Stallions

1-29-11

Last year, Del Anthony was handed a team with no home field and no steady roster of players. He had to scramble to find a field.
This year, if nothing else, would be “different from last,” the owner of the New York Stallions vowed.
And it’s certainly started that way, as 30 men showed up at the team’s information meeting Wednesday, Jan. 20, at Denny’s on the Southside to learn how to play football for the Oneonta team.
 “This year we can create our own season. Last year we inherited a season,” Anthony told the players, some back from last year, some new.
With more time to prepare, interview coaches and find a home field, Anthony anticipates higher morale and a greater commitment to win.
Sure, someone pointed out at the team meeting, the Stallions lost all their scheduled Season One games – but they did not forfeit a single game became of a lack of players.  And they scored three goals.
“We can be proud of that,” one of the returning players said.
This year, the Stallions will don new uniforms in blue and yellow.  The team will provide players with insurance and a deal on memberships at the Muscles in Motion gym.  Players will pay $300 in club dues, indicating a commitment to stick with it.
The hope is that with more requirements and more benefits, players will show up regularly for practices and games, a problem last season.
“Attendance and punctuality will matter this year, and playing time will depend on it,” Katie Pawlowski, head of team operations, told the interested players adding, “If you want to play football, you have to know football.”
Also included in the commitment to play this year, Anthony is requiring that all of his players participate in community service activities throughout the season and off-season. Since last season the stallions have already participated in a variety of community service activities including volunteering at Saturday’s Bread. Anthony is currently working with the Red Cross to organize something for the team to help Haiti.
“The community is coming to our games and sponsoring us, it’s the community that will make this team a success and we can’t expect to just take, we have to give back,” Anthony told the interested players. 
Many details of the season are still in discussion such as coaches, home field and league, but Anthony feels confident that the team will start off on a better foot this year.
The team will likely play in a different league this year and not the Regional American Football League.