1.
Indoor American football
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In the United States, indoor football is football played at ice hockey-sized indoor arenas. While varied, the rules of football are designed to allow for play in a smaller arena. The indoor football season typically begins in mid- to late-winter and ends by mid-summer, the first documented indoor football games were those played at Madison Square Garden in 1902 and 1903, known as the World Series of Pro Football. The games were played on a 70-yard by 35-yard dirt field, poor attendance led to the tournament being discontinued after two years. The first major football game was the 1932 NFL Playoff Game. A dirt floor was brought in, and to compensate for the 80-yard length of the field, in the 1960s the Boardwalk Bowl, a post-season game involving small college teams, was contested at the convention center. The Bowl was an attempt to make Atlantic City more of a resort in the pre-gambling era as opposed to a single-season one. The Philadelphia-based Liberty Bowl game, which had played at Municipal Stadium from 1959–1963, was moved into the Convention Center in 1964 for the contest between Utah and West Virginia. The game drew just over 6,000 fans, though, and the Liberty Bowl moved to Memphis the next year, the end zones were slightly shorter—eight yards instead of the standard ten. He devised his game while watching indoor soccer, another game derived from a sport played outdoors, when the USFL ceased operations, Foster saw his opportunity. He staged a test game in Rockford, Illinois in 1986 and put together a league for a demonstration season in the spring of 1987. This resulted in the field being 50 yards long with eight-yard end zones, and the field being slightly over half as wide as a standard football field. Although it was not as much of an issue then as it is now, Foster adopted artificial turf for the field, Foster adopted a modified version of eight-man football. He also mandated a system that required at least six players go both ways, playing on both offensive and defensive downs. This had the desirable effect of limiting team payrolls. The placing of rebound nets around the ends of the surface, kicked and passed balls bounced off these nets. This means that on every kicking play except an extra point attempt, either team may have a shot to regain the ball and advance it, only kicked or passed balls touching the slack nets behind the goalposts are ruled dead at that point. To further an offensive passing advantage over the defense, Foster also imposed restrictions on the defensive formation
2.
Albany Panthers
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The Albany Panthers were an indoor football team based in Albany, Georgia. The team joined the Southern Indoor Football League during their season in 2010. When the SIFL folded, the joined the Professional Indoor Football League in 2012. The Panthers home games were played at the James H. Gray Civic Center until 2014, the Panthers were the second indoor/arena team to play in Albany, following the af2s South Georgia Wildcats which played from 2005 until the league shut down after the 2009 season. In February 2014, the team was kicked out of their home arena by the city manager after claims they defaulted on their lease, the franchise is currently looking for a new home. In November 2009, Southern Indoor Football League Owner, Andre White, in January 2010, the Panthers were announced as members of the SIFL. At their January 29,2010 press conference, the announced that Lucious Davis would be the teams first head coach. On April 3,2010, the Panthers defeated the Columbus Lions 54-41 and they would finish the season at 8-3 and as the #1 overall team in the league, clinching their first ever playoff appearance against the Louisiana Swashbucklers. They would lose however, 41-35, ending their first season at 8-4, the loss also was the first home loss for the franchise. The Panthers returned to the SIFL, which had expanded from just five teams to sixteen during the offseason, finishing 9-2, they clinched their second playoff berth and the #2 seed. They hosted the 9-3 Erie Explosion in the first round of the playoffs, winning 68-43 and earning their first playoff win and berth in the eastern conference championship against the Columbus Lions. They would go on to win that game as well, and coupled with a Louisiana upset over the undefeated Houston Stallions, would play in, on July 1,2011, they beat the Louisiana Swashbucklers 69-48, to win their first ever championship. The Panthers finished their 2012 regular season at 10-2, with their two losses coming on the road and by a score of three points, clinching the #1 seed in the playoffs. They beat the Columbus Lions 60-36 in the first round, ensuring they would host their second straight championship game, the Panthers were quarterbacked by both Cecil Lester and Darnell Kennedy. On June 30,2012, they won PIFL Cup I, 60-56, the win gave the Panthers back-to-back Championships, while playing in two different leagues. The win also increased their winning streak to eleven games. Albany returned to the PIFL for its second season, winners of two straight championships, the Panthers looked to make it three in a row after many of the players who had committed to retire un-retired. The Panthers started the season with three wins, were the last unbeaten team in the league, and appeared to be on their way to continuing their dominance
3.
American Indoor Football
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American Indoor Football was a professional indoor football league, one of the several regional professional indoor football leagues in North America. The AIFA expanded throughout existing territory and, in 2008, expanded into the Western United States, the leagues western component, which remained separate of the merger, had indicated it would play as the AIFA West for the 2011 season but ceased operations January 2011. The league announced it would be relaunching as American Indoor Football in time for spring 2012, after the 2016 season, the AIF ceased operations with former AIF owner stating his support for the recently created Arena Developmental League. The last market with a connection to the original AIFL was Erie. Eries team, the Explosion, joined other regional leagues when the SIFL disbanded after the 2011 season, the league has its roots in the Atlantic Indoor Football League, which began play in 2005 under the leadership of Andrew Haines. The first team to join the AIFL was the Johnstown RiverHawks, the league began with six teams, all of them based in the eastern United States. Two teams played all of their games on the road, the 2006 season was marred by the folding of two teams, and the league used semi-pro teams to fill scheduling vacancies. The league was briefly acquired by Greens Worldwide, Inc. the owners of the amateur North American Football League, during the 2006 season, nine teams left the league after the season, including four who split off to create the short-lived World Indoor Football League. On October 2,2006, a reorganization took place as Morris and Michael Mink set up a new league, which absorbed all of the remaining AIFL franchises. The league took on the American Indoor Football Association name at the same time, the 2007 season was relatively successful for the league, as all 112 scheduled games were played and no teams folded mid-season, a major improvement over the past two seasons. The AIFA Championship Bowl I was a neutral site game held in Florence, in addition, the league held its first All-Star Game the same weekend, also in Florence. League owners stated that the site was chosen so that both games could be televised to obtain nationwide exposure for the league. The league then expanded nationwide, some teams were able to acquire several players with NFL experience. However, that deal was subsequently cancelled, Later in the season, FSN Pittsburgh agreed to pick up the remaining games, Erie, Pennsylvania-based Image Sports Network was also involved with the league. Eight teams participating in the league in 2007 did not return for the 2008 season, the AIFA is the third league since 2004 to lose its standing champion However, nine teams signed on to begin play in 2008, and the league created a Western Conference. In 2007, the team farthest west was based in Mississippi, in 2008, three of the four teams who had won the league championship to that point were no longer active league members. The 2009 season culminated in AIFA Championship Bowl III, hosted by the Western Conference champion Wyoming Cavalry on July 25,2009. The game, played before 6,500 fans at the Casper Events Center, saw the Reading Express defeat the Wyoming Cavalry for their first title, as the 2010 season approached, AIFA continued to expand its nationwide footprint
4.
American football
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The offense must advance at least ten yards in four downs, or plays, or else they turn over the football to the opposing team, if they succeed, they are given a new set of four downs. Points are primarily scored by advancing the ball into the teams end zone for a touchdown or kicking the ball through the opponents goalposts for a field goal. The team with the most points at the end of a game wins, American football evolved in the United States, originating from the sports of association football and rugby football. The first game of American football was played on November 6,1869, during the latter half of the 1870s, colleges playing association football switched to the Rugby Union code, which allowed carrying the ball. American football as a whole is the most popular sport in the United States, Professional football and college football are the most popular forms of the game, with the other major levels being high school and youth football. As of 2012, nearly 1.1 million high school athletes and 70,000 college athletes play the sport in the United States annually, almost all of them men, in the United States, American football is referred to as football. The term football was established in the rulebook for the 1876 college football season. The terms gridiron or American football are favored in English-speaking countries where other codes of football are popular, such as the United Kingdom, Ireland, New Zealand, American football evolved from the sports of association football and rugby football. What is considered to be the first American football game was played on November 6,1869 between Rutgers and Princeton, two college teams, the game was played between two teams of 25 players each and used a round ball that could not be picked up or carried. It could, however, be kicked or batted with the feet, hands, head or sides, Rutgers won the game 6 goals to 4. Collegiate play continued for years in which matches were played using the rules of the host school. Representatives of Yale, Columbia, Princeton and Rutgers met on October 19,1873 to create a set of rules for all schools to adhere to. Teams were set at 20 players each, and fields of 400 by 250 feet were specified, Harvard abstained from the conference, as they favored a rugby-style game that allowed running with the ball. An 1875 Harvard-Yale game played under rugby-style rules was observed by two impressed Princeton athletes and these players introduced the sport to Princeton, a feat the Professional Football Researchers Association compared to selling refrigerators to Eskimos. Princeton, Harvard, Yale and Columbia then agreed to play using a form of rugby union rules with a modified scoring system. These schools formed the Intercollegiate Football Association, although Yale did not join until 1879, the introduction of the snap resulted in unexpected consequences. Prior to the snap, the strategy had been to punt if a scrum resulted in bad field position, however, a group of Princeton players realized that, as the snap was uncontested, they now could hold the ball indefinitely to prevent their opponent from scoring. In 1881, both teams in a game between Yale-Princeton used this strategy to maintain their undefeated records, each team held the ball, gaining no ground, for an entire half, resulting in a 0-0 tie
5.
The New York Times
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The New York Times is an American daily newspaper, founded and continuously published in New York City since September 18,1851, by The New York Times Company. The New York Times has won 119 Pulitzer Prizes, more than any other newspaper, the papers print version in 2013 had the second-largest circulation, behind The Wall Street Journal, and the largest circulation among the metropolitan newspapers in the US. The New York Times is ranked 18th in the world by circulation, following industry trends, its weekday circulation had fallen in 2009 to fewer than one million. Nicknamed The Gray Lady, The New York Times has long been regarded within the industry as a newspaper of record. The New York Times international version, formerly the International Herald Tribune, is now called the New York Times International Edition, the papers motto, All the News Thats Fit to Print, appears in the upper left-hand corner of the front page. On Sunday, The New York Times is supplemented by the Sunday Review, The New York Times Book Review, The New York Times Magazine and T, some other early investors of the company were Edwin B. Morgan and Edward B. We do not believe that everything in Society is either right or exactly wrong, —what is good we desire to preserve and improve, —what is evil, to exterminate. In 1852, the started a western division, The Times of California that arrived whenever a mail boat got to California. However, when local California newspapers came into prominence, the effort failed, the newspaper shortened its name to The New-York Times in 1857. It dropped the hyphen in the city name in the 1890s, One of the earliest public controversies it was involved with was the Mortara Affair, the subject of twenty editorials it published alone. At Newspaper Row, across from City Hall, Henry Raymond, owner and editor of The New York Times, averted the rioters with Gatling guns, in 1869, Raymond died, and George Jones took over as publisher. Tweed offered The New York Times five million dollars to not publish the story, in the 1880s, The New York Times transitioned gradually from editorially supporting Republican Party candidates to becoming more politically independent and analytical. In 1884, the paper supported Democrat Grover Cleveland in his first presidential campaign, while this move cost The New York Times readership among its more progressive and Republican readers, the paper eventually regained most of its lost ground within a few years. However, the newspaper was financially crippled by the Panic of 1893, the paper slowly acquired a reputation for even-handedness and accurate modern reporting, especially by the 1890s under the guidance of Ochs. Under Ochs guidance, continuing and expanding upon the Henry Raymond tradition, The New York Times achieved international scope, circulation, in 1910, the first air delivery of The New York Times to Philadelphia began. The New York Times first trans-Atlantic delivery by air to London occurred in 1919 by dirigible, airplane Edition was sent by plane to Chicago so it could be in the hands of Republican convention delegates by evening. In the 1940s, the extended its breadth and reach. The crossword began appearing regularly in 1942, and the section in 1946
6.
Lone Star Football League
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The Lone Star Football League was a regional professional indoor football league that began with its inaugural season in 2012. All of the LSFLs charter teams were based in the state of Texas, with five coming from the Southern Indoor Football League. The LSFL played three seasons to completion before merging with the Champions Professional Indoor Football League in August 2014 to form Champions Indoor Football. While a number of the teams scheduled to launch in 2012 did not make it to the start of the regular season. The Houston team was 7–0 when it folded halfway through the season, the Amarillo Venom finished the regular season 10–4 and went on to defeat the Rio Grande Valley Magic 62–40 in the LSFL championship game. For 2013, the LSFL played with just five teams, Amarillo, Laredo, Corpus Christi, and Abilene returned from the 2012 season. The league added two new teams, the expansion San Angelo Bandits and the New Mexico Stars, the league announced in October that the Corpus Christi Hammerheads had been removed from the league due to its ownership violating by-laws. The Amarillo Venom defeated the Laredo Rattlesnakes 70–69 to repeat as league champions, after the season, in late September 2013, the Laredo franchise announced it was ceasing operations due to the financial and legal difficulties of its owner. With the Laredo and Abilene franchises failing to return, the LSFL added the West Texas Wildcatters in Odessa, the merged league became known as Champions Indoor Football. The LSFL required a $25,000 franchise fee to join, as well as a $25,000 letter of credit
7.
Professional Indoor Football League
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The Professional Indoor Football League was a professional indoor football league that begin its inaugural season in 2012. Like the Lone Star Football League, the PIFL was mainly composed of teams formerly part of Southern Indoor Football League, despite the name, this PIFL had no connections to the original Professional Indoor Football League. The PIFL began in 2012 with six teams in the southeastern United States, five of which joined from the Southern Indoor Football League, on March 10,2012, the Richmond Raiders defeated the Columbus Lions, 64–58, in the first ever PIFL game. On June 30,2012, PIFL Cup I was played in Albany and it was played at the James H. Gray Civic Center in front of 6,194 people. Following a successful 2012, the PIFL added two new teams for the 2013 season, the Lehigh Valley Steelhawks of the Indoor Football League, as well as the Charlotte Speed, another former SIFL team who had previously committed to play in the IFL as well. On July 8,2013, PIFL Cup II was played in Huntsville and it was played at the Von Braun Center in front of 3,133 people. In the fall of 2013, two teams from the Northeast were added to the PIFL roster for the 2014 season, the expansion Trenton Freedom and the Nashville Venom joined the league for the 2014 season, as well as the Harrisburg Stampede, a former American Indoor Football team. Knoxville and Albany, according to the respective websites, suspended play for the 2014 season. As they did not continue into the PIFLs final season of 2015, neither did the former Charlotte Speed franchise, which had not been allowed to participate in 2013 implying that this team is also now fully defunct. For the 2015 season, the added the Erie Explosion, the two-time defending champions of the Continental Indoor Football League. The Erie Explosion held out until January 2016, initially joining the Indoor Football Alliance, during the regular season, each team was allowed a maximum of 27 players on their roster, only 20 of these were eligible to be active on game days. Alabama Hammers – played in PIFL from 2012 to 2015, Albany Panthers – played in PIFL for 2012 and 2013 seasons before an unresolved conflict with the Albany Civic Center left the Panthers without an arena. Charlotte Speed – originally set to play 2013 season, but franchise revoked prior to season opener, Columbus Lions – played in the PIFL from 2012 to 2015, joined the American Indoor Football league after PIFL folded. Erie Explosion – played in the PIFL during the 2015 season, Georgia Fire – played in the PIFL for the 2014 season, filling in the void for the Albany Panthers. Harrisburg Stampede – played in the PIFL for the 2014 season before folding, Lehigh Valley Steelhawks – played in the PIFL from 2013 to 2015, joined the American Indoor Football league after PIFL folded. Knoxville NightHawks – played in PIFL for 2012 and 2013 seasons before folding, louisiana Swashbucklers – played in PIFL for 2012 and 2013 seasons before folding. Nashville Venom – played in PIFL from 2014 to 2015, Richmond Raiders – played in PIFL from 2012 to 2015. Owners folded team at seasons end, Trenton Freedom – played in PIFL for 2014 and 2015 seasons before folding
8.
Austin Turfcats
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The Austin Turfcats were a professional indoor football team based in Austin, Texas. The Turfcats were a member of the Indoor Football League during the 2010 season, the Turfcats played their home games at Luedecke Arena at the Travis County Exposition Center. On November 24,2008, it was announced that the city of Austin, Texas had been awarded a franchise for the 2009 startup league. On November 25,2008, it was announced that the nickname would be the Turfcats. Chris Duliban was the head coach. He earned his first indoor coaching opportunity as the coordinator of the Indoor Professional Football Leagues Texas Terminators. Duliban was the coach for the CenTex Barracudas of the Intense Football League in 2008. The Turfcats lost their first ever game in franchise history 29-37, the following week the Turfcats would win their first game in franchise history, 34-32 over the Houma Conquerors. In October 2009, the Turfcats were accepted into the Indoor Football League for the 2010 season, note, Statistics are correct through the end of the 2010 Indoor Football League season. Austin Turfcats website Indoor Football League website Southern Indoor Football League website
9.
Greenville Force
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The Greenville Force was a professional indoor football team in the Southern Indoor Football League. The team was based in Greenville, South Carolina, with games played at the BI-LO Center. The Force was the first arena/indoor football team based in Greenville since the af2s Carolina Rhinos folded following the 2002 season, in their inaugural season, the Force were called the South Carolina Force and played in the American Indoor Football Association. After the Force canceled its last game of the 2010 season without an explanation, the league still plans to field a team in the Greenville market in the future. Greenville Force News story announcing Forces entry Forces 2009 Stats
10.
Houma Conquerors
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The Houma Conquerors were a professional indoor football team and a charter member of the Southern Indoor Football League. Based in Houma, Louisiana, the Conquerors played their games at the Houma Terrebonne Civic Center. This was Houmas second attempt at a football team following the National Indoor Football Leagues Houma Bayou Bucks. The Bucks also played their games at the Houma Civic Center from 2002 to 2004 and they began play in the SIFLs inaugural 2009 season and lost their first five games, all but one by double digits. Despite a poor 1-7 start and numerous off-the-field distractions, the Conquerors finished with two wins in their last three games, earning the team a spot in the SIFL playoffs. In January 2010, the announced they would suspend play for the 2010 season
11.
Lafayette Wildcatters
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The Lafayette Wildcatters were a professional indoor football team based in Lafayette, Louisiana and a charter member of the Southern Indoor Football League. In their inaugural season, the Wildcatters were known as the Acadiana Mudbugs, they were the team to start out 3-0. On July 18,2009 the Mudbugs lost 56-49 to the Austin Turfcats in the semifinals in the SIFLs first overtime game. The Wildcatters began their 2010 season with a 44-28 loss to the Greenville Force, four days later, head coach John Fourcade was let go and the team signed former AFL coach Skip Foster to lead the team. The Wildcatters canceled their 2011 season due to the lack of having sufficient Workers Compensation Insurance, by the time their announced return of 2012 had come, the SIFL had broken up. 2009 All League Performer 2010 All League Performer Official Website 2009 Team Stats 2010 Team Stats
12.
Mobile Bay Tarpons
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The Mobile Bay Tarpons were a professional indoor football team in the Southern Indoor Football League. Based in Mobile, Alabama, the Tarpons were to play their games at the Mobile Greater Gulf State Fairgrounds. After 4 games in its season, there was a change in ownership of the club. The rumored new owners, Global Sports Group LLC, planned to move the arena from the Mitchell Center to the Mobile Greater Gulf State Fairgrounds. But when the papers that were supposed to be provided to the group by the SIFL were not delivered by the deadline set. The team is now dormant as the SIFL decides what they will do with the club, the Tarpons became the second club from the SIFL Gulf Conference to become dormant in the 2011 season, following the Lafayette Wildcatters going dormant the day before the 2011 season was to start
13.
Fayetteville Force (SIFL)
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The Fayetteville Force is the former name of a professional indoor football team in the Southern Indoor Football League. They debuted the SIFL following the SIFL/AIFA merger and play games at the Cumberland County Crown Coliseum. Under the agreement the AIFA retains the Force name, logo, likeness, playing equipment, the AIFA guaranteed that it would play the remaining four Force games with the Southern Indoor Football League. On November 17,2011, a new franchise was announced Cape Fear Heroes that began play in the 2012 season of part of a new AIF, at the beginning of the 2004 season, the NIFL pulled the team out of Myrtle Beach, and the team almost folded. However, some local investors saved the team, playing as the Carolina Stingrays in the Florence Civic Center and they managed to finish 3-6 in their shortened season. The new team had originally called the Fayetteville Heat. The team started their season 0-5, but went 7-2 in their final nine regular games, thus earning them a 7-7 record. The team defeated the Dayton Warbirds in the first round, in August 2006, it was reported that the Guard were moving to the World Indoor Football League. However, the Guard denied these rumors by announcing that they were staying in the NIFL in a conference two months later. With to the merger of the AIFA and SIFL, a new Fayetteville based sports marketing group claimed the right to field a SIFL team from the Fayetteville market. The Guard did not return for the 2011 season, but a new team not affiliated with the Guard or its owners, called the Fayetteville Force, now represents the Cape Fear area. After a 3-0 start, the collapsed and was sold to the remains of the AIFA. For the 2012 season, the assets of the Force were rebranded as the Cape Fear Heroes and these players were selected from a group of former indoor players and rookies who were available at the time. The AIFA selected as Head Coach Matt Steeple, a veteran indoor coach from a league for the balance of the 2011 season. The roster listed below is how it appeared at the start of the season, official website League Website Forces 2011 Stats
14.
Erie Explosion
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The Erie Explosion is a professional American indoor football team based in Erie, Pennsylvania. The Explosion began play in 2007 as the Pittsburgh RiverRats at the Rostraver Ice Garden in Belle Vernon, the RiverRats played their first game at Tupelo, Mississippi on February 3,2007, losing 54-34 to the Mississippi Mudcats. Their first home game was on February 18,2007 which they lost 35-28 to the Reading Express, Pittsburgh won its first home game on March 4,2007, defeating the Danville Demolition 47-21. On May 19,2007, the RiverRats set an AIFA single-game record when they scored 86 points, on January 8,2008 the RiverRats announced they would be relocating to Erie in time for the 2008 season, rebranding themselves as the Erie RiverRats. They replaced the citys previous AIFA team, the Erie Freeze, in August,2008, Liotta resigned as coach of the RiverRats and left to coach the Wheeling Wildcats. In September 2008, the RiverRats named Steven G. Folmar as the second head coach. In December 2008, owner Jeff Hauser sold the team to a group of businessmen, headed by Jeff Plyler, Bob Foltyn. The RiverRats had to many players on the roster, as most of the 2008 roster followed Liotta to Wheeling. As a result of all the changes, the RiverRats struggled all season to score points, after dropping to 0–7, the RiverRats got their first win of the season on a last second field goal by Joe Lindway. The RiverRats ended up finishing with a 3-11 record, and missing the playoffs for the first time in franchise history, on September 8,2009 the RiverRats announced that Liotta would return to Erie as the head coach for the 2010 season. In December, it was announced that owner Jeff Hauser had sold a stake in the franchise to a group that included Jeff Plyler and Bill Stafford. The team remained in the AIFA, and the team adopted the corporate name Erie Professional Football, Inc. in December 2009, Hauser maintained a smaller stake in the team, which immediately dropped the RiverRats name. On January 5,2010, the announced the four finalists of the name-the-team contest, Storm, Blizzard, Pulse. On January 14,2010 the team was named the Erie Storm via a press conference, in which the team logo. On May 5,2010, the Painesville, Ohio-based Lake Erie College sued the team over the Erie Storm name because their athletic teams use the Storm moniker. In July 2010, they dropped Storm in favor of Erie Professional Football, on December 3,2010, the team announced its new Erie Explosion identity, albeit retaining the same color scheme as the Storm. The Explosion was also one of six AIFA teams which merged with the Southern Indoor Football League prior to the 2011 season. On May 21,2011, the Explosion set a franchise record, including an indoor football record
15.
Ultimate Indoor Football League
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After the 2014 season, the league merged with X-League Indoor Football. On February 18,2011, the first-ever UIFL game was played between the Saginaw Sting and the Eastern Kentucky Drillers, the inaugural game was held at the Dow Event Center in Saginaw, Michigan. The league co-founders are Michael Taylor and Andrew Haines, Haines was also the owner and founder of the Atlantic/American Indoor Football League, the league is based in Canton, Ohio. Of those five markets, three had teams in Haines previous league, the AIFL, the two markets in Kentucky have never had a professional indoor football team in any league. The sixth team, the Saginaw Sting, came from the Indoor Football League, the complete 2011 season concluded without any teams folding, nor any games being missed or rescheduled. The Northern Kentucky River Monsters finished with the best regular season record, however, due to league sanctions they were not able to host any playoff games and were dropped to a four seed. Saginaw finished 9-5, followed by Eastern Kentucky at 8-6, Huntington at 7-7, Johnstown at 6-8, Saginaw defeated Northern Kentucky, 48-47, in the first semifinals of the Ultimate Bowl I Playoffs, sponsored by Trophy Awards. In the other game, Eastern Kentucky advanced to the championship game with a 20-4 victory over Huntington. Ultimate Bowl I, also sponsored by Trophy Awards, was played Friday, June 9,2011, at the Dow Center in Saginaw, MI, with the Sting claiming an 86-69 victory over the visiting Drillers. Following the Northern Kentucky River Monsters elimination from the playoffs, owner Jill Chitwood and the UIFL came to terms allowing the River Monsters to leave the UIFL.45 million dollars. For 2012, there will be at least eleven new expansion teams, based in Rome, Georgia, Estero, Florida, Tupelo, Mississippi, Marion, Ohio, Cincinnati, Ohio, Erie, Pennsylvania, and Lakeland, Florida. On July 22,2011, the UIFL named Jared Lorenzen the leagues Commissioner, on January 19,2012, the league was sold by Cecil Van Dyke and Assured Equities IV, back to Andrew Haines and Michael Taylor. The league took on the name United Indoor Football League for the 2012 season, six teams folded in the process, including charter members Canton and Huntington, plus four teams that never took the field, reducing the number of teams in the league from 16 to 10. Haines resigned his post as president in June 2012. The 2013 season saw a reduction to six teams, furthermore, prior to championship weekend, three of the four teams that had been eliminated had announced their intentions to jump leagues and join the Xtreme Indoor Football League. The UIFL has stated it is exploring all options regarding the future of the league, the Florida Tarpons won Ultimate Bowl III, with a victory over the Corpus Christi Fury. The UIFL fielded four teams for the 2014 season, in addition to the returning Tarpons and Fury, another team called the Austin Nitro had been listed on the UIFLs website, however, no further information was ever announced about that team. In addition, a new team based out of Columbia, South Carolina known as the Capital City Revolt was set to join in time for the 2015 season
16.
Abilene Bombers
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The Abilene Bombers were a professional indoor football team. The Bombers were a member of the Lone Star Football League, the Bombers played their home games at the Taylor County Expo Center, in Abilene, Texas. The Bombers began play as the Katy Ruff Riders, a 2007 expansion team of the Intense Football League and they originally played their home games at the Leonard E. Merrell Center in Katy, Texas. The Bombers relocated to Abilene, Texas at the conclusion of their 2008 Intense Football League season, from then on they were known as the Abilene Ruff Riders. On February 4,2010, the Ruff Riders were purchased by an ownership group. After the conclusion of their 2010 season, the joined the Southern Indoor Football League. After the conclusion of their 2011 season, the joined the Lone Star Football League. On April 17,2012, the changed its name. They were later owned by BCPSA, LLC, in 2012 they joined the Lone Star Football League. They barely clinched a spot with a 6-7 record, only to fall to the Amarillo Venom in the playoffs 70-40. Abilene Bombers Website Taylor County Expo Center website Ruff Riders 2007 Stats Ruff Riders 2008 Stats Ruff Riders 2011 Stats
17.
Corpus Christi Fury
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The Corpus Christi Fury was a professional indoor football team based in Corpus Christi, Texas. The Fury played its games at the American Bank Center. The Fury began life as the Corpus Christi Hammerheads, a member of the Intense Football League. They played their games at the Memorial Coliseum in 2004 and at the American Bank Center in 2005 and 2006. The team did not return to the American Bank Center for 2007 after the arena decided not to renew the lease and it became the home of the af2 team. In 2007, the Hammerheads played in the Central Pavilion Arena in nearby Robstown, after the Sharks folded following the 2009 season the Hammerheads announced they were returning to the American Bank Center for the upcoming 2010 season. For the 2011 season, the Hammerheads joined the Southern Indoor Football League, finishing at 7-5, the Hammerheads lost to the Louisiana Swashbucklers in the first round of the playoffs. After the 2011 season, the Hammerheads left the SIFL to help start the Lone Star Football League, the team was removed from the Lone Star Football League following the 2012 season. In 2013, the played in the Ultimate Indoor Football League. After falling to the Florida Tarpons in Ultimate Bowl III, the Fury returned to the Ultimate Bowl in 2014, the team defeated the Tarpons 60-23 to claim their first championship in franchise history. For the 2015 season, the Fury played in the X-League after the UIFL ceased operations, the Fury would also go winless in this season. On October 1,2015, the Fury joined American Indoor Football after the X-League folded, the team cancelled several games during the 2016 season and only played one game against another AIF member. They also announced their May 22 home game was cancelled on the day of the game over social media without explanation and they were removed from the AIF website after the completion of the 2016 season. The AIF would cease operations in July 2016 but the Fury appeared to have folded, in October, a new indoor football team was announced to begin play in 2017 out of the American Bank Center called the Corpus Christi Rage. The new team has no connection to the former Hammerheads/Fury franchise and is a member of the new National Arena League, the Hammerheads hold the record for most Intense Bowls played, but lost all three games. Official Site of the Corpus Christi Fury Hammerheads 2006 Stats Hammerheads 2007 Stats Hammerheads 2008 Stats Hammerheads 2011 Stats
18.
Houston Stallions
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The Houston Stallions were a professional indoor football team that competed in the Lone Star Football League. Based in Houston, Texas, the Stallions played their games at the Merrell Center in Katy. After much preseason speculation on game days and locations, the Houston Stallions kicked off their season with a 52-20 win over the Rio Grande Valley Magic. They finished the regular season 12-0, the undefeated team in the SIFL. The Stallions beat the Rio Grande Valley Magic on Monday June 20,2011 in their first playoff game in dramatic fashion by kicking a game winning 46 yard field goal as time expired. The Stallions rallied from 55-39 down with 10,20 remaining in the quarter to win their first playoff game. The Stallions lost to the Louisiana Swashbucklers on June 27,2011 in the Western Conference championship, for the 2012 season, the Stallions will be a charter member of the Lone Star Football League. Midway through the 2012 season, the Stallions announced they had suspended operations indefinitely, Houston Stallions official website Stallions 2011 Stats
19.
Rio Grande Valley Magic
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The Rio Grande Valley Magic were a professional indoor football team based in Hidalgo, Texas. The Magic were charter members of the Lone Star Football League in 2012, the Magic played their home games at the State Farm Arena. In July,2010, team owner Chad Dittman announced that he would be bringing a team of the Southern Indoor Football League to Rio Grande Valley. On August 19,2010, Dittman announced the teams nickname would be the Magic, note, Statistics are correct through the end of the 2012 Lone Star Football League season. Note, The Finish, Wins, Losses, and Ties columns list regular season results, Rio Grande Valley Magic official website Magics 2011 Stats
20.
Laredo Rattlesnakes
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The Laredo Rattlesnakes were a professional indoor football team in the Lone Star Football League that began play in the 2012 season. Based in Laredo, Texas, the Rattlesnakes played their games at the Laredo Energy Arena. However, in the press announcing the teams logos and color scheme. That deal was reached in the form of the Lone Star Football League, the Rattlesnakes were the third indoor/arena football team based in Laredo, previous indoor teams included the Laredo Law of af2 and the Laredo Lobos of the Intense Football League and later af2. Originally, the team was called the Laredo Rattlers, however, the Rattlesnakes folded following the 2013 season due to the financial and legal issue faced by the teams owner. The teams equipment was auctioned to the public in late November 2013 and the team formally dissolved
21.
Alabama Hammers
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The Alabama Hammers were a professional indoor football team based in Huntsville, Alabama. The team played in the Professional Indoor Football League from 2012 to 2015, the Hammers originally began play as an expansion team in the Southern Indoor Football League in 2011. The owner of the Hammers is Southern Sports Entertainment, LLC, the Hammers play their home games at the Von Braun Center. Their name comes from the Yellowhammer, the bird of Alabama. On November 5,2010, it was announced that football was to stay at the Von Braun Center in the form of the Alabama Hammers who would be playing in the Southern Indoor Football League. The nickname Hammers was chosen due to the bird of Alabama being the yellowhammer. On December 19,2010, the Hammers announced that Marty Hammond, on March 19,2011, the Hammers took the field for their first ever game as a franchise, losing 20-67 to the Columbus Lions. The Hammers achieved the first victory in forfeit fashion, as the Mobile Bay Tarpons forfeited their April 29th game, the Hammers finished the regular season with a 4-8 record, failing to qualify for the postseason. Before the season began, the Hammers joined the Professional Indoor Football League after the Southern Indoor Football League dissolved, the Hammers went 3–9 in 2012, failing to making the playoffs. For the 2013 season, the Hammers hired former Alabama Vipers coach Dean Cokinos to be their head coach, the Hammers have achieved the level of success expected of coach Cokinos, who has a great winning percentage in lower level indoor football. They won their first championship when they won the PIFL title over the Richmond Raiders 70-44, the Hammers did not return to their championship form in 2014, losing their first 4 games of the regular season. After the Hammers seemed to have righted the ship with 3-straight wins, the Hammers finished the season 4-8, tied for 4th placed in the American Conference, failing to qualify for the playoffs. During the offseason, Cokinos took a job as the coach of the New Orleans VooDoo of the Arena Football League. He was replaced with Cosmo Dematteo, who had coached the filler team, however, in January 2015, Dematteo stepped down due to family issues before coaching a game for the Hammers. Scott Sharp was named the new Hammers head coach on January 27,2015, in 2015, the Hammers folded upon the league folding. The following is a list of all Hammers players who have won awards, Note. Note, The Finish, Wins, Losses, and Ties columns list regular season results and exclude any postseason play
22.
Columbus Lions
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The Columbus Lions are a professional indoor football team based in Columbus, Georgia and a founding member of the National Arena League for the 2017 season. The Lions were founded in 2006 as a team of the World Indoor Football League. After the WIFL went under in 2007, the Lions joined the American Indoor Football Association where they played for two seasons, when the AIFA broke apart, the Lions joined the Southern Indoor Football League. The Lions joined the Professional Indoor Football League in 2012 when the Southern Indoor Football League teams split up two new leagues. After the 2015 season, the PIFL broke apart, and the Lions joined American Indoor Football for 2016, in their ten years of existence, the Lions have compiled a record of 83-37 with division championships in 2009,2011 and 2016. For the Lions impressive inaugural season, head coach Jason Gibson won the leagues inaugural Coach of the Year Award, following the Lions 2015 PIFL Cup IV Championship, the Lions moved to American Indoor Football. The Lions move to the AIF proved to be fruitful for the Lions, one week after winning the championship, the Lions announced they were leaving the AIF for the 2017 season. In July 2016, Lions owners Skip Seda and his father, Keke Seda and they named former Canadian Football League, Arena Football League, and af2 coach John Gregory as the leagues commissioner. In November 2016, they changed the name of the new league to National Arena League. The following is a list of all Lions players who have won awards, Note, The Finish, Wins, Losses. * Season currently in progress Official Site Lions 2008 Stats Lions 2009 Stats Lions 2011 Stats
23.
Richmond Raiders
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The Richmond Raiders were a professional indoor football team located in Richmond, Virginia the Richmond Coliseum as their home arena. The Raiders began play in the 2010 as a team of the American Indoor Football Association. The Raiders moved to the Southern Indoor Football League when the Eastern Division of the AIFA merged with the SIFL in the winter of 2010, beginning SIFL play in the 2011 season. After just a season in the SIFL the Raiders, along with four other members of the SIFL. The team was then a member the PIFL from 2012 to 2015, in July,2009, the American Indoor Football Association announced that they would be expanding into Richmond, Virginia. After a month-long name-the-team contest, the Richmond franchise announced that it would be nicknamed the Raiders on August 5,2009, on October 12,2009, the Raiders officially unveiled their new logo. The Raiders first game was the 2010 AIFA Kickoff Classic, on January 23,2010, on May 5,2010, defensive coordinator Charles Gunnings replaced Mike Siani as the head coach, as Siani resigned. Chris Simpson became the coach of the Raiders for the 2011 season. Even more change came about for the 2011 season, as the AIFA announced an merger with the Southern Indoor Football League, in February,2011, Simpson resigned before opening day, as he relocated to Texas to pursue family business opportunities. He was replaced by James Fuller, who was the head coach for the Arena Football Leagues Dallas Vigilantes in 2010. Former Richmond Revolution head coach Steve Criswell signed with the Raiders as a consultant for the 2011 season. Criswell brought several former Revolution players along, including QB Bryan Randall, the 2012 season saw the Raiders move to the just formed Professional Indoor Football League. After starting the season with a 2-4 record, the Raiders rallied to win their six games to clinch the #2 seed in the PIFL playoffs. After a 54-35 victory over the Nashville Venom in the round of the PIFL playoffs. In summer 2016, the announced that Raiders would not be returning. The following is a list of all Raiders players who have won awards, Note. Note, The Finish, Wins, Losses, and Ties columns list regular season results and exclude any postseason play
24.
Trenton Steel
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The Trenton Steel was a professional indoor football team that began play in the Southern Indoor Football League in the 2011 season. The team suspended operations December 27,2011, the Steel were based in Trenton, New Jersey, with home games played at the Sun National Bank Center. The team made its home debut March 26,2011, losing 76-73 to the Erie Explosion before a crowd of 3,620 fans, the team notched its first victory, defeating the Explosion, 65-62, at Eries Tulio Arena April 9,2011. With a 52-22 win at Harrisburg June 11, the Steel finished their first regular season with an 8-4 record, the team also qualified for the SIFL Playoffs. The team finished its season with a 62-60 loss to the Columbus Lions in the SIFL Eastern Conference semifinals. The Steel were featured in both a story focusing on Indoor Football and a Web site slide show in the New York Times June 28,2011. The team stretched its win streak to three with a 61-45 victory at Harrisburg April 23,2011, the Steel won their fourth straight game, 69-41 at Fayetteville, April 29. The club was helped by defensive additions such as lineman Tyrell Zimmerman and Melik Brown and defensive back Charles Graves, plus the play of linebacker Mike Andrews, the club then notched its fifth-straight win, defeating Harrisburg, 78-36, May 7 before a franchise-record 4,035 fans. All Steel games are carried live by The Bronc at 107.7 FM with Daryle Dobos calling the play-by-play, on November 4,2010, the Steel announced its new ownership group, owned by Fanteractive LLC and new team president Andrew Bondarowicz. Assuming the role of General Manager is Richard Lisk, who spent several seasons as the General Manager of the Philadelphia Soul as well as the Trenton Titans of the ECHL, the Steel are Trentons first indoor football team since the Indoor Professional Football Leagues Trenton Lightning. That team, despite widespread fan support, folded after six games into their only season because of their owners indictment on various charges. The Steel began their first training camp March 4,2011, with a staff of head coach Rod Miller and assistants Kahlil Carter, Jermaine Lewis and Rob Stanavitch. Lattimore also showed his ability at linebacker, returning two interceptions for touchdowns vs. Carolina, earning SIFL Co-Defensive Player of the Week honors. Lattimore, who left the team May 12, garnered his second SIFL Defensive Player of the Week honor for his performance vs. Fayetteville April 29, the teams five-game win streak ended in Erie May 13, as the Explosion outscored the Steel, 90-79. The Steel rebounded to notch an 83-23 win over Harrisburg May 20 before 3,139 fans as the defense forced a record seven interceptions thrown by Harrisburg quarterback Brian Harris. Defensive back Gladel Brutus had three picks and earned SIFL Player of the Week honors, while newly signed Dez Maul had a pair, the Steel then avenged that loss to Erie by defeating the Explosion 78-53 before 2,859 fans May 26. Wide receiver Damon Harrison scored six touchdowns in that contest as the club assured itself a winning season. That win, coupled with a loss by Richmond, allowed the team to clinch a berth in its first season
25.
Harrisburg Stampede
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The Harrisburg Stampede was a professional indoor football team based in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The team suspended operations on December 30,2014, the Stampede played their home games at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex & Expo Center for their first five seasons. In 2014, they played in the Giant Center in nearby Hershey, the Stampede name alluded to the teams original home venue, which hosts the annual Pennsylvania Farm Show, and the teams colors were blue, black and white. The team was co-founded by John Morris and Fred Clark, in September,2008, the team announced that they would use the nickname Stampede after narrowing a list of entries down to 3. In the Stampedes inaugural game, they beat a team of American Indoor Football Association All-Stars, 46–26. In their first regular game, the Stampeded were defeated by the reigning AIFA champion. In their second regular season game, the Stampede defeated the Baltimore Mariners 37-34. After a 2-4 start, Morris fired head coach Kelly Logan and replaced him with defensive coordinator, marques Colston, a New Orleans Saints wide receiver, held a share during the teams first season. Colston left the group after the season, citing philosophical differences. For the 2010 season, the team hired Ramon Robinson as their head coach, Robinson helped the Stampede turn their record around, leading them to an 11-3 regular season record, clinching a playoff spot. The #2 seeded Stampede defeated the #3 Erie Storm by a score of 52-48 in the first Stampede playoff game ever, the following week, the Stampede were defeated by the undefeated Mariners by a score of 65-13 in the Eastern Conference Championship Game. The Stampede began the 2011 season by naming Bernie Nowotarski the teams head coach and he was replaced by Josh Resignalo. The following season, the SIFL disbanded, leading the Stampede to re-join their former league, in 2012, the team joined American Indoor Football, the league was run by previous AIFA owner/CEO John Morris. The Stampede advanced to the AIF Championship Game for the second year in 2013. In September 2013, the Stampede announced that they would be joining the Professional Indoor Football League for the 2014 season. After the 2014 season, on December 30,2014, Colston shuttered the team due to financial problems and purchased a stake in the Philadelphia Soul of the Arena Football League. The following Stampede players have named to All-League Teams, QB E. J. * Season currently in progress Harrisburg Stampede Stampedes 2009 Stats Stampedes 2010 Stats Stampedes 2011 Stats
26.
Charlotte Speed
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The Charlotte Speed were a professional indoor football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. The team was to have become a member of the Professional Indoor Football League, the Carolina Speed began in the American Indoor Football Association where they played from 2007 till 2009. After sitting out the 2010 season, the Speed came back in 2011, the SIFL folded after the 2011 season, and the Speed did not play in 2012. The Speed played their games at Bojangles Coliseum in Charlotte. The team had decided not to participate in the 2010 AIFA season, the team had also announced that it would play its future games at the Cabarrus Arena & Events Center in Concord, North Carolina, marking a return to the facility where the Speed began in 2007. Due to the merger of the AIFA and SIFL, the Speed would play in the SIFL, in addition, the Speeds website states that they changed their minds about returning to Cabarrus and announced their 2011 season would once again see them playing at Bojangles Coliseum. The franchise was to return in 2013 as the Charlotte Speed and play in the Professional Indoor Football League, however, their charter was revoked prior to the season opener and they have not been heard from since 2012. The name Carolina Speed comes from the name of a contest held at the Cabarrus County fair. Official Website Speeds 2007 Stats Speeds 2008 Stats Speeds 2009 Stats Speeds 2011 Stats
27.
HighBeam Research
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It is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. The company was established in August 2002 after Patrick Spain, who had just sold Hoovers, the new company was called Alacritude, LLC. ELibrary had a library of 1,200 newspaper, magazine, original investors included Prism Opportunity Fund of Chicago and 1 to 1 Ventures of Stamford, Connecticut. Spain stated, There was a gap between free search like Google and high-end offerings like LexisNexis and Factiva. Later in 2002, it bought Researchville. com, by 2003, it had increased its archive base to articles from 2,600 publishers. In 2004, it was renamed HighBeam Research, in 2005, it increased its publisher base to 3,500 publishers. In 2006, Oxford University Press, Knight Ridder and The Washington Post archives were added, in 2008, it was purchased by Cengage Learning. Highbeam features many articles by the UK based Trinity Mirror Group, highbeam Research is a partner in the Womensforum network and a major content provider for the WomensForum womens issues research website. Official website Alacritude at the Wayback Machine
28.
The Houma Courier
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The Houma Courier is a newspaper published daily in Houma, Louisiana, United States, covering Terrebonne Parish. It was owned by Halifax Media Group until 2015, when In 2015 and it is sometimes simply referred to as The Courier. The paper is published by Miles Forrest and the papers Executive Editor is Keith Magill, the paper was founded in 1878 as Le Courrier de Houma by French-born Lafayette Bernard Filhucan Bazet. It first published in four-page, half-French half-English editions, the Courier has a daily circulation of 19,700 and a Sunday circulation of 22,100. Its online edition, Houma Today was launched in May 1999, the Courier won the Louisiana Press Associations Newspaper of the Year award four times during the 2000s. List of French-language newspapers published in the United States
29.
Augusta Colts
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The Augusta Colts were a professional indoor football team based in Augusta, Georgia. The team plays their games at the James Brown Arena. The Colts originally began in 2006 as the Augusta Spartans of the American Indoor Football League, after a mediocre season, they played in the World Indoor Football League in 2007. During the year, the Spartans went 8–6, defeated the Osceola Ghostriders in the round of the playoffs. Also, WR Marvin Stone was named the 2007 league MVP, for the 2008, the team moved back to the renamed American Indoor Football Association and renamed themselves the Augusta Colts. In a press release, it was announced that the Colts would sit out the 2009 season, another press release since then reported that for the 2010 season, the Colts will play in the Southern Indoor Football League. On November 16,2009 a group of investors held a conference with John Sisson saying that they had purchased the team. However, on December 5,2009 the deal could not be reached, the Colts have now suspended operations indefinitely
30.
Houston Lightning
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The Houston Lightning were an indoor football team which was to begin Southern Indoor Football League play in 2010. Based in Houston, Texas, their home arena was announced as the Reliant Arena, the Lightning were to be the second indoor/arena team to play in the city of Houston, and the fourth to play in the Greater Houston area. Previously, the city had the Houston Thunderbears of the Arena Football League from 1996 until 2001. On March 10,2010, the Lightning announced that they were suspending operations, claiming that the arena had reneged on an agreement. Houston Lightning website Houston Lightning team page on SIFL website
