|
|
Post by David on Sept 26, 2023 11:22:07 GMT -8
9/26/23 --
SAN ANTONIO, TX - The mass shakeup of the indoor football world continued Tuesday, with the announcement that the San Antonio Gunslingers will leave the National Arena League (NAL) and join the Indoor Football League (IFL).
On August 22 the Jacksonville Sharks announced they were swimming into the waters of the IFL after seven years in the NAL. The Gunslingers have saddled up and followed the Sharks after spending the last two seasons in the NAL. The Gunslingers announced they had hired veteran head coach Thomas Menas on August 31.
The Gunslingers were founded in 2020 as an expansion team for the American Arena League (AAL) in the 2021 AAL Season. Playing their games at the San Antonio Rose Palace (4,500 capacity), San Antonio would clinch a berth in the AAL playoffs, but fell to the eventual champion North Texas Bulls in the AAL West Championship. The Gunslingers would join the NAL for the 2022 season, as well as moving into Freeman Coliseum, expanding the capacity to 9,000 fans. Their first season in the NAL was one of growing pains, as the Gunslingers began the season 0-5 before rebounding in the final two months of the season, finishing at 4-8 and missing the playoffs by 3 games. The 2023 campaign was one of better success, with the Gunslingers storming to an 8-1 record before sliding in their final 3 games to finish the season at 8-4. San Antonio would still make the playoffs, clinching the #3 seed, but would fall to the #2 Carolina Cobras by a score of 52-36.
Freeman Coliseum opened in October 1949 after nearly two years of construction. The facility hosted the San Antonio Stars of the Women's Professional Basketball Association in the 2015 season, numerous hockey teams, and was home to the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo from 1950 to 2002. It also has served as a venue for motor sports, trade shows and other events. The coliseum is adjacent to Frost Bank Center, home of the National Basketball Association's San Antonio Spurs. For indoor football, it has an estimated capacity of nearly 9,000 persons.
The addition of the Gunslingers adds an in-state rival to the Frisco Fighters, who are coming off of a 13-2 regular season that fell short in the IFL's Eastern Conference Championship. With the addition of Jacksonville to the Eastern Conference, adding San Antonio balances out the Western Conference (8 West, 8 East).
San Antonio also becomes the third overall NAL team to defect and join the IFL, following the Sharks last week and the Massachusetts Pirates three years ago.
Previously, San Antonio served as home to the Talons of the Arena Football League from 2012 to 2014. They were founded in Tulsa, Oklahoma (now home of the IFL's Oilers) and played 10 seasons in the AFL's farm system, af2, and moved to the AFL when it re-emerged from dormancy in 2010. After the 2011 season they made the move south to San Antonio for the next three years before folding. In all, they won two af2 championships and were the first team in that league's history to reach 100 wins. After moving to the AFL, they reached the playoffs once; in 2012.
Prior to the Talons, the San Antonio Force played one season in the AFL, in 1992. They finished with a 2-8 record and in last place in the league's Western Division. They folded after that season, citing arena availability issues.
The IFL will enter its 16th year in 2024 and, with San Antonio's addition, brings the league to 16 teams from the 14 which competed in the 2023 season.
The Bay Area Panthers defeated the Sioux Falls Storm in the IFL National Championship Game on August 5, becoming the sixth new champion in as many seasons. The IFL is the longest continuously running indoor/arena football league in the country. They've played 14 full seasons (2020 was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic) and represent teams from California to Massachusetts and from Green Bay to now San Antonio.
-DKH & ANM
To share this post on social media, please go to the right side of the page (the top of the page on the mobile site) to the social media icons and choose which social media site(s) to share the thread. To comment on this thread and others on this forum, please login or register. |
|
|
|
Post by alecs on Sept 26, 2023 16:05:56 GMT -8
Very interesting addition, as the landscape of the Indoor/Arena Football universe continues to shift seismically. Curiously, the league noted that the addition of the Gunslingers brought the league up to a balanced 16-team slate for 2024, which sounds like the door is being closed on a potential return for both the Bismarck Bucks and Columbus Wild Dogs even though both show up in the "2024 Teams" section of the IFL's website. We've definitely hit upon the ever-elusive Wild Dogs in the past, but it doesn't sound like a debut is coming this spring. Remember, this team was founded over three years ago. You could say the fact that they haven't played a single snap is... wild.
I also find it amusing that there are two Texas-based teams in opposite conferences, with Frisco remaining in the East.
|
|
|
|
Post by David on Sept 26, 2023 16:53:44 GMT -8
Very interesting addition, as the landscape of the Indoor/Arena Football universe continues to shift seismically. Curiously, the league noted that the addition of the Gunslingers brought the league up to a balanced 16-team slate for 2024, which sounds like the door is being closed on a potential return for both the Bismarck Bucks and Columbus Wild Dogs even though both show up in the "2024 Teams" section of the IFL's website. We've definitely hit upon the ever-elusive Wild Dogs in the past, but it doesn't sound like a debut is coming this spring. Remember, this team was founded over three years ago. You could say the fact that they haven't played a single snap is... wild. Bismarck had that Worker's Compensation issue with the state of North Dakota worked out. It's surprising that nothing's been said since then about their return. There was a hot rumor they would relocate to Fargo, and one of their upper management on Indoor Forum kept saying we'll have something soon but nothing's materialized. Very concerning. Columbus I've written off for a while. They kicked the can down the road twice, then the third time, the IFL just put the team up under "2024 teams" with no context. The fact Columbus didn't get in front of it the third time, and that their social media was deleted months ago, I've pretty much declared that franchise dead. Don't forget, we still don't know the fates of the Pirates and Panthers. Are they re-locating or staying put? While weird, wouldn't be the first time in sports it's been done. MLB: Tampa and Miami, Baltimore and Washington D.C., Kansas City and St. Louis in separate leagues. NFL's got Houston and Dallas, Washington and Baltimore, the in different conferences, etc. Because it's indoor football and proximity i suppose it's weird. I mean with the way the teams are, it makes sense based on geography in order to balance the two conferences out. I suggested they maybe start considering re-instating divisons, but trying to figure out division alignment isn't perfect either. |
|
|
|
Post by alecs on Sept 26, 2023 17:03:46 GMT -8
Don't forget, we still don't know the fates of the Pirates and Panthers. Are they re-locating or staying put? This is the first I'm hearing of a possible Bay Area Panthers move; would be a shame for a championship team to move out the following offseason. As for the Pirates, although nothing has been announced officially yet, their X account re-posted a post from Worcester Chamber which mentioned that they can't wait for the Pirates to be back playing football at the DCU. The team's X account profile also still has the DCU listed as their home arena. I would estimate that it's more likely than not that the Pirates will stay in the heart of the Bay State and come to a renewed agreement. I suppose we'll have our answer soon enough, whenever the league has its teams finalized and the 2024 schedule announced. |
|
|
|
Post by David on Sept 26, 2023 17:17:10 GMT -8
This is the first I'm hearing of a possible Bay Area Panthers move; would be a shame for a championship team to move out the following offseason. Panthers posted on their site in July that they announced a joint venture with a agency called PiVOT to come up with a long-term home solution for the Panthers. Last update was mentioned was after the National Championship. They had four places listed: - Oakland - Sacramento - San Jose - Stockton |
|
|
|
Post by DiamondThief on Sept 26, 2023 18:36:50 GMT -8
This is a good addition to the league. I think this orgainization is not messing around. I'll also say it makes sense that they play in the Western Conference for now given the makeup of the league. It is kind of weird looking, but I don't think it has to be permanent when it comes to future expansion and team additions/movement. I like the three-way rivalry potential with Frisco and Tulsa could be fun to keep an eye on.
|
|
|
|
Post by soundofthegunz on Feb 27, 2024 16:14:01 GMT -8
Greetings SCtoC! I am Ralph Judkins, the Gunslingers play by play broadcaster since the 2022 season. I am here seeking information about other teams in the league and the game in general, as I really wasn't paying attention before 2022. But boy I am now, and I love this game and have pretty much forsaken everything else for it. This community is important to me because it knows more than I do about everything other than the Gunslingers. I hope to contribute here because I know a lot about the Gunslingers. I can act as a clearing house for questions about the team and updates on the team. I am also on very good terms with the head of officiating Tom Falcinelli and have studied the rules of the IFL extensively and passed all of the league preseason tests/quizzes put out by Tom. Message me if you think I can be of use. The team ownership might be among the strongest in the league. Don Rackler and his son in law James Steubing are the two principal owners of the club. Mr. Steubing is the president. The GM/HC is Tom Menas, a coach with 12 national championships under his belt, including two back to back with the Albany Empire in 2021 and 2022. Quoted from: www.timesunion.com/sports/article/Tom-Menas-hired-as-new-Albany-Empire-coach-16106901.phpA former NFL and USFL player, Menas has an extensive coaching background. He was linebackers and running back coach for the Arena Football League's Detroit Fury from 2001 to 2003. Menas served as defensive line coach for the CFL's Toronto Argonauts from 2004 to 2006, winning a Grey Cup in 2005. He went into private coaching and athletic training until resurfacing with the Oakland (Mich.) club team, first as defensive coordinator and later as head coach. He had a two-year record of 23-1 at Oakland, winning the National Club Football Association championship in 2016. Menas spent 2018 as head coach of the Oakland County Racers of the Rivals Professional Football League and in 2019 was offensive/defensive line and special teams coach of the IFL's Green Bay Blizzard. A Kansas State graduate, Menas played two seasons as an offensive guard with the Detroit Lions. He also had stints with the USFL's Michigan Panthers, Chicago Blitz and San Antonio Gunslingers. |
|
|
|
Post by Monika on Feb 29, 2024 18:30:20 GMT -8
Greetings. I'm Monika and I write recaps of IFL games, as well as help out with some previews. Additionally, I prepare and update schedules of some of the northwest teams we feature here.
It's great to see a summary of the Gunslingers. It seems like a very well-run organization. I'm looking forward to seeing them on the field and being able to write about them this season.
|
|
|
|
Post by soundofthegunz on Mar 1, 2024 6:36:23 GMT -8
It's great to see a summary of the Gunslingers. It seems like a very well-run organization. I'm looking forward to seeing them on the field and being able to write about them this season. We are trying to be good students, paying attention to information the league provides, looking at successful new launches (Tulsa for one) and marketing/sponsorship (QC for one). The ownership is very committed to make this work and do it right. Mistakes will be made, but I'd like to think we are learning from them. Your dedication and skill impresses me. Allow me to serve as a source for you. I wrote the game summaries last year for SAG, and I read a few of yours. Your work is easily better than almost every team in the NAL. I get the feeling you have either J-school or some real experience writing sports? |
|
|
|
Post by Monika on Mar 1, 2024 21:11:12 GMT -8
It's great to see a summary of the Gunslingers. It seems like a very well-run organization. I'm looking forward to seeing them on the field and being able to write about them this season. We are trying to be good students, paying attention to information the league provides, looking at successful new launches (Tulsa for one) and marketing/sponsorship (QC for one). The ownership is very committed to make this work and do it right. Mistakes will be made, but I'd like to think we are learning from them. Your dedication and skill impresses me. Allow me to serve as a source for you. I wrote the game summaries last year for SAG, and I read a few of yours. Your work is easily better than almost every team in the NAL. I get the feeling you have either J-school or some real experience writing sports? Thank you for the compliment. I have not gone to journalism school nor had any experience before I started helping my sisters on the site. I'm actually a junior in high school. I've learned pretty much everything I know from my sister, Angi. |
|
|
|
Post by soundofthegunz on Mar 4, 2024 17:27:56 GMT -8
And I am a high school teacher...but not journalism. I will tell you that the best way to learn is to observe other sports writers game summaries. There is definitely a formula to it. Discover it, and then develop your own.
I am thrilled that someone is out there doing this. How fast do you get summaries out? Can the Gunslingers report your work with byline credit and reference to Sports Coast to Coast?
|
|
|
|
Post by Monika on Mar 5, 2024 21:55:56 GMT -8
When I cover a live game, it's usually within 15 minutes. Angi said she would message you about the other stuff.
|
|
