"Over the past couple of months Thurman and I have become extremely good friends," stated Bartosiewicz, "It's a great thing for this team and the future of football in Rochester. He is very excited about joining our organization."
Thomas states one of his reasons for joining the current Raiders ownership, 'The Raiders are one of the finest indoor football franchises in the country.' Thomas also owns Thurman Thomas Sports, headquartered at Sahlen Sports Park in Elma, New York, which includes the Thurman Thomas Football Academy and Thurman Thomas Sports Fitness.
The Raiders have also officially joined the newly formed IFL (Indoor Football League) for the 2009 season and beyond. The IFL was formed last month when the United Indoor Football League (UIF) and the Intense Football League (IFL) merged together to form a new IFL. The Raiders will bring in the longest active winning streak, which currently stands at 26 games to the new league.
"This is going to be an amazing league," stated Raiders co-owner Bob Bartosiewicz after returning from the IFL owners meetings last week in Omaha, NE. "They have compiled the best indoor teams in the country and put them all into one league. It is going to be extremely competitive and a lot of fun for our fans and the City of Rochester."
A final number of teams for the 2009 season has not yet been finalized but it is estimated that there will be in the upwards of 20 teams including perennial powerhouses the Louisiana Swashbucklers, Billings Outlaws, Omaha Beef and Sioux Fall Storm. Both Louisiana and Sioux Falls were in talks with the Raiders following the 2008 season to play against each other but due to scheduling conflicts the game was not played. The IFL will be an 8 on 8 indoor football league but some rules will differ from the typical 8 on 8 format and be geared more toward the 11 on 11 style of play. The 2009 season will kickoff in the spring.
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