Spurrier upon the league's demise accused its founders of not being truthful at launchGETTY IMAGES
Orlando Apollos coach Steve Spurrier was among those who criticized AAF leadership following the league suspending operations for claiming that "everything was fine ... when, in reality, the league was in trouble," according to Andrew Joseph of USA TODAY. Spurrier "pinned his surprise over the league's collapse on the AAF founders" (USATODAY.com, 4/2). He said, "Everyone was led to believe that the Alliance was well-funded and we could play three years without making any money and this, that and the other. Obviously, everything that was said was not very truthful" (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 4/3). Salt Lake Stallions coach Dennis Erickson echoed Spurrier's sentiments, saying, "We were not told the truth. We were told the league had enough funding to remain viable for three years. Obviously, that was not the case" (SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, 4/3). San Diego Fleet President Jeff Garner: "We were all told there was funding in place for three years of this league. To get this up and running, we would be able to absorb losses early on." Garner had left his job as Penn State Assistant AD to join the Fleet, and he said, "I came into it with my eyes wide open. I knew this was a possibility" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 4/3).
EXPRESS WORK: In Philadelphia, Rob Tornoe wrote the AAF's move to suspend operations is a "remarkable reversal from February, when the AAF premiered on CBS to impressive ratings, which were on par with an average NBA game." However, the league "ran into payroll problems after Week 1," leading Hurricanes Owner Tom Dundon to "take control of the league" with a commitment to invest $250M. Dundon has only reportedly spent about $70M (PHILLY.com, 4/2). ESPN’s Chris Mortensen said the football part of the AAF was "running wonderfully," but the "business part was a disaster" (“NFL Live,” ESPN, 4/2). SBJ's Daniel Kaplan said the AAF “probably went too quick” in launching. The league, perhaps "because they knew the XFL was coming (in '20), launched quite quickly and they ran into funding trouble." The legacy of the AAF "will be yet another failed start-up football league, but also one that shows you shouldn't go into it too fast" (“OTL,” ESPN, 4/2).
NOT SO HOT: USA TODAY's Andy Nesbitt wrote the AAF "wanted to be a minor league option for football, but instead it looks like they're just a bush-league operation" (USATODAY.com, 4/2). In Orlando, Mike Bianchi in a front-page piece writes the AAF goes down as "one of the most profound organizational flops in the history of sports," leaving a "string of broken promises, busted dreams and unpaid bills in its wake." This "pitiful league didn’t even have enough funding to last three weeks" (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 4/3).
FLEETING MOMENT: In N.Y., Kevin Draper notes the AAF is the "latest in a long line of upstart professional football leagues that tried and failed to capitalize on the seemingly insatiable appetite for the sport in America." While the likes of the World Football League, USFL, United Football League and the original XFL, among others, have had "varying business models, franchise locations and opinions on the best calendar for football, none of the leagues has yet found the right formula for sustained success." The UFL lasted from '09-12, and Commissioner Michael Huyghu said: "There is a blind spot for most people that want to start professional sports leagues" (N.Y. TIMES, 4/3). In Cleveland, Joey Morona writes, "Spring is where professional football leagues come to die" (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 4/3).
