The Raiders are coached Mike Siani. The former Oakland Raider standout has a considerable background coaching indoor football. The Raiders will face an all-star squad, featuring some of the league's best players. The Select Team will be coached by AIFA Coach of the Year Bernie Nowotarski, coach of the league champion Reading Express.

The Kickoff Classic is the culmination of three days of activities related to the game, including AIFA League Meetings held in conjunction with the event.

The Kickoff Classic will also mark the debut of the AIFA's new syndicated television package, reaching over 40-million television homes. The package will feature ten telecasts, including the Kickoff Classic and AIFA Bowl IV. Viewers who can't attend the Kickoff Classic are encouraged to check local listings for telecast availability. The game can also be heard on the Internet, through links on the AIFA web site (www.aifaprofootball.com), the Richmond Raiders's web site (www.richmondraidersprofootball.com) and the Baltimore Mariners' web site (www.baltimoremariners.com).

The current edition of This Week in the AIFA features coverage of the Kickoff Classic, as well as the league's new television syndication. Guests on the program are AIFA co-founder Michael Mink and television executive Curt Pires.

The program is available for download through the AIFA's home site and OurSports Central (www.oursportscentral.com).

BALTIMORE, Maryland (January 22, 2010) - The American Indoor Football Association has released the 72nd edition of This Week in the AIFA.

This edition of the program focuses on the AIFA's Kickoff Classic, which takes place in Richmond, Virginia Saturday night. The show also reports on the AIFA's new national syndicated television package. Guests on the program include AIFA co-founder Michael Mink and television executive Curt Pires.

This Week in the AIFA is a downloadable Internet radio program, sometimes referred to as a "podcast." The program is produced by Bill Hazen Productions, in conjunction with the AIFA and OurSports Central Radio. It is available for download directly through both the AIFA's home site (www.aifaprofootball.com) and OurSports Central's web site (www.oursportscentral.com).

This Week in the AIFA is written, produced and hosted by veteran play-by-play broadcaster and AIFA Media/Public Relations Director Bill Hazen. The program utilizes the latest in digital audio technology to increase the quality of interview segments from throughout the league.

The Ogden Knights Professional Indoor Football Team will be holding an open tryout on Friday February 5th, 2010 from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm.  

Tryouts will take place on field turf at Ogden Indoor Soccer in Ogden, UT.  Metal cleats and track spikes are prohibited.  Tryouts will consist of a variety of drills that Coach Coleman will look at, as well as Nike Sparq Testing.  All participants should come prepared with proper attire. 

Registration at the door will begin at 9:00 a.m.  Tryouts are from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. and will cost $50.  This includes your tryout fee and will get you a Nike Sparq Test Rating. 

You may pre-register by calling the Ogden Knights front office with a credit card or may mail a money order.  For more information, directions or to pre-register please call the Knights front office at 801-627-5644, e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or visit the Ogden Knights website at www.ogdenknights.com.  

Address for Ogden Indoor Soccer:
1036 S. Century Dr. 
Ogden UT, 84404

For Questions or more information contact Michael Bryant at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or (801) 627-5644

Lineman Beverly on Flacco’s Delaware Squad, Free-Agent Signee of Redskins

BALTIMORE, MD (January 18, 2010) – The Baltimore Mariners have signed a second member of the offensive line that protected the Baltimore Ravens’ Joe Flacco, when he led the Delaware Blue Hens to the national championship game in 2007. Rich Beverly, a four-year starter, who was previously signed by the Washington Redskins as an un-drafted free agent, has been signed by the Mariners for the 2010 season. The Mariners previously signed Kheon Hendricks of Delaware.

“Rich is another outstanding recruit for us. He had a solid career at Delaware and is another Blue Hen that I have high expectations for,” said Mariners Head Coach Chris Simpson.

After a red-shirt freshman season in 2003, Beverly appeared in 13 games, including three starts in 2004 for a Delaware squad that finished 9-4 and advanced to the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) quarterfinals. In 2005 he started all 11 games for an offensive line that led running back Omar Cuff to an All-American season. As a junior in 2006 he again started all 11 games and the Blue Hens, led by Flacco, ranked ninth in the country in passing. As a senior in 2007 Beverly started all 15 games as the Blue Hens advanced to the national championship game, had the nation’s number one passing attack, and Cuff (First Team) and Flacco (Third Team) earned All-American honors. In four seasons for Delaware, Beverly played in 50 games and started 40. In May 2009 Beverly was signed by the Washington Redskins as an un-drafted free agent, but was later released.

Former Track Star, Maryland Terp, Brings Speed to Wide Receiver Position

BALTIMORE, MD (January 13, 2010) – Robbie Robinson who excelled in track and field at Columbia, Maryland’s Wilde Lake High School and ran track for Morgan State University, before turning his attention to football with the Maryland Terps, has been signed by the Baltimore Mariners of the American Indoor Football Association (AIFA) for the 2010 season.

“Robbie has tremendous speed and route running abilities. I look forward to seeing him compete in training camp and what he adds to our roster,” stated Mariners Head Coach Chris Simpson.

The 5’9”, 175 pound speedster lettered for two seasons with the Wilde Lake football team as a wide receiver and defensive back, but made his mark in track and field for the Wildecats. He placed numerous times including a fifth place finish in the Maryland State Finals in the 55-yard dash as a sophomore; the only underclassmen in the finals.

The American Indoor Football Association will have games televised this coming season, beginning with the Kickoff Classic on January 23rd in Richmond, Va. Check the MavTV schedule for particulars on when AIFA games will air on the channel.

“These telecasts will provide network-quality TV exposure for our member teams,” said AIFA co-founder John Morris. “We firmly believe in utilizing electronic media and new technology to increase exposure for our product. This new TV package will show even more how the AIFA delivers, both for its fans and its member teams.”

The sport of indoor football allows for play in a smaller area which would normally be used for a sport such as basketball or ice hockey. An indoor football playing season is typically scheduled to begin in mid- to late-Winter and continues to the middle of Summer.

The AIFA was created in 2006 after the demise of the Atlantic/American Indoor Football League (AIFL). AIFA is intended to provide fast-paced, fan-friendly professional football at affordable prices. Leagues have focused on fast, sustainable expansion and keeping costs low in order for owners to maximize their team’s operating capital.

Currently 13 teams participate in the AIFA, which is concentrated mostly in mid-sized markets in the eastern US and the Rocky Mountains. The AIFA does not use the rebound net found in the Arena Football League. Players do not have to play both offense and defense. The AFL allows only one offensive player in motion at one time, but AIFA allows two at one time to move.

The AIFA will keep production, distribution and ad sales in house, according to a press release on OurSportCentral.com. AIFA hired former ESPN executive Curt Pires to oversee development of the programming through his company, CAP Sports Group LLC.

“The quality of the production will be on par with the AFL (the old Arena Football League) but also what people normally would see from arenas around the country in other sports,” Pires said. “The (AIFA) product speaks for itself. The more we can show that this is a viable option for the entertainment dollar, the better chance for this to grow. The days of just putting an ad in the paper to try and promote your event are long over. You really have to use all of the opportunities to promote yourself, and putting games on TV to have an opportunity to brand yourself is what it’s all about today.”

The AIFA will kick-off the 2010 season with a Pre-Season Game in Richmond Virginia on Saturday January 23. The game will feature the expansion Richmond Raiders playing against a variety of players from the AIFA stable of teams.

The game will defiantly have a Reading Express presence. GM and Head Coach Bernie Nowotarski will be coaching the AIFA Team. Express Players expected to make the trip to Richmond will be, Back-Up QB Andre Coles a 6’4” 250 lb Kutztown Grad  and new comer Johnnie Taylor a 6’3” 200lb DB from New Jersey University.

The Express will kick –off their season with back to back road games in Erie and Richmond. The Home Opener will be on Sunday March 21 at 3pm against The Harrisburg Stampede. The game will feature the players from the 2009 AIFA National Championship team for Banner dedications and each player receiving their Championship Rings.

The 2009 Championship Season landed several Express players on the All-Pro Team. Named to the AIFA All-Pro Team was WR Carmelo Ocasio , WR Jeffery Willis , OL Chris Nunn , OL Mark Stout and DB Jojo Polk. Rob Flowers was named AIFA Offensive Player of the Year as well as AIFA Player of the Year. Bernie Nowotarski was named AIFA Coach and GM of the Year as well as 2009’s Indoor Football’s Most Influential Person.

LB Jason Hermansen, WR Adrian Conway and OL/DL Travis Brower and Clifton Buckway will be representing the Ogden Knights on the All-Star team.

Playing in all 14 Knights games in 2009, Hermansen was a staple of the Ogden defense and led the team in four offensive categories; Total Tackles (50.5), Solo Tackles (31), Assisted Tackles (39) and Tackles-For-Loss (3.5).

“I’m excited to be heading back to the AIFA 2010 Classic Kickoff representing the Ogden Knights.  I think it’s good national exposure for the Knights and it’s great to have some of our best players representing our team under that national spot light.  It gives the players from the East and the West an opportunity to play on the same field together and helps build a stronger league.”

On the offensive side of the ball for the All-Stars, the Knights hunker two OL spots with Buckway and Brower.  With the help of these two hog mollies, the ’09 Knights ranked sixth among the league in sacks allowed.  With a full year experience in indoor, as well as together as teammates, this duo is ready to showcase their talent for all of the AIFA to see.

Lastly, but certainly not least, the Knights send off WR/KR Adrian Conway.  Conway wrote the Knights receiving and returning record books last seasons as he led the team in Receptions (80, Receiving Yards (836), Receiving Touchdowns (15), Kick Returns (18), Kick Return Yards (337), Kick Return Avg. (18.7), and Longest Kick Return (37).  Not only did Conway rank first among Knights in All-Purpose Yards (1,178), but he also finished fourth among all AIFA players.

Mariners Fans Can Follow Team on the Road via UStream Audio Broadcasts

BALTIMORE, MD (January 11, 2010) – The Baltimore Mariners have announced Steve McNelly and John Wolfe as their 2010 broadcast team and the American Indoor Football Association (AIFA) team will provide audio broadcasts of all of its away games on Baltimore Mariners Radio via UStream.tv. 

“I am very excited to turn over the broadcasting duties to John and Steve.  They are knowledgeable and passionate about everything Mariners football.  The Ustream technology will allow a fan friendly interactive experience via the web and most smart phone applications.  Now our fans can have Fast, Furious, Fun Mariner action wherever they are while we are on the road,” stated Mariners General Manager Greg Justice.

McNelly, a resident of Pasadena, Maryland will be providing play-by-play coverage of the Mariners. Steve graduated from the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC) in August 2009, with a degree in American Studies with an emphasis in Media and Communications, and joined the Mariners Public Relations staff in September 2009. McNelly currently writes weekly Baltimore Ravens game previews and reviews for www.citythatreeds.com  and provides NASCAR coverage for www.chickenfriedracing.com.

Among those agreeing to air the AIFA are the Comcast Network, Cox Sports New England, Image Sports and Entertainment, MAV TV, AMG TV, KC Metro Sports, @Sports TV Network, Tuff TV Network and Global Broadcasting Co. in Europe. Games will be distributed through a combination of over-the-air affiliates, cable and satellite.

"With a reach in excess of forty million TV homes, our distribution for these games already exceeds our initial projections," said AIFA co-founder John Morris. "These telecasts will provide network-quality TV exposure for our member teams.

"We firmly believe in utilizing the electronic media and new technology to increase exposure for our product," Morris continued. "Our Internet radio program, This Week in the AIFA, has tripled in audience over one year's time. Now this new TV package will show even more how the AIFA delivers, both for its fans and its member teams."

When the national TV package was originally announced, the decision was made to keep production, distribution and sales in house. The AIFA hired former ESPN executive Curt Pires to oversee development of the project. Pires runs CAP Sports Group, LLC, a company specializing in syndication for television and new media.

"The quality of the production will be on par with the AFL (the old Arena Football League) but also what people normally would see from arenas around the country in other sports," Pires told This Week in the AIFA. "The (AIFA) product speaks for itself. The more we can show that this (AIFA Football) is a viable option for the entertainment dollar, the better chance for this to continue to grow.

"You would not know a lot of sports programming on television today unless some of those games in that particular sport were televised," Pires continued. "The days of just putting an ad in the paper to try and promote your event are long over. You really have to use all of the opportunities to promote yourself, and putting games on TV to have an opportunity to brand yourself is what it's all about today."

The league will televise ten of its games nationally this coming season, beginning with the Kickoff Classic on January 23rd in Richmond, Virginia. AIFA Bowl IV will also be televised.

An in-depth interview with Curt Pires will be featured on the next edition of This Week in the AIFA. Other guests will include AIFA co-founder Michael Mink and Hans Deemer, a member of the ownership group awarded an AIFA expansion franchise in Wasilla, Alaska. Episode 72 of the program will be available next week through both the AIFA home site (www.aifaprofootball.com) and OurSports Central (www.oursportscentral.com).