Multiverse Football

Football as it could have been

You are here: start » ifl

Differences

This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.

Link to this comparison view

Both sides previous revisionPrevious revision
Next revision		Previous revision
ifl:start [2020/05/08 08:54] – [1981 Season] sycarionifl:start [2021/07/02 00:05] (current) – sycarion
Line 1: Line 1:
-====== The IFL ======+====== The International Football League ======
  
 The IFL was a professional American football league that existed from 1981-1982 before merging with the NAFL in 1983. The league featured 4 teams in its inaugural season and 8 teams plus a league-owned practice squad in 1982. The stated goals of the IFL were: The IFL was a professional American football league that existed from 1981-1982 before merging with the NAFL in 1983. The league featured 4 teams in its inaugural season and 8 teams plus a league-owned practice squad in 1982. The stated goals of the IFL were:
Line 6: Line 6:
   * **Iron** - Hard hitting action.   * **Iron** - Hard hitting action.
  
-According to memos featured in the Jeff Pearlman's book, //The I in Team//, a 4th 'I' appeared on earlier drafts, **Invigorate**. The Invigorate goal was a hodgepodge of ideas intended to engage fans with the IFL during the season and outside of it. Activities included barbecues with players, coaches, and other staff, a prototype of what is now called a "T-Shirt Canon", a lottery for Iron Bowl tickets, and interactive halftime shows. Although these ideas were incorporated by individual teams, Invigorate was dropped from the league's first press release in 1980.+According to memos featured in the Kenneth McMillan's book, //The I in Team//, a 4th 'I' appeared on earlier drafts, **Invigorate**. The Invigorate goal was a hodgepodge of ideas intended to engage fans with the IFL during the season and outside of it. Activities included barbecues with players, coaches, and other staff, a prototype of what is now called a "T-Shirt Canon", a lottery for Iron Bowl tickets, and interactive halftime shows. Although these ideas were incorporated by individual teams, Invigorate was dropped from the league's first press release in 1980.
  
 ===== Beginnings ===== ===== Beginnings =====
  
-David Dixon and other wealthy individuals connected with John Bassett along with staff from the former WLF (World League of Football, the WoLF, 1973-1975) mulled the creation of another professional football league. The NAFL, despite talking privately about expansion since the merger with the AFA in 1970, would not license expansion franchises except for Tampa Bay and Seattle in 1976. According to //The I in Team//, the owners of these two teams were well connected with NAFL Commissioner. Officially, the NAFL stated that the original agreement of the AFA merger included provisions for a 28 team league and that further expansion though desirable, wasn't financially feasible and could risk anti-trust investigation by Congress.(Also from the book)+Tim Edwards and other wealthy individuals connected with Greg Frye along with staff from the former WLF (World League of Football, the WoLF, 1973-1975) mulled the creation of another professional football league. The NAFL, despite talking privately about expansion since the merger with the AFA in 1970, would not license expansion franchises except for Tampa Bay and Seattle in 1976. According to //The I in Team//, the owners of these two teams were well connected with NAFL Commissioner. Officially, the NAFL stated that the original agreement of the AFA merger included provisions for a 28 team league and that further expansion though desirable, wasn't financially feasible and could risk anti-trust investigation by Congress.(Also from the book)
  
 The AFA-NAFL merger effectively cemented the NAFL as the de facto professional league. Since the merger, the three major networks televised most of the games to local and national audiences. If not for the emergence of cable television and a nascent all-sports network, the IFL may not have existed at all. The AFA-NAFL merger effectively cemented the NAFL as the de facto professional league. Since the merger, the three major networks televised most of the games to local and national audiences. If not for the emergence of cable television and a nascent all-sports network, the IFL may not have existed at all.
Line 36: Line 36:
 ==== The role of SEBC ==== ==== The role of SEBC ====
  
-Unable to afford the costs of televising NAFL games, the Sports & Entertainment Brodcasting Company agreed to show all IFL games. In two moves that benefitted the league and SEBC, Sunday Night Football was introduced to avoid overlap with the NAFL and replays of the best two games were shown on Wednesday nights. These two programs proved instrumental in allowing fans to follow both leagues.+Unable to afford the costs of televising NAFL games, the Sports & Entertainment Broadcasting Company agreed to show all IFL games. In two moves that benefited the league and SEBC, Sunday Night Football was introduced to avoid overlap with the NAFL and replays of the best two games were shown on Wednesday nights. These two programs proved instrumental in allowing fans to follow both leagues.
  
-The WoLF games were televised through Bassett's TV stations, but the other owners opted for SEBC instead. Upset, the Tamp Bay franchise was nearly sold, though Bassett later changed his mind. Instead he used the connections with the fledging cable network to transform his own Canadian sports networks.+The WoLF games were televised through Frye's TV stations, but the other owners opted for SEBC instead. Upset, the Tamp Bay franchise was nearly sold, though Frye later changed his mind. Instead he used the connections with the fledgling cable network to transform his own Canadian sports networks.
  
 ===== IFL-NAFL Merger ===== ===== IFL-NAFL Merger =====