RAFL RINGS IN THE NEW YEAR WITH NEW NAME & EXPANSION 

NY, NY. The Regional Atlantic Football League, MLFN’s award winner in 2007 for the “Best new League East” announced today that it will be expanding……….across the country into the West. The RAFL has merged the teams formerly of the Southwestern Football League (SWFL) based on the west coast into the league creating a Southwestern Football Conference (SWFC) of the RAFL and changing the name from Regional Atlantic Football League to Regional American Football League. The RAFL, already announcing 3 new members on the east coast and with 15 more applicants for 2008, expects more growth to happen on the west coast as well with this announcement. The RAFL will be part of NFA, which coupled with their eastern and western conferences will create national playoffs for the 2008 season. “It’s a great thing to have teams like the San Diego Thunder see what you’re doing and have the same vision” said Adam Turkel, RAFL Commissioner. “We will have a western conference commissioner over there to help the SWFC with their growth as part of the RAFL as well as assist with the day to day operations of the conference.” When asked if the RAFL will have a “National Champion” Turkel replied, “The format will be part of the NFA (National Football Association) national playoff tournament and we’re looking forward towards great competition on a national stage”. Derek Johnson of the San Diego Thunder stated “This is great for west coast football, we can’t wait to compete nationally in this great football situation or to be a part of a great league like the RAFL’s democratic system.”
  
The east coast RAFL teams will now change the name of the original Atlantic coast members to the RAFC, Regional Atlantic Football Conference to be coupled with their western counter parts of the SWFC. The SWFC is now accepting applications to join the conference along with the RAFL for the upcoming season. For more information, go to www.rafl.net. To apply for membership to either conference, go to www.rafl.net or www.swfc.com for the Southwestern Conference.

 In other Regional American Football League news, the RAFL Senate has voted acceptance for a three previously established teams. The Long Island Ravens, Long Island Panthers, and Northeast PA Miners (MLFN “Best New team east” 2007) will all be RAFL members in the RAFC for the 2008 season. The Regional Atlantic Conference will hold its annual registration and Senate meeting on February 2nd, 2008.