"You can't push them real hard in practice" because it's not their full-time job, said VonHolt, who played football at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale in the 1970s. 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. 4,991. The association organizes the playoffs, a series of games leading to the Super Bowl of the semi-pros. The invitation to Canton led to the Independents being invited to the September 17, 1920 historic meeting on the formation of the National Football League. Discover top travel stories and even more reasons to #EnjoyIllinois with our free magazine. On a recent Saturday, the Force played a 7 p.m. home game at Carl Sandburg High School in Orland Park. "I don't go to the big games, but the little games are still fun.". The Cougars will open their. CHicago Semi-Pro Football Teams 7-13-80 The dictionary is the only place success comes before work. 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. ", (If the Bears are any indication, the dreams of the semi-pros will go unfulfilled. 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. Fifty nine seasons would go by before another professional baseball team the Miners would take the field. November 2, 1934. The Independents shared the stadium with the minor league baseball Moline Plowboys. We try to get the kinks worked out and get conditioning in. However, the Independents still had defeated the Columbus Panhandles 490 and the Indians 170 that season. The Force were crowned the MSFL's first champion with their 27-8 win over the Warriors in the championship game. Sports editor Pete Hayes is a 43-year journalist. Games will provide more than just amazing football competition but also other entertainment such as performances, concessions, contests, and prize giveaways. Since they started in 2001, theyve had a strong record, including a Frontier League championship win in 2003 and 30 players sent to MLB affiliates. 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). Newspapers.com makes these newspapers available for the purpose of historical research, and is not responsible for the content of any newspapers archived at our site. After the formation of the league, Flanigan was named to the committee that created the league's constitution. This contest helped the Independents gain legitimacy. Like the Cougars, the Peoria Chiefs play in the Midwest League of Minor League Baseball. Based in Chicago, the MSFL currently consists of 16 teams; ten in Illinois, three in Indiana, and three in Wisconsin. She has little input in whether the players take the field. "Basically, we want to give them an opportunity to carry on their football careers," said Force Head Coach Daniel VonHolt of Orland Park, who said some members of his squad nurture hopes of careers in the National Football League, Canadian Football League or Arena Football League (played indoors in basketball-type stadiums). During the game Grange rushed for a 70-yard touchdown as the Bears notched a 173 victory at Plant Field in Tampa, Florida. The Illinois Cowboys website will be maintained weekly, Weekly updates will include scores, statistics, stories, biographies, videos, and team transactions. 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. American Football Database is a FANDOM Lifestyle Community. But we as a coaching staff are very excited about this season and believe we will be there battling for a playoff spot our first year in this league.". 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. Other local semi-pro teams have included the Tinley Park Pride, which played in the late 1980s, and the Chicago Heights Broncos, which folded this year. The game itself was billed as a clash of old vs. new, with Grange, the rising star, taking on Thorpe, the aging legend. It specifically mentions that players should at the "bare minimum" have insurance and that teams have folded because of financial reasons. Force players are construction workers, car salesmen, an industrial hygienist and truck drivers, among others. Lost to Chicago Bears 60. Defeated Moline Fans Association 570. As a result, the team was named the "Independents.". December 14, 1924. They took over from the former Joliet JackHammers back in 2011, and since then have won two Frontier League championships. The Kane County Cougars started life as the Wausau Timbers, based in Wisconsin. In the first title game, the Twin Cities Cougars, based in Marysville and Yuba City, Calif., beat the Red Devils of Delavan, Wis. Appalachian Wolfpack Young Yellowjackets Chattanooga Wildcats Dalton Danger Atlanta Outlaws Georgia Titans Georgia Falcons Clayton County Spartans 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.". His father and Myles father are brothers. His son Hub is a radio announcer for the Bears. The Independents were founded in 1907 by Demetrius Clements as an independent football club. Mid-States football league - 2010 Standings, List of Washington Redskins starting quarterbacks, List of Baltimore Ravens starting quarterbacks. See them play at GCS Credit Union Ballpark, The Joliet Slammers play in the East Division of the Frontier League. He supplies some equipment, such as tape and chin straps, and buys other equipment, such as uniforms, which he resells to players. Douglas Park. Players are responsible for buying their own helmets, pads and shoes. In terms of durability and how easy it to clean and how good it looks after much use and many washes, I think it's an excellent product. A field goal by the Cyclones made it 6-6 at halftime. Klepser, an Elmhurst paramedic, cares for game injuries and gives the players advice about staying in shape during the year. He spent the 1991 Arena Football League season with the now defunct Denver Dynamite. November 7, 1920 Tied Decatur Staleys 00. Chicago, IL 60653-2197. The Cougars will play five home games on Field 3 at Gordon Moore Park, Alton Parks and Recreation director Mike Haynes said. While newer to the area, the team has already begun building a strong following and family-friendly atmosphere at their games. The Mid-State Steel and Indiana Titans returned from their respective hiatuses, with the Kankakee Plowmen joining the party. But experience pays off. The Miners began their season in 2007, though this was not Marions first professional baseball team. "My dream is to play pro football, but if this is what it is for me, fine. FOOTBALL: Central Illinois Cougars coming to GMPs new turf, Newsletters: Get local news delivered directly to you. In 1919, the season prior to the establishment of the National Football League, they claimed to be "Champions of the USA". 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. A worker for the company which installed two new artificial turf fields at Altons Gordon Moore Park, staples the new turf down on the end of Field 3, a combination football/soccer field. October 4, 1925. 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. You have an opportunity to make a dent in the league.". Its something we have wanted to emphasize, that the turf field can be used for a variety of sports and activities.. ALTON - The Central Illinois Cougars are back for their second season in Alton and have hit the ground running. On August 20, 1920 an initial meeting was held by representatives of the Akron Pros, Canton Bulldogs, Cleveland Tigers, and Dayton Triangles. 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. This year, the national championship will be held on Dec. 10 in Orlando, Fla., and the winning team will take home the Arthur S. Arkush Memorial Cup, named for the founder and original publisher of Pro Football Weekly. Gist-Holden was in financial trouble and couldn't pay the rent on his home in Gary or the hotel bill for his team's players to stay in Downers Grove, per the report. Sounds like the pros, except for the pay: nothing. Its worked out really well for them. The top teams in the league will share prize money amounting to as much as $3,200 for first and $2,400 for second when the season ends, he said. Douglas Park hosts an annual tribute football game to the Independents, played in retro uniforms and using early football rules. Nonetheless, they settled on the name Normal CornBelters, a reference to Normals prime location in the Corn Belt. ALTON Kinney Myles has been in the football team ownership business for more than 20 years and hes always on the lookout for ways to help his team. 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. But after suspected voting fraud (the lead name Nutz was suspected to have business ties), he started the poll over. Find out what's on in Illinois and Chicago with your guide to events, festivals, markets, music, theater, sports and more. The Independents were the only NFL team to make the jump to the rival league. But it was some path getting here. The (ILC) will provide clean and exciting entertainment to the community, and will also give aspiring players an opportunity to achieve their athletic dreams. See them play at Sears Centre Arena, Hoffman Estates. The meeting was held at the Jordan and Hupmobile auto showroom in Canton, Ohio and resulted in the formation of the American Professional Football Conference (APFC). We now know where we have to be to beat them," VonHolt says, looking forward to the rematch scheduled for Oct. 15 at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb. "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. " According to the league's website, it was formed in 2021 and features 11 man football, with the goal of all teams thriving. Official Site of the United Football League, google.com, pub-6849808367135271, DIRECT, f08c47fec0942fa0, Copyright 2023 Official Site of the United Football League. Theres a long lead-in time for big sets of bleachers.. Revolution Football is a semi-pro football team based in Rockford, IL that faces off against other local teams in the Northern Lights Football League. [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]. As well as have an opportunity to advance to higher levels of football such as Arena, CFL, or NFL. The Cougars and the city of Alton are expected to officially announce the agreement at 3 p.m. Friday. Just nine days after the league had formed, on September 26, 1920, the Independents defeated the St. Paul Ideals 480 in the first contest involving a member team of the APFA. Walter Flanigan was the owner of the Independents 1915 to 1923. It is likely that Canton's player/coach Jim Thorpe and owner Ralph Hay felt that Flanigan could not deliver on his $5,000 guarantee. ALTON - The Central Illinois Cougars, a semi-professional football team since 1999, announced today in a press event at Gordon Moore Park it will play its home games at Gordon Moore Park in 2021. However, there have been soccer and football practices on them. This year, about 90 players attended those sessions, which were held for several Sundays. The 34-year-old wide receiver said he was excited for the Royals' first preseason game, the. On the sidelines, veteran semi-pro football player Michael Marshall grabbed a swig of water. This will be a great opportunity for the community to embrace something positive. All these joined the Kankakee Seminoles, Chicago Wolverines, Bolingbrook Stallions, Bolingbrook Buccaneers, Central Indiana Bears, and Lake County Steelers to make the MSFL a strong and competitive circuit, with the climax coming in the championship game with the Chicago Thunder defeating the Indiana Titans by a score of 17-7. Their desire is to become a staple for the community, and they want to stay in Bloomington for a long time. Cubs Park (Wrigley Field) 5,600. Myles said fan support was strong for the season opener in Fenton, "Our fans, Cougar Nation, helped us,' Myles said. 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. The Eagles run out the clock, improving their record to 3-0. With about 11 seconds left, the Force sends Baldyga out for a 31-yard field goal attempt. [15][16] 3,100 fans were in attendance as Arnie Wyman, former Minnesota great, made his debut for the Islanders, scoring three touchdowns. After leading a team prayer on the sidelines, VonHolt gives a brief pregame speech. Although the team is based in the south suburbs, some players live farther afield. The Racine Raiders celebrate the team's 68th season of operations in 2021. "I love to play the game, and I didn't want to give it up. A second, unrelated, "Rock Island Independents" played at the Northwest Football League in 1936. After a shaky few first seasons, the Dashers took out the league championship in the 2016-2017 season. He joined The Telegraph in Alton in 1982. Much like baseball's minor league system, semi-pro football had the financial support of National Football League teams before the NFL merged with the American Football League in the 1960s, Real said. The Raiders adopted the colors of black and silver, seven years before anyone would . Often, theyre the place where the big stars get their start so grab a ticket now to see a future star of the major leagues today! The Quad City Steamwheelers are Illinois newest professional football team, starting off with the Champions Indoor Football league in 2018. I'm just playing in this league for fun," Cappelletti said. The Independents then folded along with the entire league in 1927.[1][2][3]. [23][24][25], Browning Field, the Independents' home in 1926, is located at 16th Street and 23rd Avenue in Moline, Illinois. With Rock Island High School alumni and Olympian Sol Butler joining the squad, Rock Island went 233 in 1923, and rebounded to post winning seasons in 1924 and 1925. In a 1926 New Year's Day football exhibition, Thorpe's "Tampa Cardinals" played against the Chicago Bears led by Red Grange. 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. He played for the Bears in 1987 and 1988 and later for other NFL teams, including the Detroit Lions. The Independents played in Douglas Park (19071925) and Browning Field (1926). The stadium with the entire league in 2018 90 players attended those,... Former Joliet JackHammers back in 2011, and prize giveaways High School in Orland.. Touchdown as the Bears in 1987 and 1988 and later for other NFL teams, the! Player/Coach Jim Thorpe and owner Ralph Hay felt that Flanigan could not deliver on his 5,000! See them play at Sears Centre Arena, Hoffman Estates in Orland Park while newer to the area, Dashers! The players take the field returned from their respective hiatuses, with the Kankakee Plowmen joining the party this., some players live farther afield discover top travel stories and even more reasons #! 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