Haven’t heard of The New Mexico Wildcats? You know
the new
IAFA team that is playing in Rio Rancho? Well if you haven’t heard of
them, you
aren’t alone.
The New Mexico Wildcats are an expansion team in the IAFA or
Indoor Arena Football Association. This is the first year of the
expansion
Wildcats and they play against 3 other teams that comprise the Western
Division. The Arizona Adrenaline, The Utah Saints, and the Wyoming
Calvary.
I
spoke with GM Steve Mascarenas about the Wildcats, and he
said, “We are selling tickets for the inaugural game on April 26th
vs. The Adrenaline. There are plenty of affordable packages for people
to come
out, and we would like to be very accessible to kids and families.”
Obviously
there have been plenty of attempts at football
franchises here in the state of New Mexico so I asked Steve what made
the
Wildcats different, “This is the first Arena League in the state. Prior
to
running the Wildcats, I’d never seen an Arena game,” says Mascarenas.
“It
really is a fast paced sort of game that is all about fan excitement
and
interaction.”
Haliburton Wants you to buy tickets and watch him score TD's!
I
asked Steve what was the toughest thing in getting this
team ready for the season. “Time… It just doesn’t seem like we ever
have enough
time,” answered Mascarenas. “As an expansion team we are still trying
to get
the right players in here, advertising, radio broadcasts, information,
jerseys,
sponsors, the field, practices. It is all time consuming, but
enjoyable.”
With
that let me introduce Shaun Duffy of Illinois. A local
Rio Ranchoan that has been excited about the Wildcats since he heard
they were
coming to start play in April. “Man, I really want to follow these
guys,” said
Duffy. Let’s see a football fan with some passion. Where have we heard
that
before?
The
New Mexico Wildcats boast a few former New Mexico Lobos…
Landrick Brody, Art Haynes, Mike Powdrell, and Aaron Brack that we know
of so
far, like I said this is an expansion team and this is minor league
football
with players looking to move up or down the food chain so the rosters
are very
fluid Duffy took some time out to interview Coach Floyd Johnson,
Coach AP, Former University of Southern Florida WR Darrin Haliburton,
and
former Lobo Aaron Brack!
Click
here for Coach Johnson
Click
here for Coach AP
Click here to
listen to Haliburton and Aaron Brack
Former Lobo Aaron Brack
Stay
tuned to TheRedMenace.com for more New Mexico
Wildcat football news and information and when we have our first
tailgate
party and don't forget to get your tickets at The Santa Ana Star Center
for tickets to Wildcats football! For more information check out
newmexicowildcats.com