RE: AAFL Team Florida Newsletter: November 2, 2007

 

I never saw anything like this in the NFL. Neither have the other AAFL Team Florida guys with pro experience: Everybody thinks I have tickets in my pocket to sell them.

Or at least it seems that way: Several members of Team Florida were at a mall in Jacksonville last weekend to sign some autographs. Great crowds. But everybody is asking the same thing: Can I get tickets here? Where can I get tickets? When can I get tickets? Tickets. Tickets. Tickets.

And the first game is still more than four months away.

Fred Weary and Denny Corson from Gators and More were talking about it as well. Listen in here.

http://www.gatorsandmore.com/102907/tickettalk.mp3

Now lots of folks are asking for jerseys too.

This must be how Mick Jagger felt.

So here's the answer: Soon. Just watch AAFL.com for details. The league is doing lots of cool things with groups and alumni and other Gator fans.

One thing we know for sure: There are at least 20 times more Gator fans than there are seats at the Swamp.

In more news, we know this has not been the greatest week for Gator fans. Shane Matthews gave a really interesting interview where he talks about Tebow and the history of our rivalry with Georgia and the latest on Team Florida.

Check it out here. http://www.allamericanfootballleague.com/Florida/featurednews.php.

In other AAFL news, Team Texas just finished its first workout in Houston. Former University of Houston coach John Jenkins was named coach and general manager. Lots of great players showing their stuff including former first round draft choice Peter Warrick. (I forget where he went to college. Just kidding. He of course is one of the greatest receivers to ever come out of Florida State University.) And former Texas quarterback James Brown.

Lots of NFL experience out there. Lots of talent. Just as interesting were all the NFL greats that were there to help out or just lend their support.

Lomas Brown was there -- and I know all Gator fans remember Lomas as the greatest offensive lineman ever to patrol the Swamp. Lomas was just named to be on the ballot for the Hall of Fame and fellow Hall of Famer Joe DeLamielleure predicted Lomas will be a first round pick.

Heisman trophy great Johnny Rogers was there. Looking like he could still put on the pads and break a long one. Along with fellow Heisman winner Eric Crouch, who will put on the pads. We'll see who gets him.

Some great videos on YouTube.com of Lomas Brown talking with Joe D., former Cowboy linebacker Eugene Lockhart and Blaine Bishop, a four time Pro Bowler. Just go to YouTube.com and enter "AAFL and Florida.”

Same with MySpace.com. Lots of Gator greats with MySpace pages. Just enter "Florida and AAFL.”

You can also find our TV commercials at YouTube.

In the meantime, the media beat continues around the country. The State newspaper in South Carolina ran a powerful story about firefighter Todd DeLamielleure and how he is turning to football in the aftermath of an accident that claimed the lives of nine of his fellow firefighters.

Todd was at our Orlando workouts and was an inspiration. Check it out at http://www.thestate.com/sports/story/214382.html.

Just last week, the Houston Chronicle said "Tying the league into the college fan base sounds like an excellent idea. The league's Houston tryouts Wednesday and Thursday were impressive, and it looks like a class operation.”

And from MSNBC via the Associated Press, here's the story about Peter Warrick.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21478966/

"Warrick seems to be a perfect fit for this league that hopes to build its fan base by stocking teams with star college players who either didn't make it in the NFL or whose careers there were cut short."

"A lot of players that were stars in college still have a lot of name recognition," said 1972 Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Rodgers, who is helping promote the league. "This league will give people who are still hungry for football between April and July a chance to go out and see some of the names that they're familiar with."

"Warrick was upbeat and reflective in a candid interview discussing what went wrong in his NFL career and how difficult it has been to be away from the game he loves for so long."

"The man who was such a dynamic player at Florida State, he was nicknamed "The Great One", was back on a college field again this week simply hoping to make an impression. AAFL officials said the top players from these sessions would be invited back for further evaluation."

More later folks.

 

Travis McGriff
Team Florida
All American Football League

P.S. Our next Florida workout is set for December in Gainesville. Details soon.