Four years after helping Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City win the Class AA Prep Bowl, David Blom is now the owner of a semi-pro football team.
"It's hard to believe at times," Blom admitted. "But I'm so busy getting everything ready for next season that I haven't had time to let it sink in yet."
Blom recently purchased the Alexandria Mustangs of the 15-team Great Plains Football League and will move it to Willmar next season, which runs from the end of May to the end of August. Blom said the team will play its home games at Hodapp Field where the Willmar High School and Ridgewater College teams also play.
The league is a springboard for college hopefuls and those players that just want to play football, but have no collegiate aspirations. The Mustangs were owned by Todd Hendricks of Atwater until the team was sold to the league last season. Hendricks coached the squad last year and Blom is hoping he will continue those duties in Willmar.
Blom bought the team from the league for $4,000, also getting the team's equipment in the deal.
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Blom is attempting to land sponsors for the team to help defray some of the costs he will soon be encountering.
"I still have to hire a trainer and pay for use of the field and hire custodians and things like that," said Blom. "So I'm going around to some of the businesses to try to get sponsorships."
Players and coaches in the league are not paid. Blom, who led the area in rushing in both 2000 and 2001 and later played at Ridgewater College and for the Alexandria Mustangs, will likely play for the new Willmar team.
KKLN The Loon Radio station has agreed to broadcast the Mustangs' games beginning next season.
Blom has not set a roster yet, but will begin constructing one soon.
"I have a few players that have agreed to play and I have a few others in mind," said Blom. "I just want to get all these other things out of the way before I start working on getting the players. I know there will be a lot of players from around the area that will want to play."
Blom is having t-shirts printed and they will be available for purchase soon.
