2017 Indoor Football League season

Last updated

2017 IFL season
League Indoor Football League
Sport Indoor Football
DurationFebruary 16, 2017 – June 17, 2017
Number of teams10
Regular season
Season MVPCharles McCullum (Wichita Falls Nighthawks)
Playoffs
Intense championsArizona Rattlers
  Intense runners-upNebraska Danger
United championsSioux Falls Storm
  United runners-upIowa Barnstormers
2017 United Bowl
ChampionsArizona Rattlers
  Runners-upSioux Falls Storm
Finals MVPJustin Shirk (LB, ARI)
IFL seasons

The 2017 Indoor Football League season was the ninth season of the Indoor Football League (IFL). Playing with ten teams in two conferences spread across the midwestern and western United States, the league's regular season kicked off on February 16, 2017, when the Salt Lake Screaming Eagles hosted the Nebraska Danger. The regular season ended 18 weeks later on June 18, 2017, with the defending league champion Sioux Falls Storm visiting the Iowa Barnstormers and the Wichita Falls Nighthawks visiting the Nebraska Danger. The playoffs were held in two rounds, with the top two seeds in each conference playing against each other in the conference championships. The winner of those games met in the United Bowl. [1] [2]

Contents

Teams

For 2017, the IFL maintained its two-conference, no-divisions format, with each of the ten teams playing 16 games during the 18-week regular season. The Billings Wolves and Tri-Cities Fever announced their suspension of operations for the 2017 season, maintaining hope of a return for 2018. [3] [4] In their place, the Salt Lake Screaming Eagles (owned by Project FANchise, with fans controlling every aspect of the team) were accepted into the IFL as an expansion team, [5] and the Arizona Rattlers joined the IFL after having played the last 24 seasons in the Arena Football League. [6]

TeamLocationArenaCapacityFoundedJoinedHead coach
United Conference
Cedar Rapids Titans Cedar Rapids, Iowa U.S. Cellular Center 6,90020122012 Marvin McNutt
Green Bay Blizzard Green Bay, Wisconsin Resch Center 8,60020032010Chris Williams
Iowa Barnstormers Des Moines, Iowa Wells Fargo Arena 15,18119952015Dixie Wooten
Sioux Falls Storm Sioux Falls, South Dakota Denny Sanford Premier Center 10,67820002009 Kurtiss Riggs
Wichita Falls Nighthawks Wichita Falls, Texas Kay Yeager Coliseum 7,38020132015Billy Back
Intense Conference
Arizona Rattlers Phoenix, Arizona Talking Stick Resort Arena 15,50519922017 Kevin Guy
Colorado Crush Loveland, Colorado Budweiser Events Center 5,28920072009Jose Jefferson
Nebraska Danger Grand Island, Nebraska Eihusen Arena 6,00020112011Hurtis Chinn
Salt Lake Screaming Eagles West Valley City, Utah Maverik Center 10,00020162017 Matthew Sauk
Spokane Empire Spokane, Washington Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena 10,77120062016 Adam Shackleford

Standings

Playoffs

Semifinals 2017 United Bowl
      
I2 Nebraska 36
I1Arizona62
I1Arizona50
U1 Sioux Falls 41
U2 Iowa 32
U1Sioux Falls66

Awards

Players of the week

The following were named the top performers during the 2017 season:

WeekOffensive
Player of the Week		Defensive
Player of the Week		Special Teams
Player of the Week
1 [7] Charles McCullum
(Nighthawks)		Rashard Smith
(Storm)		Trey Wafford
(Danger)
2 [8] Verlon Reed
(Screaming Eagles)		Robert Brown
(Empire)		Tyler Williams
(Nighthawks)
3 [9] Derrick Bernard
(Danger)		Tyree Robinson
(Empire)		Tanner Graeber
(Nighthawks)
4 [10] Trevor Kennedy
(Empire)		Javicz Jones
(Barnstormers)		 Jamal Miles
(Rattlers)
5 [11] Charles Dowdell
(Empire)		Manny Asprilla
(Blizzard)		Carlton Watkins
(Storm)
6 [12] Mike Tatum
(Storm)		John Hardy-Tuliau
(Empire)		Joshua Gable
(Danger)
7 [13] Charles McCullum
(Nighthawks)		Nikolas Sierra
(Danger)		Spencer Groner
(Crush)
8 [14] Cody Sokol
(Rattlers)		Javicz Jones
(Barnstormers)		Justin Syrovatka
(Storm)
9 [15] Darrell Monroe
(Rattlers)		DaeJohn Love
(Barnstormers)		Marcus Barnett
(Titans)
10 [16] Liam Nadler
(Crush)		Eze Obiora
(Danger)		Trevor Kennedy
(Empire)
11 [17] Darrell Monroe
(Rattlers)		James Calhoun
(Screaming Eagles)		Tyler Williams
(Nighthawks)
12 [18] Travis Partridge
(Barnstormers)		 Tyler Knight
(Storm)		Tyrell Pearson
(Blizzard)
13 [19] Tre' Parmalee
(Titans)		 Khalif Mitchell
(Storm)		Sawyer Petre
(Rattlers)
14 [20] Travis Partridge
(Barnstormers)		Justin Shirk
(Rattlers)		Chris Robinson
(Screaming Eagles)
15 [21] Brady Roland
(Barnstormers)		James Calhoun
(Screaming Eagles)		Rockne Belmonte
(Nighthawks)
16 [22] Drew Powell
(Danger)		 Jamie Bender
(Barnstormers)		Tyler Williams
(Nighthawks)
17 [23] Brady Roland
(Barnstormers)		 Allen Chapman
(Rattlers)		Miles Bergner
(Crush)
18 [24] Drew Powell
(Danger)		Rashard Smith
(Storm)		Miles Bergner
(Crush)

Individual season awards

AwardWinnerPositionTeam
Most Valuable PlayerCharles McCullum Quarterback Wichita Falls Nighthawks
Offensive Player of the YearCharles McCullum Quarterback Wichita Falls Nighthawks
Defensive Player of the YearJavicz Jones Linebacker Iowa Barnstormers
Special Teams Player of the YearTyler Williams Kick returner Wichita Falls Nighthawks
Offensive Rookie of the YearVerlon Reed Quarterback Salt Lake Screaming Eagles
Defensive Rookie of the YearTrey Wafford Defensive back Nebraska Danger
Most Improved Award Travis Partridge Quarterback Iowa Barnstormers
Adam Pringle AwardJack Bramswig Wide receiver Green Bay Blizzard
Coach of the YearDixie Wooten Head coach Iowa Barnstormers

[25] [26] [27] [28]

1st Team All-IFL

Offense
Quarterback Charles McCullum, Wichita Falls
Running back Darrell Monroe, Arizona
Wide receiver Jordan Jolly, Wichita Falls
Brady Roland, Iowa
Damond Powell, Cedar Rapids
Offensive tackle Darius Savage, Nebraska
Lamar Mady, Arizona
Center Rashad Mungro, Sioux Falls
Defense
Defensive line J. D. Griggs, Spokane
Ra'Shawde Myers, Iowa
Chris McAllister, Arizona
Linebacker Javicz Jones, Iowa
Defensive back Trey Wafford, Nebraska
Allen Chapman, Arizona
Rashard Smith, Sioux Falls
James Calhoun, Salt Lake
Special teams
Kicker Rockne Belmonte, Wichita Falls
Kick returner Tyler Williams, Wichita Falls

2nd Team All-IFL

Offense
Quarterback Travis Partridge, Iowa
Running back Tyler Williams, Wichita Falls
Wide receiver Kyle Kaizer, Colorado
Devin Mahina, Salt Lake
Marquel Willis, Green Bay
Offensive tackle Kyle Bryant, Sioux Falls
D'Angelo McCray, Iowa
Center Damian Love, Arizona
Defense
Defensive end Eze Obiora, Nebraska
Claude Davis, Sioux Falls
Walter Thomas, Wichita Falls
Linebacker Tyler Knight, Sioux Falls
Defensive back Jamie Bender, Iowa
Matt Hermanson, Sioux Falls
John Hardy-Tuliau, Spokane
Manny Asprilla, Green Bay
Special teams
Kicker Sawyer Petre, Arizona
Kick returner Daniel Lindsey, Colorado

[29]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Green Bay Blizzard</span> American indoor football team

The Green Bay Blizzard are a professional indoor football team based in the Green Bay metropolitan area that competes in the Indoor Football League (IFL). The franchise was founded in 2003. The Blizzard began play in the IFL in 2010, after having played the previous seven seasons in af2, the now-defunct minor league of the Arena Football League. They play their home games at the Resch Center. The team's logo represents Bruiser, the team mascot.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tri-Cities Fever</span> American indoor football team

The Tri-Cities Fever was a professional indoor football franchise based in Kennewick, Washington. The Fever joined National Indoor Football League (NIFL) in 2005 as an expansion team. The Fever were owned by Teri Carr. From 2005 to 2016, the Fever played their home games at the Toyota Center in Kennewick, Washington. On June 30, 2016, the team announced it would go dormant for the 2017 season and beyond.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sioux Falls Storm</span> Indoor American football team

The Sioux Falls Storm are a dormant professional indoor football team based in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The Storm joined the original Indoor Football League as an expansion team in 1999 as the Sioux Falls Cobras, and first took the field for the 2000 season. They currently participate in another iteration of the Indoor Football League; prior to that, the Storm were in United Indoor Football (UIF), where they won all four of the league's championship games. In the newer IFL, the Storm have won seven of the eleven championships in the league as of 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Colorado Crush (IFL)</span> Indoor football team

The Colorado Crush were a professional indoor football team. The Crush played its home games at the Budweiser Events Center in Loveland, Colorado, outside Fort Collins.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Indoor Football League</span> Indoor American football league founded in 2008

The Indoor Football League (IFL) is a professional indoor American football league created in 2008 out of the merger between the Intense Football League and United Indoor Football. It has one of the largest number of currently active teams among indoor football leagues. As of the 2024 season, the league consists of 16 teams in two conferences with each team playing 16 games over 19 weeks.

The 2009 Indoor Football League season was the inaugural season of the Indoor Football League, a league formed as a merger between the Intense Football League and United Indoor Football. The regular season began on Friday, March 13 and ended on Saturday, July 11. The league champions were the Billings Outlaws, who defeated the RiverCity Rage in the 2009 United Bowl.

Mike Anthony Tatum is an American football coach who is the head coach and offensive coordinator for the Omaha Beef of the National Arena League (NAL). He is former indoor American football wide receiver for the Nebraska Danger, Bismarck Bucks, and the Sioux Falls Storm 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 disbanding 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Claude Davis (American football)</span> American football player (born 1989)

Claude Davis is an American professional football defensive lineman for the Las Vegas Knight Hawks of the Indoor Football League (IFL). He was signed by the New York Jets as an undrafted free agent in 2013. He played college football at the University of South Florida.

The 2014 Indoor Football League season was the sixth season of the Indoor Football League (IFL). Playing with nine teams in two conferences spread across the United States, the league's regular season kicked off on February 21, 2014, when the reigning league champion Sioux Falls Storm played host to the Nebraska Danger. The regular season ended 17 weeks later on June 21, 2014, with the Nebraska Danger visiting the Texas Revolution.

Tyler Knight is an American football coach and former linebacker who is the assistant head coach and defensive coordinator for the Omaha Beef of the National Arena League (NAL). He played college football at Mississippi Valley State, and currently plays for the Sioux City Bandits.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Billings Wolves</span> Indoor football team in Montana, US

The Billings Wolves were a professional indoor football team based in Billings, Montana and members of the Indoor Football League (IFL). The Wolves began play in 2015 as an expansion team of the IFL. The Wolves were owned by Ron Benzel and coached by Chris Dixon. The Wolves played their home games at the Rimrock Auto Arena at MetraPark.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Champions Indoor Football</span> Indoor American football league

Champions Indoor Football (CIF) was a professional indoor American football minor league created in 2014 out of the merger between the Champions Professional Indoor Football League (CPIFL) and Lone Star Football League (LSFL), plus one team from the Indoor Football League and two expansion teams.

The 2015 Indoor Football League season was the seventh season of the Indoor Football League. Playing with ten teams in two conferences located in mid-sized cities predominantly in the central United States, the league's regular season kicked off on February 28, 2015, when the reigning league champion Sioux Falls Storm travelled to the Bemidji Axemen. The regular season ended 16 weeks later on June 20, 2015, with the Green Bay Blizzard visiting the Iowa Barnstormers. The playoffs were held in two rounds with the top two teams in each conference facing off in a conference championship game followed by the winners of those games meeting in the United Bowl.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jonathan Bane</span> American football player (born 1991)

Jonathan Bane is an American football coach and former professional quarterback. He is the quarterbacks coach for the San Antonio Gunslingers of the Indoor Football League (IFL). He played college football at Dakota Wesleyan.

The 2017 Spokane Empire season was the second season for the professional indoor football franchise in the Indoor Football League (IFL). The Empire were one of ten teams that competed in the IFL for the 2017 season and were members of the Intense Conference.

The 2017 Colorado Crush season was the eleventh season for the professional indoor football franchise and ninth in the Indoor Football League (IFL). It was the second season of the franchise being labeled the Crush after playing nine seasons under the Ice moniker. The Crush were one of ten teams that competed in the IFL for the 2017 season. The Crush were members of the Intense Conference.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sean Daniels</span> American gridiron football player (born 1991)

Sean Daniels is a former American football defensive end. He played college football at Temple University.

The 2018 Indoor Football League season was the tenth season of the Indoor Football League (IFL). The league played with six teams, after the suspension of operations of three teams, the departure of another two teams, and the addition and subsequent suspension of two teams.

Mason Espinosa is an American college football coach and former professional quarterback. He is the offensive coordinator and pass game coordinator for DePauw University, positions he has held since 2022. 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.

The 2024 Indoor Football League season was the sixteenth season of the Indoor Football League (IFL). It is also the second year it functions as a de facto minor league of the UFL, having originally started as a partnership with the XFL.

References

  1. ↑ "IFL Announces 2017 Schedule - Indoor Football League". goifl.com. Archived from the original on October 27, 2016.
  2. ↑ "IFL Record and Fact Book" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on March 4, 2017. Retrieved March 3, 2017.
  3. ↑ "Billings Wolves suspend operations; team could return in 2018 | Montana Sports". Archived from the original on October 26, 2016. Retrieved December 1, 2016.
  4. ↑ The City Herald (subscription required)
  5. ↑ "IFL Announces Salt Lake City Expansion Team". OurSports Central. April 21, 2016.
  6. ↑ "IFL Announces Addition of Arizona Rattlers". IFL. October 17, 2016. Archived from the original on October 18, 2016. Retrieved December 1, 2016.
  7. ↑ "Week 1 Players of the Week Announced". www.goifl.com. Indoor Football League. February 22, 2017. Retrieved February 23, 2017.
  8. ↑ "Week 2 Players of the Week Announced". www.goifl.com. Indoor Football League. March 1, 2017. Retrieved March 2, 2017.
  9. ↑ "Week 3 Players of the Week Announced". www.goifl.com. Indoor Football League. March 8, 2017. Retrieved March 13, 2017.
  10. ↑ "Week 4 Players of the Week Announced". www.goifl.com. Indoor Football League. March 15, 2017. Retrieved March 16, 2017.
  11. ↑ "Week 5 Players of the Week Announced". www.goifl.com. Indoor Football League. March 22, 2017. Retrieved March 22, 2017.
  12. ↑ "Week 6 Players of the Week Announced". www.goifl.com. Indoor Football League. March 29, 2017. Retrieved March 31, 2017.
  13. ↑ "Week 7 Players of the Week Announced". www.goifl.com. Indoor Football League. April 5, 2017. Retrieved April 5, 2017.
  14. ↑ "Week 8 Players of the Week Announced". www.goifl.com. Indoor Football League. April 5, 2017. Retrieved April 17, 2017.
  15. ↑ "Week 9 Players of the Week Announced". www.goifl.com. Indoor Football League. April 19, 2017. Archived from the original on April 23, 2017. Retrieved April 22, 2017.
  16. ↑ "Week 10 Players of the Week Announced". www.goifl.com. Indoor Football League. April 26, 2017. Retrieved April 29, 2017.
  17. ↑ "Week 11 Players of the Week Announced". www.goifl.com. Indoor Football League. May 4, 2017. Retrieved May 4, 2017.
  18. ↑ "Week 12 Players of the Week Announced". www.goifl.com. Indoor Football League. May 10, 2017. Retrieved May 18, 2017.
  19. ↑ "Week 13 Players of the Week Announced". www.goifl.com. Indoor Football League. May 17, 2017. Retrieved May 18, 2017.
  20. ↑ "Week 14 Players of the Week Announced". www.goifl.com. Indoor Football League. May 24, 2017. Retrieved May 30, 2017.
  21. ↑ "Week 15 Players of the Week Announced". www.goifl.com. Indoor Football League. May 31, 2017. Retrieved June 2, 2017.
  22. ↑ "Week 16 Players of the Week Announced". www.goifl.com. Indoor Football League. June 7, 2017. Archived from the original on September 4, 2017. Retrieved June 8, 2017.
  23. ↑ "Week 17 Players of the Week Announced". www.goifl.com. Indoor Football League. June 14, 2017. Retrieved June 14, 2017.
  24. ↑ "Week 18 Players of the Week Announced". www.goifl.com. Indoor Football League. June 21, 2017. Retrieved June 23, 2017.
  25. ↑ "IFL Rookies of the Year Announced". www.goifl.com. Indoor Football League. July 5, 2017. Retrieved July 5, 2017.
  26. ↑ "Most Improved Player & Adam Pringle Awards Announced". www.goifl.com. Indoor Football League. July 4, 2017. Retrieved July 5, 2017.
  27. ↑ "IFL MVP & Coach of the Year Announced". www.goifl.com. Indoor Football League. July 7, 2017. Retrieved July 9, 2017.
  28. ↑ "IFL Players of the Year Announced". www.goifl.com. Indoor Football League. July 6, 2017. Retrieved July 9, 2017.
  29. ↑ "IFL Announces 2017 All-IFL Teams". www.goifl.com. Indoor Football League. June 28, 2017. Retrieved June 29, 2017.

See also

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.