Post by Monika on Jul 28, 2020 14:40:27 GMT -8
BREAKING --
COLUMBUS, OH -- Columbus' IFL team is nameless no more.
The team announced its new identity at a press conference this afternoon. The Wild Dogs name was announced by co-owner Jessica Germain at the event, which was held at the Columbus Zoo and Acquarium. She said her family became familiar with wild dogs last year at the zoo, and then in their native Africa.
Jessica Germain, her parents Steve and Kim Germain, siblings Austin and Zach, own the team, as well as the Frisco Fighters franchise. The Fighters were scheduled to begin play in the IFL this season, but the season was suspended in March due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Following the announcement of the team name, the owners unveiled four uniform combinations -- two home and two away -- which will be utilized. Each includes trademarked Wild Dog prints on the uniform bottoms and, among other features, Wild Dog faces with piercing eyes on the shoulders. The top of the black helmets feature the same Wild Dog face. The combination of the helmet and shoulder patches are intended to strike fear in opposing quarterbacks, Jessica Germain said.
The team announced its colors as ruthless red, grasslands gold, saharan taupe, pitch black, safari white. The ruthless red is also displayed on the front of the jersey spelling out the team’s name.
The name was chosen from a list of over a thousand fan entries which were initially set into three categories; automotive, locality and animals. In the end, the endangered Wild Dogs were selected for qualities which translate to the team on the football field.
“As an organization, we are happy that we will be able to shed light on this entirely endangered species and advocate for their continued existence. We were drawn to characteristics of the species, which also fits with the makeup of our team,” Jessica Germain said. “Wild dogs are known for their teamwork, their aggressive nature, their tremendous endurance, their ferocious ability to attack, and their extreme success when they embark on their prey.”
She also noted that wild dogs, which have been clocked at up to 44 miles per hour, are successful 80 percent of the time that they attack. By comparison, she said, lions are successful just 30 percent of the time.
Columbus was originally slated to begin IFL play next year, but that was pushed back to 2022 after the pandemic hit. The team will play at Nationwide Arena in Columbus.
Steve Germain said the that while the process was drawn out, it’s a great day for the organization to make the team identity announcement, calling the identity “bold and brash.”
Fans who submitted name ideas which were not chosen will receive tickets to the inaugural home opener of the Wild Dogs in the spring of 2022. Bobby Olive is the team's head coach.
Columbus is not new to the sport of arena/indoor football. It was most recently home to the Columbus Destroyers of the Arena Football League. They ceased operations with the AFL last year when that league filed for bankruptcy and shut down operations.
Click for the Wild Dogs' Vital Statistics Page here at SCtoC.
Click to watch the name unveiling press conference on the IFL's Facebook page.
- MMM
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Graphic courtesy of David.