2008 Nationals Offically Set at Air Force Acadamy-

The United States Australian Football League 2008 National Tournament will be staged October 11-12 at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, with 50 games on tap on the all-day Saturday-Sunday menu.

The event is the biggest Australian Football tournament in the world, and will attract 1,000 American/Australian players, officials and coaching staff, with a total of 32 men’s teams spread across four divisions, as well as up to 6 women’s teams. The tourney in Colorado Springs will also feature a national netball event in conjunction with the football championships.

The tournament will be held at the Cadet Athletic Fields at the United States Air Force Academy on the weekend when the Falcon football team is playing on the road against MWC rival San Diego State.

There will be no admission charge, with the all games free to the public and the Cadet population for the Saturday-Sunday all-day sessions on five fields. The men's and women's championship games will be played on Sunday, October 12, at 1:00 p.m.                                                       

“We are excited about the wonderful October dates, and we are indebted to Air Force Athletic Director Dr. Hans Mueh and his team for their support and help,” said USAFL President Richard Mann. The additional support and assistance from the Colorado Springs Sports Corporation, Experience Colorado Springs, and the tournament host hotel, the Colorado Springs Marriott makes this an event that will really be a success.”

The organization hopes to have 10,000 U.S. participants in the next decade, a whole new generation of “Aussie Rules” football athletes, and to develop hundreds of thousands of new fans.

- Mike Moran
(1094)