Questions arise over reason for hiring

ALBANY — Back in November, the South Georgia Wildcats tried to convince George Andrews, president and CEO of Capitol City Bank and Trust, to become a team sponsor in the club's first year in Albany. Andrews decided to wait. - College Football -
Two weeks ago the Wildcats fired head coach Chris Siegfried and replaced him with Donnie Davis with six games left in the season. Now Andrews says he is "looking seriously" at becoming a sponsor, a fact that would seem unrelated except for this fact: Davis is Andrews' son-in-law.
The principals, including Wildcats operator Mike Storen, Andrews and Davis all laugh off any connection. (Storen labeled it "ludicrous" and "preposterous"). They point out that Davis, a former Georgia Tech quarterback, has extensive arena football playing experience.
But others, including Siegfried and Tom Holloway, the Wildcats' former chief financial officer, have made a connection. They and several others, including sponsors who did not want to speak publicly, wonder whether Davis' hiring was designed to give the team what they say is a much-needed revenue boost through Andrews' business. - College Football -
"I have to think there's more to Chris' firing than wins and losses," said Holloway, who left the team in April after a dispute with Storen. "I think it might have been related to financial reasons, and if that's not apparent now, it could be apparent later."
Siegfried, who is back in the Orlando, Fla., area, said he has spoken to some people around the team and has heard "insider rumors," but acknowledged it was only third-hand.
"It was a learning experience. The stuff that I've learned from that (Tuesday) I was fired and up til now has been a real eye-opener and a learning experience," Siegfried said Tuesday. "Maybe it was more than just wins and losses than meets the eye. I'm sure Mr. Storen's in a tough situation right now because he made a bold move. I'm sure it would have gone over better if we had won, if they had won those last two games." - College Football -
The Wildcats have lost decisively in their two games under Davis, after starting 2-8 under Siegfried, who is the third-winningest head coach in the short history of the arenafootball2 league.
Davis had no head coaching experience in pro football up until two weeks ago. But he called "hilarious" any talk that he got the job because of his father-in-law, who he said he hasn't spoken to about any Wildcats business. - College Football -
"I could agree with that if I had been someone who never played or coached before," Davis said. "I might think that. But I think I have a pretty good track record. So that's why I think all this talk is funny."
Capital City Bank and Trust, which caters to the black community, was chartered in 1994 and now has seven branches around the state, including one in Albany across the street from the Wildcats' downtown offices.
Andrews has known Davis since he began dating his daughter, Telsie, when both were Georgia Tech students in the early 1990s. Andrews said in an interview Monday that his interest in the Wildcats comes only after seeing the team draw well so far: the team has drawn an announced attendance of more than 6,000 in each of six home games. - College Football -
He also pointed out that a sponsorship would consist solely of putting up a banner at the Albany Civic Center at a cost of "a couple thousand dollars," and that he has no interest in becoming an investor or part-owner, as Holloway speculated.
"If I came on as a sponsor it's only going to be for a nominal amount, nothing that would be of influence," Andrews said. "I think Mike Storen was impressed with Donnie for what he did as a quarterback and offensive coordinator in the Arena Football League. The guy knows football inside and out. I don't think there's anybody in or out who's more knowledgeable about arena football as he is. I would be surprised if Donnie doesn't turn things around in a short amount of time. - College Football -
"We are looking at a sponsorship package, and we haven't really decided what we are going to do and at what level. So there is no connection."
But at heart over the question of whether there was a connection is how much Storen might need Andrews' money. Although the Wildcats are doing well at the gate, Storen has said the team won't make money until its second year because of startup costs — and Holloway disputed whether those startup costs are even the reason.
"I don't think Mike has made some astute business decisions," Holloway said. "It would not surprise me at all if he's out looking for quote-unquote investors. It wouldn't surprise me if there was going to be a shortfall between now and next season."
Storen paints a much different picture. The former NBA owner and longtime sports businessman didn't want to discuss the team's financial outlook if it were going to be in the same conversation as Davis, but said the community has responded well and that there was no reason to "create illusionary economic issues." - College Football -
"I don't know how our football team has become involved in a financial discussion," he said. "I came here. We signed a five-year agreement. We have fulfilled every obligation that we have. We've paid every bill that we have. We have conducted a first-class business organization. We've done what we said we would do, we've done that since we got here and we will do that."
Siegfried, meanwhile, had an amusing take on the situation. While wondering about any off-field reasons for his firing, he thought that the move meant the Wildcats were already planning on next year, hoping Davis would gain much-needed experience at this end of this year.
"I'm sure that's what Mike Storen is banking on," Siegfried said. "No pun intended."

Seth Emerson