How the AFL Went From Ruin to Re-Rebirth in 30 Days

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  • čas přidán 17. 06. 2024
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    It has been a little over 30 days since Lee Hutton was unceremoniously booted from the Arena Football League ending what will forever be remembered as one of the most ruinous leadership tenures in professional sports history.
    Quite frankly, I was expecting the entire thing to fold faster than, well, a team playing in the 2024 incarnation of the Arena Football League. Too soon, I know. Instead, the opposite has happened. Things actually look somewhat stable. This remarkable turnaround deserves just as much attention as the disaster that preceded it.
    Before I jump into the behind-the-scenes work, let’s look over the on-field action which has been pleasantly adequate. Albany and West Texas had a great game a few weeks back. Southwest Kansas and Salina had a barnburner. Shoutout to Tony's Pizza Events Center.
    Look, it’s not as good as the IFL. But given where the league was at the start of May, with random dudes playing on a field with volunteers holding up pads, it is a step in the right direction-a big step.
    However, that pales in comparison to what has happened behind the scenes with the Arena Football League where some heavy lifting has seemingly transformed operations. First, they needed to figure out who was in and who was out. Eventually, nine teams were left standing.
    Next, they put together a schedule on the fly and restructured the playoffs to accommodate the league's new realities.
    Also during this time, the new team running the AFL managed to get back the ol’ theafl.com domain and built a proper website. If you wanted my original video on the failing Arena Football League, you’d know just how ridiculous that entire situation was.
    That, by the way, is just the tip of the iceberg. I’m sure a lot more work has happened behind the scenes that we can’t even see. In 30 days, this new group has accomplished more than what Lee Hutton and his cronies did in two years. Perhaps worst of all, the AFL office under the previous regime was nonexistent.
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Komentáře • 40

  • @thetouchback
    @thetouchback  Před 9 dny +13

    And, of course, the same day I released this video, another AFL team folded. Classic.

    • @WookieDrives
      @WookieDrives Před 8 dny +4

      that's ok the Blackbears just up and started making public statements about not being able to find opponents for their final 2 home games lol

    • @thetouchback
      @thetouchback  Před 8 dny +2

      I really hope the Blackbears can figure something out next season. I think they could be successful in Salem.

  • @coryshannon3815
    @coryshannon3815 Před 9 dny +24

    Lee Hutton makes Bishop Sycamore look like an honest, credible organization.

    • @TheManny717
      @TheManny717 Před 6 dny +1

      It's what U-Tree have said in his video:
      _"What if Bishop Sycamore become a league?"_
      I think I'm paraphrasing it, but you get the idea.

  • @WookieDrives
    @WookieDrives Před 9 dny +26

    But in all actuality I think there's room for 2 healthy leagues, not 5
    The IFL is on this steady upward trajectory that I honestly wouldn't do anything there.
    However, with the AFL, NAL, and AIF's overall, uh, health, I honestly think all 3 leagues should find a way to form a healthy 16-team league and hunker down and build themselves up.

    • @Princess_Aurora
      @Princess_Aurora Před 9 dny +2

      I agree, I think a nice 16 leauge with ideas to grow would be nice.

  • @FutureShock713
    @FutureShock713 Před 9 dny +13

    Desert Hawks just died when this got uploaded lol

  • @WookieDrives
    @WookieDrives Před 9 dny +8

    And 2 hours ago the Desert Hawks went bust lol

  • @TheLickalittle
    @TheLickalittle Před 8 dny +3

    I thought the AFL had folded until this video so that shows it.

  • @tylerleggett5088
    @tylerleggett5088 Před 9 dny +3

    Been wanting a Grand Rapids Rampage jersey for a while now. Finally a CZcams sponsor I'm planning on buying from!

  • @bigran_outbound2262
    @bigran_outbound2262 Před 5 dny +2

    Go, Idaho Horseman 👊🏽

  • @jaywashington2196
    @jaywashington2196 Před 9 dny +5

    It’s ironic you bring a positive light on the AFL and then WTX folds. Then again that was a team issue and not a league one

    • @thetouchback
      @thetouchback  Před 9 dny +2

      Classic. You think I would have known better than to be optimistic about the AFL.

  • @AlexanderTB6
    @AlexanderTB6 Před 7 dny +1

    Nice video my friend thanks

  • @JasonMclaurin-zt7gr
    @JasonMclaurin-zt7gr Před 8 dny +1

    The Arena league needs to drop their style and merge with the UFL. Still play in indoor stadiums but use the cities with dome stadiums to place hold the teams. Maybe Minnesota, Detroit Dallas New Orleans and Atlanta. Vegas too.

  • @brodyjames4126
    @brodyjames4126 Před 8 dny +1

    Nice, a Blue Kane reference

    • @thetouchback
      @thetouchback  Před 7 dny

      If only one person got that reference, it was all worth it.

  • @Kaseyberg
    @Kaseyberg Před 9 dny +3

    I just hope the players and staff get paid

  • @georgeblangfordjr.1771

    I wish you should had used a clip of the opening sequence from Bob's Burgers

  • @9mmtrilla
    @9mmtrilla Před 9 dny

    You can also make one titled "How Arena football went from ruin to re-re-re-re-rebirth in 3 years"

  • @heyitsevan758
    @heyitsevan758 Před 8 dny

    As a longtime Tennessee Titans fan, it’s good to see Fisher finding success in a new role.

  • @bobheyotue9850
    @bobheyotue9850 Před 9 dny

    I heard about the new AFL league because the league I use to play for A7FL (which is basically the video game “NFL TOUR” in real life) planned to have a some sort of merger kinda like how the UFL guys can get signed by a NFL team. I knew off the jump it was going to be a crap show if you’re going to scout out those players they don’t take the game seriously.

  • @edgarmuniz8331
    @edgarmuniz8331 Před 9 dny

    I'm a fan of the Predators. I'm glad they are still around.

  • @FAITHandLOGIC
    @FAITHandLOGIC Před 6 dny

    I wasn't even going to give this league alone minute of my time. Glad I didn't.

  • @rapalbumdepot7648
    @rapalbumdepot7648 Před 8 dny +1

    Despite OG Sabercats games being the bomb yo I dont have a ton of faith in Arena Football, and heres why...
    The AFL reached its peak popularity prior to Disney purchasing ESPN- and during this era ALL the sports ESPN covered had what was at the time was an industry-best production value and the best broadcasters out there and all that good stuff. It was the mid-nineties and shows like Around The Horn def didnt exist.

  • @guyfaux3978
    @guyfaux3978 Před 9 dny

    Do a Melbourne Rebels-type story-- i.e., how a team that should have been folded got carried till the end of the season mostly because it probably would have been cheaper, the alternative costing too much in lawyer fees when all the contracts involving that team were going to be broken and would have been in bankruptcy court for years. My suspicion is that that's what may have happened here.

    • @thetouchback
      @thetouchback  Před 9 dny

      While not apples-for-apples, the Cleveland Barons owner applied to the NHL for a bailout, was denied, and basically stopped paying players before the league stepped in to cover the team until the end of the season. The Barons would be sold the following season, lost even more money and eventually "merged" with the North Stars.

  • @brosciencegutfeelings7058

    Unless they merge w the IFL its a doomed venture. Unless that’s their longplay…

  • @ctkelley27
    @ctkelley27 Před 7 dny

    Yo man it’s sa line na

  • @edwardjones1482
    @edwardjones1482 Před 7 dny

    They also been showing their genes on CZcams the past few weeks

    • @thetouchback
      @thetouchback  Před 7 dny

      I forgot to mention that but that is a good thing to add. The quality can be hit or miss but nothing has been unwatchable from what I've seen.

    • @edwardjones1482
      @edwardjones1482 Před 7 dny +1

      @@thetouchback I was like oh so they decided to do what the IFL and NAL been doing which makes sense, and I’m happy all 3 arena leagues just stream them for free on CZcams without the CZcams tv part

  • @scottnuzum3370
    @scottnuzum3370 Před 8 dny +1

    It's pronounced "suh-LINE-uh" not "sa-LEEN-ah".

    • @willmccoy13
      @willmccoy13 Před 8 dny

      Yeah, my mom is from there, so I should know lol.

  • @ctkelley27
    @ctkelley27 Před 7 dny

    Not salena lol

  • @staceybert1975
    @staceybert1975 Před 9 dny

    A merger with the IFL

    • @the915rooster
      @the915rooster Před 9 dny +6

      The IFL isn’t going to merge with this piece of trash