Custom Marques Colston and Fearon Wright Figurines courtesy of Joe Jacobs from BDJML Customs. 

These custom Marques Colston and  Fearon Wright figurines will be auctioned off with proceeds benefiting Coach Bernie's fight against cancer.

Marques Colston is currently an NFL wide receiver for the New Orleans Saints and Co-Owner of the Harrisburg Stampede football team of the AIF. Fearon Wright is a former NFL player for the Minnesota Vikings and Current AIF player for the Harrisburg Stampede.

 

"Any Sports Collector will love to have these Signed, One of a Kind, Custom Figurines!"

 The figurines are each, custom made and are one of kind. They are approximately 6 inches tall and created out of Mcfarlane Sports Pick Action Figures, hand painted and customized to the specific players likeness. The Marques Colston figurine will be signed by him personally and the Fearon Wright figurine will be signed personally by him. 

These figurines will be auctioned off via Silent Auction thru April 25th, 2012 11:59pm. The winner will be notified and the winner will be announced at the April 27th benefit for Coach Bernie. 

About Joe Jacobs

Joe lives in Reading Pa and has been making custom Mcfarlane sports figures as a hobby for over four years. Joe created a charitable effort where he donates custom figures to local charities called Customs for Causes. All profit made from the figures goes right to the charity. Joe has worked with many different Charities including Relay for Life and American Cancer Society.

Entries For Silent Auction

Entries will ONLY be accepted via email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  

All entries must include the following to be considered valid:

Your Full Name

Your Full Address

Your Contact Phone Number

Your Bid Amount in US $

Figurine Your Bidding On - Fearon or Colston

**NOTE - IF YOU WANT TO BID ON BOTH FIGURINES - you must do it as such:

Fearon Bid = $XXX

Colston Bid - $XXX

Rules For Silent Auction

All entries are appreciated and bidders are welcome to bid as often as they want thru April 25th, 2012 at 11:59pm.  

All information will be kept completely confidential and will not be used for any reason other than to be considered as a bid in the silent auction for this figurine. Winning bidder agrees to be contacted and agrees that their name and photo likeness can be used in a future article identifying them as the winning bidder for the silent auction.

Winning bidder will be contacted via email and phone number provided during the bidding process and will have 24 hours to respond and pay for their winning bid. Winner agrees to pay via Paypalinvoice and can retrieve their figurine(s) either at the benefit event on April 27th  for Coach Bernie or at the Stampede game on April 28th. If winning bidder does not respond or process the winning bid within 24 hours, then the next runner up bidder will be selected from the entries. Non-winning bidders will not be disclosed in anyway.

All profits from the auction will directly benefit Coach Bernie and his battle with cancer.  Harrisburg Stampede Leadership will be the final and deciding factor in selecting a winner in the silent auction.

Additional photos can be viewed in the image gallery below.

 

 Wide receiver Marques Colston is re-signing with the New Orleans Saints -- and he's re-joining the Harrisburg Stampede, as well.

Stampede owner Justin Coble says Colston has agreed to be a partner in the franchise, which begins its inaugural season of American Indoor Football (AIF) on April 7.

"Getting a high-character guy like him is huge," said Coble of Colston, who amassed more than 1,000 yards receiving in five of his six seasons. "He wants to be involved in the community."

Colston was previously involved with the club at its inception. But after making an initial investment, he left the team shortly thereafter; his lawyers said in April 2009 that Colston wanted to focus on his pro career, instead.

Colston credits Coble's enthusiasm for getting him back on board. Coble assumed control of the Stampede in February 2012.

"Just having a new ownership with a new attitude," explained Colston, in a brief phone call with CBS 21 News Sports Director Jason Bristol on Wednesday afternoon, on why he decided to rejoin the team. "Justin is willing to do whatever it takes (to make the product successful)."

Colston, a graduate of Susquehanna Township High School, agreed to a new five-year contract with New Orleans on Tuesday.

He also said he will attend some of the team's games and Coble expects Colston to be a hands-on partner, as well; involved with the day-to-day decision-making as much as possible.

And that's fine with Colston, 28, who is currently taking graduate business classes and knows he won't be playing in the NFL forever. "Having a skill set to transition into the business world is a huge asset," he said.

Saints general manager Mickey Loomis said Tuesday that Colston is everything the team wants as both a player and a person. He added that Colston deserves credit for working to get a deal done before the opening of free agency.

Coble said making Colston a part-owner had been in the works for the past three or four weeks.

 

 

Original Article: Marques Colston becomes part-owner of Harrisburg Stampede 
Reported by: Jason Bristol

 

The Results are in and the fans have spoken! The Arizona Outlaws have ran away with this poll with over 50% of the votes!

Did you vote? Watch for future polls to make sure your team is represented in a big way! Congratulations to the Outlaw Fans and the team for bragging rights this season: 

"Outlaws Will Take It All" 

Which Team Will Take It All?

Arizona Outlaws - 603
Harrisburg Stampede - 203
Ontario Warriors - 117
Maryland Reapers - 37
California Eagles - 34
Cape Fear Heroes - 32
Macon Steel - 32
Virginia Badgers - 20
Carolina Force - 16
Nevada Lynx - 8
Tri-State Redhawks - 6
North Alameda Knights - 3

Poll Results: http://aifprofootball.com/index.php?option=com_poll&;id=16:which-team-will-take-it-all

Indoor football league to play game at York City Ice Arena, test York as 2013 expansion market

Professional indoor football in York, organizers hope, could be about moments like this: 

An 8-year-old girl and her mother sat so close to the field that a player joked with them during the middle of a game - then snagged a handful of their popcorn.

The girl giggled.

The mom was hooked.

It's a scene officials in American Indoor Football say is part of the attraction of their game that will get a one-night stand in York - and maybe a permanent home here not long after. The AIF has announced it will hold one of its league games at the York City Ice Arena at 7 p.m. on April 14 to gauge interest in possibly making York a regular member the following year.

The game will feature the Harrisburg Stampede and the Virginia Badgers from Fredericksburg. Tickets are $10 per person with packages costing $30 for a family of four.

League CEO John Morris lives in Bel Air, Md., and is the co-owner of the Harrisburg team. His league also features a team in Laurel, Md., and will start another in Baltimore next year. He credits the interest of York Mayor Kim Bracey, the support of Stampede sponsor WellSpan Health and even the success of the York Revolution baseball team with fueling his expansion ideas here.

The league is all about cheap ticket prices, non-stop action and player accessibility. If a football accidentally flies into the stands during a game, fans keep it. Players often will throw T-shirts to the crowd and engage in autograph and picture-taking sessions on the field.

"We try to weigh everything and, quite frankly, I haven't seen any cons in the York area," Morris said. "People of Pennsylvania absolutely love their football. That's what we're banking on. The success of the Revolution and the love of football.
"My goal is not just to come into the city but be successful."

Morris said he is "very optimistic" of York getting a permanent team, which would play homes games either at the ice rink or at the Toyota Arena on the York Expo Center grounds. League officials are hoping to draw around 1,000 fans for the April 14 game in York. Morris said he would like a permanent facility here to have a seating capacity close to 3,000.

For at least one day, the ice arena will be transformed into a 50-yard football field. The hockey rink glass will be removed, the dasher boards will be padded, artificial turf will be installed and goal posts will be suspended from the ceiling. Earlier that day, a youth football clinic will be held at the arena. For $25, kids will get drill instruction from players, a T-shirt and a ticket to that night's game. "To me it's a no-brainer," said Mike Cleveland, general manager of York's ice arena. "For the type of places they host events at, I thought this was a natural fit."

He added that portable seating could push the ice arena to a capacity of 2,000 or more as a regular indoor football home. "I'm extremely excited. The (football) season matches up well with the downsizing of when we take one of our ice sheets out. It works perfect for what we do with the rink and what they try to do."

The 12-team AIF includes a western division with teams in California and Arizona. League play begins in March and runs into June with a title game in July.

Some of its players saw time in the NFL or the Canadian Football League. Most all played on Division I or Division II college teams. Harrisburg, which is entering its fourth season in the league, plays its games at the Farm Show Arena and draws anywhere from 2,000 to 4,000 fans for games, Morris said.

"What a great rivalry that would be, to have the Harrisburg Stampede come to York and play their team," Morris said. And with two other teams in Maryland, York "would be right in the middle of everything."
York's future with the league should be decided by mid-May, Morris said.

For more information and to purchase tickets for the game or to register for the clinic, go to www.harrisburgstampede.com.

Original Article Copyright: York Daily Record
By FRANK BODANI
Daily Record/Sunday News

The Results are in and the fans have spoken! The Harrisburg Stampede have ran away with this poll!

Did you vote?  Watch for future polls to make sure your team is represented in a big way! Congratulations o the Stampede Fans and the team for bragging rights this season: 

"Stampede Have The Best Fans" 

Who Has The Best Fans?

Harrisburg Stampede 141 Votes
Ontario Warriors 79 Votes
Arizona Outlaws 70 Votes
Cape Fear Heroes 38 Votes
Sin City Blackjacks 33 Votes
Maryland Reapers 32 Votes
California Eagles 31 Votes
Virginia Badgers 15 Votes

AIF looks at York as possible expansion city

The American Indoor Football  announced it will hold a regular season  professional arena football game in York Pennsylvania on April 14th,  2012 to test the market of York as a potential  future AIF expansion city. The game will feature the four year old Harrisburg Stampede from Harrisburg Pa. against the expansion Virginia Badgers from Fredericksburg Virginia. The Harrisburg Stampede will be the host team.

The game will be held at the York City Ice Arena, South Central Pennsylvania’s Premier Ice Facility. Fans will see this arena transformed from ice skating to arena football as the hockey glass will be removed and the dasher walls padded, a fifty yard artificial turf field will be trucked in and laid down and goal posts will be suspended from the ceiling. Mike Cleveland General Manager of the York City Ice Arena says “he and his staff are excited about hosting this professional arena football game this spring, the York City Ice Arena is known as the premier ice skating and a multi-purpose venue in the area. The AIF has a great entertainment product and has been a pleasure to work with”.

Tickets for the game will be go on sale in the near future and all seats will be $10.00 . Fans will see AIF players that come from all walks of life, many are former Division 1 college players some with National Football League, Canadian Football League or Arena Football League experience.

John Morris AIF CEO says “York is being strongly considered as a potential AIF expansion market potentially as early as the 2013 season. The City of York was chosen as a site for this game due to their strong commitment to local sports and recreation activities”.

When asked about this event coming to York Mayor Kim Bracey stated “this is yet another exciting and great event coming to the City of York that I am sure families will enjoy”.

For more information or to purchase tickets for this game go to www.harrisburgstampede.com.

The AIF announced the release today of its 2012 Eastern Conference Schedule consisting of seven teams. In these tough economic times the AIF saw the need to develop a business model that would have a positive impact on its member teams giving each team the opportunity to maximize their revenue streams and profitability. Out of the seven AIF east teams five are full members and two are affiliate members, each full member team will play a seven game schedule and each affiliate member will play either a four or five game schedule.

Full member teams will be the Carolina Force, Cape Fear Heroes, Macon Steel, Maryland Reapers and Harrisburg Stampede with each of these teams playing a minimum of 4 home games. Affiliate team members will be the Tri-States Redhawks and the Virginia Badgers, those teams will play a limited schedule in 2012 as they build their programs and secure arenas in the future.

Exciting play and family entertainment are still a main focus of the AIF as many returning players and coaches have signed on for the 2012 season including head coaches Charles Gunnings (Cape Fear Heroes) and Bernie Nowotarski (Harrisburg Stampede) both of who have guided teams to a national championship in indoor football.

Full Members

Carolina Force City: Concord NC Head Coach: Kent Meredith Arena:  Cabarrus Events Center  & Arena Seating Capacity: 4,500

Cape Fear Heroes City: Fayetteville  NC Head Coach: Charles Gunnings Arena: Crown Coliseum Seating Capacity: 10,000

Maryland Reapers City: Laurel MD Head Coach: Matt Steeple Arena: Gardens Ice House Seating Capacity: 2,200

Harrisburg Stampede City: Harrisburg Pa Head Coach: Bernie Nowotarski Arena:  Farm Show Arena Complex Seating Capacity: 2,600

Macon Steel City: Macon Ga. Head Coach: Ervin Bryson Arena:  Macon Centreplex Seating Capacity: 9,000

Affiliate Members

Virginia Badgers  City: Northern Virginia

Tri-State Redhawks City: Baltimore Maryland

Andre Reed, 2012 NFL Hall of Fame Finalist and former 16 year NFL player has agreed to be a member of the American Indoor Football (AIF) Advisory Board. The Board will meet through the course of the year to discuss programs and ideas that will help solidify each team in the AIF as a community leader. A team that will be there not only to provide great football entertainment but be a team with the community needs at its core.

The Board will also work on such important programs as setting up a mentoring commission, implementing youth camps as well as the AIF for Kids Youth Football League in our leagues cities. In addition the AIF will be heavily involved with programs to help prevent drug and alcohol abuse by our youths. A subject that is near and dear to Andre’s heart. Every team in our league will have Andre Reed’s website link on it and fans will be able to go on the site and be an active part in Andre’s efforts to eliminate drug and alcohol abuse with the children in our communities.

Fans will also have the ability to get involved with their local teams efforts to help promote the positive messages of the AIF such as education, charity and community Awareness.  

NFL Great Joins AIF Advisory Board

2012 NFL Hall of Fame Finalist & Former Buffalo Bill 

Andre  Reed  was born January 29, 1964 in Allentown, Pennsylvania, went on to attended Kutztown University of Pennsylvania, where he moved to the wide receiver position and quickly drew the attention of the NFL for his speed and durability at the receiver position.

Andre  played wide receiver in the National Football League for 16 seasons, 15 with the Buffalo Bills (1985–1999) and one with the Washington Redskins (2000). In the 1985 NFL Draft, Reed was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the fourth round with the 86th overall selection. He played for the Bills for 15 consecutive seasons, from 1985 through 1999, during which he played in four Super Bowls for the Bills. In 2000, Reed joined the Washington Redskins and retired after the 2000 season

Reed ranks near the top in nearly all NFL career statistical receiving categories. He went over 1000 yards four times in a 16 year career, is eighth in NFL history in total career receptions with 951 (behind only Jerry Rice, Cris Carter, Tim Brown, Isaac Bruce, Tony Gonzalez, Terrell Owens, and Marvin Harrison), ninth in NFL history in total career receiving yards with 13,198. Reed is also eleventh in NFL history in total career touchdown receptions with 87.

He also rushed for 500 yards and a touchdown on 75 carries. With the Bills, Reed played in four consecutive Super Bowls (1991–1994) and was selected to the Pro Bowl in seven consecutive seasons (1988–1994). Reed set season career highs with 90 receptions in 1994, ten touchdowns in 1991, and 1,312 receiving yards in 1989.

A tribute to his incredible physical durability, Reed played in 234 NFL games between 1985 and 2000, the 59th most games played by any player in NFL history, including players in less physically demanding positions, such as kickers and punters.

In his four Super Bowls, Reed recorded 27 receptions, the second most total career Super Bowl receptions in NFL history (behind Rice's 33). His 323 total Super Bowl receiving yards are the third most in Super Bowl history (behind only Rice's 604 yards and Lynn Swann's 364).

Andre played an important roll in taking the Bills to four consecutive Super Bowls, Reed is remembered particularly for his contributions to the Bills' extraordinary January 3, 1993 playoff victory over the Houston Oilers, a game that has come to be known simply as "The Comeback." In the game, which Houston led decisively 35-3 during the third quarter, Reed caught three touchdowns in the second half to lead the Bills to the largest comeback in NFL history. Contributing substantially to "The Comeback," Reed finished the game with eight receptions for 136 yards and three touchdowns. The game has been enshrined in NFL history as one of the greatest games ever played. It also is recognized as one of the largest comebacks by any team in the history of all of American professional sports.

Following the Bills' victory against the Oilers, Reed went on to catch eight passes for 152 yards in the Bills' 52-17 Super Bowl XXVII loss, on January 31, 1993, to the Dallas Cowboys.

Reed became eligible for induction into the NFL's Pro Football Hall of Fame, the highest honor afforded a former NFL player, in 2006. Andre is currently among the 15 finalists for the Hall of Fame Class of 2012. In 2006, he was voted into the Buffalo Bills Wall of Fame, joining a number of other players from Bills history whose names are enshrined in the field-encircling cement of Buffalo's Ralph Wilson Stadium.

Since his NFL retirement in 2000, Reed has provided football commentary on the ESPN2 show, First Take, and appears periodically as a football analyst on NFL on Fox. He has also appeared on the Spike TV sports series Pros vs. Joes in the show's second season.

In addition Andre is active in his foundation The Andre Reed Foundation that was established in 2010 to help underprivileged children reach their full potential and become responsible contributors to their communities. AIF President and Owner John Morris is excited about the addition of Andre to the AIF Advisory Board and his desire to help take the AIF to the next level, not just another sports league  but a league that cares for its cities and the citizens that reside in them.


This release used the following news sources for the content of this story:

Buffalo Bills 50th Anniversary All-Time Team, "PRO FOOTBALL; Former Rivals Join Broncos". The New York Times. July 21, 2000. http://www.nytimes.com/2000/07/21/sports/pro-football-former-rivals-join-broncos.html. . CBS News. September 1, 2000. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2000/09/01/sports/main230116.shtml.  Associated Press (2010-02-06). "Rice, Smith land spots in Hall of Fame". NBC Sports. http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/35271598/ns/sports-nfl/. Retrieved 2010-02-06

For More Information:

www.aifprofootball.com
www.andrereedotm.com
 

American Indoor Football (AIF) is pleased to officially announce its Western Division for the 2012 season and represents teams from the states of California, Nevada and Arizona.  The AIF West consists of 5 teams, four of which are from top twenty television markets. Fans will be able to watch AIF football from some great arenas such as the 9,700 seat Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario California. Steve Eckerson General Manager of Citizens Business Bank Arena says his arena is very pleased to be the home of the Ontario Warriors Football Team.  The City of Ontario and the Inland Empire region of Southern California have a great fan base for football and we are very confident that the team will gain outstanding support. The arena, managed by AEG Facilities, is looking forward to a long and positive relationship with the Ontario Warriors and the American Indoor Football.”

The AIF Western Division joins the six team AIF Eastern Division under the banner of American Indoor Football, an eleven team national professional indoor football league, Each team will play within their division during the regular season as well as two rounds of divisional playoffs. In 2012 the AIF Championship Game will be held on June 16th and will be hosted by the AIF Eastern Division Champion, In 2013 the AIF Championship Game will be hosted by the AIF Western Division Champion.

The AIF is excited to announce the following AIF Western Division teams listed below:

Arizona Outlaws Prescott Valley, AZ
www.arizonaoutlawsfootball.com

Stockton Lightning Stockton, CA
(website under development)

Sacramento Eagles Sacramento, CA
 www.saceagles.com

Sin City Blackjacks Las Vegas, NV
www.sincityjacks.com

Ontario Warriors Ontario, CA
www.ontwarriors.com

The AIF will be releasing its schedule in the near future. For more information on the AIF and its member teams go to the AIF website at www.aifprofootball.com or to the website of any AIF member team