A second, unrelated, "Rock Island Independents" played at the Northwest Football League in 1936. Our local sports club consists of athletes ages 18-40 who are looking to compete, have fun and hone their football skills. December 9, 1923. November 18, 1917. 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. 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. Illinois minor leagues serve up top quality action every season. Flanigan then ordered the team's tackle, Ed Healey relieve Coughlin. This will be a great opportunity for the community to embrace something positive. Once Coughlin was safely on his way toward the sideline, Healey delivered a message to Jimmy Conzelman from Flanigan, it read: "Coughlin was fired! 3 team in the nation. Both men face charges of armed bank robbery, using a firearm during the robbery, and causing death, per the Sun-Times. "Probably 20 percent of the players want to take the next step ," said Ed O'Reilly of Lisle, the offensive coordinator for the semi-pro DuPage Eagles and a coach on that level for 25 years. Based in Chicago, the MSFL currently consists of 16 teams; ten in Illinois, three in Indiana, and three in Wisconsin. The Miners, named for the Southern Illinois regions history of coal mining, play in the West Division of the Frontier League. Delavan, Madison (WI), Calumet City (IN) and the Chicago Hornets, Aurora Clippers and Chicago Panthers of Illinois. "You don't have to deal with the crowds," says fan Joel Bultsma of Alsip, holding his 3-year-old son, Joshua, along the fence near the Force bench. For the latest news and information, please continue to visit uflfootball.com. Lost to Minneapolis Marines 337. The post goes on to allege the league doesn't support its teams, coaches, players and game day staffers. King, who is from Miami, Florida, was found in a nearby wooded area hours after the attack, per the affidavit. A field goal by the Cyclones made it 6-6 at halftime. 2005 saw the MSFL return with arguably the strongest team line-up in the Midwest. 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. He joined The Telegraph in Alton in 1982. 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. The Independents played in Douglas Park (19071925) and Browning Field (1926). They started out in the former North Central League as the Will County Claws, before joining the Heartland League as the Will County Cheetahs and then the Cook County Cheetahs. This is a stepping stone for us. He was arrested after crashing the car. The Bloomington Renegades are one of two new teams joining the semi-pro, Mid-West United Football League. "My dream is to play pro football, but if this is what it is for me, fine. We were having a tryout there and one of my coaches called me and said he saw artificial turf. After finishing fourth in 1920, their best overall finish in the National Football League standings was fifth, which they accomplished three times: in 1921 and 1922 under Jimmy Conzelman, and in 1924 under Johnny Armstrong.[8]. We will provide the local community with a fabulous experience at all Cowboys home games. I have been a teacher at Pakuranga College in Auckland, New Zealand since January 2007. This is a carousel. In their opener against the Cyclones, the Cougars went in as heavy underdogs against the defending CMFL Fans champions. The Cubs, Sox, Bears, Blackhawks, Bulls theyre larger-than-life names ingrained in the minds of everyone with even a passing interest in sport. 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. The Racine Raiders celebrate the team's 68th season of operations in 2021. The Independents then signed Elmer Layden, one of the Four Horsemen of Notre Dame for 1926. 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. The Marion Indians previously played there in the class D Illinois State League though only for two seasons, 1947-1948. Id say the oldest is probably around 30.. Cubs Park (Wrigley Field) 8,000. A new team is kicking off this year in the Bloomington-Normal area. Hit up Santos Sports for all your pregame accessories tape,mouthpieces,gloves,belts,socks,etc. 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's best showing was in 1990 and 1991, when it went to the finals and lost to the Scranton-Wilkes Barre (Pa.) Eagles and the Brooklyn Kings, respectively. Cubs Park (Wrigley Field) 6,500. On Saturday, June 29, your Illinois Cowboys semi-pro football team along with their friends and families plus thousands of other men, women and children will gather on Chicagos lakefront to raise funds and awareness for the fight to end hunger in Cook County. -Victor Mcghee (773) 817-1310, The Illinois Cowboys will be teamed up with Excellent Way Out Reach Center for a toy and coat drive ! The (ILC) will provide clean and exciting entertainment to the community, and will also give aspiring players an opportunity to achieve their athletic dreams. 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. 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 association organizes the playoffs, a series of games leading to the Super Bowl of the semi-pros. 2,000. The Cowboys will maintain a professionally run organization from top to bottom. Like the Cougars, the Peoria Chiefs play in the Midwest League of Minor League Baseball. The Independents were the only NFL team to make the jump to the rival league. They hosted what has been retrospectively designated the first National Football League game on September 26, 1920 at Douglas Park. Never having lost a game in their MSFL tenure, the Detroit Seminoles decided to move to the Mid Continental Football League for stronger competition. November 7, 1920 Tied Decatur Staleys 00. The Independents were a founding National Football League franchise. They dropped a 26-12 decision in their opener Saturday to the Missouri Cyclones at Summit High School in Fenton, Missouri. On the Force's final drive, Tomlinson's runs and passes take the Force down to the Eagles' 14-yard line. After its founding, the 1910 team went undefeated and were not scored on in five games. The Illini Panthers said they were looking at other options for the organization. Sports editor Pete Hayes is a 43-year journalist. [8], The National Football League was formed over the course of two meetings in 1920. 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). They allegedly shot him in the face in the June 11 incident in Gary, Indiana. Of the 30 new inductees 20 are former players. 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. As owner, Huntington spends about $1,500 of his own money to help operate the team. To help cover league fees, the Force charges its players $150, which pays for the home and away jerseys players can keep after the season and for the league's annual team participation fee. 4130 SIndianaAvenue. The players are responsible for doing their homework and staying in shape, Baldyga said. See them play at the David S. Palmer Arena. October 18, 1925. Hence, the team was named the "Independents. 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. Force defensive tackle Pete Cappelletti, 26, of Rockford has played professional football before and hopes to again. 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. One of the first professional football teams, the Independents were founded in 1907 by Demetrius Clements as an independent football club. A new team is kicking off this year in the Bloomington-Normal area. Johnson hired Vince McCarthy, the Independents' back-up quarterback as the new general manager. Although the Metro East Stallions folded after only one season, the MSFL was able to double in size by adding the Detroit Seminoles, Michiana Saints, and Michigan Huskies from the Michigan Football League, as well as the new expansion team the Lake County Steelers. [21][22], The Independents' overall NFL record was 26149, with five winning seasons in six years. Klepser, an Elmhurst paramedic, cares for game injuries and gives the players advice about staying in shape during the year. The minutes of this meeting are in Pro Football Hall of Fame archives. The semi-pro football team will play its home games this year at on the artificial turf field at Gordon Moore Park. Defeated Green Bay Packers 30. Lost to Chicago Bears 73. For about 45 minutes, the teams run through their pregame warmups. In 1926, in what became their final year of existence, the Independents moved to Browning Field in neighboring Moline, Illinois. Lost to Chicago Bears 60. 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. The Elmhurst Travelers, coached . Scout Mike McCartney said there are "plenty of guys who have played in the NFL this year alone" to fill the Bears' needs. 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