Intense Football League - Lubbock Lone Stars

Lubbock Lone Stars Unveil Name, Logo

BY ADAM ZUVANICH
AVALANCHE-JOURNAL

Missy Gerner will forever be part of Lubbock Lone Stars history.

The 32-year-old mother of two will flip the coin at the Lone Stars' inaugural home game on May 14, and for however long the new Intense Football League franchise sticks around, a No. 17 jersey with Gerner's name on the back will hang at Municipal Coliseum.

The Slaton resident was randomly selected as the winner of the IFL's team-naming contest, which included entries from about 750 local football fans. She was one of six entrants who chose Lone Stars, and thanks to a favorable draw from a hat, Gerner and professional football in Lubbock are forever linked.

"It's exciting to be a part of a new league and part of Lubbock's history," said Gerner, who will also receive a pair of season tickets. "My husband and I met on Aug. 17 and were married on April 17, so I consider that my lucky number."

Gerner and a handful of other IFL fans and supporters were at Cujo's Sports Bar and Grill Wednesday afternoon, where league founder Chad Dittman unveiled the Lone Stars' logo. Prospective players, sponsors and even a candidate for the team's mascot duties also were on hand as Dittman gave the Hub City's newest pro sports franchise an identity.

As he's done for four of the IFL's five other teams — the Corpus Christi Hammerheads, San Angelo Stampede, Odessa Roughnecks, Amarillo Dusters — Keith Flynn of Flynnagain Productions designed the emblem. It features a mean-looking Lone Ranger character garbed in a red cape and yellow collar with a black mask and silver hat.

"Being that Texas is the Lone Star State, we wanted to have that represented in one of our team names," said the 24-year-old Dittman. "Lubbock Lone Stars has a nice ring to it, and it rolls off the tongue."

Now that the team has a new name and a new look, it's time for the next phase of its existence. Dittman secured an office at 66th Street and Indiana Ave., during his visit to Lubbock on Wednesday, and he said the Lone Stars will be open for business no later than Dec. 1.

Dittman will own and operate the franchises in Corpus Christi and San Angelo, and for now, he owns and operates the Lone Stars. He said he's already invested more than $30,000 in the team, which he hopes to sell to a local group of investors in the coming weeks.

The Lone Stars appear to have a few suitors at this point, but nothing has materialized. Dittman said former Texas Tech offensive coordinator Rick Dykes is the leading candidate to purchase the team, and though no terms were finalized when the two met Wednesday morning, Dittman said an agreement could be reached in the near future.

"He's definitely a class guy, and we want him on board," Dittman said. "He seems very interested from my standpoint, but the ball is in his court now. We presented what we needed to present to him, so now it's up to him if he wants to fit it into his schedule. We definitely want the Dykes' family involved in some form or fashion."

Dittman said Cujo's owner Curtis Jordan, a former Red Raider and NFL defensive back, has also expressed interest in the franchise, as has local businessman and rancher Steve Patchen.

Lubbock Cotton Kings' owner Mark Adams hasn't met with Dittman, but because the Lone Stars will share a venue and compete for advertising dollars with the Cotton Kings, Dittman said Adams could benefit financially by owning both teams.

Adams said on Tuesday that he is not actively pursuing the venture but remains open to the possibility.

adam.zuvanich@lubbockonline.com 766-8733

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