standings after Week 11

standings after Week 10

The Rasbey Rondezvous

James Rasbey, Jr. wants out of Independence County, Arkansas, and into the Big Easy. The catalyst was the option-sale by the Keraux group, who own the USBL's New Orleans Trojans. Thus the Trojans will be reverted to USBL/USSL ownership by April 1 for an eventual cost of between $70 and $100 million.

USBL franchises are not in and of themselves worth much these days, as the league likely runs at an operating loss, which would be much steeper if not for the above-market value media contract sold to Michael Barnett's SKSL family of networks. There has been a recent push to attack this problem through what is known as 'consolidation' -- uniting the organizations that comprise the USBL with ESFL affiliates. Ideally this is to be done through same-ownership operations (as exist currently with the three Long Island franchises, Detroit, Chicago, and Philadelphia). However, even when it can't, Secondary organizations are able to collaborate to produce economies of scale, cutting costs on rent, advertising, labor, and so on.

And so Rasbey provides the consolidation project with a new twist. The owner of the Walkers since 2005, he has of course been known as the main 'political' opponent to the hegemonic rule of Michael Barnett, organizing coalitions to challenge or stall Barnett initiative and filing suit against him in USSL court. But many interpreted his cowing to the $600M Western 'stimulus package' at the Owners Meetings in January as a white flag, perhaps seeing the inevitability of a Barnett-dominated track to the USSL future.

After the early January meetings, and the on-field success of the Walkers (who lost to Barnett's Sharks in the ESFL Championship Game), Rasbey spent many weeks largely out of the news. Rumors flew that he had decided to busy himself with other pursuits. But, in the last ten days, there has been a stunning reversal.

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Many have been amazed at Rasbey's ability to gather political power and powerful allies -- including, for a period, Michael Harrington, Jr. of the Long Island Amazin' -- despite owning a team in one of the smallest markets in the ESFL. Though endowed with a rich tradition, the Independence Walkers play in relatively remote Batesville, Arkansas. Their ability to attract about 30,000 fans per home game is a testament to this tradition, as it is done in spite of the resources they can draw from the local area rather than because of it. The Walkers' aforementioned tradition is also aided by their unofficial status as 'Team of the South', meaning their appeal extends far beyond the Northeastern Arkansas media market proper.

Despite all the nice things we can and have said about the 'niche town' of Batesville, their ceiling is necessarily limited, and like to already have been reached. Rasbey claims he has lost about $200 million dollars since 'buying in' to the ESFL in 2005, first through renovating County Stadium, and then through running one of the higher payrolls in the sport that has consistently outstripped team reveues (notably, he shelled out the big bucks for QB Elijah Banker, who he was able to woo to town for a temporary, 2 year, $45 million extension after acquiring him from the Boston Conquistadors in 2006 for several draft picks. The total outlay to Banker from 2007-2009 was about $60 million, and the Walkers were willing to offer him a 1-year extension for 2010 worth between $25 and $30 million, but Banker opted for free agency and a $105 million contract with the New York Seacooks).

With the Keraux family exercise of their option-sale (a means by which an ownership group may sell the team back to the USSL at a semi-fixed cost, often defined by team account balance and revenues) last month, Rasbey sees an opportunity. As this was not a 'nationalization', the USSL is not obligated by by-laws to seek out the highest bidder, though it may face pressure to do so from an increasingly active civil society back on the Island. The USSL would surely approve a sale of the New Orleans USBL operation to Rasbey at a reasonable cost, but he is not interested unless he can move an ESFL team there and create a joint operation.

And there's the rub. The USSL will strongly resist the move of the Walkers out of Independence, as it is one of the more successful franchises with one of the better-kept sets of facilities. While many within the USSL want to convince Rasbey to take the doomed Ithaca Champions down to Lousiana, there are multiple complications.

First, the team is loaded with debt dating back to 2008, when it was sold at $111 million. Normally the ESFL would seek a USSL 'write-off' of the debt -- i.e, a committment by the Island government to settle with creditors through its reserves of commodities and hard currency -- but this practice has come under fire through the organization of the antagonistic International Workers' Union, which is active on the newly built universities of the Island and positions itself as to the left of the ruling Communist Party. As such, Communist bureaucrats and politicians are hesitant to 'eat' another eight or nine figures of debt for the benefit of multimillionaire capitalists in the United States.

Second, an Ithaca relocation to New Orleans would severely damage the value of the Walkers. As stated earlier, a significant part of the Walkers' value is their appeal across the South, including Louisiana and Mississippi. A New Orleans franchise would have the capability to overwhelm the Walkers, who likely could not compete in revenue or in advertising.

All actors are aware of these factors, including Rasbey and whatever opposition he faces from within the USSL and ESFL. The Barnett axis is likely to attempt to obstruct such a consolidation at all costs, as it would transform Rasbey from a small-market thorn-in-the-side to a major market, multi-operation force, who has already displayed great political skills despite having been dealt a limited hand. Perhaps the only battle to be fought will be about money -- it is unlikely that a concurrent Ithaca relocation to Independence and rebranding as the Walkers third incarnation would work, as the pressure of Ithaca debt, Independence depreciation as a result of the new Rasbey-rival to the South, and the decimated Ithaca football roster combine to form a perfect storm of negative value.

And so, if the lone solution here is to put Ithaca in New Orleans, sell both to Rasbey, and allow the Walkers to go up for sale, plenty of questions yet have to be answered. How much of the Ithaca debt is the USSL willing (or politically able) to eat? To what degree will Rasbey be held 'responsible' for the depreciation of the Independence franchise resulting from an ESFL relocation to New Orleans? Though likely an inevitability, as a Rasbey-owned consolidated operation in a cultural and commercial hub can only be a good thing for the USSL in an objective sense, expect a great deal of inertia and no quick resolution to this unique and fascinating situation.

Reports: Williams out as Long Island head coach

Smithtown, NY, January 29: In a surprising development, Roland Williams and the Long Island Amazin' have come to a mutual agreement on a buyout of the final year of his contract, according to numerous reports. Neither Williams nor the Amazin' have responded to various e-mails, text messages, and phone calls.

Williams has one year and $3.4 million left on the contract extension he signed after the 2008 season. In five seasons as Long Island head coach, he has extended the team's league-record streak to 21 consecutive playoff appearances, won two division titles, and advanced to the 'Super Saturday' semifinal round three times, but has never appeared in nor won an ESFL championship.

Prior to being promoted to head coach, Williams served as Long Island defensive backs coach from 1997-2000 and defensive coordinator from 2001-2006 under legendary head coach Mark Levy.

Reports began surfacing two weeks ago of a disconnect between Williams and the Long Island front office. Williams flatly rejected the Amazin' offer to enter talks on a contract extension, stating he preferred to remain employed on the terms of his current deal. Long Island did not want a 'lame duck' coach with no committment to the organization beyond 2012.

The move is especially surprising as Williams played an instrumental role in the hiring of new offensive coordinator Drew Drouightenoid, which was finalized on January 24.

Rumors will now begin swirling as to who will fill the Long Island coaching vacancy. It will be the first time the Amazin' are tasked with an open hire since 1970; Levy served as coach for a span of 36 years, and Williams, seen as heir apparent, was promoted to the head job without an interview. Most of the buzz in the hours since the Williams buyout was first reported has been focused on New York Sharks offensive coordinator Benny Trousers. Trousers, who is 30, has pioneered the revolutionary 'switchback' offense, which propelled the Sharks to a league-high 522 points in 2011 and an ESFL title. Trousers signed a 3-year, $7.5 million contract extension with the Sharks last week, but is free to interview and sign with a team that offers him a promotion to head coach.

Other candidates that have been mentioned include Drouightenoid, Levy, former Sharks head coach Scott Muller, Detroit head coach Marcel Williams, who is Roland Williams' brother, and Louisiana Unit-Tech head coach Corwin Keraux.

Linescore: Sharks win ESFL title, 27-24

1 2 3 4 T

(4) NY Sharks 14 10 0 3 27

(2) Independence 7 3 14 0 24

pre-game letter from Michael Barnett

Dear ESFL Fans and USSL citizens and supporters,

As I write this we are about two hours removed from the beginning of the ESFL Championship game. I would like to take this moment to thank all x fans who attended ESFL games in 2011-12 and the millions more who followed, watched, and invested emotional energy in our revolutionary process.

I extend congratulations to the Independence Walkers and their owner/operator, James Rasbey, Jr. on a fine season. Mr. Rasbey has, in his five years since purchasing the Orlando franchise and relocating to Batesville, done a fantastic job in reviving the proud tradition of the WSFL's Independence Walkers, and this incarnation of the franchise certainly deserves the rights to its historical lineage.

I sit in my office at the Flat Grounds and can hear the stadium above me rocking. We opened the gates up at 1215pm and tens of thousands have already made their way in, including the estimated 28,000 Independence fans and supporters who made the subsidized trip up from Arkansas to witness the title game. I wish them the best, but, as goes without saying, my hopes and allegiances go with my New York Sharks tonight, as we chase our eighth championship in fourteen seasons since relocating from Cincinnati in 1998.

Thanks again and Best Wishes,

Michael Barnett

Article: Seacook obituary and other assorted notes

FLAT GROUNDS, January 15: It's a love-it-or-hate it building, this has long been established. Plenty of players see the Flat Grounds as the Mecca of the sport, even something larger, and grow inextricably drawn to it. John Barrywinkle, for one, talked at length about this at his 2008 press conference announcing his signing with the New York Seacooks after turning down a more lucrative offer to play in Detroit.

Part of this aura derives, directly or indirectly, from the building's age. Now in its 101st year, the charm of old trees and sightly bricks has not been drowned out through the numerous and somewhat patchwork renovations. However, with age comes relative inconvenience. When the Seacooks move into their space-age stadium in Hempstead after the 2013 season, they'll have approximately four times the locker room space that they do now in the cramped underground of the Flat Grounds. Plenty of Sharks complained about the inhospitable arrangements even before they were subdivided to make room for the newly invited tenant Seacooks in 2008.

These cramped spaces, 'Locker Room B', as it is unceremoniously called, provide the stage for the 2011 Seacooks funeral ceremony. For the third time in four years, the team earned the top seed, or the 'Regular Season Championship' (yes, they will receive a trophy to commemorate this achievement from the USSL sometime in the offseason); and for the third time in four years, they've been eliminated.

As was the case in 2008, the assassin was the New York Sharks. One cannot, of course, call them 'crosstown rivals'; they're not crosstown, as they play on the same field, and they're not even proper rivals: the Amazin' continue to hold that title, and the well-publicized, more-than-amicable relationship between Sharks owner Michael Barnett and Seacooks owner Matt Ruffalo colors the character of the football games themselves.

But, no, it doesn't trickle down to the players, nor the coaches. Perhaps this was the 'wall of separation' David Hanover so famously theorized about in his 1956 treatise/mission statement, 'On the Goals of Our Establishment'. (That is, in the USSL as he imagined it, the players themselves would not need be concerned with the political/ideological purpose they may be serving... most thinking people dismissed what he wrote about as thoroughly absurd, but times have changed.) And, it certainly hasn't trickled down, if you will, to Elijah Banker, though he must be conscious of it. He is intelligent and perceptive. He understands that football is, yes, just a game, but he does it for a living. And he perceives the great criticism he faces from our (predominantly Barnett-owned, mind you) sports media... and now, of course, he clearly understands that such catcalls will be even further escalated, reaching a fever pitch.

Banker, now age 31, sat for a press conference at about 1030am through 11am. He dutifully answered even the most, shall we say, instigative of leading questions. Mark Henderson of SKSL asked, point blank: "Now as you find yourself going on 32, do you fear that you'll never win a championship?" With grim depression stamped on his every feature, eyes remaining fixed on the flimsy table in front of him, Banker replied, in characteristic fashion, "I don't fear it, I understand it's a realistic possibility. I realize that the chances of it are higher today than they were this time yesterday."

This isn't the National Football League. Our media is sensationalist, but it tries to be objective. So none of us will propagate the nonsense, that Banker can't be called an elite quarterback, can't be given Hall of Fame consideration, if he never wins his championship. No, we understand that our very obsession with his ringless fingers indicates that the hand belongs to the most gifted player of our time....

Spare me from condemnation, though, and allow me to plunge into those murky, murky waters. And pose a hypothetical: What if Elijah Banker does not win a championship? How will it effect his legacy, how we remember him?

First of all, he will be eternally associated with never having won a championship. Much like Phil Mickelson pre-2004, maybe Dan Marino of the NFL. But it's more damning here. We only have 12 teams now, though there will be 16 by the time Elijah's six-year contract with the Seacooks expires after 2015. He's already lost two title games, and laid an absolute egg in the first of them, in his last game wearing the black and orange and brown of the Independence Walkers (who will play in their second title game in three years come Saturday, lest you not have noticed amidst the most predictable dramatic media orgy following the Shark-Seacook semifinal showdown). He's had two utterly perfect opporunities, gaining the top seed and only having to win two games in the home stadium to be crowned...

Plenty of that will be written later. Banker lives in Brooklyn, and is married. He left the Flat Grounds promptly after his Q&A with his paper-and-pencilled tormentors, and likely won't be back until June. Farewell, young squire! And, perhaps next year, will be...

Just a few other, football-related notes.

**Independence QB Danny Ome, on his second straight one-year deal with the team, says he "absolutely will not" retire, regardless of the outcome of Saturday's championship game vs. NY Sharks. His workmanlike performance on the year, despite an advanced age of 38, lead some to believe he could potentially seek a two-year offer in the offseason, perhaps from Independence, perhaps from Detroit, or even...

**The Long Island Amazin' almost certainly will not bring back Curt Anes as a starter. Anes has already mumbled a bit about his desire to retire after the conclusion of the six-year contract he signed with Long Island prior to the 2007 season. It would be difficult to trade Anes without eating a significant portion of his salary, and a negotiated buyout is possible (and would send Anes on his merry way to retirement if he so chose, while accruing service time for pensioner purposes, as per a sneaky clause the collective bargaining agreement).

And, so, who would Long Island go with at QB? They've been a hallmark of stablility since trading for John Barrywinkle on Christmas Eve 2001. Plenty of rumors abound centering around Ithaca's Cortes Sevenler, immensely talented but off a down year. Sevenler will be traded, as Ithaca has to rid themselves of his $15m salary for 2012 in order to avoid effective bankruptcy (and he already has, according to reports, indicated to the organization that he will depart via unrestricted free agency following 2012). Long Island may be able to get him on the cheap, give him a one-year trial, and offer a lucrative extension if they like what they see. Or they could sign him to an extension immediately and hope to get value.

Another option is Ome, who would be a stopgap, but not the worst idea for a primarily veteran offense that, despite unspiring point differentials the past two seasons, is built to 'win now'. Or the team could seek an option through the draft, like Idaho's Daniel Broussard or the next of the NY Unit-Tech crop, Jordan de Ridder. The go-with-a-rookie option would be a bit shocking.

**Some news on the coaching carousel. The surprise retirement of Buffalo's Ken Thatcher last week set off plenty of speculation that this could be The Opening for Shark offensive coordinator Benny Trousers. Long maligned for overintellecualizing, Trousers' unique offensive machinations churned out 522 points in 2011, easily a league high. Some still question whether his personality is at all tailored to handle personalities and not just the X's and O's aspect of the game, and others still question his desire to leave for any job other than one of the Long Island three. Trousers earned just shy of $2 million in 2011 and could extort a raise from the Sharks in order to stay (it was likely that James Rasbey hinted at the possibility by stating, seemingly out of the blue, his desire to enact a coaching staff spending cap among the organizations, a motion which was not tabled but could conceivably enjoy broad support among the organizations tired of seeing the Island Troika shell out figures for assistants inconceivable for the smaller revenue clubs to even offer head coaches... but I digress). Trousers has said he won't interview for anything until after the season is over: the Sharks can't prohibit him from seeking a promotion.

**Detroit will retain coach Marcel Williams, but he'll be in lame duck position entering 2012 barring an unlikely extension. Drew Drouightenoid will stay on in Ithaca, but he's a lame duck in his own right, likely only holding the fort until another relocation or sale puts the team back into sniffing distance of the cash-flow black. No 'nationalization' will happen, with the league's credit already as extended as it ever has been and grumbling over 'subsidization of petty, capitalistic games' coming from our idealistic youth back on USSL Island. There has been purely hypothetical discussion of sticking the team in Denver and calling them the Muffins, as the Denver stadium is most advanced and on track to be ready within 6 months, while granting expansion in 2014 to some other city. But this is unlikely for logistical reasons. The Muffins already have a skeletal, nascent organization, with Football Operations headed by Shark defector John McSorley. Ownership paid for the right to build from the ground up, and likely wants to keep it that way.

Article: Intro to ESFL Owners Meetings

FLAT GROUNDS, January 9: Negotiatiors for the 12 ESFL franchises have gathered for the 32nd annual Owners Governing Association Meetings, known colloquially as the 'Owners Meetings'. Official bargaining is set to begin tonight around 10pm, though unofficial bartering has been taking place all this past week. With the results of the opening round of the playoffs now in, the relative weights of the franchises' opinions have been decided:

4 VOTES: New York Sharks, New York Seacooks, North Bay Polar Bears, Independence Walkers

3 VOTES: United Secondary Football Players' Union

2 VOTES: Long Island Amazin', Ithaca Champions, Florida Panthers, Buffalo Bulls, Chicago Madmen, Boston Conquistadors, Detroit Gamblers, Philadelphia Geysers

Prognosticators and team officials speaking on the condition of anonymity confirm that this years' sessions could prove to be the most important in recent memory in shaping the future of the league. With Western expansion officially set to take effect starting with the 2014 season, (though most expect that to be delayed until 2015), questions abound on the topics of re-alignment, an expansion draft, and a 'stimulus package' that would allow the expansion organizations to operate competitively before they have their own consistent revenue streams.

Questions not directly related to expansion are also on the agenda. Some observers note buzz about a possible 'mutiny' occurring within the typical blocs of power. In recent years, Sharks owner Michael Barnett has been able to rely consistently on the votes of the Seacooks, Bulls, Madmen, and the Players' Union; his nemesis James Rasbey, Jr. has organized a counter-power bloc, organizing together the lower-revenue organizations such as the Panthers, North Bay, and oftentimes Ithaca, Boston, and Philadelphia.

Sitting on the fence has been Long Island, led by enigmatic owner/operator Michael Harrington, Jr. He may be seeing his opportunity to organize a 'third way' initiative. Most proposals for a Harrington-led unity bloc involve ditching the preferred status for teams that qualify for the semifinals; currently, of course, such organizations receive double the voting power of those who do not qualify. Critics argue this reinforces the disproportionate power of the higher-revenue organizations in the crafting of league policy. While Harrington's Amazin' have never placed lower than third in revenue since reliable statistics began to be published by watchdog organizations thirty years ago (and likely never did before than), they have fallen significantly behind both the archrival Sharks and rising Seacooks in both profitability and interest in recent years, and are concerned that the problem will only be exacerbated when the Seacooks open a brand new, 72,000 seat, $850 million, multi-purpose stadium in Hempstead, NY come 2014.

Long Island 10 @ NY Sharks 17: linescore

Friday, January 6

1 2 3 4 T

(5) Long Island 3 7 0 0 10

(4) NY Sharks 0 10 7 0 17

Located: Flat Grounds, Huntington Station, New York. 46*F, Clear.

LIA: Curt Anes 13/31, 2 INT

NYS: Matt Morales 14/20, 1TD, 1INT; Rick Ryzer 2/6

Preview: #5 Long Island Amazin' (12-8) @ #4 New York Sharks (14-6)

Previous Meetings in 2011:

09/10: NY Sharks 27 @ Long Island 19

10/31: NY Sharks 17 @ Long Island 24

11/24: Long Island 20 @ NY Sharks 17

12/25: Long Island 10 @ NY Sharks 3

Though they won't admit it, the New York Sharks (14-6) have a ghost to vanquish on Friday night: the archrival Long Island Amazin' (12-8).

When the teams kick off at 815pm ET in front of 130,006 strong at the Flat Grounds, it'll make official their staggering 15th meeting in the last 28 months. It's also the third consecutive time the teams meet in the opening round of the playoffs in the fourth seed vs. fifth seed matchup; in the two previous meetings, the Amazin' disposed of the Sharks at Sprint PCS Field in Smithtown.

This time, the Sharks insist, it will be different. The always mild-mannered Shark head coach Evan Schleichkorn remarked, "We have no plans to lose this game". The gamblers do agree, spotting the Sharks as a 3.5-point favorite.

However, that figure is staggeringly low when objectively considering the matchup. The Sharks improved significantly from their twin 11-10 showings in '09 and '10, moving to 14-6, and leading the ESFL in both points allowed and fewest points scored. The much-maligned offense of eccentric coordinator Benny Trousers exploded late in the season, as the team found a healthy division of responsibilities for QB Matt Morales (64.2% comp. pct, 26 TD, 10 INT) and jack-of-all trades WR/QB Rick Ryzer (58.9% comp. pct, 7 TD, 2 INT; 5.4 yds/carry, 6 TD; 51 rec., 11.8 yds/rec., 4 TD). Even the aged QB John Barrywinkle was able to light up a second-string Seacook defense in the season's final game on Dec. 31st; Schleichkorn and Trousers both insist that no Barrywinkle appearance will be made in the playoffs barring an injury to Morales.

While the Sharks feel confident in their return to juggernaut status, the Amazin' have lagged behind both of their Flat Grounds rivals in 2011. Mostly to blame is an anemic offense, driven by an uninspiring performance by QB Curt Anes (56.6% comp. pct, 18 TD, 21 INT) and injuries to starting RB Chester Cole (4.5 yds/carry, 4 TD) and all-pro WR Horatio Nefarious (66 rec., 15.8 yds/rec, 10 TD). Both will be unavailable for the duration of the playoffs.

It's been the vaunted Long Island defense that has kept the team above water. Despite having to face the Sharks' electric merry-go-round and the Seacooks' Elijah Banker-driven attack a total of eight times on the season, the team managed to hold opposing offenses to the fewest aggregate points of any team in the ESFL. Fifth-year head coach Roland Williams puts together quite a show, made possible by the incredible talent at his disposal in all phases of the defensive game. Safety Kiorin McCaffrey picked off a league-high 15 passes in just 18 games, becoming the first safety to lead the ESFL/USFL in interceptions since Bronson Hemmenberner did in for the Denver Muffins in 1979. Offseason aqcuisition DE/LB Detrick Rust blossomed into the disruptive passrusher the Panthers hoped to see him become when they drafted him second overall in 2007. Run-stuffing DT Leonard Wilkins continues to plug along into his eleventh year, and rookie LB Osticott Gregory is headed to the All-Star Game in Ft. Pierce, Florida in late January, the first rookie middle linebacker to earn a trip since 2006. Even aging former Shark CB Jameel Wynn stepped up and played a solid man-coverage corner for a team that struggled in the secondary in recent years.

With all of that said, it will be the tallest of tasks for Williams and defensive coordinator Paul Remmis to hold back the Shark onslaught as well have they have in the past three meetings. Coming off a virtual bye week, the Shark cast of characters is sure to be well-rested and Trousers is just as certain to develop his next rabbit-in-the-hat scheme. The presence of Rust serves to limit the Sharks ability to throw down the field; and McCaffrey can likely shut down the threat of TE Jeremy Conganitus (74 rec, 8.7 yds/rec, 13 TD) doing any damage over the middle of the field. Expect a healthy dose of Rick Ryzer under center; Ryzer took only 13% of snaps during the regular season, and far fewer in the last two meetings vs. Long Island. That may betray a desire on the part of Trousers to keep Ryzer a bit hidden in the case of a playoff meeting with the Amazin', and Ryzer, who usually either rolls out of the pocket or takes a very short drop, can neutralize the Long Island pass rush.

Another option for the Sharks on offense is the hybrid set, with involves both Ryzer and Morales standing side-by-side. This serves to allow the Sharks to preserve the element of surprise, with the defense not knowing who will take the snap, preventing them from overcommitting deep (in the case of Morales) or stuffing the box (as teams chose to do oftentimes when facing Ryzer). The Sharks either opt to motion one player out just before the snap or simply keep one in at halfback; a problem is posed when the snap goes to Ryzer, as the less-athletic Morales can be left in an uncomfortable position, even becoming a target for adventurous defensive players seeing their opportunity to injure the miscast quarterback.

A magic number, if we are to identify one, is 21. If the Amazin' cannot hold the Sharks under three touchdowns, it likely will be hard for them to put up enough points to win barring an advantage in turnover differential. While the Long Island defense has in the past proven up to the task, it is an awful lot to ask, and not probable --- expect the superior Sharks to roll into Semifinal matchup next Saturday.

prediction: New York Sharks 31, Long Island Amazin' 17

2011 ESFL Playoffs

Friday, January 6, 815pm EST

#5 Long Island Amazin (12-8) @ #4 New York Sharks (14-6)

Saturday, January 7, 415pm EST

#7 Buffalo Bulls (11-9) @ #2 Independence Walkers (15-5)

Saturday, January 7, 830pm EST

#6 Chicago Madmen (12-8) @ #3 North Bay Polar Bears (15-5)

#1 New York Seacooks (15-5) receive first-round bye and will host the lowest remaining seed in the league semifinal round on January 14.