Carolina express game

[big64]

I was going to last nights game but at the last minute we went to Atl to scout The upstate vikings. I spent about $100 total to go see this game and Im so glad we didnt go to the Stingers game. Frankly Im surprised that the Express didnt beat the Stingers but, they only had two hours notice to get ready for the game.Wonder what the score would have been had they had proper notice, 55-18 Express wins?By the way did Chris Thomas play for the Express last night,I hope so.For the Express to score as many points as they did with such short notice was a moral win for them.I talked to Kent(#12) a few hours before the game and he said they were playing the Lions again. This is really getting embarassing for the Stinger players and for Columbia. Fold up now and get a jump(organized) start on next season

[redzone]

I don't think folding now is the answer. If the Stingers fold for the rest of the season to "get better organized for next year," it will make it harder for them (or any indoor team in Cola.) to build a fan base and sponsorship.

[big64]

It may not be up to the management or players of the Stingers wether or not to fold,less than 600 fans for a home game, calling an unprepared team two hours before kickoff to fill in and the questionable ownership practices are death throw signs.I'll bet you the wednesday night game will not be played. The Stingers are going to fold soon, if they make to Wednesday I'll be surprised. I have said before a situation like the Packers have with the people of Green Bay(sell stock in the team to the fans to own 49% of the team and a managment that owns 51%) would keep things honest because all stockholders would have legal recourse if management ripped them off.Why hasn't Tom thingyki gotten arrested for some of the crap that has been pulled, I mean has he not done the same thing in other cities. I'll bet he will move on and pull it on another city next year. And yes it will make it harder for any team wanting to come to Columbia. once bitten twice shy

[ncxcstud]

I want to know why everyone is blaming the Stingers management for another team not showing up?

According to the state article, Bobby Jackson was assured by the NIFL's Cleveland Gary that a team would show up. No team did...management did the best they could on such short notice.

It's not Columbia's fault for last night's game...it was the NIFL's.

As others have said...the Stingers need to 'ride out' the NIFL storm, then hop to another league for next season...of course, in the process they need to assure the fans that their serious about this. And from, what I can see since Pewonski left, they are.

[augustaspartans]

no folks the NIFL flags needs to be pulled down off the Stingers site and packed away and sent to the Stingers archieve now.

Don't take pot shots at Stinger management for the game thats the NIFLs fault

Im telling all of you relax take it easy and things are going to get better. I have meant Bobby and I have faith in him you should to. Now the former GM Pewonski I wouldnt allow him a minor league basket weaving team much less a Indoor team.

[stinger1]

big 64 i agree with you on alot of your points....but if columbia folds now it will be very difficult to have a loyal fanbase in columbia, unless the hold a press conference to address the nifl's problems and announce that the team will jump to another league next season.

it is not gonna be pretty the rest of the season for columbia....i'll tell you why.....they did'nt even announce who they were playing on wednesday night, my guess is fort myers is out (recieved a call to have charleston golden knights come play.....i declined that quickly), mascot was MIA.....had about 600 fans in the stands and will be half that on wednesday, how are they gonna pay for buses to go to away games rest of season? i will bve there to see the stingers vs. guard play........that will be a game that is gonna get ugly....bobby jackson was there last season and they are gonna put a pounding on columbia.....80+ or more points....i hope columbia can press on, but looks grim unless they pack up and move and hope to keep fans interessted in stinger football.

[Bill Mothershead]

When I met with Bobby Jackson last week, he was on a conference call. I can't say too much about what I overheard, as it wasn't meant for me to be involved in at the time, but he did EMPHATICALLY make the statement that the Stingers are scheduled for 7 home games and they WILL PLAY all of them one way or another.

Don't let the faults of this so-called "league" tarnish your view of the team or the management. He's trying to right the ship and in the few weeks he's been there we already have TURF and that's something the original management couldn't do, even having 6 months of preparation.

Stick with 'em, they'll reward your support next season.

[big64]

Two things, first Bill I apologize for misspelling Mr. Pewonski's name in my earlier post thanks for catching that one. Second I wish Mr. Jackson all the luck in the world in cleaning up this mess, Columbia can support this type of team, there is no doubt in my mind.I hope things get turned around. The support is there, I have missed only one home game (may 5) but many of my Reddawg team mates were there and we as a group have had 8-10 guys travel from Anderson to every home game.

[stinger1]

definately....the support is there in some loyal fans....but how can they play the rest of the season the way that things are? making fans return footballs, personel quitting, mascot not at last game, 600 people in the stands, high school gym mats for dasherboards (huge safety issue) no marketing, no advertisements except for negative stuff.....they have what...3 away games left? how are they gonna get there? we are talking thousands of dollars for road travel....i don't think the stingers will finish the rest of the season...i think they will play the home games, but not the away games.....bobby jackson is doing everything possible to give fans a game, but is bringing in a semi-pro team with 2 hour notice worth it? may be wise to hold press conference tell the fans that after the fayetteville game the season will end, so that the stingers can explore other options for different leagues and get a better start in 2008....i just pray that bobby is telling the truth....the same identical thing happening in columbia right now happened in charleston last year.....it is sad, my heart is'nt in it as much and i'm negative alot of times because as a fan i've been lied too numerous times, and dissapointed in a great team in charleston folding......keep the faith, but be prepared when reality strikes...

[redzone]

Isn't Pewonski still the owner of the team? If so, can the team successfuly move to another league with him as owner and will the problems of today still be there?

[augustaspartans]

Any team that wishes to join the WIFL has to have their ducks in a row. We demand you have the money to be in the league and we will see the balance sheet or you'll be looking for another league to play in.

[Bill Mothershead]

I don't know the ins and outs with ownership at the moment. Rumors abound, but I'm not one to pass them along.

As far as the team is concerned I know there is great interest from the front office to keep this team and this sport in Columbia for the next 3 years at a minimum. If the fans continue to support the players, the management (emphasis on management) will continue to support the fans by keeping indoor football in Columbia.

Ride out the rough patch that will be the rest of the season and stay logged in at the StingersNest. We'll get this ship righted.

[augustaspartans]

Good job Bill I wish you my best anytime you want to come visit Augusta my deal still stands.

[stinger1]

as i said before, pewonski and the nifl targets key cities for football (columbia-colonial center) they went in and signed a 5 year contract.....when they go in to these places they have false documentation and fake team names to fool the arenas and cities (columbia/colonial center) into believing that they are the greatest league in indoor football...they sign the deal , paly a few games, make some quick cash and leaves town.......leaving the colonial center with a 5 year deal that is nothing more than trash.....therefore any team wanting to come in next season the colonial center will have a bad taste in their mouth, want all their monety up front, etc. with pewonski still being the owner, after this season the colonial center will wise up and not allow this chaos to continue.....football is doomed in columbia thanks to pewonski and the nifl........call the north charleston coliseum and ask to speak to dave holtzer and ask him about the 5 year contracts and how the nifl will screw you....

[redzone]

I really feel that arenas the size of the Colonial Center are too big for the NIFL, WIFL or AIFA. It doesn't do much good to have a 12,000-15,000 seat arena with 5000 fans in the seats (best case scenario). It gives the impression of the arena being empty even though the team is drawing the most fans in the league. In my opinion, if you have a smaller arena, say 6000 to 10,000, and draw 5,000 a game, the fans tend to energize the team and give the arena personality, thus creating a huge home field advantage. If a situation occurs where the Stingers or any other indoor team can't play at the Colonial Center next year or over the next five years, there still is the new arena being built near the airport where the Inferno hockey team plan on playing. If another team comes in and plays in that arena in another league with different owners, it could build the trust of the community and build it's fan base. Once the five year deal with the Colonial Center expires, that could possibly sell AF2 on the possiblity of coming to Columbia and going back to the Colonial Center. Now fans, please don't take this post the wrong way where I want the Stingers to fold and for the Colonial Center to get burned, because I don't. I'm just trying to point out long term possibilites.