Tuesday, July 12, 2011

AFA Newsletter July 09, 2011

 
http://amercianfootballassn.c.topica.com/maao4C4ab47JYaaaaaacaehnZL/ AFA Newsletter July 09, 2011
In This Issue:
•   AFA Hosts Successful 31st Annual Semi-Pro Hall of Fame Inductions (use 3D glasses to view Hall of Fame logo)
•   AFA Smart Phone QR Codes
•   Professional Football Researchers Association
•   AFA Membership Programs
•   AFA News Clips
•   Join Us On Facebook
AFA Hosts Successful 31st Annual Semi-Pro Hall of Fame Inductions (use 3D glasses to view Hall of Fame logo)
This year's semi-pro football enshrinement festivities began on Thursday evening with the annual AFA/HOF Alumni Huddle cocktail party. The "Huddle" provided attending HOF Alumni an opportunity to meet the new group of semi-pro football legends before they were inducted.

The enshrinement of this year's class of 19 new hall of famers saw the 31-year total number of inductees expand from 634 members to 653 members. Since the inaugural enshrinement in 1981 (including the Class of 2011) the AFA has recognized 370 players; 100 coaches; 82 executives; 29 officials; 23 pioneers; 20 media/historians; 13 trainer/equipment men; 6 associated with youth football; 5 involved with international semi-pro; 4 from the women's level; and even 1 'super fan.'

On Friday evening, the Class of 2011 was honored by AFA Alumni, family and friends as they received their commemorative Semi-Pro Hall of Fame recognition plaques. Craig Ochoa (Class of '03) served as MC while former teammates and/or family members presented the new inductees to the dinner crowd. A slideshow accompanied each inductee's introduction which was followed by very sincere and touching testimony from each inductee. The highlight of the evening was the induction of NFL Pro Bowler Mike Lewis of the New Orleans Saints. Mike started his semi pro football career in 1994 with the Kenner City Chiefs and went on to become the New Orleans Saints all-time career leader in punt returns (142) and punt return yardage (1,482). Mike also is currently the team ambassador of the New Orleans Saints. Mike's bio....... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Lewis_

National Press Releases:
- http://www.prweb.com/releases/2011/6/prweb8566605.htm

- http://www.prweb.com//releases/2011/6/prweb8602735.htm

Webcast video of the 2011 Hall of Fame Inductions:
http://www.steveweedproductions.com/AFA.htm

AFA 2011 Hall of Fame Induction Photos:
http://www.adcomphoto.phanfare.com/5177442

American Football Association

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Professional Football Researchers Association
The Professional Football Researchers Association (PFRA) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the history of professional football. Formed in 1979, PFRA members include many of the game's foremost historians and writers. The PFRA is also for any fan interested in the history of professional football. The PFRA is incorporated in the state of Connecticut and has 501(c)(3) status as an educational organization with the Internal Revenue Service.

Books - Professional Football Researchers Association
Outsiders II: Minor League and Independent Football 1951-1985 - by Bob Gill, Steve Brainerd and Tod Maher. Following the pattern set with Outsiders I (which covered 1923-1950), this volume covers the independent minor leagues of professional football from 1951 through 1985. Only semipro leagues existed after 1985, and so the two volumes of Outsiders cover the complete history of 20th century football below the National Football League. Many players in these leagues played in the hope that they might get a chance to move up to the NFL and many achieved that dream. This volume contains histories and yearly statistical summaries for the top minor leagues of the period, plus the World Football League, which has a claim to major league status, and the United States Football League, which was clearly a major league. It also includes yearly summaries for the best of the lesser leagues, which featured a good number of interesting players in their own right. ISBN 978-1-878282-65-1
http://www.amazon.com/Outsiders-II-Independent-Football-1951-1985/dp/1878282654

I recently shared excerpts from this book (page 41) with Chuck McElligott, AFA Hall of Fame Class of 1999. He shared with me the following story:
…How cool is that!!! Claude watts and I played together in '67 for the ill-fated Akron Vulcans. A genuinely nice person, I next saw him at Bengals camp in 1969 after being released and before being recalled by the Chargers.
The next time we crossed paths was in 1973, I believe, and he was playing for the Chambersburg Cardinals. I was pleased to see him in NFL Films' story and follow-up of the Pottstown Firebirds by Phil Tuckett (a former wide receiver teammate at San Diego) and an obviously talented writer and cinematographer. And the connections go on and on...
Cutter

Professional Football Researchers Association

http://amercianfootballassn.c.topica.com/maao4C4ab47JFaaaaaacaehnZL/
AFA News Clips
Mike Schneider remembers Cal 'Hit-man' Withrow
Dayton Daily News (blog)

Schneider, the former Wayne High School head football coach and longtime assistant with his son Lance at Northmont, was a fellow rookie with Withrow in 1968 on the Dayton Colts semipro football team. The Colts were 15-0 that season, with mostly blowout ...
http://www.daytondailynews.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/dayton/hshuddle/entries/2011/07/08/mike_schneider_remembers_cal_h.html

Minor league football squad has high hopes
Barrington Courier-Review
Ruthie Hauge~Sun-Times Media Elieso Saldivar remembered the glory years when he played minor league football. He was a member of the Kane County Eagles, and helped them win league championships with undefeated records in 2001 and '03. http://barrington.suntimes.com/sports/6282713-419/minor-league-football-squad-has-high-hopes.html

On semipro football field, Clemons 'a heckuva player'
Asbury Park Press
In all of the articles I read about Clarence "The Big Man" Clemons, none mentioned that he played semipro football. I know, because I was a teammate of his. It had to be about 1965 or '66. The team was backed by some local businessmen, including Jack. http://www.app.com/article/20110630/NJOPINION02/306300006/On-semipro-football-field-Clemons-a-heckuva-player-

New semi-pro football squad wants to be 'Charlottesville's team'
American ChronicleThis Saturday, Charlottesville's semi-pro football team kicks off its inaugural season when it travels south to face the Palmetto (SC) Hurricanes. The Silverbacks' home opener is at Monticello High on July 23 against the Fredericksburg Falcons... http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/yb/161030547

American Football Association Hall of Fame Jackets - Now Available !!!....we are pleased to announce that AFA Hall of Fame jackets are now available for purchase directly from Chicago Knitting Mills.....and yes, they do have the plus sizes 2X -- 5X! Just send an email to amerfoot@aol.com to obtain an order form.
I would like to express my sincere thanks to Keith Ballard, AFA Hall of Fame Class of 2010 for initiating this project; I can tell you he's really excited about his jacket!

AFA Alumni Jackets are now available …………the only difference between this jacket and the Hall of Fame Jacket above is the AFA Alumni logo on the back. If interested in placing an order, request an order form via email to amerfoot@aol.com.

AFA Hall of Fame Blazers....because of the positive feedback from the Hall of Fame banquet, we are now making Hall of Fame Blazers available to all current hall of fame members. Please email amerfoot@aol.com if you are interested. To see actual blazers being worn, just click any of the media links below:
http://www.steveweedproductions.com/AFA.htm
http://www.adcomphoto.phanfare.com/5177442

Wilson NFL Footballs...We have just been informed by Wilson that they will no longer sell "blem" footballs.............The good news is that we now stock new Wilson Footballs for $15 more per ball. So instead of $50/ball or $300 per case for blems, the price is now $65/ball or $390 per case for new balls. Shipping and handling remains the same at $20............http://www.americanfootballassn.com/forms/2011-Wilson-Flyer.pdf
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+ Semi-pro Football HQ Scoreboard
+ http://www.semiprofootball.org/
+ http://www.adultamateurfootball.org/
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New features at http://www.semiprofootball.org/ . In the upper right hand corner of our home page is a "Search this Site" button with which you can search 12.5 years of information accumulated for player names, coaches, teams, leagues, etc.
Additionally, you can now view 2010 league champions from the 79 semi-pro football leagues across the USA.
Copyright (c) 1998-2011, Joe Hulsebus
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Semi Pro Football Newsfeed

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AFA Smart Phone QR Codes
QR codes have been around for a while, and many big corporations use them. In the past six months, though, small companies in the U.S. have flocked to the technology, thanks to services that let them easily create codes. Meanwhile, numerous phones, including many Androids and BlackBerrys, come with an app that reads QR codes. (Others, like the iPhone, must download the software.) Scanbuy Inc., a New York company that develops and manages QR codes, estimates that 30 million people in the U.S. have a code-reader app on their phone.

Stay tuned for more QR codes from the AFA as we rollout raffles, lottery drawings, videos and other interesting info via these codes. By the way, we already have ads with our code in the Jets & Giants Game Day Programs.

To test our code, just scan the QR code to the right with your Smart Phone.

Coming soon, AFA Apps for Smart Phones!!!!!!

American Football Association (click here)

http://amercianfootballassn.c.topica.com/maao4C4ab5eaRaaaaaacaehnZL/
AFA Membership Programs
2011 AFA Alumni Club Membership - Are You A Card Carrying Member?
AFA Membership is open to anyone and everyone that, at one time or another, had been (or still is) involved with a semi-pro team and/or league. Semi-Pro Football Alumni Club is co-sponsored by the AFA National Association and the Members of the AFA Hall of Fame Alumni. If you are interested in a 2011 membership application, just click: http://www.americanfootballassn.com/resources/afa-alumni-application.html

2011 AFA Team & League Membership
Membership applications are now being accepted for the 2011 season. The annual membership fee to join the AFA is $100 "per team" which provides a benefit package that is easily 10x this fee. Team membership applications can be downloaded by clicking: http://www.americanfootballassn.com/resources/team-membership-application.html

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About the American Football Association: The American Football Association is a national 501(c) (3) non-profit, tax exempt corporation in its 31st year of operation and is dedicated to the advancement of adult (semi-pro) football from coast-to-coast. Our slogan is Semi Pro & Proud®. We are not affiliated with any other national semi-pro/minor league organization (Minor League Football News, American Football News Today, American Football Hall of Fame, Minor Pro Hall of Fame, etc). The AFA, Hall of Fame, American Football News™ and AFA logo design are registered trademarks of the American Football Association. All other AFA-related trademarks are trademarks of the American Football Association.  American Football Association

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