New Force Advisory Board Missing AFL Experience
Erik Richards
Saturday February 7, 2004
With that said, let me bring you up to date on the happenings in Gwinnett county, Georgia over the last few weeks. On January 8th of this year, Force owner Virgil Williams assembled an advisory board to counsel management on matters that effect the business operations of the team off the field and work with the coaching staff on football operations related to on the field activities.
In turn, Vince Dooley, who among many of his accomplishments led the University of Georgia to a national championship in 1980, immediately assembled a who’s who of football board that includes 1982 Heisman Trophy winner Herschel Walker, former Chicago Bear and Super Bowl winner Kevin Butler, and former president of the Olympic organizing committee Billy Payne, who led the charge for Atlanta to host the 1996 centennial games. Last but not least in these parts of the country, Dooley added Dave Hunter, a legendary high school coach from a perennial nationally ranked powerhouse, Brookwood High.
All have a lot in common; leaders in the community, amazing personal resumes and statistics from their playing days. However, the most glaring common trait is the lack of Arena Football experience and knowledge.
I have become increasingly alarmed at the direction the organization has taken under the new regime. Take for instance the latest marketing ploy that coincides with the upcoming University of Georgia football legends day on February 8th. It has been announced that no fewer than 25 past Bulldog legends will be honored at halftime, which happens to be the home opener. The Force management has made the request to the Commissioner’s office to allow the team to add red and old gold stripes to the helmets honoring and showing loyalty to our beloved in state universities.
What I say!
You can rest assured that we will never see the Orlando Predators wearing the colors of the University of Central Florida (also in Orlando) on their duds to honor Dante Culpepper and the rest of the Golden Knight boosters. I will also venture to bet that we will not catch any local university loyalty from the Dallas Desperados, sponsoring a pony express day to commemorate the accomplishments of Eric Dickerson or Craig James.
I think we all understand the reasoning behind the outreach to the loyal college ranks. However, as season ticket holder Mary Ellen Griffin put it, “they need to concentrate on building a season ticket base with Georgia Force fans that bleed black and blue, not people driving in from Athens hoping to get Herschel Walker’s autograph during the post game signing sessions. It just takes away from what we are here to support, Georgia Force football. My family and I look forward to opening day. But will we lose sight of who we should really be appreciating with the UGA alumni on the scene: the 20 men who just beat out tough competition just to make the team. I ask what is the attempt here? To pull UGA fans into the AFL fun by making this the UGA-satellite team? Is it to dilute the opening day crowds new blue and black colors with UGA fans sporting red and black sweatshirts?”
I can tell you from first hand experience if you just invite the stereotypical college season ticket holder into the arena for a first time in hopes of getting a glimpse of a former player who returned a punt for a touchdown or made a tackle on a kickoff over decades ago, he or she will leave the game thinking to themselves, “that wasn’t like a Vince Dooley coached defense that held number one ranked Notre Dame to 10 points in New Orleans 23 years ago. They must not even practice kickoff team, because did you see that little #8 (Markeith Cooper) return 4 kicks for touchdowns? I haven’t seen a score like that since Georgia Tech played Cumberland in 1916.”
In closing, I think it’s great for our sport to be associated with such powerful names as Vince Dooley, Herschel Walker, Jon Bon Jovi and other recognizable individuals who have come aboard in recent months. I call out to all AFL teams, including the Columbus Destroyers and Austin Wranglers. While it is important to have ties and familiarity with the local former alumni standouts of Ohio State and the University of Texas, please take heed of this wonderful and accomplished league that has survived and grown over the last 18 years. You are not going to grow this sport by taking former gridiron greats from the local university and placing them in competition, so to speak, with our already entrenched and established superstars that make up this league.
I also plead with the Advisory board and owner of the Georgia Force, Virgil Williams. I hope that when assembling the rest of this advisory board you take a look around the arena or your front office, and ask people that eat, drink and sleep AFL football like myself for advice on how to grow and market your organization. I am sure, from past comments, Commissioner Baker would agree.
Erik Richards is a resident of Duluth, Ga. and is the owner of a Transmission franchise in the Atlanta area. Erik is former Marine and is president of the Gwinnett Football League, the largest youth football league in Georgia with over 8,000 participants. Erik is an avid follower of arena football, and he tries to go to as many road games as he can for his local team, the Georgia Force.
