Team Texas - Did Mack and DeLoss Drop the Ball?

by afat on Jan 23, 2008 5:43 PM CST Comment 19 comments

I've put up a new post at my blog that has some 'inside info' on Team Texas of the AAFL. It isn't good news for horn fans and I'm kind of calling out the UT football program on this.

Blog:
http://teamtexasfootball.blogspot.com/

Directly to the Article:

http://teamtexasfootball.blogspot.co...

Any inside info/criticisms/comments appreciated.

All comments, FanPosts, and FanShots are the views of the reader-authors who create them.

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I'm sure the XFL wondered the same thing

Hard to tell from your article whether you're really concerned about UT's lack of interest or simply making a thinly veiled attempt to generate interest in your upstart league. My guess is a little of both...

Regardless, I think you're putting too much stock in a league that hasn't even played Game 1. This is the first time I've heard of the AAFL and while it sounds interesting, it's not like it's the only other minor league football league out there. I'm sure the recent grads who want to play post-collegiate ball are also considering NFL Europe, the CLF, and the Arena Leagues.

I'd also argue that there are considerable number of recent grads who are ready to get on with the rest of their lives...after all, there are 1,000's of NCAA student-athletes who will be going pro in something other than sports."

Be nobody but yourself in a world that desperately wants you to be like everybody else.

by 54b on Jan 23, 2008 6:17 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

I think that NFL europe folded.

by billb on Jan 23, 2008 7:17 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Yep

You think correctly.

by Shake on Jan 25, 2008 9:50 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Both

I dig the horns and I want to see the play. I like football in the spring time because baseball bores me. I started a blog about this because I've always wanted to write about football and there seemed to be a need. I've been participating in this community for the last year or so and I wanted some input. I'll freely admit to all that.

by afat on Jan 23, 2008 9:38 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Whats the AAFL? Really. Doesn't Austin already

have the Wranglers? Is this different?

by the1austin on Jan 23, 2008 6:42 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Houston

This is in Houston...and played on a regulation field.

by afat on Jan 23, 2008 9:39 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

OK Seriously?

You posted this same garbage on hornfans. You called out the UT football program, and no one listens.

All you're doing is trying to be some attention whore so people can garner interest in this AAFL BS. GTFO.

by goingforthecorner on Jan 23, 2008 6:43 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Youch...

... Don't be a douche, man. He makes a point about the recruiting benefits, but I'm not too sure that players will be interested in this league. Something like 3/4 of recruits think they'll play in the NFL, and it's not like Texas doesn't already have its choice of the borderline NFL dudes. I don't think Mack and Deloss thought much of it for just those reasons.

Growing up, I only fed Jared Norton paper. That's why he eats plays.

by Horn Brain on Jan 23, 2008 7:53 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I posted them both at the same time.

Like I said...I've been participating in this community for a year and on hornfans for 6. I'm interested enough in the concept to put a bunch of time into it because I think more football is better then less.

Like I said in the article. Florida think there is at least enough weight to this thing to tie it to their program.

by afat on Jan 23, 2008 9:42 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

If you're going to advertise AAFL

don't throw out some nonsense like "It isn't good news for horn fans and I'm kind of calling out the UT football program on this." or "Did Mack and DeLoss Drop the Ball?"

Are you seriously criticizing these guys because they didn't get enough ex-Longhorn players to participate in some league no one's even heard of? Seriously? Your thread title was specifically meant to bring attention to yourself.

by goingforthecorner on Jan 23, 2008 10:21 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah.

I'm asking a legitimate question and directing attention to the question because I'm genuinely interested in having a discussion about it. Why in the world does this piss you off so much?

If they ignored it, I want to know the reason. If there is no reason, then I think they made a mistake. Should they be fired for it? Of course not. Is it a big mistake? Probably not even a small one. It is the off season...would you rather I try to talk about orange pants?

by afat on Jan 24, 2008 10:42 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Afat do you have a personal interest in the team?

Either way, the league sounds interesting. I thought it was Arena II or something. I'm sure if the league lasts more than one year than more players will try for it. I don't see why Mack is to blame. He doesn't work for the AAFL and is kind of busy recruiting and re-organizing his staff.

by the1austin on Jan 24, 2008 12:39 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

No.

I'm just really interested in the concept. In my own convoluted mind I'd come up with something similar a couple of years back...not having the time or resources to pursue my own professional football league I kinda forgot about it. When I read the AAFL announcement it rekindled a lot of excitement I had for the idea.

I'm hardly trying to 'blame' anyone. 'Blame' brings a sense of guilt and I don't think anyone should feel guilty for anything in any way shape or form for a small number of players not trying out for a league that hasn't proven that it can even make it through a season yet. "Dropping the ball" is maybe a strong way of putting it..."Missing the boat" is probably better. There will be another boat...and nothing is lost, but Florida and Michigan seem to be on the first boat out of port...and if we are Jonses, why aren't we in the Captain's quarters?

by afat on Jan 24, 2008 5:25 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

No one is going to care about the AAFL.

People have tried it for years to get some other pro-league and it will not work. People are not going to fall for this crap.

Have you ever thought that maybe many of the Texas players do not want to play in the league. They could have something better to do than get paid the equivilant of a teacher's salary to play football. It's not Mack's job to recruit players for this league, the guys that are going to be playing in this league are grown men and can make their own decisions.

I personally don't care about this league and will not pay attention. I'm also pretty sure that many of the people on this blog and in this country will share the same sentiment.

Why would want I to watch Chris Leak or Chance Mock again? I bet the whole league will feel so cheezy and fake.

I bleed burnt orange!!!!

by FNJ on Jan 23, 2008 7:23 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Of course...

...I thought that maybe there just wasn't any interest. I'm just curious why some other schools players do have so much interest and ours don't.

As an aside, Salary's are 50k-100k...significantly better then a teacher's. We'll see if they make pay roll.

by afat on Jan 23, 2008 9:45 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

What makes a fan?

Sometimes that takes a while to develop minus any real personal factors. The league won't replicate the college experience, nor approach the NFL level.

There is a saturation limit to football. I know, some might not feel that way, but there really is; the season is a natural growth phenomena. Same with basketball; when March Madness is over, I don't want no more. I seldom watch the pros until the playoffs, and only if it's interesting.

In pro baseball or football, say, it is possible to form affection for teams anywhere. I know Texas grown people who are Redskin fans for no good reason at all. I was a Brooklyn Dodger fan when I was young but that didn't transfer completely after they moved to LA despite Koufax and Drysdale (although I remained loyal to the senior circuit).

The chances of the league surviving are slim, especially at a time of rising transportation costs and capital shrinking from risky ventures. Arena ball found a niche, but it's a little different game, very urban in its parameters and has a certain gladiatorial flare with the crowd right there so close. Everybody gets to pander to the camera, which seems to be one of the things we do best. A little of that goes a long way, though, witness the XFL.

The universities who do actively push this are perhaps pushing the legal edge of professionalism; and you make it seem as if they might be acting as de facto agents. If there is any advantage there, someone will be squawking soon enough.

I would bet the larger football talent pool would be composed of those who didn't graduate or didn't even make it to school. They need the opportunity more than the vast majority college grads.

BTW, I can't see any Rice grads playing (Dr. Frank Ryan notwithstanding, the only NFL player to ever earn a PhD in mathematics).

by whills on Jan 24, 2008 1:22 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Chad Price

Chad Price is a Rice grad and he is on Team Texas.

http://teamtexasfootball.blogspot.co...

minus any real personal factors. The league won't replicate the college experience, nor approach the NFL level.

The personal factor is the key though. Flordia had a Heisman winner that they want to cheer for who didn't make the NFL. Chris Leak is going to play for Team Florida. How much do we love to root for Ricky? They are trying to tap into a pre-existing personal factor. They may surprise you with the college experience. Herman park in April with beer and grilled meats? They are not trying to compete with the NFL.

by afat on Jan 24, 2008 10:48 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I'm impressed if they have one.

There are always other aspirations - and just because you have a Rice degree doesn't mean you have good sense. heh

I can understand what they're doing; they almost should sell it as a throw-back game.

We'll see how it works. I don't live in Houston so my chances of seeing them are slim unless they're televised in some manner.

by whills on Jan 24, 2008 5:31 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

In addtion...

...the Team president, Mike Pede, worked as the Associate Athletic Director and Marketing Director for Rice for 12 years. So I wouldn't be surprised to see more Owls show up on the roster.

by afat on Jan 24, 2008 5:31 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs