LITTLE ROCK, Ark.,
July 30 -- The All
American Football League
today announced an
agreement with War
Memorial Stadium in
Little Rock for the
famed venue to serve as
the home field of the
Arkansas team in the new
League. League Vice
President of Football
Operations and Business
Keenan Davis and Stadium
Manager Charlie Staggs
made the announcement
with former University
of Arkansas players
Clint Stoerner, Anthony
Lucas and Robert Thomas
attending the signing.
"Our agreement with
War Memorial Stadium
culminates an exciting
month in the evolution
of the All American
Football League," said
Davis, a former
executive with the NFL
and NFL Europe and
native of Hot Springs,
AR. "This month, over
500 former college
football players, most
from BCS programs and
many with professional
experience, participated
in try-out camps at
Orlando's Citrus Bowl
and Legion Field in
Birmingham.
"Last week, we signed
contracts with several
former University of
Alabama players. Today,
we are signing an
agreement with a stadium
that's part of the
folklore of college
football in Arkansas.
These are significant
milestones as the League
advances towards its
spring 2008 inaugural
season," he said.
The League's charter
teams will be located in
avid college football
markets with teams
representing the states
of Arkansas, Florida,
Alabama, Tennessee and
other hotbeds. Stadium
agreements have been
signed with Florida
Field in Gainesville,
Legion Field and the
home stadiums of Purdue
University and N.C.
State. Discussions are
underway with venues in
other prospective
markets.
The All American
Football League is
aligning with the
passion for college
football and the
year-round fan interest
in the game's traditions
and rivalries. The
League's spring schedule
is designed to satisfy
fans who hunger for
quality football between
the NFL and college
seasons. To the extent
practical, players will
be placed on the team
hosted by or located
closest to their
alma-mater.
"We know the passion
for college football is
unrivaled among fans in
the markets we've
identified to host
teams," said League
Board Chairman and
former NCAA President
Cedric W. Dempsey. "Fans
in these markets are
enthusiastic about
having the opportunity
to see players who
competed for some of the
most storied programs in
college football once
again brought together
under the banner of
their school colors and
traditions.
Another point of
difference is the
League's player
eligibility requirement.
Developed by the
League's Board, which
also includes former
Florida and Tennessee
coach and Tennessee
Athletic Director Doug
Dickey, former ACC
Commissioner and Notre
Dame Athletic Director
Gene Corrigan, former
UCLA Athletic Director
Peter Dalis, and former
U.S. Naval Academy
Athletic Director Jack
Lengyel, players
selected by the League
must have earned their
Bachelor's degree in
addition to exhausting
their college football
eligibility.
For more information
on the All American
Football League fans,
can log on to http://www.allamericanfootballleague.com.
