2014 Marion Blue Racers season

Last updated
2014 Marion Blue Racers season
OwnerLaMonte and Shavonne Coleman
Head coachMarc Huddleston (fired March 6: 3-1 record)
LaMonte Coleman (interim)
General managerLaMonte Coleman
Home field Veterans Memorial Coliseum
220 East Fairground Street
Marion, OH 43302
Results
Record8–2
Division place1st
Playoff finishWon South Division Championship (River Monsters) 56-40
Lost CIFL Championship Game (Explosion) 26–38

The 2014 Marion Blue Racers season was the fourth season for the Continental Indoor Football League (CIFL) franchise.

Contents

In May 2013, the Blue Racers announced that they were leaving the CIFL again, this time to join the Xtreme Indoor Football League. [1] The league was supposed to be run by Blue Racers owner LaMonte Coleman. However, in August 2013, the Blue Racers re-signed with the CIFL to a multi-year contract. Coleman has hired Marc Huddleston as the 2014 Head Coach and Director of Football Operations. After a 5–1 start, the Blue Racers announced that Coleman would be taking over as the team's head coach. The Blue Racers recovered from a down season in 2013, by winning the CIFL's new South Division title, clinching them home-field advantage in the South Division playoffs. [2] The Blue Racers faced off against the Northern Kentucky River Monsters in the South Division title game and won 56–40. [3] With the win over Northern Kentucky, the Blue Racers clinched their second berth in the CIFL Championship Game. After three quarters of play, the Blue Racers were tied at 26 with the Erie Explosion in the 2014 CIFL Championship Game when Aaron Smentanka found Evan Twombly for a score. After Marion turned over the ball on downs, Richard Stokes scored again for the Explosion, which turned out to be the final score of the game, making the score 38–26. [4]

Roster

2014 Marion Blue Racers roster

Quarterbacks

Offensive backs

  • 22Chris Brooks

Wide Receivers

  • 80Gerald Byrd
  • 33Seth Steven
 

Offensive Linemen

  • --Bobby Gay
  • --J. T. Haynes
  • 75Robert Price
  • 77Kris Stafford

Defensive Linemen

  • 99Mike Cross
  • 88Will Haase
  • 55Joshua Montgomery
 Linebackers
  • 27Gaines Burnett
  • 28Korrion Wade

Defensive backs

  •  7Dante Barnes
  • --Chris Crayton
  • 21Bryceson Lawrence
  • 25Steve Witherspoon
  • --Chad Woodfork

Kickers

  • 34Josh Berkshire
Injured reserve
  • Currently vacant

Exempt list

  • Currently vacant

Practice squad

  • Currently vacant
  • Rookies in italics
  • Roster updated April 5, 2014
  • 22 Active, 0 Inactive, 0 PS

Schedule

Regular season

WeekDateKickoffOpponentResultsGame site
Final scoreTeam record
1 Bye
2February 94:00 P.M. EST Kentucky Xtreme W 69-131-0 Veterans Memorial Coliseum
3February 162:00 P.M. ESTat Erie Explosion L 23-431-1 Erie Insurance Arena
4February 234:00 P.M. EST Dayton Sharks W 50-412-1 Veterans Memorial Coliseum
5March 24:00 P.M. EST Northern Kentucky River Monsters W 27-203-1 Veterans Memorial Coliseum
6March 94:00 P.M. EST Erie Explosion W 22-214-1 Veterans Memorial Coliseum
7 Bye
8March 217:30 p.m. ESTat Bluegrass Warhorses W 52-285-1 Alltech Arena
9 Bye
10April 57:30 P.M. ESTat Dayton Sharks W 46-366-1 Hara Arena
11April 127:30 p.m. ESTat Saginaw Sting L 25-286-2 Dow Event Center
12April 194:00 p.m. ESTat Detroit Thunder W 2-0 (Forfeit)7-2 Fraser Hockeyland
13April 274:00 p.m. ESTColumbus War Eagles*W 61-28-2 Veterans Memorial Coliseum
14 Bye

*The Columbus War Eagles played a fill in game for the Port Huron Patriots, who forfeited the final 3 games of the season.

Standings

2014 Continental Indoor Football League
TeamOverallDivision
WLTPCTWLTPCT
North Division
y-Saginaw Sting 910.900610.857
x-Erie Explosion 820.800510.833
Chicago Blitz 730.700420.667
z-Port Huron Patriots 180.111160.143
z-Detroit Thunder 080.000060.000
South Division
y-Marion Blue Racers 820.8006001.000
x-Northern Kentucky River Monsters 730.700520.714
Dayton Sharks 640.600430.571
z-Bluegrass Warhorses 170.125150.167
z-Kentucky Xtreme050.000040.000

Postseason

WeekDateKickoffOpponentResultsGame site
Final scoreTeam record
South Division ChampionshipMay 107:30 P.M. EST Northern Kentucky River Monsters W 56-401-0 Veterans Memorial Coliseum
2014 CIFL Championship Game May 184:00 P.M. EST Erie Explosion L 26-381-1 Veterans Memorial Coliseum

Coaching staff

2014 Marion Blue Racers staff
Front Office
  • CEO/General Manager – LaMonte Coleman
  • CFO/Owner – Shavonne Coleman
  • Chief Marketing Officer– Ryan Sawyer
  • Lead Designer – Justin Boyd
  • Event Manager - Kate Servick
  • Dance Director- Michelle Emmerson

Head Coach

  • Director of Football Ops./Head Coach – Marc Huddleston

Offensive Coaches

  • Offensive Coordinator – Marc Huddleston
  • Running Backs - Open
  • Wide Receivers – Marc Huddleston
  • Offensive Line – Rick Butler
  • Intern Strength Coach- Devin Stover
 

Defensive Coaches

  • Defensive Coordinator – Robert Price
  • Defensive Line – Robert Price
  • Secondary – Rich Stotts/Devin Stover
  • Special Teams- Rick Butler
  • Equipment Mgr.- Andy Cook

Related Research Articles

Continental Indoor Football League

The Continental Indoor Football League (CIFL) was an indoor football league based along the Midwestern United States region that played nine seasons from 2006 to 2014. It began play in April 2006 as the Great Lakes Indoor Football League (GLIFL). It was formed by Jeff Spitaleri, his brother Eric, and a third member, Cory Trapp, all from the Canton, Ohio, area.

Port Huron Pirates American indoor football team

The Port Huron Pirates were a professional indoor football team based in Port Huron, Michigan. The team was a charter member of the Great Lakes Indoor Football League (GLIFL) joining the league in 2006 as an expansion team. The Pirates were the first professional indoor football team to be based in Port Huron. They played their home games at McMorran Arena in Port Huron, Michigan.

Erie Explosion

The Erie Explosion was a professional American indoor football team based in Erie, Pennsylvania. Founded in 2007 as the Pittsburgh RiverRats, the Explosion played in the Professional Indoor Football League, the United Indoor Football League, the Southern Indoor Football League, the Continental Indoor Football League and the American Indoor Football Association and operated continuously from 2007 to 2015.

CIFL Championship Game

The CIFL Championship Game was the annual championship game of the Continental Indoor Football League (CIFL). In 2006, it was the meeting of the two semifinal game winners. Following the 2007 and 2008 season, the game was between the Great Lakes Division champion and the Atlantic Division champion. In 2009 the league was divided into an East and West Division.

Cincinnati Commandos

The Cincinnati Commandos were a professional indoor football team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. The team suspended operations for the 2013 season, with hope of returning in 2014. They began play in 2010 as an expansion team in the Continental Indoor Football League before moving to the United Indoor Football League in 2012. The Commandos then left the UIFL after winning Ultimate Bowl II and re-joined the CIFL, but never took the field after its announcement. The Commandos were the fifth arena or indoor football in Cincinnati, after the Cincinnati Rockers, Cincinnati Swarm, Cincinnati Marshals, and Cincinnati Jungle Kats. The owners of the Commandos are Dennis Whitman and Paul Napier. The Commandos played their home games at Cincinnati Gardens.

Marion Blue Racers

The Marion Blue Racers were a professional indoor football team based in Marion, Ohio. The Blue Racers began play as an expansion team in the Continental Indoor Football League (CIFL) in 2011, before moving to the United Indoor Football League (UIFL) for the 2012 season. The Blue Racers returned to the CIFL in 2013. The team had announced that it would be joining the Xtreme Indoor Football League (XIFL) for the 2014, but later re-signed with the CIFL. During the 2015 season, the Blue Racers played as members of X-League Indoor Football.

Mike Anthony Tatum is an indoor American football wide receiver for the Bismarck Bucks of the Indoor Football League (IFL). He played college football at Oxnard College. He signed as an undrafted free agent with the Marion Mayhem in 2009. He played with the Mayhem until their demise during the 2010 season. Tatum then finished the 2010 season with the Fort Wayne FireHawks. Tatum then returned to Marion in 2011, when a new franchise called the Marion Blue Racers expanded into the CIFL. Tatum has also played for the Everett Raptors of the IFL. Tatum is known for his return capabilities, winning Special Teams Player of the Year in 2 different leagues.

Thomas McKenzie

Thomas "T.J." McKenzie is a former indoor football defensive lineman.

Port Huron Patriots Defunct indoor football team in Michigan, USA

The Port Huron Patriots were a professional indoor football team based in Port Huron, Michigan. The team was a member of the North Division of the Continental Indoor Football League (CIFL). The Patriots joined the CIFL in 2012 as an expansion team. The Patriots were the third indoor football team to be based in Port Huron, the first being CIFL charter members and inaugural champions the Port Huron Pirates (2006–2007), and the other being the CIFL based Port Huron Predators. The Owners of the Patriots were Jude Carter, Lonnie Nichols, Lance Nichols, David Nichols, Larry Page, Matt Wuchte and Nick Kennedy-Saura. The Patriots played their home games at the McMorran Arena.

Louisville Xtreme Indoor football team based in Louisville, Kentucky, USA

The Louisville Xtreme are an indoor football team based in Louisville, Kentucky, with home games at the KFC Yum! Center. They began play as the Kentucky Xtreme in the Continental Indoor Football League (CIFL) in 2013 and 2014. Midway through the 2014 CIFL season, the league removed the team's membership and the Xtreme temporarily suspended operations. After playing the 2015 season in the semi-professional Minor League Football Alliance (MLFA), the team rebranded as the Louisville Xtreme in 2017. In 2020, the Xtreme were added to the American Arena League (AAL) but cancelled its season citing the COVID-19 pandemic. For the 2021 season, the Xtreme were announced to be joining the National Arena League, but instead joined the Indoor Football League three months later.

The 2012 Marion Blue Racers season was the 2nd season for the United Indoor Football League (UIFL) franchise.

The 2013 Marion Blue Racers season is the third season for the Continental Indoor Football League (CIFL) franchise.

Detroit Thunder

The Detroit Thunder was a professional indoor football team based in Fraser, Michigan. The team was a member of the Continental Indoor Football League. The Thunder were the third indoor football team to have called the Motor City home, following two Arena Football League teams: the four-time ArenaBowl champion Detroit Drive (1988–1993) and the Detroit Fury (2001–2004). In addition, a team called the Motor City Reapers was proposed for the 2007 CIFL season, but the team folded before ever playing a single game. The Thunder were owned by Terrence and Lawrence Foster.

The 2013 Continental Indoor Football League season will be the Continental Indoor Football League's eighth overall season. The regular season will start on Friday February 8, with the Marion Blue Racers visiting the Saginaw Sting at the Dow Event Center, and will end with the 2013 CIFL Championship Game, the league's championship game being held on, or around, May 18. The league approved the expansion of the playoff format from four teams to six teams.

Shawn Liotta is currently the Head Football Coach at Burrell High School and is the author of the book "No Huddle No Mercy" which details his record setting offensive system that has been used by football programs around the world.

The 2014 Continental Indoor Football League season was the Continental Indoor Football League's ninth overall season. The regular season started on Monday February 3, with the Northern Kentucky River Monsters visiting the Bluegrass Warhorses at the Alltech Arena, and ended with the 2014 CIFL Championship Game, the league's championship game held on May 18.

The 2014 Saginaw Sting season was the sixth season for the Continental Indoor Football League (CIFL) franchise.

The 2015 Marion Blue Racers season was the fifth season for the indoor football franchise, and their first in the X-League Indoor Football.

The 2012 Western Pennsylvania Sting season was the first season and only season for the Ultimate Indoor Football League (UIFL) franchise.

The 2013 Ultimate Indoor Football League season was the third season of the league. The league contracted down to just 6 teams.

References

  1. "Blue Racers, Three Other Teams Join Newly Formed XIFL". www.oursportscentral.com. OurSports Central. May 28, 2013. Retrieved June 11, 2013.
  2. "Blue Racers Are CIFL South Champs, Ready for Port Huron". www.oursportscentral.com. OurSports Central. April 21, 2014. Retrieved April 22, 2014.
  3. Danny McPherson (May 10, 2014). "Solid physical effort leads Blue Racers to title game". www.marionstar.com. Marion Star. Archived from the original on May 19, 2014. Retrieved May 19, 2014.
  4. Danny McPherson (May 19, 2014). "Blue Racers fall to Erie Explosion in Continental Indoor Football League championship game". www.marionstar.com. Marion Star. Archived from the original on May 19, 2014. Retrieved May 19, 2014.