RE: AAFL Team Michigan Newsletter: November 29, 2007

 

We've got the players. Team Michigan in the new All American Football League is attracting greats like Tyrece Butler, Larnell Collier, Darnell Hood, Scott McClintock, David Underwood, Ivory McCoy, Tupe Peko, Sean Poole, Kyle Rasmussen, BJ Lovett, David Stanton and lots of others.

Now all we needed was a coach. A Michigan coach who knows the special brand of football that makes Michigan fans so passionate about all their teams.

We found him: John Fontes.

If the name sounds familiar, it should: His brother Wayne coached the Lions. But he's a great coach in his own right. Read about it here:

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071128/SPORTS18/711280301

Lots of other Michigan greats at the announcement. Reporters were talking to Mike Lodish -- a Detroit kid who grew up to play in six Super Bowls. That's more than anyone else. Ever.

Then there was Lomas Brown. A former Detroit Lion that many say is the greatest offensive lineman in the history of the game. He just became eligible for the Hall of Fame and many are predicting his entry on the first ballot.

Here's a YouTube video of Lomas talking about the AAFL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=io0I5KFXB4g.

Throw in NFL vets with Michigan roots such as Herman Moore, Ron Rice, Derrick Walker, Tyrone Wheatley, Rod Jones – and that turns into quite a gathering as Team Michigan prepares for its opening game April 12 against Tennessee.

So we have great players. Great coaches. (And of course lots of interest from Michigan football fans.)

That leaves just one thing: Officials. And we got that covered too. The NFL is going to partner with us to provide officials and rules for all our games to ensure enforcement of the AAFL's rules and regulations..

Here's part of the official announcement:

"The All-American Football League (AAFL) announced today that they will partner with the National Football League (NFL) Officiating Department.

NFL Vice President of Officiating, Mike Pereira, will oversee the partnership with the AAFL, to ensure enforcement of the AAFL's rules and regulations during games and training sessions with all coaches during the league's first training camp in February 2008. The NFL will also provide officiating crews for all thirty AAFL regular season games, two playoff games and one championship game."

The rest of the league was not standing still. Down in Arkansas, coach Ron Calcagni and his crew of Razorbacks are selling tickets – lots of them; some of buying for themselves and for others as Christmas presents.

In Florida, former Gator quarterback Chris Leak is making the rounds of Orlando and Jacksonville television shows. Lots of folks interested in what Leak and his national champion teammates are doing.

Here's one video: http://www.firstcoastnews.com/sports/news-article.aspx?storyid=96456

And another: http://www.firstcoastnews.com/sports/news-article.aspx?storyid=96468

And an article:

http://gatorsports.com/article/20071116/NEWS/71115045/1016/rss&source=RSS

Leak has high hopes for AAFL

Chris Leak thought he threw his last pass at The Swamp last year against Western Carolina.

But the former Florida quarterback who helped lead the Gators to the 2006 BCS title will return to Gainesville next spring as a quarterback for Florida's inaugural All American Football League franchise.

"I think it's going to be a great opportunity," said Leak, who signed with the Florida franchise last week. "The league is going to be really popular. And it will be a chance to play in front of the Florida fans again."

Down in Alabama, team president and NFL great Joe Cribbs has been talking about his team all over the state.

More Michigan news later. I've copied a couple articles below.

Sincerely,

Willis Barringer
Team Michigan
All American Football League

 

Detroit Free Press

Area sports: Wayne Fontes' brother gets AAFL coaching gig in Michigan November 26, 2007

PRO FOOTBALL: John Fontes will coach Team Michigan in AAFL

The Big Buck's brother will be prowling the sidelines at Ford Field beginning in April as head coach of the Michigan entry in the All American Football League.

Former Lions assistant John Fontes will be introduced as Team Michigan's head coach during a news conference at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Ford Field. He is a brother of former Lions head coach Wayne Fontes, who sometimes called to himself as "the Big Buck."

John Fontes has 27 years of coaching experience, including four seasons (1992-96) as an assistant with the Lions.

The AAFL is a new professional league that will begin a 10-game regular season in April with teams in Michigan, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Tennessee and Texas.

Team Michigan president confirmed the hiring of John Fontes Sunday, calling him "the best coach for our team in Detroit."

"He brings 27 years of experience. He knows the community. He knows the fans, and the Fontes name is legendary. We look forward to the fans of football in the state of Michigan enjoying Fontes football once again."

John Fontes has been an assistant at Oregon State, Miami (Fla.), Louisiana State and Central Florida. He also has been an assistant with the Minnesota Vikings, a defensive coordinator for the Tampa Bay Storm of the Arena Football League and an assistant coach and special teams coordinator for the Sacramento Surge of the World Football League.

AAFL entry has its coach; now Team Michigan needs assistants

November 28, 2007

BY GEORGE SIPPLE

FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER

Former NFL players Mike Lodish and Tyrone Wheatley watched as John Fontes was introduced as head coach of Team Michigan, a charter member of the All American Football League, on Tuesday at Ford Field.

The AAFL is a proposed spring league that plans to begin play in April 2008 in 10 U.S. cities, including Detroit. Officials from Team Michigan said Tuesday the team would play home games at Ford Field.

Lodish, a former standout at Birmingham Brother Rice, and Wheatley, a former star at Dearborn Heights Robichaud and the University of Michigan, said they are interested in joining Fontes' staff.

Fontes, a Lions assistant in 1992-96 during his brother Wayne Fontes' tenure as Lions coach, said he hadn't made any decisions on assistants.

"My first train of thought is I need to surround myself with good coaches, good teachers," Fontes said. "I've gotta have guys I can trust. I've got people in mind. I will talk to Mike. I will talk to Tyrone. But you can guarantee when it comes right down to it, on Saturday afternoons we will have the best coaching staff that we can have."

Wheatley, who spent the past season as football coach at Robichaud, said he believes the AAFL will be successful.

"There's always been a time in our life when we sat down and looked at a stock and said, `I wished I would have been there at the beginning of it,' " Wheatley said.

In most cases, the AAFL will be stocked with players who weren't able to make NFL rosters. The AAFL also maintains it will only employ players who have completed their college football eligibility and earned a four-year degree.

"I think it's something that's been needed, some sort of farm system," said former Lions offensive lineman Lomas Brown, who attended Tuesday's news conference. Brown said he couldn't commit to coaching every day but was willing to "help the guys, technique-wise," if Fontes asked for his help.

"I think he's a little less controversial than Wayne," Brown said of John Fontes. "He takes a more laid-back approach, but he has a disciplined, stern approach, too. When you're dealing with young players, that's what you're going to need."

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071128/SPORTS18/711280301