Steven M. Sipple: New pro league is intriguing
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You know the saying: If it sounds too good to be true ...
Well, the newest professional football venture, the All American Football League, sounds so wonderful on paper that it probably won’t work in real time. It just can’t work, right?
Right?
Nebraska athletic director Steve Pederson was unavailable this week, presumably recharging his batteries in advance of a crucial Husker football season, so we’ll have to wait for his thoughts on the AAFL.
For now, let’s surmise that Nebraska wisely held off on jumping into the AAFL fray because the intelligent Husker brass want to see how well things go in other cities before joining the fledgling league, scheduled to kick off next spring in as many as eight college stadiums.
A wait-and-see approach makes perfect sense, especially for Nebraska, which hopes its fans (particularly the ones with deep pockets and scarlet-colored glasses) remember that millions of dollars are still owed on those shiny facility upgrades on Stadium Drive.
If Nebraska fans are going to spend discretionary funds on football, Pederson probably prefers the cash benefits the current program and not this new AAFL venture that’s created a buzz in football circles.
I have to admit I’ve given the new league ample thought (I’m a sucker for these things).
More important, “I’ve been thinking about it for 20 years,” says Marcus Katz, a 59-year-old San Diego millionaire who is providing initial funding. “There has been tremendous interest.”
In all seriousness, what’s not to like?
(It’s necessary to say, “In all seriousness,” to offset the snickering that accompanies past failures of the USFL, WFL and XFL).
In the AAFL, games will be played in college stadiums in April through the Fourth of July. Rosters will consist of former college players who did not make NFL teams, and they must have their undergraduate degrees. Players will be allocated to teams as close as possible to their alma maters. They will wear school colors.
I’m guessing Nebraska could draw at least 30,000 fans per game, assuming it is quality football.
Katz is betting on fans’ emotional attachment to their schools. He’s throwing big money into the pot. Player salaries reportedly will be $75,000-$100,000. He says each team would have a $1.5 million budget for coaches. He says he’ll pay universities “the equivalent of about $500,000 a game” to rent their stadiums.
No wonder a prominent ex-Husker coach called me this week wondering how to reach Katz.
“In my dreams, the games will sell out and everyone will have a great time,” says Katz, who became rich developing a student-loan business. “But I don’t know for sure if fans will step forward.”
To be sure, Katz is battling a history of skepticism among fans, created by Donald Trump’s failed USFL and Vince McMahon’s forgettable XFL (Does anybody really remember the WFL?)
At any rate, Katz has received signed letters of intent from Iowa, Purdue, North Carolina State, Florida State, Florida and Tennessee. He says the first season will feature no fewer than six teams and as many as eight. Pederson will be watching all the while, and perhaps he’ll have a big decision to make before the spring of 2009.
That’s assuming the AAFL makes it to year two.
And that’s assuming Pederson is still Nebraska’s athletic director.
Perlman stays mum
Pederson’s 5½-year contract expires June 30, 2008. Nebraska chancellor Harvey Perlman has praised Pederson’s work, but is yet to extend his contract. Perlman reiterated this past week that they’ll address the matter in a timely manner.
High-profile athletic directors these days are commanding seven-year guaranteed contracts, typically with a two-year rollover clause. Is Perlman willing to go that far with Pederson? Is contract length a potential sticking point? Perlman declined comment.
Of course, Pederson’s contract status has ramifications on Bill Callahan’s situation (his six-year deal runs through 2009). My sources say Callahan probably wouldn’t receive an extension until Pederson’s situation was resolved and that the coach’s contract likely wouldn’t be addressed until the 2007 season is finished or nearly finished.
As if the coming season weren’t interesting enough already.
Franchione optimistic
Fifth-year Texas A&M football coach Dennis Franchione told ESPN radio Saturday that this will be his most talented Aggie squad. That’s interesting, considering The Sporting News picks A&M to finish fourth in the Big 12 South.
Ex-Husker offensive lineman Chris Patrick’s pick to win the South might surprise folks.
“I’m going with Oklahoma State,” he said. “They can do multiple things on offense. Defensively, they’re OK, but I think their offense is definitely strongest in the Big 12 South, other than Texas.”
Reach Steven M. Sipple at 473-7440 or ssipple@journalstar.com.
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