UIFL ownership change guarantees Hammer a home for 2012 season
Published 4:08 am Friday, January 20, 2012
Staff Report
FT. MYERS, Fla. – The newly formed United Indoor Football League has acquired the assets of the Ultimate Indoor Football League from Cecil VanDyke and Assured Equities IV.
The UIFL’s league office is located in Fort Myers, FL. With teams from Pennsylvania to Florida the 2012 season will begin the first week of March.
The new league will follow along the lines of the original foundation of the former league, affordable family entertainment that is owner, fan and player friendly.
“This was a decision that was made to make sure our fans and teams would have a home for the 2012 season and going forward,” said UIFL co-founder Andrew Haines.
“The mission of the United Indoor Football League will continue to be a fan friendly event,” said UIFL co-founder Michael Taylor.
Reigning UIFL MVP and Super Bowl quarterback Jared Lorenzen will return to the front office, and serve as the league’s Commissioner. His duties include handling all football-related items, i.e. suspensions.
“The league management was proactive with the team owners to establish a new direction for this season and a positive direction for the future,” said Lakeland Raiders owner Michael Mink.
Michael Zyglis, who was the Director of Officials for the Ultimate Indoor Football League in 2011, joins the new league as his role oversees the rules implementation and training of the league’s officials.
“With what is in place now, we have a strong group of owners and teams,” said Eastern Kentucky owner Rick Kranz. “I feel very strongly that we are now headed in the right direction for the 2012 season and many more to come after that.”
Jayson Ameer Rasheed is taking the role of Director of Media Relation for the new league. He brings more than 10 years of public relations experience to the table, and has been involved with indoor football for three years.
Below is a list of teams in the UIFL teams that will compete in the 2012 season along with the name of their owner. All teams have independent ownership.
Erie Explosion – Bill Stafford
Marion Blue Racers – LaMonte Coleman
Cincinnati Commandos – Dennis Whitman
Western (Pa.) Sting (Travel Team) – Jeff Bollinger
Johnstown General – Jeff Bollinger & Quenteen Robinson
Eastern KY Drillers – Rick Kranz
Rome Rampage (Travel team) – Kacee Smith
Mississippi Hound Dogs – Marty Cooper
Florida Tarpons – Andrew Haines & Michael Taylor
Lakeland Raiders – Mike Mink & Robert Tannenbaum
Huntington Hammer – Dan Fisher