Week four brings in a new commissioner as AFL looks for stability
Brian Belefski
Saturday May 18, 2024
Almost 25 years ago, Jeff Fisher was one-yard away from winning Super Bowl XXXIV as head coach of the Tennessee Titans. Celebrating across the field was Arena Football hero, Kurt Warner. Decades later, it is now Fisher, who has taken over the role of commissioner of the AFL to try to stretch the league back from troubled times.
The past week in the AFL brought a sense of closure to a dire business operation at the league level and renewed optimism for the future. The chaos left by former commissioner Lee Hutton III will not be forgotten, but the season is not lost.
"We're going to tell the truth," Fisher said during his first interview on the AFL Podcast. "We're going to be a league with integrity. We're going to do things right and show respect for the game and fans."
Albany, Billings, Nashville, Oregon, Orlando, Rapid City, Salina, SW Kansas, Washington, West Texas and Wichita are the 11 remaining active teams from the beginning of the season and will be the franchises looking to provide stability. G6 Sports Investment Group, LLC, led by Chris Chetty and Anthony Rossi are the owners of the AFL.
Week 4 Matchups
Wichita at Nashville, Saturday
The Kats will play their first game away from their typical home venue at the new 6,000 seat F&M bank Arena in Clarksville, an hour drive northwest from Nashville. After taking an early 16-7 lead against Salina last week, the Kats were silenced by the Liberty in a 50-30 loss and have dropped two games in a row. QB Ramone Atkins has been a bright spot with nine passing touchdowns so far this season, but expectations were elevated for the Kats entering the season.
Wichita enters the game on a high after beating SW Kansas 44-42 on Monday. WR Treveon Samuel has been an impact kickoff returner and QB Carlos Rogers has improved steadily while adapting to the arena game.
Oregon at Washington, Saturday
In a season of twists, Oregon's season was originally canceled on Tuesday. The Blackbears, haven't gone into hibernation though. The Salem based franchise announced Friday that they signed a license agreement to play the rest of the season. They will play Washington for their second meeting of the regular season and third time overall, including a preseason game. Oregon QB Connor Kaegi was one of the early trendsetters and sparked Oregon's 47-40-week one win over Washington with seven touchdowns.
The Wolfpack will be looking for their first franchise win after starting 0-3. One standout player to watch for Washington has been WR/DB Xavier Crawford. Crawford had a kickoff return for a touchdown in their 34-21 loss to West Texas last week.
Salina at Billings, Saturday
Many 50-yard fans believe this could be an early game of the year. Due to the vast scheduling shuffle, Salina heads to Billings, which is a homecoming for Salina Head Coach Heron O'Neal. O'Neal, previously coached Billings for six seasons when they were members of the UIFL and IFL.
Billings is coming off a technical win over Rapid City, which forfeited the game over a protest to league issues of non-payment to players. Billings QB Isaac Harker will look to remain on a passing tear. Salina DB Dontra Matthews has been a ballhawk all season and is coming off a two-interception performance against Nashville last week.
SW Kansas at Albany, Sunday
SW Kansas heads to Albany against arguably the best offensive team in the league. The Storm may be a better team than their record indicates and have lost their two games by a combined five points. The Firebirds haven't played in two weeks due a canceled game with the now defunct Minnesota franchise. The last time the Firebirds played, WR Darius Prince had five touchdowns in a 51-41 week two win over Nashville.
Orlando gets first win Thursday
After starting the season 0-2, Orlando had a must win revenge game Thursday at West Texas. The Predators didn't disappoint and beat the Deserthawks 50-39 in Odessa. The Predators special team's unit was the difference maker. Kick returner Caleb Walls returned a kickoff for a touchdown and kicker Dylan Barnas notched two deuces. Orlando also recovered a kickoff off the nets for a touchdown. The loss marked West Texas' first of the season after a 3-0 start.
"Her"storical points
History was made when Washington Wolfpack kicker Melissa Strother was successful on an extra point in the Wolfpack's 34-21 loss last week to West Texas. Strother became the first female to score a point in an AFL game.
Skill of the Irish
In Salina's 50-30 win over Nashville, the Liberty recovered two kickoffs off the bar by Irish kicker Shane McInerney. McInerney came to Salina after being one of the top kickers in the IFL last season for Arizona.
