Semi-Pro: Of Southern Michigan Timberwolves and former Michigan Wolverines
So, this one time in college...
... I was an intern with University of Toledo's sports information department. Sorry, much more boring than that premise could've been, I know. I promise another time I'll tell you about the chick with the fishing line thong and super low-riders that drove with my dorm mates over to Taco Bell.
Anyhow, I graduated from UT with a degree in Communications, specializing in PR, and I absolutely loved my time in the Sports Information office. I was there about 40 hours a week, but it never felt even close to that long. I decided then that I wanted to do Sports Information and PR with my life.
Problem, you can't do Sports Information unless A) You have lots of experience, B) You know someone very high up, or C) You're willing/able to work a couple of years full time + for no pay. A) I don't. B) I don't. C) I can't. House, wife, cars, you know the drill. That said, I still want to do it. The easiest of those problems to rectify is A, and the way I'm doing it should give me access to some B as well.
I got emailing with the office for the Southern Michigan Timberwolves, a Semi-Pro team of the Mid-Continental Football League. Teams are based all over Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin, Indiana, and Kentucky. It's a pay-to-play league that sees a number of players from different walks of life. Some are Pros temporarily without a home, trying to keep in football shape. Some are undrafted college players who feel that with a little more work and game tape, there may be a place for them in the league, and some are just former HS or College players who love the game.
Anyhow, after emailing with the office there, I'm going to assume Sports Information and PR duties for the team on a volunteer basis. We're just in the earliest stages of talking about it now, but I should have a fairly blank canvas to work with, which I'm excited about.
I encourage you to check out the MCFL's page at http://www.mcfl.org/ and see if there's a team in your area. These are generally good guys with a passion for the game if they're paying to play.
Does anybody else have any experience with local minor league football?
Sounds like a nice first-step-in-the-door position.
When you've got enough pull in the organization to go ahead and re-brand those helmets and uniforms, let me know. I'll hook you up.
Excellent. Probably a good chance I'll take you up on that at some point. Might be a good way to build community relations, have the community vote on the logo or what have you.
I'm from Monroe County and have a few friends who play for the T-Wolves. I have to say, the colors of the team are awful. I like the logo, I just can't stand that gold on black thing...
I knew a few guys who play(ed) for the Timberwolves, too. I don't live in Monroe anymore, so I don't know who's still on the team. But I did see Ricky Powers and Major Harris, among others, play for them. It was kind of a cool experience to see them. They were a powerhouse MCFL team for a while.
with football is a good thing. Congrats.
Ricky Powers and Major Harris played for that team a bunch of years ago.
I hear an echo.
I used to play guard for the Timberwolves during the mid-90's when the team first began. Joe Lake was the owner, not sure if he still is. I will say we had quite the team. Sometimes it was hard not to get caught up in the talented plays happening all around. Pat Gucciardo Jr. was the QB. Ricky Powers and Major Harris ran the ball. Major still has my favorite Tigers hat(I made a bet on the flight to Wisconsin that he couldn't score a 50 yard touchdown...he scored a 60 yarder). Derek Schorejes (sp?) was our kicker who went on to kick for the Green Bay Packers and Phildelphia Soul.
Pretty shocked to see the team mentioned on here. Good times.
What exactly does a sports information department do? It sounds intriguing, but the only thing I know they do is publish questionably accurate heights and weights for the players.
Well, I for one would like to welcome you to the Timberwolves organization.
If we were to ever change the uniform colors, I would cast my vote for Oregon's colors. I think those are pretty sweet. Especially when they wear all yellow.
Ricky Powers and Major did play for us. We also had Chris Floyd playing for us for a bit. Tough runner and good guy. Last year Willis Barringer played through a few games until he took a coaching position out of state which forced him to leave the team. Good for him though. Another great guy to have on the field and be around.
ggoodness56 - I don't suppose your name is Dave?
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