August 1, 2007

Dear Friend,

What a week in Birmingham.

We did a ton of stories this week during our combine at Legion Field. The New York Times said the AAFL was a "Pro League" with "College Spirit."

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/28/sports/football/28league.html?ref=sports

That's about as good a description as anything I've heard.

And of course there were all the stories about all the former University of Alabama players who signed to play next Spring. Look for lots more of those.

The Birmingham News said "thanks to fans' love of the game"; we could even consider the impossible: That Alabama and Auburn could co-exist.

http://www.al.com/sports/birminghamnews/index.ssf?/base/sports/11855261486460.xmlcoll=2

Lots of interest at the home of the Crimson Tide. The Selma Times-Journal asked:

"Professional football with a collegiate atmosphere? Meaningful football games during the spring? Talented, motivated players?"

"It sounds like the creators of the All American Football League bored inside the minds of ravenous football fans and developed the best-case scenario."

Thanks, Selma!

On top of all the print, there were lots of television cameras and tons of talk radio from all over the country. Travis McGriff did at least ten sports talk interviews himself in his car on the way to Birmingham from Gainseville. And another dozen print interviews as well.

At our hotel, former Alabama great and NFL Hall of Famer John Hannah teamed up with Joe DeLamielleure to do dozens more talk radio shows about the AAFL.

Even more than the interviews we did with Kenny Stabler, even more than the Wall Street Journal and New York Times stories, my favorite story came out of (Tennessee) Daily News Journal.

It's about a player who is going back to school to get his degree in order to play in our league.

http://dnj.midsouthnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070722/SPORTS/707220324/1006

Here's an excerpt:

BACK TO SCHOOL

Former MTSU running back Eugene Gross has an additional incentive to finish his degree. Gross wants to play in the new All-American Football League, but it requires players possess a four-year degree.

Gross, who recently earned his real estate license, lacks 13 credit hours to graduate with a bachelor's degree in sports psychology. The All-American Football League is set to start in 2008.

"I want to put the pads on again because I've still got the love for the game in me"; said Gross, MTSU's all-time leader in receptions among running backs.

"My agent is trying to get a tryout set up for me, but I've got to focus on school so that I can graduate in December and keep playing."

Gross and former MTSU linebacker Justin Rainey were trying out in a one-day workout for the Buffalo Bills in June when the All-American Football League were holding open tryouts.

We are hearing about lots of young men returning to school to graduate and get their shot at the AAFL.

And that is fine by me.

Aside from all the news coverage from Birmingham, we made a lot of friends and met a lot of supporters. More on them later.

Next stop, Arkansas tryouts. Saturday August 18!

See you there, Razorbacks.

Marcus Katz
CEO
All American Football League

P.S. If you want to see a power point presentation of some of our news clips, just ask... We'll send it right back as an attachment. Or go to YouTube.com or Myspace.com and search for AAFL.