try and air it on the radio as well as TV.

I know I'll be watching if not attending....

But for those wondering, be expecting to see it on the television.

[bamagt]

I was talking to my gf yesterday about wanting to watch more football and then this shows up!!!!!!!!! I live 15 minutes from legion field!!!!!!!!!!!!

[GatorBait15]

I am pretty pumped man! Florida is gona dominate ha! can't wait!

[clockster]

I am pretty pumped man! Florida is gona dominate ha! can't wait!

Guess who Florida's coach is?

Shane Matthews


I loved beating yall at Legion Field in 1992 for the SEC Championship with him at QB.

Now Shane gets a "rematch" against Team Alabama in the old field once again! :happy:

I am totally stoked about this league starting up and cannot wait hardly any longer for it to start! :brick:

[sheluvsbama]

It is gonna be a lot of fun and give us some more football to talk about. It already has! :laugh: