THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, December 17, 1994 TAG: 9412170403
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JIM DUCIBELLA, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 65 lines
The general manager's post has been filled, as have a couple of spots on the coaching staff. Friday, general manager Pat Reilly of the proposed Norfolk franchise in the United Football Association announced the details of its search for the team's most important ingredient - players.
Tryouts for Norfolk's entry into the first outdoor eight-man football league, scheduled to begin play in April, will be held Saturday, Jan. 14, at 10 a.m. at the Quality Inn Lake Wright in Norfolk. There will be a $25, nonrefundable fee charged each participant. Entry forms and additional information can be obtained by calling Reilly at 627-4248. Tryouts are limited to the first 300 applicants. Reilly said Friday he receives phone calls on a daily basis from players and agents for players.
Reilly, a former high school football coach in Chicago who coached the Tidewater Sharks in 1992, was recently hired as the new Norfolk franchise's GM and coach. But Reilly is in the process of finding someone to handle the head coaching duties so that he can devote full attention to running the franchise. Reilly hopes to name a head coach within the next two weeks.
He has hired two members of the coaching staff. Ralph Everton will be defensive coordinator and Tony Kerrin has agreed to be assistant head coach and scout. Both were with Reilly with the Sharks.
In addition, Reilly has had discussions with Tidewater Professional Sports Inc. regarding use of the nickname ``Neptunes.'' Al Abiouness of Tidewater Professional Sports said TPS's board of directors hopes to vote on allowing use of the nickname on Dec. 22 during its annual meeting.
Reilly also has begun negotiations with Old Dominion University for use of 26,500-seat Foreman Field. He called the talks ``cordial,'' and said he was optimistic a lease arrangement with ODU could be worked out soon.
The original roster of teams consisted of 18 franchises. That number already has been pared to six - Indianapolis, Madison (Wisc.), Harrisburg (Pa.), Tampa Bay, Miami and Norfolk. Bob Kohlberger, UFA vice president, said the only franchises without stadium leases were Madison and Norfolk, and that two of Norfolk's competitors have conducted tryouts.
The Norfolk team will compete in the Southern Division, along with Tampa Bay and Miami. In the tentative 14-game regular-season schedule, also released Friday, Norfolk opens on April 22 at Indianapolis. Norfolk's home opener is on May 6 against Harrisburg.
The league's salary structure has been set. Each player on the 32-man active roster will receive $2,500 per game. Players on the reserve or injured-reserve list will receive $1,000. Players also will receive a portion of gate receipts. Players participating in postseason and championship games will receive $3,000 and $5,000, respectively.
Kohlberger said each franchise is limited to a $2.2 million budget, which includes salary and operating expenses. He said that the league has agreements with three corporate sponsors, including Continental Airlines and Holiday Inn. ILLUSTRATION: Pat Reilly is general manager of the proposed Norfolk team in
the United Football Association.
TENTATIVE SCHEDULE
[For a copy of the schedule, see microfilm for this date.]
by CNB