THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, February 14, 1995 TAG: 9502140435
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C8 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JIM DUCIBELLA, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Medium: 62 lines
Pat Reilly began his word-of-mouth campaign to sell the new Norfolk Neptunes on Monday.
The message he received from many members of the Norfolk Sports Club is that they're at least interested in seeing what he and the United Football Association have to offer.
On the surface, that's eight-man football, a hybrid of arena football and the Canadian Football League that is scheduled to start in April. Norfolk is one of six cities in the league, along with Harrisburg, Pa., Miami, Tampa, New Orleans and Houston.
``I think eight-man football seems fast enough and exciting enough that, along with the old Neptunes name, there's enough nostalgia here that it could go,'' said member Garland Payne. ``This is an area here that is starving for pro sports.''
Reilly, the team's general manager, talked about having signed the team's first two players - former Norfolk State and CFL quarterback Willie Gillus and former Indian River and Michigan linebacker Martin Davis - and promised there would be at least another dozen former professional players signed to the final 40-man roster.
``This is a chance for some of them to show what they can do, a stage to perhaps move on to bigger things,'' Reilly said.
He described how eight-man football is played - three downs to make a first down; multiple men in motion allowed; a wide-open, high-scoring game.
``I'd like to see it go,'' club member Steve Williams said. ``Anything to get football going here.''
More than a few people raised their eyebrows when Reilly talked about each team's $2.5 million operating budget.
Someone whistled when Reilly estimated that it would take per-game crowds of 12,000 at Old Dominion University's Foreman Field for the Neptunes to break even.
``That's going to be a tough job,'' Jerry Crain said. ``They're going to need a lot more public awareness than they have now before that happens. But I'll probably buy a ticket and check it out.''
Reilly told the audience that he has had ``extensive conversations'' with a local cable company and that there was a possibility both home and road games would be shown.
``I know people are worried about what televising home games can do to the gate,'' he said, ``but I think the addition of television is only a plus for us at this stage.''
At least one club member - former Neptunes and Canadian Football League coach George Hughes - wasn't sure television would have a negative impact on home attendance.
``People get tired of sitting and just watching sports on TV,'' Hughes said. ``To have something like this, a Canadian-style, three-down, passing game, it could have some appeal.'' ILLUSTRATION: Neptunes general manager Pat Reilly hopes to stock his roster
with a number of former pros.
by CNB