Utah Blaze make changes for the better

WEST VALLEY CITY — Watching the 2010 Arena Football League unfold was a lesson in pain management for the Utah Blaze.

With less than two months to cobble a team together, the Blaze ownership did the best it could and quickly came to the realization that it wasn't good enough — not even close.

With some valuable lessons learned — and an entire offseason to put them to practice — the Blaze held a press conference Wednesday to announce some significant changes in their organization.

"We are committed," Blaze co-owner Logan Hunter said. "We know we are going to put a great product on the field."

That's good news to Blaze fans who suffered through the 2-14 season.

Hunter, who also owns dozens of Subway and Bajio locations, and Kristen Murdock are now the sole owners of the team after buying out the rest of the ownership group. With more time to lay the foundation, the duo vows to turn the Blaze into one of the AFL's top teams.

"We've got a lot more time than the two months we had to put it together last year," Hunter said.

The Blaze also announced a few other changes to the organization on Wednesday.

Head coach Ron James, hired midway through last season, was given a two-year contract extension. And Utah also signed former Utah State quarterback Matt Sauk to be the team's assistant head coach and offensive coordinator.

Sauk played for several years in the AFL and af2 and was the offensive coordinator for the Spokane Shock during last season's Arena Bowl championship campaign.

"It's a great area for football," Sauk, who has called Utah home ever since he played at USU for coach John L. Smith. "It will be different this year. We have time to get things in place and time to go out and recruit players. There are always players that want to play. We just have to find the best ones out there."

The Blaze announced they have signed four players for next season. Receiver Aaron Boone will be back as will his brother, lineman Jason Boone. Defensive back Aaron LeSue will return and be joined by defensive lineman Caesar Rayford.

The AFL will kick off the 2011 season in March and play an 18-game schedule.

"We are going to change the climate of arena football," James said, "starting with our franchise. ... The players were are going to bring in are going to be the most physical players you have ever seen."

One of the biggest goals the team will have is to increase attendance at the Maverik Center, where only about 4,000 fans came to each game last season.

Time to market the team, sign better players and secure sponsors, Hunter said, will be critical.

"The AFL owners recognize that Salt Lake has been a very successful franchise in the past," Hunter said. "We believe it can be again."