All American Football League lands a team in Michigan

By The Associated Press

DETROIT — The All American Football League is hoping to capitalize on the popularity of the pigskin in Michigan. Organizers have already announced a team in Arkansas, which will play in Little Rock’s War Memorial Stadium.

Officials for the new league, which is scheduled to debut next spring, announced during a news conference Thursday that a team would represent the football-crazed state.

League officials said they are negotiating with Ford Field, where the NFL’s Detroit Lions play, hoping it will be the home stadium for Michigan’s entry in the AAFL.

When Michigan, Michigan State and the Lions play home games on the same weekend, about 250,000 fans flock to the three stadiums.

“The All American Football League is a perfect fit for Detroit and the entire Great Lakes region, one of the greatest championship sports areas in the country,” said former NCAA President Cedric Dempsey, chairman of the AAFL’s board of directors. “We know the passion for college football is unrivaled in the markets we’ve identified to host teams.”

The AAFL is planning to put together teams in other states — Florida, Texas, Tennessee, Alabama and Arkansas — where college football is popular.

“To the extent practical, players will be placed on the team hosted by or located closest to their alma mater,” Dempsey said.

Former Michigan running back Chris Horn will serve as president of the team, which plans to have tryouts next month. The AAFL will hold national tryouts Saturday at War Memorial Field in Little Rock.

To be in the new league, players must have exhausted their college eligibility and have undergraduate degrees.