Alliance Enters Canada
The Toronto Jousters Have Joined the Alliance
April 15, 2021
Toronto, Ontario, Canada - To end the speculation of the last few weeks, Bill Manning and Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment LLC have announced that they were granted an AAF expansion franchise for the 2022 season. Bill Manning announced the team as the Toronto Jousters, and that they would be led by former University of Georgia and University of Miami Head Coach Mark Richt.
Former Toronto Argonauts Head Coach Ryan Dinwiddie would serve as the Offensive Coordinator while former Argonauts General Manager Michael Clemons would also be joining the staff in the same capacity. Former University of Miami Head Coach and Seattle Dragons Defensive Coordinator Al Golden was named as the Defensive Coordinator. James Coley, Jarious Jackson and Jon Richt also were named to the staff as the Tight Ends Coach, QBs Coach and WRs Coach, respectively.
The Jousters will be playing their home games at BMO stadium. Manning did say that other former Argonauts would also be joining the Jousters such as QBs Nick Arbuckle and Kelly Bryant, RB John White, WRs Keyarris Garrett, Kendall Wright, and Eric Rogers, OL Shane Richards, DL Charleston Hughes, Cordarro Law and Dwayne Hendrix, LBs Odell Willis and Bear Woods, DBs James Sample, Shaquille Richardson and Stanley Jean-Baptiste, K Boris Bede and LS Jake Reinhart.
Vince McMahon then took the stage and announced that the Alliance would be playing the 2022 season with 22 teams. The Toronto Jousters are number 21, and the other team would be announced during the league's playoffs. McMahon said the new additions were first class football minds, with first rate talent, placed in first rate cities that will allow the league to take another step towards legitimacy. He finished by saying the league was working with former CFL television provider, TSN, on a two game weekly broadcast deal as well. "The more eyes on our league, the better. We're here to stay."
In related news, after failing to secure an Alliance expansion bid, BC Lions ownership group The David Braley Estate announced the team would partake in the 2021 CFL season. After reducing the salary cap significantly, and adding the Atlantic Schooners, the CFL plans to begin play in late August with 8 teams.
