College Football (The All-American Football League)

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Max Mercy, Jr. here again, folks . . .

So what does Ole Max do when there’s no baseball to watch or cover? What does Ole Max do when the temperatures are dropping more sharply than a Jim Barr curveball? Ole Max goes digging for news, that’s what! And has Ole Max ever uncovered a gem of a story. Read on, sports fanatics.

Ole Max has unearthed a plan by the founders of the All-American Baseball League to start up a football version. That’s right, folks, it’s a veritable pigskin parade. Ole Max has it from reliable sources (are there any other kind?) that the league will be similar to the AABL. Most likely, the gridiron gladiators will be divided into four regions (think compass directions). It isn’t clear how many colleges will comprise a region, but Ole Max is figuring at least eight. After a round-robin, home-and-away schedule, the champions of each region will qualify for the playoffs.

Word on the street is that schools like Notre Dame, Southern Cal, Alabama, Texas, Michigan and Ohio State are locks. There are other rumors floating around out there like Billy Kilmer passes. One rumor has Ivy getting a team similar to the baseball club. Another story being bandied about has the great African American college football programs such as Grambling and Jackson State uniting for a “super team.” There are more pieces of gossip than a year’s subscription to the National Inquirer.

Ole Max’s sources or “insiders” have asked for help. Since Ole Max enjoys helping any truly great cause in his own unique and humble way, this widely read column is turning to you the loyal reader and sports fan for insight. Ole Max’s friends want to your responses to the following:

1) What schools would you like to see in the All-American Football League?

2) Should the players be based on their college or pro stats?

3) Do you favor tie games, or would you like to see overtime? Should overtime be of the sudden death variety, a full extra quarter or should it follow the current college football rules?

4) Are there any unique or special features you’d like to see?

The founders of the soon-to-be named All-American Football League thank you. And so does Ole Max.

This is Max Mercy, Jr., signing off until the next news-breaking story
. . .

[Eugene Church]

Lordy mercy, here comes Mercy.

Don't play overtime...especially the way the colleges do now. It is ridiculous to keep playing score after score after score...get rid of that rule where you get the ball on the 25-yard line. Play a regular football game.

If you do, just play one 15-minute overtime...and no more.

If you play pro, give both teams a chance at scoring...no sudden death...and play only one 15-minute overtime max.

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Eugene,

Thanks for your input. It will take me quite awhile to get this idea up and running. I agree with your OT views.

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New York--The founders of the All-American Baseball League have extended their autumn. At a gala press conference Monday, the All-American Football League was launched.

"We're excited with this new venture," said Ivy representative Bart Giamanti. "It will give the followers of our baseball league something to get excited about once the College World Series is over, the leaves are falling and colder temperatures are upon us."

The new league will feature four geographical divisions of eight teams each. Each team will play a seven-game schedule against its division rivals. The schedule will be unbalanced as some teams will play four home games and three away games. For others, the schedule will be unbalanced in the opposite direction.

"It couldn't be avoided," said Giamanti. "Besides, the schedule will be reversed next season."

Each team will carry at least four quarterbacks, up to 10 running backs and eight receivers/tight ends. Rosters, however, will also include players listed on the junior varsity.

"Each team will decide what its roster ultimately looks like," said Alabama head coach Paul "Bear" Byant. "Some of those JV players may wind up seeing varsity action before it's all said and done."

AAFL rules state that each running back must carry the ball at least once in a game. Each of the four quarterbacks must also get at least one series per game. Players will be based on their college statistics.

"It will be difficult to get our roster down to the required numbers, but I have a feeling our preseason camp will weed things out," said Bryant with a telling smile.

Rules further state that no overtime will be played in regular season games. Thus, ties could play a factor in the standings.

"That's the way games have been played for most of history," said Notre Dame head coach Knute Rockne. "Besides, this new fangled system with giving each team the ball at the 25-yard line just isn't what we want."

The winners of each division will meet in semi-final games. Divisional ties in the standings will be determined by head-to-head competition. The East champion will play the South winner in the Sugar Bowl. The Midwest titlist will battle the West champ at the Orange Bowl in Miami. Those semi-final winners will advance to the National Championship. This season's title game is scheduled for the Rose Bowl on New Year's Day.

"I like the fact we're deciding things on the field of play," said Ohio State head coach Woodie Hayes.

The divisions break down like this:

East
Armed Forces (combined Army. Navy and Air Force)
Boston College
Clemson
HBCU (combined Historically Black College and Universities)
Ivy (combined Ivy League)
Penn State
Pittsburgh
Syracuse
South
Alabama
Auburn
Georgia
Florida
Florida State
LSU
Miami
Tennessee
Midwest
Illinois
Michigan
Michigan State
Notre Dame
Ohio State
Oklahoma
Purdue
Wisconsin
West
Arizona State
Brigham Young
Colorado
Nebraska
Texas
UCLA
USC
Washington

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Alabama Crimson Tide
Head Coach: Paul "Bear" Bryant
AAFL Conference: South

Running Backs: Shaun Alexander, Johnny Davis, Harry Gilmer, Bobby Humphrey, Wilbur Jackson, Johnny Musso, Tony Nathan, David Palmer, Dennis Riddle, Siran Stacy, Sherman Williams

Quarterbacks: Jay Barker, Brodie Croyle, Joe Namath, Mike Shula, Steve Sloan, Kenny Stabler, Bart Starr

Receivers: David Bailey, DJ Hall, Dennis Homan, Don Hutson, Ozzie Newsome, Ray Perkins

Kickers: Philip Doyle, Michael Proctor

Punter: Greg Gantt

Top Defensive Standouts: Cornelius Bennett, Jeremiah Castille, Richard Cole, Paul Crane, John Copeland, Eric Curry, Mike Hall, Lee Roy Jordan, E.J. Junior, Antonio Langham, Marty Lyons, Keith McCants, Dwayne Rudd, Derrick Thomas

Schedule:
Florida
Tennessee
at Florida State
at LSU
Georgia
Miami
at Auburn

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Arizona State Sun Devils
Head Coach: Frank Kush
AAFL Conference: West

Running Backs: Terry Battle, Darryl Clack, Woody Green, Art Malone, J.R. Redmond, Gerald Riggs, Wilford White, Freddie Williams

Quarterbacks: Mike Pagel, Jake Plummer, Jeff Van Raaphorst, Andrew Walter, Danny White

Receivers: Ron Fair, Eric Guliford, Derek Hagan, J.D. Hill, John Jefferson, Mel Owens, Keith Poole

Kicker: Luis Zendejas

Punter: Lance Anderson

Top Defensive Standouts: Eric Allen, Adam Archuleta, Bob Bruenig, Shante Carver, Al Harris, Mike Haynes, Jim Jeffcoat, Mike Richardson, Derrick Rodgers, Terrell Suggs, Pat Tillman

Schedule:
Nebraska
Washington
at Texas
at UCLA
Colorado
USC
at BYU

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Armed Forces Patriots
Head Coach: Earl "Red" Blaik
AAFL Conference: East

Running Backs: Bob Anderson, Joe Bellino, Felix "Doc" Blanchard, Brian Bream, Glenn Davis, Pete Dawkins, Kyle Eckel, Elmer Oliphant, Mike Mayweather, Napoleon McCallum

Quarterbacks: Dee Dowis, Chris McCoy, Beau Morgan, Roger Staubach, George Welsh

Receivers: Ron Beagle, Cormac Carney, Bill Carpenter, Ernie Jennings, Phil McConkey, Ed Orr

Kickers: Craig Stopa, Keith Walker

Punter: Jason Christ

Top Defensive Standouts: Felix "Doc" Blanchard, Chris Gizzi, Chad Hennings, Carlton McDonald, Anthony Schlagel, Vergil Simpson, Neal Starkey, John Steed, Scott Thomas, Arnold Tucker

Schedule:
HBCU
Syracuse
at Ivy
at Penn State
Clemson
Pittsburgh
at Boston College

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Auburn Tigers
Head Coach: Ralph "Shug" Jordan
AAFL Conference: South

Running Backs: William Andrews, James Brooks, Ronnie Brown, Joe Cribbs, Brent Fullwood, Kenny Irons, Bo Jackson, Rudi Johnson, Tommy Lorino, Carnell Williams

Quarterbacks: Jason Campbell, Dameyune Craig, Ben Leard, Patrick Nix, Pat Sullivan

Receivers: Karston Bailey, Robert Baker, Terry Beasley, Ronney Daniels, Tyrone Goodson, Jimmy Phillips, Frank Sanders, Lawyer Tillman, Alexander Wright

Kickers: Damon Duval, Al Del Greco, John Vaughn

Punter: Terry Daniel

Top Defensive Standouts: Aundray Bruce, Gregg Carr, Carlos Dansby, Mike Fuller, Kevin Greene, Buddy McClinton, Craig Ogletree, Tracy Rocker, Carlos Rogers, Takeo Spikes, Freddie Smith, Gary Walker

Schedule:
Georgia
Florida State
at Florida
at Tennessee
Miami
at LSU
Alabama

[TwinsFan86]

Looks nice, but where are the Minnesota Golden Gophers and Laurence Maroney...

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Boston College Eagles
Head Coach: Tom O'Brien
AAFL Conference: East

Running Backs: Keith Barnette, Jim Bell, Darnell Campbell, Glen Capriola, Mike Cloud, William Green, Derrick Knight, Ed Rideout, Troy Stradford

Quarterbacks: Doug Flutie, Glenn Foley, Shawn Halloran, Matt Hasselbeck, Brian St. Perriere

Receivers: Brian Brennan, Mark Chmura, Darren Flutie, Scott Gieselman, Kelvin Martin, Pete Mitchell, Gerald Phalen, Tom Waddle, Dave Zumbach

Kickers: David Gordon, Brian Lowe

Punter: Jeff Beckley

Top Defensive Standouts: Will Blackmon, Art Donovan, Chris Hovan, Mathias Kiwanka, Mike Mamula, Bill Romanowski, Mike Ruth, John Salmon, Tony Thurman

Schedule:
Clemson
Ivy
at HBCU
at Syracuse
Pittsburgh
at Penn State
Armed Forces

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Originally Posted by TwinsFan86

Looks nice, but where are the Minnesota Golden Gophers and Laurence Maroney...

The Golden Gophers were in the running . . . however, most of their glory is from a long, long time ago.

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Brigham Young Cougars
Head Coach: LaVell Edwards
AAFL Conference: West

Running Backs: Mark Bellini, Hemu Heimuli, Scott Pettis, Scott Phillips, Tom Tuipulotu, Luke Stanley

Quarterbacks: Robbie Bosco, Ty Detmer, Jim McMahon, Steve Sarkisian, Steve Young

Receivers: Clay Brown, Andy Boyce, Todd Christensen, Gordon Hudson, Homer Jones, Lloyd Jones, Glen Kozlowski, Dave Mills, Golden Richards

Kicker: Ethan Pochman

Punter: Lee Johnson

Top Defensive Standouts: Marv Allen, Dave Atkinson, Rocky Biegel, Randy Brock, Jason Buck, Larry Carr, Bob Davis, Gene Frantz, Shad Hansen, Mike Morgan, Rob Morris, Shay Muirbrook, Glenn Redd

Schedule:
Colorado
Texas
at Nebraska
at Washington
USC
at UCLA
Arizona State

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Colorado Buffaloes
Head Coach: Bill McCartney
AAFL Conference: West

Running Backs: Bobby Anderson, Eric Bieniemy, Chris Brown, Charlie Davis, J.J. Flanigan, Marcus Houston, James Mayberry, Bobby Purify, Rashaan Salaam, Lamont Warren, Byron "Whizzer" White

Quarterbacks: Koy Detmer, Darian Hagan, Joel Klatt, Kordell Stewart

Receivers: Jeremy Bloom, Cliff Branch, J.V. Cain, Rae Carruth, Christian Fauria, Daniel Graham, Don Hasselbeck, Charles E. Johnson, Dave Logan, Walter Stanley, Billy Waddy

Kicker: Ken Culbertson

Punter: Tom Rouen

Top Defensive Standouts: Dick Anderson, Greg Biekert, Chad Brown, Cullen Bryant, Deon Figures, Mark Haynes, Darius Holland, Chris Hudson, Ben Kelly, Kanavis McGhee, Rod Perry, Victor Scott, Mike Spivey, Joel Steed, Alfred Williams

Schedule:
at BYU
USC
UCLA
at Nebraska
at Arizona State
Texas
at Washington

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Clemson Tigers
Head Coach: Frank Howard
AAFL Conference: East

Running Backs: Terry Allen, Cliff Austin, Terrence Flagler, Lester Brown, Kevin Mack, Banks McFadden, Chuck McSwain, Ray Williams

Quarterbacks: Woody Dantzler, Steve Fuller, Homer Jordan, Charlie Whitehurst

Receivers: Jerry Butler, Dwight Clark, Bennie Cunningham, Rodney Fletcher, Rod Gardner, Keith Jennings, Frank Magwood, Perry Tuttle

Kickers: Donald Igwebuike, Bob Pauling

Punter: Chris Gardocki

Top Defensive Standouts: Keith Adams, Jeff Bryant, Robert Carswell, Brian Dawkins, Antwan Edwards, Levon Kirkland, Chester McGlockton, Michael Dean Perry, William Perry, Anthony Simmons, Randy Scott, Charlie Waters, Donnell Woolford

Schedule:
at Boston College
Pittsburgh
Penn State
at HBCU
at Armed Forces
Ivy
at Syracuse

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Florida Gators
Head Coach: Steve Spurrier
AAFL Conference: South

Running Backs: Neal Anderson, Fred Taylor, Lorenzo Hampton, James Jones, Errict Rhett, Emmitt Smith, Larry Smith, John L. Williams

Quarterbacks: Kerwin Bell, Rex Grossman, Shane Matthews, Steve Spurrier, Danny Wuerffel

Receivers: Carlos Alvarez, Reche Caldwell, Wes Chander, Chris Collingsworth, Chris Doering, Jabar Gaffney, Jacquez Green, Jack Jackson, Willie Jackson, Travis McGriff, Nat Moore

Kicker: Judd Davis

Punter: Don Chandler

Top Defensive Standouts: Trace Armstrong, Alex Brown, Kevin Carter, Brad Culpepper, Ellis Johnson, Lynn Matthews, Reggie McGrew, Keiwan Ratliff, Huey Richardson, Gerard Warren, Fred Weary, Jack Youngblood

Schedule:
at Alabama
LSU
at Auburn
Georgia
Florida State
Tennessee
at Miami

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Florida State Seminoles
Head Coach: Bobby Bowden
AAFL Conference: South

Running Backs: Greg Allen, Zach Crockett, Warrick Dunn, William Floyd, Larry Key, Amp Lee, Mark Lyles, Travis Minor, Rock Preston, Sammie Smith

Quarterbacks: Thad Busby, Gary Huff, Danny Kanell, Charlie Ward, Chris Weinke

Receivers: Fred Biletnikoff, Auquan Boldin, Andre Cooper, Lawrence Dawsey, Ron Dugans, Matt Fryer, E.G. Green, Kez McCorvey, Snoop Minnis

Kicker: Sebastian Janikowski

Punter: Rohn Stark

Top Defensive Standouts: Michael Boulware, Peter Boulware, Derrick Brooks, Terrell Buckley, Sam Cowart, Marvin Jones, Jamal Reynolds, Deion Sanders, Carl Simpson, Andre Wadsworth, Reinard Wilson

Schedule:
Tennessee
at Auburn
Alabama
at Miami
at Florida
at Georgia
LSU

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Georgia Bulldogs
Head Coach: Vince Dooley
AAFL Conference: South

Running Backs: Terrell Davis, Robert Edwards, Rodney Hampton, Garrison Hearst, Willie McClendon, Frank Sinkwich, Musa Smith, Charley Trippi, Herschel Walker, Tim Worley

Quarterbacks: Buck Belue, Quincy Carter, D.J. Shockley, Fran Tarkenton, Eric Zeier

Receivers: Champ Bailey, Fred Gibson, Andre Hastings, Clarence Kay, Leonard Pope, Lindsay Scott, Hines Ward

Kicker: Kevin Butler

Punter: Chip Andrews

Top Defensive Standouts: Boss Bailey, Champ Bailey, Freddie Gilbert, Terry Hogue, Jimmy Payne, David Pollack, Jake Scott, Bill Stanfill, Scott Woerner

Schedule:
at Auburn
Miami
LSU
at Florida
at Alabama
Florida State
at Tennessee

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HBCU Titans
Head Coach: Eddie Robinson
AAFL Conference: East

Running Backs: Emerson Boozer, Frenchy Fuqua, Willie Gallimore, Walter Payton, Harvey Reed, Johnny Sample, Noland Smith, Tank Younger

Quarterbacks: James Harris, Rahsaan Matthews, Steve McNair, Willie Totten, Doug Williams

Receivers: Kenny Burrough, Harold Carmichael, Donald Driver, Harold Jackson, Charlie Joiner, Jerome Mathis, Jerry Rice, Willie Richardson, James Roe, Shannon Sharpe, John Stallworth, Otis Taylor, Warren Wells

Kicker: Greg Coleman

Punter: Greg Coleman

Top Defensive Standouts: Lem Barney, Ronald Bartell, Antoine Betha, Elvin Bethea, Verlon Biggs, Buck Buchanan, Harry Carson, Reggie Doss, L.C. Greenwood, Jason Hatcher, Kenny Houston, Gary "Big Hands" Johnson, Deacon Jones, Willie Lanier, Donnie Shell, Michael Strahan, Aeneas Williams

Schedule:
at Armed Forces
Penn State
at Boston College
Clemson
Ivy
Syracuse
at Pittsburgh

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Illinois Fighting Illini
Head Coach: Robert Zuppke
AAFL Conference: Midwest

Running Backs: J.C. Caroline, Ty Douthard, Jim Grabowski, Red Grange, Howard Griffith, Antoineo Harris, Rocky Harvey, Robert Holcombe, Keith Jones, Thomas Rooks

Quarterbacks: Tony Eason, Jeff George, Kurt Kittner, Jack Trudeau

Receivers: Jason Dulick, Brandon Lloyd, Mike Martin, David Williams, Walter Young

Kicker: Neil Rackers

Punter: Steve Weatherford

Top Defensive Standouts: Mel Agee, Al Brosky, Darrick Brownlow, Dick Butkus, Danny Clark, Scott Davis, Moe Gardner, Red Grange, John Holecek, Dana Howard, Henry Jones, Ray Nitschke, Simeon Rice, Scott Studwell, John Sullivan, Fred Wakefield

Schedule:
Notre Dame
Wisconsin
at Ohio State
at Oklahoma
Michigan State
Purdue
at Michigan

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Ivy Eagles
Head Coach: Percy Haughton
AAFL Conference: East

Running Backs: Rich Diana, Keith Elias, Jim Finn, Clint Frank, Calvin Hill, Joe Holland, Dick Jauron, Dick Kazmaier, Chad Levitt, Ed Marinaro, Bob MacLeod, Fritz Pollard, Al Rosier

Quarterbacks: Doug Butler, Brian Dowling, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Gavin Hoffman, Jay Fielder, Jeff Kemp, Sid Luckman, James Perry

Receivers: Steve Campbell, Kevin Guthrie, Steve Jordan, Eric Johnson, Eric Krawczyk, Larry Kelley, Pat McInally, John Siegal, Bill Swiacki

Kickers: Charles Brickley, Charlie Gogolak, Chris Lutz, Nick Lowery

Punters: Matt Evans, Pat McInally

Top Defensive Standouts: Chuck Bednarik, Dean Cain, Gary Fencik, Paul Halas, Dick Jauron, John Spagnola, Marcellus Wiley

Schedule:
Syracuse
at Boston College
Armed Forces
at Pittsburgh
at HBCU
at Clemson
Penn State