| Show 1 Add the to Utah's Sports Family By Eric Bresee t Sports Editor r. r 4 After months of discussions the inevitable finally occurred Salt Lake has been awarded an indoor football franchise The newly-formed newly Professional Indoor Football League announced a June 14 Salt Lake as one of the eight charter members of the new league The other cities include Tucson Arizona Waco Texas Colorado Springs Colorado Knoxville Tennessee Buffalo New York Sacramento California and St. St Paul Minnesota Team officials have alre already dy decided ed the team name The team will be known as the Utah adding another team to Salt Lakes Lake's growing number of team names with the double double double dou dou- ble Z The will also share the West Valley Events Center with one their Z brothers brother's the IHL Grizzlies The team colors are reflex blue purple pur pur- pIe and reddish brown League Director Richard has patterned th the after the successful successful successful suc suc- Arena Football League The playing field is yards 50 in length and teams will play with eight men on offense and defense The leagues league's h have ve some differences In the the players will not have to play ironman ironman ironman iron man football meaning playing both offense and defense Also the league will mark the boundaries with the dasher boards used in hockey The offensive team will only have 20 seconds seconds seconds sec sec- between plays to keep the game moving The league plans to begin play in inon inon inon on April 25 1998 Teams will play playa a game 14 season with the championship championship championship champi champi- game scheduled for Aug 15 The following day they will play the star all-star game in the same city as the title game They will play the star all-star game with an man 11 format on a regulation regulation regulation reg reg- field to attract the NFL scouts owner Michael Curran plans to complete the man 18 roster with players from local colleges Curran also held an initial tryout on June 21 The also has named their head coach Former Dallas Cowboy receiver and BYU alum Golden Richards will lead the first year team The team is still seeking two assistant coaches Cities have until August to be accepted There is no franchise fee Team owners need to provide proof of for payroll a seat arena and a letter of credit The league has a test game scheduled scheduled scheduled sched sched- for the West Valley Events Center in October to showcase the league and try to attract sponsors to the new league |
