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The OSC Interview: PIFL Compliance Director Jeff Gonos

by Fran Stuchbury
January 21, 2015 - Professional Indoor Football League (PIFL)


OSC Contributor Fran Stuchbury interviewed Professional Indoor Football League Compliance Director Jeff Gonos at the Trenton Freedom Fan Experience Day at the Sun National Bank Center. Gonos is entering his fourth season with the PIFL and has a long history of working with indoor/arena football teams.

Fran Stuchbury: Besides the Harrisburg Stampede folding, has it been a good off-season for the Professional Indoor Football League?

Jeff Gonos: Yes, I think so. Harrisburg took us by surprise. Overall our objectives here in Trenton were to put a 12 game schedule together, with six different opponents at home. We came up with a pretty good fix.

FS: So as of now is the Nashville Venom the only team to be playing an X-League team on its schedule?

JG: I think that every team is exploring different opportunities. Nashville is the only team right now to secure a contract to play an outside team. The Freedom were able to work out games between the Richmond Raiders at home March 22nd and on the road May 23rd, so no outside team was necessary for them.

FS: Ideally how many teams would you like to see in the PIFL?

JG: Ten to Twelve teams is a good number. If we get to eight teams next year that is fine. The key is not the number of teams; the key is the strength of the ownership groups. If you can find good quality owners that believe in the product, that is the most important thing.

FS: Are you happy with the seven current ownership groups, and are they committed to the product long term?

JG: Absolutely, the owners that are invested are now 100% completely invested. They believe in the product and work together on the best practices on sharing things on what works, what doesn't work. They are committed to growing this.

FS: The past three seasons in the PIFL a team has folded close to when the season started. Will there be things put in place so this won't happen again in the future?

JG: You never prevent it, but there are definitely things put in place to deter someone from making a decision like that this late in the season. The league has measures in place but nothing they can do to prevent an owner from stopping operation.

FS: Are you happy with the job the Trenton Freedom has done in its first season and now so far before the second season begins?

JG: Yes, on the field head coach Kevin O'Hanlon has done a great job and has put a very competitive roster together. From a front office standpoint we are seeing the business grow, corporate sponsorships are picking up and season tickets sales are, too. The key for this year: it is a revenue year for us and it's continuing to put a great product on the field and put more butts in the seat.

FS: Do you like the fact that several PIFL players have moved up to Arena Football League teams such as Trenton Freedom quarterback Warren Smith signing with the Spokane Shock, Richmond Raiders defensive lineman Devin Jones signing with the Tampa Bay Storm and Lehigh Valley Steelhawks defensive back Dwayne Hollis signing with the Philadelphia Soul? So this is a place they can get their skills and move up to a higher league

JG: Absolutely, we are a league the Arena Football League looks at since our rules are extremely close. With the exception of the "uno," our rules are in line with their rules. With special teams we don't have the nets, we have the uno, but offensive and defensive game play is almost exact.

FS: Are you a fan of the "uno" or would you rather have rebound nets like arena football has?

JG: Absolutely not, when we were initially reviewing whether to do nets or not do nets, ust from a workers compensation standpoint, a players safety standpoint, you don't want those nets. You don't want a guy when catching a kickoff with his back completely turned to eight guys running full steam going for him.

When you see injuries that happen from special teams in the arena game, at the PIFL level we are more interested in the players safety. I absolutely love the uno, I think the fans love the uno. It gives you the ability to have a nine point swing in a game, where you can score a touchdown, go for two and get an uno.

FS: Are you happy with the direction of the PIFL moving forward?

JG: Yes, I think there was some good ground work set last season in terms of expansion. The NFL continues to be an instrumental part of developing our officials, overseeing our rule sets. It's good to have them on board. We should introduce some new ownership groups in 2016 that will definitely help the league.

FS: Will PIFL games be on U-Stream again this season>

JG: Yes, each team will be responsible for radio and U-Stream broadcast.

FS: What does the expansion team the Erie Explosion bring to the league?

JG: Erie has played in a couple of different leagues, and they fit in our foot print. We know they are going to put a good quality product out there. The Erie head coach Shawn Liotta has a lot of coaching experience. He played Southern Indoor Football League (SIFL) rules which were similar to the PIFL rules. He has the ability to recruit good players. They have had teams there for a good amount of time. Their arena, Erie Insurance Arena, is very nice: they have done renovation up there, and it's a state of the art place.

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Professional Indoor Football League Stories from January 21, 2015


The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer(s), and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.


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