Hernando: Southern States league is on line

Many will question the level of play or how a semi-pro league can survive when professional leagues such as the XFL and CBA have folded in the past year. The SSFL not having to pay players keeps costs down, and the price of admission works against costs for lighting fields and paying officials, among other things.

One area where the league hasn't spared anything is having a strong official Web site, www.ssflonline.com. Each team has a page, complete with a roster. You will find out that last year's champs, the St. Petersburg Sharks, had as their head coach and quarterback former Houston Oilers receiver Ernest Givins. The SSFL's Web page has announcements for expansion franchises and e-mail contacts for each squad.

There are signs the league has work to do, though. A "Sponsors" link politely asks fans to check back later, and the "SSFL in the Press" link is "still being added." It's hard to fault the site for being ambitious, with links to the American Football Coaches Association and a since-abandoned site that listed NFL agents.

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