Cook, Tilford prepare to bring semi-pro squad to the Valley

By ERIC SHANNON
Valley Press Staff Writer

Cook had been a secretary with the United Football Alliance League and Tilford played for the Santa Clarita Sentinels, about to enter his eighth season of semi-professional football. Each wanted to see a semi-pro team return to the Antelope Valley.

So why not start their own?

What began as an idea the two friends of 10 years kicked around has snowballed into something real. The High Desert Phoenix, which the Lancaster residents will co-own, will join the UFAL for the league's second season in July.

"I came back to Lancaster and was itching to get back into football," said Cook, who returned to the Valley in February after living in Ventura County for a few months. "We saw the potential that it could do for this community."

Earlier this decade, the Valley had two semi-pro teams, the AV Blackbirds and Dust Devils. But those two teams folded and, Cook said, left a sour taste.

"I've talked to many people about it, and it was just considered a weekend warrior mentality at that time," Cook said. "But I've got a broader vision. With our ambitious goals, we will succeed."

Cook and Tilford plan to schedule community service events, fundraisers and a variety outings that will make the team a force in the community, not just on game day, but throughout the entire week.

"We plan to prove ourselves in the community and be involved," Tilford said. "We want to include everyone in the community. We're going to work on building their trust."

Tilford said even though the players have to pay a $250 registration fee to play the season and nobody, from coaches to management to players, gets paid, he expects his players to treat the league as more than a recreational outing.

"They call it semi-professional, so they have to have some semi-professionalism to them," he said.

That sounds good in theory, but isn't always easy to control on a team of 53 players. But Tilford will set a precedent from the start that will show the Phoenix how serious he is.

When the team holds tryouts at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday at Forrest E. Hull Park on 2850 West Avenue L-12 in Lancaster, Tilford will be there trying to make the team just like everyone else.

"The coaches have strict orders to treat me like any other player," Tilford said, "instead of just putting myself on the team. That's not right."

In 2007, Tilford was a player-coach on the Santa Clarita Knights. He admitted he wouldn't try that endeavor again because it messes up the structure of the team.

But even though he is the owner this time around, he doesn't feel that will create any problems in the clubhouse. His goal is to focus on the finances and management of the team while staying away from personnel issues.

"I have no problem stepping back from that role," Tilford said. "As a player, I can't be involved in that stuff. The money side, yes, I'll be involved in."

The team is hoping to have its roster finalized within the next few weeks. Anyone who is over 18 and out of high school can try out, and those that make the team will be expected to attend workouts to stay in shape before spring training starts in March.

The season will start in July and run until October, leading up to the UFAL championship game and All-Star game in November. This year's games will take place on Nov. 14 in Downey.

Currently there are 12 teams in the league, which Cook said is expanding by two to six teams for next year. The number of games played is also expected to grow from 10 to 12.

The more the merrier as far as Cook is concerned. She just hopes the players can use the experience to enjoy the sport they love and improve on the field.

"There are gentlemen out there that have the potential to get better but need a place to bump up their skills," she said. "This is just a stepping stone for some of these guys to either college or Arena Football League, which is coming back next year, or possibly the NFL."

Tilford shares that sentiment, and knows what the Valley has to offer. He played four years of football at Quartz Hill High before graduating in 2000, and was set to play for Antelope Valley College before a non-football injury knocked him out.

After seeing so many players show their skills in the Valley, including a number he has met over the past decade playing semi-pro ball, Tilford knows there is an untapped pool of players in the area that the Pheonix hopes to get.

"There's so much talent out here, it's ridiculous," he said. "They just haven't been given a fair chance."

The only obstacle remaining for the team will be finding a place to play. Although nothing has been finalized yet, Cook said she has a number of facilities in mind and hopes to have one selected by the end of the year.

"We haven't figured that one out yet," Cook said. "We will be local. Some fields have been renovated and remodeled. We want to see what's out there."

eshannon@avpress.com