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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 (NAL) for the 2017 season. The Lions were founded in 2006 as an expansion team of the World Indoor Football League (WIFL). After the WIFL went under in 2007, the Lions joined the American Indoor Football Association (AIFA) where they played for two seasons. When the AIFA broke apart, the Lions joined the Southern Indoor Football League (SIFL). The Lions joined the Professional Indoor Football League (PIFL) in 2012 when the Southern Indoor Football League (SIFL) teams split up into two new leagues. After the 2015 season, the PIFL broke apart, and the Lions joined American Indoor Football for 2016.
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 an expansion team of the American Indoor Football Association (AIFA). The Raiders moved to the Southern Indoor Football League (SIFL) 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 single season in the SIFL the Raiders, along with four other members of the SIFL, became the charter members of the Professional Indoor Football League (PIFL). The team was then a member the PIFL from 2012 to 2015.
The Albany Panthers were an indoor football team based in Albany, Georgia. The team joined the Southern Indoor Football League (SIFL) during their inaugural season in 2010. When the SIFL folded, the team joined the Professional Indoor Football League (PIFL) in 2012. The Panthers' home games were played at the Albany Civic Center until 2014.
The Lehigh Valley Steelhawks were a professional indoor football team based in Allentown, Pennsylvania. The Steelhawks began play as an expansion team in the Indoor Football League (IFL) in 2011. The Steelhawks moved to the Professional Indoor Football League (PIFL) in 2013, where they made their only championship game appearance to date, losing PIFL Cup III to the Nashville Venom. The team joined American Indoor Football for the 2016 season after the PIFL folded, which lasted one season before that league also folded. They joined the National Arena League for the 2017 and 2018 seasons. The Steelhawks are the Lehigh Valley's second indoor football team, following the defunct Lehigh Valley Outlawz of the Continental Indoor Football League (2005–2008). Both teams played their home games at Stabler Arena. The Steelhawks played their home games at the PPL Center.
The Alabama Hammers were a professional indoor football team based in Huntsville, Alabama. The team played in the Professional Indoor Football League (PIFL) from 2012 to 2015. The Hammers originally began play as an expansion team in the Southern Indoor Football League in 2011. The Hammers are the fourth indoor football team to play at the Von Braun Center; these were the Alabama Vipers of the AFL (2010), the Tennessee Valley Vipers of the af2, and the Tennessee Valley Raptors of the United Indoor Football league (2005). 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 state bird of Alabama.
The Professional Indoor Football League (PIFL) was a professional indoor football league that played four seasons from 2012 to 2015. 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 2013 Professional Indoor Football League season was the second season of the Professional Indoor Football League (PIFL). The regular season began March 8, 2013, and ended on June 22, 2013. Each team played a 12-game schedule. The top 4 teams in the regular season standings commenced the playoffs on July 1. The final was played July 8, with the Alabama Hammers defeating the Richmond Raiders to win their first league championship.
The Nashville Venom were a professional indoor football team, one of eight franchises of the Professional Indoor Football League (PIFL). Based in Nashville, Tennessee, the Venom were members of the American Conference. The team began play in 2014 as an expansion team. The team played at Nashville Municipal Auditorium in Nashville, which opened in 1962.
The Trenton Freedom was a professional indoor football team based in Trenton, New Jersey. The Freedom were a member of the Professional Indoor Football League (PIFL). The Freedom began play in 2014 as an expansion member of the PIFL. The Freedom played their home games at the Sun National Bank Center.
Anthony Allen Shutt is an American football defensive back who is currently a free agent. He played college football for Florida A&M University. He was signed as a free agent by the Columbus Lions in 2013.
Randy Hippeard is an American football quarterback who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the Winterthur Warriors of Nationalliga A in Switzerland as an undrafted free agent in 2009. He played college football at University of Virginia's College at Wise.
Robert Lee Chapple is an American football quarterback for the Atlanta Havoc of the American Arena League (AAL). He signed with the Colorado Ice as an undrafted free agent in 2012. He played college football at the University of North Alabama after transferring out of Georgia Southern University.
The 2013 Columbus Lions season was the seventh season for the professional indoor football franchise and their second in the Professional Indoor Football League (PIFL). The Lions were one of seven teams that competed in the PIFL for the 2013 season.
The 2014 Nashville Venom season was the first season as a professional indoor football franchise and their first in the Professional Indoor Football League (PIFL). The Venom were of eight teams competing in the PIFL for the 2014 season.
The 2014 Trenton Freedom season was the first season as a professional indoor football franchise and their first in the Professional Indoor Football League (PIFL). One of 8 teams that competed in the PIFL for the 2014 season.
The 2012 Albany Panthers season was the third season as a professional indoor football franchise and their first in the Professional Indoor Football League (PIFL).
The 2012 Columbus Lions season was the sixth season for the professional indoor football franchise and their first in the Professional Indoor Football League (PIFL).
The 2015 Professional Indoor Football League season was the fourth and last season of the Professional Indoor Football League (PIFL). The regular season began March 27, 2015, and end on June 20, 2015. Each team played an 11 or 12-game schedule. The top 4 teams in the league advanced to the playoffs that began on June 27, 2015.
The 2015 Columbus Lions season was the ninth season for the indoor football franchise and their fourth in the Professional Indoor Football League (PIFL). They won PIFL Cup IV over the Richmond Raiders.
Mason Espinosa is a professional American football quarterback for the Columbus Lions of the National Arena League (NAL). He has also played for the Albany Empire, the Erie Explosion and the Billings Wolves. Espinosa played college football for Ohio Wesleyan University. He currently holds 17 individual Ohio Wesleyan records, as well as being the all-time North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) career leader in passing yards and total yards, while also setting a single season NCAC record for completions.