Ron Calcagni brought his passion for the All American Football League to the Arkansas Sports Club on Monday.
Calcagni, the former University of Arkansas quarterback who led the Razorbacks to the landmark upset of No. 1 Oklahoma in the 1978 Orange Bowl, is the coach of the Arkansas team of the newly formed league, which will also feature teams from Alabama, Florida, Michigan, Texas and Tennessee.
The AAFL will kick off in April; Arkansas will play at Texas on April 12 and will host to Tennessee at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock on April 19. The league championship will be at War Memorial on the Fourth of July weekend, Calcagni said.
"It started with a passion," he said, referring to league founder and CEO Marcus Katz. "Why is this league going to be successful? Its mission statement is about college rivalries Arkansas, Texas, Michigan, Tennessee, Florida, Alabama. We'll be playing in those dormant college stadiums in summer. We're not competing with the NFL. We're not competing with the colleges. We're an enhancement."
He wouldn't be specific, but he said "the ink is still wet" on an agreement that would put his team's in-season training camp in Conway. In response to a question, he said the location would be "one of the fine major colleges in Conway."
"I think we'll bring $8 million to Central Arkansas, but we need people to buy tickets," he said.
He called the AAFL "gap football" among the high school, college and National Football League. Its players must have finished their college degree, have used up all four years of eligibility and not be under contract to another pro team.
The 50 players on the Arkansas roster will be well paid for four months of work Calcagni referred to a figure of $50,000. The roster includes former University of Central Arkansas players Landon Trusty, Jason Russell and Jasper Johnson as well as former Arkansas players Clint Stoerner, Zac Tubbs, J.J. Jones, Tony Bua, Chrys Chukwuma, Tom Crowder and Jermaine Petty.
"I am fired up; my motor is humming," said Calcagni, who said he had lived in Conway for six years. "I coach because I have a passion to see players succeed, and they're playing because they have a passion to win and represent the state of Arkansas."
His coaching staff also includes names familiar to long-time Arkansas sports fans. Larry Lacewell coached at Oklahoma and Arkansas State and retired a few years ago as an administrator for the Dallas Cowboys; Larry Beightol was an assistant under Lou Holtz at Arkansas.
He promised a wide-open style of play with an effective running game and solid special teams.
For more information on the AAFL or to buy tickets, go to http://www.allamericanfootballleague.com or call 888-602-2235.
The Arkansas Sports Club remembered member Tony Rodgers, the long-time public address announcer for Vilonia High School football who died Jan. 29.
Ballots have gone out to members of the Arkansas Sports Club and the media for the second induction banquet of the Arkansas Sportscasters and Sportswriters Hall of Fame. One sportswriter and one sportscaster will join the late Orville Henry and the late Paul Eells in the hall of fame. Votes must be cast by March 3.
The second class of inductees will be announced at the next Arkansas Sports Club meeting on March 10 at Ryan's. Lunch will begin at 11:30 a.m. with the program by long-time college and high school coach Jimmy "Red" Parker to follow the induction announcement at 12:05.
