National Indoor Football League

Some still believe in Fayetteville's indoor football future

Quincy Malloy is still a believer.

The former Methodist University All-American defensive lineman thinks arena football can be successful in Fayetteville, despite the demise of three teams over the past eight years.

And Malloy should know. He spent time with the Cape Fear Wildcats of the af2 in 2002, then played seven straight seasons of arena ball for the Fayetteville Guard and the Fayetteville Force before the latter was sold in late May.

Malloy was still hopeful Saturday evening, even after watching from the stands at the Crown Coliseum as the Force was routed in their final game of the 2011 season by the Richmond Raiders, 88-6. The defeat, before a crowd of about 500, was the ninth straight for the Force, who finished with a 3-9 record in Southern Indoor Football League play.

"With the right owner and right organization, it can work,'' Malloy said recently.

John Morris is also a believer. That's why his corporation, AIFA, stepped forward to purchase the on-the-verge-of-collapse Force from NFL agent Andrew Bondarowicz and his company, Fanteractive LLC.

Morris made the move with the knowledge that community support had eroded and there was no chance of generating revenue with three of the four games left on the road.

"I had some people tell me I'm absolutely nuts, and maybe I am,'' Morris said. "But we didn't do this for four games to simply come in and walk away from it.''

It should be noted that by purchasing the Force, Morris saved three other teams from losing valuable gates and fulfilled agreements with local sponsors by fielding a team for the final home game.

Morris' goal is similar to his predecessors: rebuild community support, improve attendance and eventually cultivate local ownership. He's committed to financing the franchise until the latter can be achieved.

"I do believe fans in Fayetteville will come out and support this team in 2012,'' Morris said.

But for every optimist like Malloy and Morris, there are doubters and critics.

Doubters point to history and the fact that three owners have tried and failed to make arena football a profitable business in Fayetteville.

Critics call Morris "a cut throat type of guy,'' and urge county officials to be cautious in their dealings with him.

"I can't say anything good as far as he's concerned,'' former Guard coach Marcus Wall said of Morris. "Our Crown folks have to really be aware of what they jump into because I don't know much good that comes from dealing with John.

Some still believe in Fayetteville's indoor football future

Quincy Malloy is still a believer.

The former Methodist University All-American defensive lineman thinks arena football can be successful in Fayetteville, despite the demise of three teams over the past eight years.

And Malloy should know. He spent time with the Cape Fear Wildcats of the af2 in 2002, then played seven straight seasons of arena ball for the Fayetteville Guard and the Fayetteville Force before the latter was sold in late May.

Malloy was still hopeful Saturday evening, even after watching from the stands at the Crown Coliseum as the Force was routed in their final game of the 2011 season by the Richmond Raiders, 88-6. The defeat, before a crowd of about 500, was the ninth straight for the Force, who finished with a 3-9 record in Southern Indoor Football League play.

"With the right owner and right organization, it can work,'' Malloy said recently.

John Morris is also a believer. That's why his corporation, AIFA, stepped forward to purchase the on-the-verge-of-collapse Force from NFL agent Andrew Bondarowicz and his company, Fanteractive LLC.

Morris made the move with the knowledge that community support had eroded and there was no chance of generating revenue with three of the four games left on the road.

"I had some people tell me I'm absolutely nuts, and maybe I am,'' Morris said. "But we didn't do this for four games to simply come in and walk away from it.''

It should be noted that by purchasing the Force, Morris saved three other teams from losing valuable gates and fulfilled agreements with local sponsors by fielding a team for the final home game.

Morris' goal is similar to his predecessors: rebuild community support, improve attendance and eventually cultivate local ownership. He's committed to financing the franchise until the latter can be achieved.

"I do believe fans in Fayetteville will come out and support this team in 2012,'' Morris said.

But for every optimist like Malloy and Morris, there are doubters and critics.

Doubters point to history and the fact that three owners have tried and failed to make arena football a profitable business in Fayetteville.

Critics call Morris "a cut throat type of guy,'' and urge county officials to be cautious in their dealings with him.

"I can't say anything good as far as he's concerned,'' former Guard coach Marcus Wall said of Morris. "Our Crown folks have to really be aware of what they jump into because I don't know much good that comes from dealing with John.

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