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. [8], The National Football League was formed over the course of two meetings in 1920. However, there have been soccer and football practices on them. Field 4 is a full-size soccer field, while Field 3 is marked for both football and soccer. 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.". 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. Flanigan then ordered the team's tackle, Ed Healey relieve Coughlin. Their desire is to become a staple for the community, and they want to stay in Bloomington for a long time. Walter Flanigan was the owner of the Independents 1915 to 1923. [9][10], A second and considerably larger meeting was held on September 17, 1920. Cubs Park (Wrigley Field) 7,000. 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. 4130 S Indiana Avenue. Are you eager to get involved with our amazing semi-pro league football community in Rockford, IL? Offensive Coordinator Kevin Burage (773) 426-0221, Recruiter/Asst.GM. The 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. The post goes on to allege the league doesn't support its teams, coaches, players and game day staffers. Comments 3 ALTON - The Central. And yes, the name is indeed a reference to that famous Joliet landmark.See them play at Joliet Route 66 Stadium, Joliet. 2023 Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity, The Chicago Union were founded in 2013 and compete in the Central Division of the, Eco-Friendly Hotels and GreenGetaways in Illinois, Five Champaign Restaurants Perfect for a Romantic Outing, Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. Lincoln-Way Patriots Semi-Pro Football Team | Tinley Park IL Although the Roscoe Rush left the MSFL to compete in the Ironman Football League, 2006 saw two new teams join (the Mid-State Steel and the Lafayette Lions). Try 7 Days Free to get access to 836 million+ pages, Search the Largest Online Newspaper Archive. For the following two seasons, he served as the team's assistant manager, under then-manager Jack Roche. Founding American Football League teams for 1926 were the Boston Bulldogs, Brooklyn Horsemen, Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Panthers, Los Angeles Wildcats, Newark Bears, New York Yankees, Philadelphia Quakers and the Rock Island Independents. Search for Quick Approved Loans - Get One Now! You probably know the names of Illinois major league teams in the big four American sports of baseball, football, ice hockey and basketball. ", (If the Bears are any indication, the dreams of the semi-pros will go unfulfilled. New players and a return to the CMFL meant extra preparation, according to Myles. 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. [8] After the 1925 season, Thorpe formed a team composed primarily of his teammates from the Rock Island Independents, that would play several games throughout Florida. See them play at TaxSlayer Center, Moline. The Mid-State Steel and Indiana Titans returned from their respective hiatuses, with the Kankakee Plowmen joining the party. The Independents played in Douglas Park (19071925) and Browning Field (1926). "I've never been OK with a loss," Myles said, "but we saw so many positive things about this group of men.". We only have two days to prepare for a team, which is difficult. It will be a unifying experience for people to come and cheer for a common cause, and most importantly to have fun! 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. Although the proposed Milwaukee Rage, Dwight Blitz, Kankakee Bisons, Maywood Gators and Lincoln Tigers would never play a single MSFL down, the new MSFL had three teams which had won league titles the previous year (Chicago Thunder, Leyden Lions, and Roscoe Rush), three more which were league runners-up the prior season (Force of Illinois, Illinois Firehawks, and Indiana Titans). But they said the fields would be torn up because they were installing artificial turf. The Hunger Walk is a fun opportunity for all types of . The Cougars first game will be in late April or early May. The Elmhurst Travelers Semi Pro Football Team played in the Bi-State, Tri State and Central States Leagues from 1927 - 1968. Two men shot and killed a bank security guard in Indiana to rob nearly $10,000 in order to pay off the bills of an amateur football team one of the men owned and coached, the Chicago Sun-Times reported. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate. They are unranked in the latest ratings available. 2005 saw the MSFL return with arguably the strongest team line-up in the Midwest. Chicago, IL 60653-2197. Nonetheless, that year showed a battle of past and present dynasties compete for the MSFL title, with the Chicago Thunder defeating the Force of Illinois in overtime for the championship after both teams had played to a 21-21 tie in regulation. The FBI released a 17-page affidavit and acting U.S. Attorney Tina Nommay said her office will ask the U.S. Department of Justice for permission to seek the death penalty. The association organizes the playoffs, a series of games leading to the Super Bowl of the semi-pros. Official Site of the United Football League, google.com, pub-6849808367135271, DIRECT, f08c47fec0942fa0, Copyright 2023 Official Site of the United Football League. 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.". Of the 30 new inductees 20 are former players. The Chicago Bulls also own and operate the team. You are in 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. According to the league's website, it was formed in 2021 and features 11 man football, with the goal of all teams thriving. Fans will be able to see the next up and coming athletes, as well as former High School and. The Eastern Wisconsin Slayers is a adult semi-pro football team that participates in the Northern Lights Football. But it was some path getting here. We have played most of our games in smaller communities around Central Illinois, Myles said. Field 4 is a tournament-size soccer field which is suitable for IHSA sanctioned play. And while they ended up on the short end of the score, Myles said he and his coaching staff were encouraged by their team's performance. Although the Dowagiac Dawgs and Milwaukee Marauders joined that season, it saw the Chicago Panthers, Michiana Saints, and Michigan Huskies fold before year's end, once again reducing the league size to four times. Fill out an application today. 1 talking about this. On the field, under the lights, players collide in bone-crunching hits, stretch to make fingertip catches and give their all in clutch, last-minute plays. In addition to the Force of Illinois returning, the MSFL took on the Lansing Lightning (previously independent), Cook County Punishers (previously of the Chicagoland Football League), Chicago Lawmen (Tri-State Football League), and the newly-formed Milwaukee Avalanche (replacing the Milwaukee Marauders, who had joined another league). In what proved to be a fatal move, after the 1925 season Johnson moved the team to the American Football League. Lost to Green Bay Packers 020. Theyre also renowned for their pre-game pyrotechnics. Lost to Chicago Cardinals 07. But theres more to sport in Illinois than just the big names. Like the Cougars, the Peoria Chiefs play in the Midwest League of Minor League Baseball. The Independents then folded along with the entire league in 1927.[1][2][3]. Saturday's game at Bunker Hill will actually be a home game for the Eagles. 4130 S Indiana Avenue. Im excited about it, Myles said. After scouts watched the game, 29 players got tryouts with NFL teams, and a few made the pros that year. Klepser, an Elmhurst paramedic, cares for game injuries and gives the players advice about staying in shape during the year. 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. But Canton, which had already won the "Ohio League" championship by defeating the Massillon Tigers, turned down the offer. "Other than that, they are big boys.". The new coach was Conzelman!" At the start of the third quarter, the Cyclones recovered a surprise onside kick starting the second half and went on to score and took a 13-6 lead.The Cougars rallied late, picking off a pass and taking it back to the two-yard line and punching it in for a score, but the Cyclones would put the game out of reach with a late score and went on to win. The Rockford IceHogs are part of the American Hockey League, often going head-to-head with the Wolves. As a result, the team was named the "Independents.". Castellana was a retired Cook County sheriff's deputy. The dictionary is the only place success comes before work. The Central Illinois Cougars have played home games at various sites since their formation in 1998, but this is the first time the team will play home games on artificial turf. He later played semi-pro football for the now defunct Springfield (Illinois) Buccaneers. October 18, 1925. However, it was the Detroit Seminoles who got their third straight MSFL crown and perfect season, with this championship being over the Punishers by a score of 27-7. Coached by Johnny Armstrong, the Independents played their first three games at Browning Field and then played the rest of their 1926 games as a traveling team. They left with $9,771.09, officials said. Workers were smoothing the concrete for the first section of parking lot and drive-through lane An East Alton man has been charged with four felonies related to gunfire on Tuesday night in Alton. CHicago Semi-Pro Football Teams 7-13-80 Copyright 2023 Revolution Football, all rights reserved. After the game, VonHolt has mixed feelings as his team's record drops to 2-1. Force players and the rival DuPage Eagles drive up in their own cars and tote their own equipment to the field. He joined The Telegraph in Alton in 1982. 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. In a 1926 New Year's Day football exhibition, Thorpe's "Tampa Cardinals" played against the Chicago Bears led by Red Grange. Force defensive tackle Pete Cappelletti, 26, of Rockford has played professional football before and hopes to again. I'm just playing in this league for fun," Cappelletti said. Theres a long lead-in time for big sets of bleachers.. The Independents were founded in 1907 by Demetrius Clements as an independent football club. Defeated Moline Fans Association 570. In 2011, the MSFL announced that the Lake Geneva Generals and the Springfield Foxes have both been accepted as the newest members of the Mid-States Football League for the upcoming 2011 season. Douglas Park hosts an annual tribute football game to the Independents, played in retro uniforms and using early football rules. 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