Calcagni rolls up his sleeves for AAFL job
Posted on Monday, November 5, 2007
Ron Calcagni’s office in Conway is mostly stripped bare now, save for a few boxes he has yet to carry out.
The former Arkansas Razorbacks quarterback has been named president of the first-year All-American Football League’s Arkansas franchise, and as he puts it, he’s putting a huge show of faith in the league’s survival.
“I’m leaving my job,” said Calcagni, who had worked as a client developer at a consulting firm specializing in drug testing. “There are so many people leaving their jobs [for AAFL jobs. ]”
Set to kick off in April, the AAFL will field teams from Texas, Florida, Alabama, Michigan and Tennessee along with Arkansas.
Promoting a new brand of football to Arkansas fans isn’t new to Calcagni, who previously served as president of Arkansas Sports Entertainment, which operated the Arkansas Twisters of Arena Football 2.
But the AAFL promises to be a different animal altogether, beginning with the league’s scope. The AAFL has a rule stipulating that all players must hold a degree from a four-year college. Teams also will be required to have a minimum number of players hailing from state schools. Player salaries are expected to range from $ 50, 000 to $ 100, 000.
Calcagni will be charged with familiarizing fans with the league, a tall order since Arkansas’ franchise remains very much under construction. Though the league signed a three-year deal to hold Arkansas’ home games at Little Rock’s War Memorial Stadium, a coaching staff has yet to be named and a team headquarters and practice site has yet to be determined.
Other AAFL teams are ahead in the hiring process. Texas ’ coach is former Twisters and Houston Cougars Coach John Jenkins, who played football and baseball for the Razorbacks.
Calcagni said he hopes to have a head coach named within a week or two and that a coaching staff of six or more soon will follow. Calcagni also said he will scout the central Arkansas region for places to set up the team’s home base.
“I’ve got a plan,” Calcagni said. “I know what to do and how to do it.”
Calcagni, who coached for 20 years at Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Tulsa, Houston and Arkansas State, also will have the final say in all player personnel decisions. He said that while he embraces the league’s reliance on local college talent, he isn’t planning on sacrificing competitiveness for familiar faces.
“Bottom line, it’s football,” Calcagni said. “People will come if you win. Sure, you want an Arkansas flavor. But you want to put the best team on the football field.”
Until he gets to do that, expect Calcagni to dive headfirst into the promotional aspect. Calcagni said he has already talked to city officials from Little Rock and North Little Rock and is exploring ways to sell the league outside of central Arkansas.
While his biggest challenge might be the public’s unfamiliarity with the AAFL, Calcagni said enough time exists between now and April to effectively sell the league to prospective fans.
“Our mission starts with academics,” Calcagni said. “Then you’ve got the [college ] rivalries. Then you’ve got your favorite players that you’ll come back to see, and maybe some of them fell through the cracks. Why wouldn’t it work ? It stands for all the good.” At a glance WHO Ron Calcagni POSITION President of first-year All-American Football League’s Arkansas franchise COLLEGE Arkansas NOTEWORTHY Played under Frank Broyles and Lou Holtz at Arkansas.... Led Arkansas to an 11-1 season as a junior and helped the Razorbacks to a 31-6 victory over No. 2 Oklahoma in the 1978 Orange Bowl.... Was featured on the cover of the Sept. 11, 1978, issue of Sports Illustrated.... Played professionally in the Canadian Football League.... Coaching stops have included Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Tulsa, Houston and Arkansas State.
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