Chicago,IL60653-2197. He added that the team position on semi-pro players isn't an indictment of their talents; instead, he said, the Bears prefer to draft college players or those who have been cut from other NFL teams.). As a result, the Independents ended their season with a 261 record. "We have improved in team speed across the board, but they need more time playing together to build that knowledge of the system and playing along side each other," Myles said. " For the following two seasons, he served as the team's assistant manager, under then-manager Jack Roche. This will be a great opportunity for the community to embrace something positive. With a shortage of professional Football leagues and options for elite athletes, the Cowboys will make its players feel they are in professional organization. In 1987, more than 400 semi-pro players signed with NFL teams during that league's players strike, Real said. As well as have an opportunity to advance to higher levels of football such as Arena, CFL, or NFL. The Independents also moved from Douglas Park in Rock Island to Browning Field in neighboring Moline, Illinois for the 1926 season. The Eagles run out the clock, improving their record to 3-0. In 1926, in what became their final year of existence, the Independents moved to Browning Field in neighboring Moline, Illinois. For about 45 minutes, the teams run through their pregame warmups. Current professional sports teams [ edit] Former professional sports teams [ edit] See also [ edit] List of developmental and minor sports leagues Professional sports leagues in the United States Founded in 1953, the Raiders are the oldest semi-pro football team in Wisconsin still in existence. [8], The National Football League was formed over the course of two meetings in 1920. We will provide the local community with a fabulous experience at all Cowboys home games. "We want to make sure the product we put on the field for the fans is what they are going to see in the pro game," Huntington says. The Midway Marauders are part of the Indoor Football Association. It will be a unifying experience for people to come and cheer for a common cause, and most importantly to have fun! The Raiders adopted the colors of black and silver, seven years before anyone would . The former Peoria Rivermen were bought by the Vancouver Canucks in 2013 and moved to Utica, New York. The Cougars will play their second game of the season Saturday at 7 p.m. at Bunker Hill High School against the East Missouri Eagles. The minutes of this meeting are in Pro Football Hall of Fame archives. November 18, 1923. A member of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) group and Formula SAE IIT team. Welcome to the OFFICIAL Lincoln-Way Patriots Facebook page. Beginning in September, the AFA issues a weekly ranking of the top 20 semi-pro teams in the nation, and this season the Force started in 13th place. The Independents were a founding National Football League franchise. Comments 3 ALTON - The Central. Lost to Green Bay Packers 020. The most recent semi-pro player to jump to the NFL is Eric Swann, a star defensive tackle with the Arizona Cardinals who was playing for the Bay State Titans near Boston until he signed with the Cardinals in 1991. Field 4 is a tournament-size soccer field which is suitable for IHSA sanctioned play. A new team is kicking off this year in the Bloomington-Normal area. They took over from the former Joliet JackHammers back in 2011, and since then have won two Frontier League championships. In January 1981, on the day before the Super Bowl, the AFA held its first All Star game with 100 semi-pro players in New Orleans. After leading a team prayer on the sidelines, VonHolt gives a brief pregame speech. The Marion Indians previously played there in the class D Illinois State League though only for two seasons, 1947-1948. We will be collecting lightly worn coats, new coats, and new TOYS for 8-14 ages. 2009 saw the Chicago Mustangs, Indianapolis Stampede, McHenry County Pirates, Kilbourn City Hawks, and Lincoln-Way Patriots join, as well as the Bolingbrook Buccaneers change their name to the Joliet Buccaneers. In 1919, the season prior to the establishment of the National Football League, they claimed to be "Champions of the USA". As they do, Sharon Klepser, trainer for the Force for five years, helps players with pregame taping and fills their requests, such as for aspirin. Criteria include a team's standing in its league, the quality of its opponents and point differentials (the AFA gives credit up to 30 points so that running up the score only helps so much). The club began as the Peoria Suns back in 1983, but the name didnt stick for long by the next season they were playing under the current Chiefs name. Currently, in addition to the Force and the DuPage Eagles, Chicago area teams include the Panthers, Thunder and Chargers, all based in Chicago, and the Lake County Chiefs. Hard work is the price we must all pay for success. However, the ending proved to be more of the same, with the Chicago Thunder once again winning the league championship, this time over the Bolingbrook Buccaneers by a score of 36-7. Cubs Park (Wrigley Field) 5,600. Other local semi-pro teams have included the Tinley Park Pride, which played . On June 13, two days after the bank robbery, the Illini Panthers Facebook page made an all-caps announcement that the team would no longer compete in the MSFL. The event will be open to the public with fans, prospects, and prospect families invited to the event. They left with $9,771.09, officials said. Flanigan then challenged the Canton Bulldogs to a "championship" game, offering a $5,000 guarantee if they would come to Rock Island for the game. Copyright 2023 Revolution Football, all rights reserved. See them play at Fifth Third Bank Ballpark, Geneva. The Force foils the two-point try, leaving the Eagles with a 19-17 lead. The Force was ranked 13th. The game itself was billed as a clash of old vs. new, with Grange, the rising star, taking on Thorpe, the aging legend. The Illini Panthers said they were looking at other options for the organization. Force players are construction workers, car salesmen, an industrial hygienist and truck drivers, among others. Force players and the rival DuPage Eagles drive up in their own cars and tote their own equipment to the field. Find out what's on in Illinois and Chicago with your guide to events, festivals, markets, music, theater, sports and more. The semi-pro football team will play its home games this year at on the artificial turf field at Gordon Moore Park. Having won back-to-back MFL titles, the Seminoles carried their success to the MSFL, capping the first perfect season in league history with a championship win over the Force of Illinois, 35-14. This is a carousel. Player that attains any one item of the following guidelines is eligible to participate in the UFL. The team charges spectators at games $2 for children and $4 for adults and also generates money from a yearly team ad book and raffles. Leagues and teams are not associated with schools, colleges, or other academic institutions except that they might rent fields & stadiums from them for their use. The names, logos, and other source identifying features of newspapers depicted in our database are the trademarks of their respective owners, and our use of newspaper content in the public domain or by private agreement does not imply any affiliation with, or endorsement from, the publishers of the newspaper titles that appear on our site. "We pick players who could go to the next step, that pro level," said Howard Huntington, 49, of Chicago, who has owned the Force since 1988 and who played football at Illinois State University. November 7, 1920 Tied Decatur Staleys 00. Johnson felt that the American Football League, which featured Red Grange, would out-perform the NFL. The Force, which debuted in 1987, is the successor to the Orland Fury, a south suburban semi-pro team of the mid-1980s. These new players would help improve play and help secure the team an invitation to join the NFL. Im excited about it, Myles said. In 1923, Flanigan left the Independents to concentrate on his real estate and insurance businesses.[8]. Pro Football Hall of Fame alumni Jimmy Conzelman (19201921), Joe Guyon (1924), Ed Healey (19201922), Duke Slater (1922-1926), and Jim Thorpe (19241925) played for the Independents. Cubs Park (Wrigley Field) 8,000. The Cougars have won two Midwest League championships, sent 150 players to the Major Leagues, and in 2013 became the first Class A Minor League Baseball team to reach a lifetime fan attendance of 10 million. I had contacted Alton last season about the possibility of our team playing there, before the turf was put in, said Myles, whos owned the Cougars since 1998. In its 10 years of existence, the Tri-City Bulldogs semi-pro football team has called many places home, including Reedsburg, Princeton and most recently Cazenovia. Find out how to get to Illinois by plane, train, bus and driving. For that season, the Force of Illinois and Lake County Steelers played in the Chicagoland Football League. On the sidelines, veteran semi-pro football player Michael Marshall grabbed a swig of water. *All players with at least 3 games of participation on a semi-professional team or ball club. November 29, 1925. [4], Walter Flanigan had joined the Independents as a backup end in 1912. ", In 1926, the Independents left the NFL to become a charter member of the first American Football League, the only NFL team to do so. Players nursing the pro dream can take solace in the career path of Mark Rodenhauser, a center with the Carolina Panthers, an NFL expansion team. The $4,500 to $5,000 fee is due by the opening game. For the first time in six years, a team other than the Chicago Thunder won the MSFL title, as the Racine Threat defeated the Lincoln-Way Patriots 34-14. The Central Illinois Cougars, lined up at right, taking on the Missouri Cyclones Saturday at Summit High School. Myles said fan support was strong for the season opener in Fenton, "Our fans, Cougar Nation, helped us,' Myles said. The Elmhurst Travelers, coached . Contact Us Semi-Pro Teams Northern Light Cowboys | Marshfield Bandits Mid-Western Wildcats Gist-Holden wasn't arrested until June 18 at the conclusion of a high-speed chase in Georgia, per the complaint. The Raiders were originally founded in 1953 by local restaurant owner Wigs Konicek. The Independents then folded along with the entire league in 1927.[1][2][3]. After the troubles of the preceding season, the MSFL rebounded in 2002. Local traveling will be done by player and coach carpools. the Armco Associations of both cities, in the fall of 1924, to sponsor and develop semi-professional football teams. ", The club wrote it felt that families, supporters and the team players were "left out to dry for what we believe was an intentional mistake.". [6][7] However, World War I and the military draft put a temporary halt to Flanigan's plans of expanding the team into new markets.[8]. Theyre minor league in name, but these Illinois sports teams are major in excitement and talent. Like the Rivermen, they play in the Southern Professional Hockey League. FOOTBALL: Central Illinois Cougars coming to GMPs new turf, Newsletters: Get local news delivered directly to you. Mid-States football league - 2010 Standings, List of Washington Redskins starting quarterbacks, List of Baltimore Ravens starting quarterbacks. Three teams have won national semi-pro football championships under the MSFL banner; the Detroit Seminoles in 2002 and the Chicago Thunder in 2006 and 2008. "We skipped preseason games this year," Myles said. Search for Quick Approved Loans - Get One Now! We only have two days to prepare for a team, which is difficult. I had put that in the back of my mind. They have been ordered, Haynes said. The coroners office has completed an investigation into a body found in Troy home in December 2023 Edwardsville Publishing Company, LLC, Three face drug charges in Madison County, Lenhardt has big plans for Downtown Alton, Granite City High senior Kyla Gerhardt in area talent competition, Coroners office completes investigation into body found in Troy, Fairview Heights man faces weapons felony. Though this team is new, the name should be familiar to area fans: they're named after a Quad Cities team of the same name which played arena football between 2000 and 2009. November 2, 1934. Fans will be able to see the next up and coming athletes, as well as former High School and college stars. I have been a teacher at Pakuranga College in Auckland, New Zealand since January 2007. The Cougars, who call Gordon Moore Park home, feature a wealth of new players on their roster and have returned to the Central Midwest Football League/Fans, this season. A running back during his playing days, Myles played junior College football in Mississippi and went in the former USFLs draft to the Tampa Bay Bandits. King reportedly told authorities he was a player on the football team and that his coach, Gist-Holden, was the one who shot the guard. But Canton, which had already won the "Ohio League" championship by defeating the Massillon Tigers, turned down the offer. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate. Hailey Gist-Holden, 26, and owner/coach of the Illini Panthers, and James Anthony King Jr., 24, allegedly ambushed First Midwest Bank guard Richard Castellana, 55, as he was walking on the sidewalk. [19][20], On October 16, 1921, the Independents battled back from a 70 deficit against the Chicago Cardinals to lead 147 in the second quarter. Although the team is based in the south suburbs, some players live farther afield. [12][13], On September 26, 1920, the Independents hosted the first official game featuring a team from the APFA. The Force, which debuted in 1987, is the successor to the Orland Fury, a south suburban semi-pro team of the mid-1980s. Theyre minor league in name, but these Illinois sports teams are major in excitement and talent. Representatives of eleven teams were present at the second meeting: the four teams from the first meeting, plus the Decatur Staleys, Chicago Cardinals, Massillon Tigers, Hammond Pros, Muncie Flyers, Rock Island Independents and Rochester Jeffersons. The 5k, 3.1 mile Hunger Walk benefits pantries, soup kitchens and shelters in Cook County that are members of the Greater Chicago Food Depositorys network. They hosted what has been retrospectively designated the first National Football League game on September 26, 1920 at Douglas Park. 3,000. Please take the next step to end hunger and sign up http://www.chicagosfoodbank.org/ or call Maurice Hall @ (773) 997-8950 for more info. After his arrest he reportedly offered to "work off" the charges by becoming an FBI informant, per the affidavit. The Massillon Tigers from Massillon, Ohio was also at the September 17 meeting, but did not field a team in 1920. The Cougars will play this season in the Hidden Gemz League, a branch of the Hidden Gemz Sports Scouting service. 2005 saw the MSFL return with arguably the strongest team line-up in the Midwest. The Cowboys will also hold fundraisers in numerous neighborhoods to get the communities involved with program. A second, unrelated, "Rock Island Independents" played at the Northwest Football League in 1936. Id say the oldest is probably around 30.. Cowboys games will be a great opportunity for the community to gather and see professional caliber football for an affordable price. In the third quarter, the Force takes a 17-13 lead, but in the fourth quarter, with 2:44 left in the game, Eagles quarterback Jeff Bryant tosses an 18-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Ed O'Reilly, the son of the team's offensive coordinator. Are you eager to get involved with our amazing semi-pro league football community in Rockford, IL? I had been wanting to get to a larger city., Myles, the owner as well as head coach, said the team is my baby., I created it and paid for it, he said. The Cubs, Sox, Bears, Blackhawks, Bulls theyre larger-than-life names ingrained in the minds of everyone with even a passing interest in sport. Official Site of the United Football League, google.com, pub-6849808367135271, DIRECT, f08c47fec0942fa0, Copyright 2023 Official Site of the United Football League. 2001 was by far the MSFL's most tumultuous season, with the Chicago Mavericks and Force of Illinois leaving (while the Mavericks folded, the Force merged with the Will County Buccaneers to form the Will County Force and play one season in the Mid Continental Football League). Rock Island lost to the Marines by a score of 73 in front of over 6,400 fans at Douglas Park in the first game on November 4. In the past, semi-pro football has kicked off the careers of such stars as former Baltimore Colts quarterback Johnny Unitas and such coaches as former San Francisco 49ers coach Bill Walsh. American football team in Rock Island, Illinois, Decatur Staleys/Chicago Staleys/Chicago Bears, American Professional Football Association, "NFL founded in Canton - Pro Football Hall of Fame Official Site", "St. Paul Ideals at Rock Island Independents - September 26th, 1920", "Football Firsts - Pro Football Hall of Fame Official Site", "1917 Minneapolis Marines - The Pro Football Archives", "1917 Rock Island Independents - The Pro Football Archives", Professional Football Researchers Association, "Sept. 17, 1920 -- The Founding of the NFL - Pro Football Hall of Fame Official Site", "Football History - Pro Football Hall of Fame Official Site", "Sept. 17, 1920 The Founding of the NFL", "1922 American Professional Football Association changes name to National Football League", "GRANGE'S LONG RUN BREAKS FLORIDA TIE; Dashes 70 Yards to Score on Tampa Cardinals -- Bears Win by 17 to 3. Three teams have won national semi-pro football championships under the MSFL banner; the Detroit Seminoles in 2002 and the Chicago Thunder in 2006 and 2008. Defeated Chicago Bears 76. Step back in time to the golden age of train travel and settle in for a peaceful ride to discover some of Illinois most charming towns and hidden treasures. For much of its history the northern division was made up of the Madison Mustangs, Manitowoc Chiefs, Sheboygan Redwings and West Allis Spartans. ABOUT THE AMERICAN FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION: Welcome to the American Football Association (AFA), a national non-profit organization dedicated to the advancement of adult (minor league/semi-pro) football. On August 20, 1920 an initial meeting was held by representatives of the Akron Pros, Canton Bulldogs, Cleveland Tigers, and Dayton Triangles. Team officials expect the final league schedule to be complete soon. It specifically mentions that players should at the "bare minimum" have insurance and that teams have folded because of financial reasons. Andy Albrecht (former all-area and all-conference Rockford QB from 1994-1995) named head coach of Illinois high school team. But they if come out and see this league, this year and next year and on down the line, they will see a good quality league.". Other leagues subsequently formed, and in 1980, Pro Football Weekly asked Real to begin covering semi-pro football for the newspaper and to help organize a national playoff system. SEMI-PRO FOOTBALL: Central Illinois Cougars feature new lineup in new league, Newsletters: Get local news delivered directly to you. Sports editor Pete Hayes is a 43-year journalist. Like the Cougars, the Peoria Chiefs play in the Midwest League of Minor League Baseball. It currently has 10 teams with the Panthers in their second season. The association organizes the playoffs, a series of games leading to the Super Bowl of the semi-pros. In 1923, Flanigan sold the Independents to Dale Johnson, a local businessman. Clipping found in Chicago Tribune in Chicago, Illinois on Jul 13, 1980. Revolution Football invites you to join our semi-pro football team in Rockford, IL. Douglas Park. My name is Jon Bacarella and I was one of the co-captains on the 1996-1997 Rockford team. Lost to Minneapolis Marines 337. 40", "1926 Rock Island Independents - The Pro Football Archives", "The Pro Football Archives - Pro Football Statistics and History", Defunct National Football League franchises, Detroit Heralds/ Tigers/ Panthers/ Wolverines, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rock_Island_Independents&oldid=1138396991, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0. In the first half, the Eagles score a touchdown but miss the extra point, and the Force's Baldyga kicks a 27-yard field goal. Dale Johnson then owned the team from 1924 until it folded, along with the rest of the American Football League in 1926. The former owner and two former executives of the previous team thought that just wouldnt do so they quickly formed a new team under the same name, joining the Southern Professional Hockey League.See them play at Peoria Civic Center, Peoria. For 2007, the MSFL welcomed the Racine Threat and Northern Illinois Cowboys. For now, it will be games only at Moore Park. Chicago, IL 60653-2197. The meeting was again at Canton owner Ralph Hay's Hupmobile dealership in Canton and Independents owner Walter Flanigan was present to represent the Independents. November 1, 1925. Get inspired by top travel stories, gain access to exclusive promotions and contests, and discover even more reasons to #EnjoyIllinois. "My main goal is to win a semi-pro national championship," said Kurt Baldyga, 28, of Crestwood, the Force's place kicker for eight years and a graduate of Marist High School in Chicago. The UFL will host the first year of the UFL Semi-Pro Draft in Atlanta, Georgia. In fact, the players of the semi-pro Palos-Orland Force lay out their own money to endure the bumps and bruises, either for love of the game or to keep a dream alive. Lost to Chicago Cardinals 07. The majority of the players were in the employ of the Company. BLOOMINGTON-NORMAL, Ill. (WMBD) Attention football fans! "We work on the other team's tendencies. During the game Grange rushed for a 70-yard touchdown as the Bears notched a 173 victory at Plant Field in Tampa, Florida. [21][22], The Independents' overall NFL record was 26149, with five winning seasons in six years. Many of the players from the 1910 team reunited in 1912 and, under Coach John Roche, the Independents won eight games without giving up a score. The Chicago Bulls also own and operate the team. [17], The Independents posted 421 records in the league's first year. -Victor Mcghee (773) 817-1310, The Illinois Cowboys will be teamed up with Excellent Way Out Reach Center for a toy and coat drive ! As u have seen in the passed the Illinois Cowboys semi-pro football team are a huge contributor against the fight against hunger , from the numerous hours volunteer work they have put in, both passed & present at Tabernacle Baptist Church. The Bloomington Renegades are one of two new teams joining the semi-pro, Mid-West United Football League. STERNAMAN ALSO TALLIES Second Touchdown Follows Star's Sprint in Last Period -- Quarter Makes 11 Points", "History of Professional Football and Stadium Sports in Tampa, Florida", "mcubed.net: NCAAF Football: Series records: Illinois vs. Iowa", "EXCHANGE: Rock Island game recalls early days of NFL", "Wharton Field House Home Wharton Field House / Browning Field Moline-Coal Valley School District No. Be a great opportunity for the organization able to see the next up and athletes! Host the first National Football League franchise Independents moved to Utica, new York even more to. About 45 minutes, the Independents ended their season with a 19-17 lead 45 minutes, the Peoria Chiefs in... An invitation to join our semi-pro Football team will play its home games this year in employ. The Eagles run out the clock, improving their record to 3-0 Eagles a. Specifically mentions that players should at the September 17 meeting, but these Illinois sports teams are in... 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Fans will be a great opportunity for the community to embrace something positive Joliet JackHammers back 2011! Meeting are in Pro Football Hall of Fame archives was formed over the course of new... Mentions that players should at the September 17 meeting, but these Illinois sports teams major... Amazing semi-pro League Football community in Rockford, IL to Illinois by plane, train, bus and driving the. Field which is suitable for IHSA sanctioned play the former Joliet JackHammers back in,!
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