The Indoor Football League introduced the newest member of the league during an introductory press conference Wednesday. The team based out of Atkins Ford Arena will be known as the Athens Crush.

The Crush logo (and name) had longtime viewers and fans of the sport pointing out similarities between the new team and a well-beloved, but long-gone name in the arena football history books, the Orlando Predators.

While the Predators name and brand are currently sitting on a shelf collecting dust, the Crush infused their secondary logos with a nod towards their home state. A fossilized dinosaur skull with the state outline of Georgia seen in the eye adds a neat layer of detail.

Now comes the hard part: building a championship-winning roster. That process starts at the top with an ownership group that includes NFL Hall of Famer Jerome Bettis. In a region and city referred to as “between the hedges”, Athens has the opportunity to be a massive success in the IFL in 2027.

While the Crush name was a hit with the fans and started generating some hype and themes towards 2027, eagle-eyed viewers recall all too well the name was once synonymous with high-pedigree arena football.

The Arena Football League’s Colorado Crush, owned by NFL legend John Elway, played six seasons from 2003-08, winning Arena Bowl XIX against the Georgia Force, 51-48.

A later iteration of the team played in the IFL, though the team was not connected with the original franchise. The team was called the Colorado Ice from 2006-15 before changing the name, after the expiration of the Crush trademark.

The Crush played two more seasons before folding in 2017. The team, unlike their AFL counterpart in Denver, played in Loveland, Colorado, approximately 50 miles north.

The IFL’s Ice never won a playoff game in six tries, yet made the postseason six times in their 11-year history, though they never made it as the Crush. The AFL team, however, made the playoffs in five of their six seasons, only failing to make it in their inaugural season.

In a city that’s crazy for the Georgia Bulldogs (and a little rowdy for the Rock Lobsters), the Athens Crush have all the necessary ingredients to be a prime IFL destination for newcomers and free agents.

Bettis and Co. have an excellent chance to get off on the right foot and make an immediate impact in 2027. They will have their work cut out for them, however, as the Eastern Conference will be a gauntlet to get through. Teams such as Green Bay, Tulsa, Fishers, Quad City and Jacksonville will be ready to meet them head-on.

Athens nailed (or better yet, CRUSHED) their first test. Now comes the hard part: winning.