|
|
October 19, 2007
Article 52
This Patriot Insider is a special issue that will feature a breakdown of the events involved in the 2007 North
American Football League (NAFL) 1 Secondary Playoffs for the Genesee County Patriots. The covered of these
events will be limited to this section (the issue introduction).
First off, we will begin with qualifying criteria for the Secondaries. The NAFL is comprised of over 110 teams, not
including NAFL 2 level teams. Of these 110+ teams, 64 qualify for what is known as the NAFL 1 Playoffs. The
top 8 teams in each region are selected to participate based on playoff point seedings. These seedings are
determined by a points system based on 2 points per win, 1 point for a tie, and 1/2 point for a loss. The Patriots
finished as the 9th seed, one shy of qualifying for the NAFL 1 playoffs. The Secondaries (now renamed the
Consolation Playoffs) feature any NAFL 1 Playoff wild card team that looses in the first round that accept an
invitation to participate in the Secondaries. (Each region is made up of four Division Champions and four Wild
Card teams). Then the next top seeded teams that did not qualify for the NAFL 1 Playoffs qualify to round out
the total to 32 teams. In previous years, the Secondaries were comprised of 64 total teams including the Wild
Card teams.
In the Great Lakes Region, only one Wild Card team (the Kane County Eagles) advanced past the first round.
The Ohio Invaders, New Castle Thunder, and London Silverbacks each were dropped to the NAFL 1 Secondary
Playoffs. As the 9th seed, the Patriots were then invited to join the Secondaries to round out the top 32 teams.
As per previous seasons, the top four Secondary teams in each region would host in the opening round. Due to
the last weekend of September being used as a BYE week and not the opening round of the playoffs, the NAFL
found the need to cut the number of NAFL Secondary teams down from 64 to 32. Teams participating in the
NAFL Secondaries were informed of this decision during the first week of the NAFL 1 Playoffs.
After originally expecting to host in the first round of the playoffs, the Patriots were then bracketed to play at the
Ohio Invaders with the London Silverbacks hosting the New Castle Thunder. On Tuesday, October 9, the
Patriots were then moved to the Northwest Region and received a BYE in the opening round of the playoffs. This
was due to the addition of the Rochester Renegades into the playoffs. As the lowest seeded team, Rochester
was required to travel in the opening round. With 5 teams now in a four team bracket, the Patriots were moved
to the Northwest Bracket and awarded a BYE in place of hosting a game and would thus play in the Northwest
Region. On Wednesday, October 10, the Patriots were contacted by the NAFL and once again placed in the
Great Lakes Region as a result of the New Castle Thunder declining the invitation to participate. The brackets
then placed Genesee County at London for October 13's playoff game.
On Thursday, October 11, the Patriots confirmed with London that we would be traveling for the game. The last
minute notice of the game change was difficult on both parties. The Patriots had already had to cancel their
home game and inform the media the team would be on the road after originally scheduled at home. With short
notice, it was also difficult to contact all players and staff to verify they would be available. After all, the last
change had the team on BYE week with all those involved in the organization making other plans. It was also
difficult for London and the Minor League Football Officials Association to secure referees for the game.
On Saturday, October 13 at 10:30 am London contacted the Patriots to inform them they did not have an official
crew available for that nights game. The Patriots agreed to await word from the team to see if they could find
another crew (even non-NAFL officials) to work the game and would then make the trip out to London if positive
word came. At 1:30 PM London informed the Patriots they still had not reached any officials that were willing to
do the game. They had made great effort to contact several area organizations but were unable to receive any
positive confirmation. The Patriots were then invited to make the trip to London with the hope that a continued
search for officials would result in finding some but at that point it was "unlikely" they would find anyone
available. Facing a 3 1/2 hour trip, not including border time, the Patriots offered to leave the moment London
heard word from any official crew willing to do the game, so that the Patriots would not have to make a 3 1/2
hour trip and lose the travel money only to disappoint players and staff that there would be not be a game. At
3:17 PM London called and officially canceled the game due to the unavailability of officials.
Over the course of that weekend, repeated attempts by the Patriots and London to contact the NAFL went with
no response. On Monday, October 15 at 1:25 PM the Patriots finally received word on who their next opponent
would be. The following email states this from Robert Licopoli (Chief Executive Officer of the NAFL):
RE: 3rd roundStandard Header|Full Message View
Robert F. Licopoli <rlicopoli@nafl.org>AddMonday, October 15, 2007 1:25:29 PM
To:Deyton Robinson <hornet9rr@msn.com>
Cc:Brad@GeneseeCountyPatriots.com; tallen@nafl.org; Scott Sandbo
<ssandbo@360sportsmanagement.com>; mflnafl@comcast.net
Find:
Deyton/Brad,
The Renegades will be traveling to the Patriots for round 2 (October 20th). Please confirm with each other that
this game will be played.
Rob
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Deyton Robinson [mailto:hornet9rr@msn.com]
Sent: Monday, October 15, 2007 11:12 AM
To: rlicopoli@nafl.org
Subject: 3rd round
Any luck on who we are playing this week?
Rochester Renegades
Deyton Robinson
Per Robert Licopoli, the Patriots were scheduled to host the Rochester Renegades in Flint on Saturday, October
20. Coach Larry of the Rochester Renegades confirmed this game. The Patriots then secured facilities and
announced the team would be hosting a playoff game that weekend (for the second time in two weeks). No
information had yet been released as to London's playoff status.
On Tuesday, October 16 the NAFL website had listed a bracket showing the Patriots once again scheduled at
London. Meanwhile, Rochester was scheduled with a BYE. Upon contacting League offices, Robert Licopoli sent
an email that evening stating the previous weeks game had been reschedule and the Patriots were now
scheduled to travel to London. The Patriots then contacted the league further, requesting consideration for the
fact that the team was told we were hosting a home game and now would be out considerable money two weeks
in a row for facilities booking. Plus, this would be the second week in a row media outlets would have been
informed that the team was no longer hosting a playoff game and would be on the road. At 9:58 Robert Licopoli
responded by email stating he was "sorry for being out of touch" and that was this was the busiest time of the
year for him. That was the only information included in the email and no further ruling had been made as to
considerations for the home game that was scheduled. Which Rochester being bracketed for a BYE, the
Renegades and Patriots could continue to play their scheduled game with London receiving the BYE.
On Wednesday at 3:32 PM London had declared the October 20 game a "no contest" with the Patriots. Yet, that
evening at 10:10 PM Robert Licopoli sent an email stating that we could "do what you want" in order to rectify
the situation and to "make sure Rochester is set up for it."
RE: Oct. 20 game statusStandard Header|Full Message View
Robert F. Licopoli <rlicopoli@nafl.org>AddWednesday, October 17, 2007 10:10:31 PM
To:Brad Lyon <brad@geneseecountypatriots.com>; clazar@londonsilverbacks.com; alseder@hotmail.com;
tallen@nafl.org
You guys can do what you want. Make sure rochester is set up for it.
Rochester was still confirmed for the trip to Flint and the home game would remain scheduled for the Patriots
with London receiving the BYE.
Then on Thursday at 3:16 PM Robert Licopoli once again emailed those parties that were included and informed
everyone that Rochester would now be hosting the New Jersey Terminators (a team that was never in the
Northern Conference Bracket) and that the Patriots would be once again scheduled on the road.
After reading the Robert Licopoli's decision Thursday evening the Patriots were left without a game for Saturday,
October 20th and thus declined the NAFL Secondary Invitation. With London having declared the game a no
contest, and Rochester no longer able to travel to Flint, the team was left without options. In order to attempt to
reschedule the London game last minute, London would be forced to secure their facilities in one day's time as
well as locate officials with minimal notice. Meanwhile, the Patriots would be forced to try and secure
transportation in one day as well as notifying all staff members and athletes of the change with the hope
everyone could be contacted in time for Saturday morning's departure.
The Genesee County Patriots regret not to be able to continue the team's first playoff invitation. We wish all
participating teams the best of luck and good health for the remainder of the 2007 Playoffs.
We will see everyone in 2008!
|
|
