2018 Indoor Football League season

Last updated

2018 IFL season
League Indoor Football League
Sport Indoor football
DurationFebruary 23, 2018 – June 16, 2018
Number of teams6
Finals champions Iowa Barnstormers
  Runners-up Sioux Falls Storm
IFL seasons

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.

Contents

The top four teams made the IFL playoffs with the semifinals consisting of the top seed hosting the fourth seed and the second hosting the third before the winners met in the 2018 United Bowl.

Offseason

Project Fanchise, the ownership of the Salt Lake Screaming Eagles that joined the IFL in 2017 and also bought the Colorado Crush during the season, announced that they would leave the IFL after one season. [1] For the 2018 season, the Arizona Rattlers, Cedar Rapids Titans, Green Bay Blizzard, Iowa Barnstormers, and Nebraska Danger had all committed to play. [2] However, the Spokane Empire had ceased operations at the close of the 2017 season. [3] The Sioux Falls Storm left the league for Champions Indoor Football on August 30, 2017, [4] with the Wichita Falls Nighthawks to follow soon after. On September 12, 2017, it was announced that the Bloomington Edge and West Michigan Ironmen had joined the IFL for the 2018 season. [5]

The CIF then attempted to sue the IFL, Edge, and Ironmen for leaving the CIF after the two teams had already signed league affiliation agreements with the CIF for 2018. The IFL then threatened to sue the CIF, Storm, and Nighthawks in return despite neither former IFL team signing an affiliation agreement with the IFL for 2018. [6] The CIF then retracted their lawsuit with the IFL but also removed the Storm and Nighthawks from their 2018 schedule. [7] After the IFL meetings in October 2017, the Storm returned to the IFL [8] but the Nighthawks had to suspend operations. [9] While the CIF did drop the lawsuit against the IFL, it filed for an injunction against the Edge and Ironmen teams from participating in the IFL for breaking the terms of their signed affiliation agreements. A temporary injunction from participation was granted on January 31, 2018, with the court ruling determining that both teams had been offered bribes from the owner of the Arizona Rattlers to break their contracts with the CIF. [10] [11] The schedule was revised in February for the six participating teams stating the Edge and Ironmen were to return in 2019. [12]

Teams

TeamLocationArenaCapacityFoundedJoinedHead coach
Arizona Rattlers Phoenix, Arizona Talking Stick Resort Arena 15,50519922017 Kevin Guy
Cedar Rapids Titans Cedar Rapids, Iowa U.S. Cellular Center 6,90020122012 Marvin Jones
Green Bay Blizzard Green Bay, Wisconsin Resch Center 8,60020032010Chris Williams (until March 29)
Corey Roberson (interim)
Iowa Barnstormers Des Moines, Iowa Wells Fargo Arena 15,18119952015Dixie Wooten
Nebraska Danger Grand Island, Nebraska Eihusen Arena 6,00020112011Mark Stoute (until May 20)
Adam Shackleford/Pig Brown (interim co-coaches)
Sioux Falls Storm Sioux Falls, South Dakota Denny Sanford Premier Center 10,67820002009Kurtiss Riggs

Standings

2018 Indoor Football League
WLPCTPFPAGBSTK
y- Iowa Barnstormers 113.786648493—W1
x- Arizona Rattlers 113.786746567—W1
x- Sioux Falls Storm 113.786724577—W5
x- Nebraska Danger 410.2865255927L9
Cedar Rapids Titans 311.2145437338L1
Green Bay Blizzard 212.1434216459L4

y - clinched regular season title

x - clinched playoff spot

Playoffs

Semifinal 2018 United Bowl
      
1Iowa48
4 Nebraska 17
1Iowa42
3 Sioux Falls 38
2 Arizona 68
3Sioux Falls69 (OT)

Season awards

AwardWinnerPositionTeam
Most Valuable Player [13] Drew Powell Quarterback Iowa Barnstormers
Offensive Player of the Year [14] Darrell Monroe Running back Arizona Rattlers
Defensive Player of the Year [14] Bryce Enyard Defensive back Iowa Barnstormers
Special Teams Player of the Year [14] B.J. Hill Kick returner Green Bay Blizzard
Offensive Rookie of the Year [15] Jeff ZiembaQuarterbackArizona Rattlers
Defensive Rookie of the Year [15] Ricarlo Bell Defensive lineman Cedar Rapids Titans
Coach of the Year [13] Dixie Wooten Head coach Iowa Barnstormers

Related Research Articles

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The Green Bay Blizzard is a professional indoor football team based in Ashwaubenon, Wisconsin, founded in 2003. The Blizzard began play in the Indoor Football League 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">Omaha Beef</span> American indoor football team

The Omaha Beef is an indoor football team. Based in Omaha, Nebraska, the Beef play their home games at Liberty First Credit Union Arena in nearby Ralston. The Beef have been a member of several leagues, including being a charter member of the Champions Indoor Football (CIF) league.

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

The Sioux Falls Storm are a 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">Bloomington Edge</span>

The Bloomington Edge was a professional indoor football team based in Bloomington, Illinois. While it was in operation, the team hosted home games at Grossinger Motors Arena. Originally named the Bloomington Extreme, the team was a member of United Indoor Football (UIF), and joined the Indoor Football League (IFL) in 2009 during the UIF and Intense Football League merger. They left the IFL for the Champions Professional Indoor Football League (CPIFL) in 2013, and in 2015 the CPIFL merged with the Lone Star Football League (LSFL) to create Champions Indoor Football (CIF), where Bloomington did not follow and joined X-League Indoor Football (X-League). Following the 2015 season the Edge joined the CIF. The Edge then announced it had rejoined the IFL for the 2018 season, but a court ruling prevented the team from joining the league until 2019, however, they were not included in that season's schedule.

<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 2023 season, the league consists of 14 teams in two conferences with each team playing 16 games over 19 weeks.

The 2009 Indoor Football League season is 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.

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

Claude Davis is an American football linebacker for the Sioux City Bandits of Champions Indoor Football (CIF). 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.

John D. Griggs is an American football defensive end for the Frisco Fighters of the Indoor Football League (IFL). He played college football for the University of Akron. He went undrafted during the 2013 NFL Draft, and signed as an undrafted free agent with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Lamar Mady is an American football center for the Arizona Rattlers of the Indoor Football League (IFL). He was signed by the Oakland Raiders as an undrafted free agent in 2013. He played college football for Youngstown State.

Tyler Knight is a professional indoor football linebacker. He played college football at Mississippi Valley State, and currently plays for the Sioux City Bandits.

Daron Clark is an American football wide receiver who is currently a free agent. He played college football at Stillman College. Clark has played for the Spokane Shock. Shock Add Speed, CFL Experience to Receiving Corp |date=March 6, 2012 |publisher=WorldNow and KHQ |work=www.nbcrightnow.com |accessdate=April 3, 2014}}Clark signed on May 1, 2014 with the Richmond Raiders of the Professional Indoor Football League (PIFL). On October 20, 2015, Clark signed with the Bloomington Edge. Clark signed with the High Country Grizzlies for the 2017 season. On October 9, 2017, Clark signed with the Quad City Steamwheelers.

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

Champions Indoor Football (CIF) is 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wichita Falls Nighthawks</span>

The Wichita Falls Nighthawks were a professional indoor American football team. They were based in Wichita Falls, Texas. The team was headquartered in Wichita Falls and played its home games at Kay Yeager Coliseum. The Nighthawks first joined the Indoor Football League as an expansion team in 2015. The Nighthawks were announced as a member of Champions Indoor Football (CIF) for 2018, however, due to litigation, the team ceased operations for the season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">West Michigan Ironmen</span> Sports team

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Jarien Moreland is a former American football offensive lineman. He played college football at Southern Illinois University Carbondale and attended Glades Central High School in Belle Glade, Florida. He was a member of the Spokane Shock, Tampa Bay Storm, Spokane Empire, Portland Steel, Sioux Falls Storm, and Washington Valor.

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References

  1. ↑ "Weekly Sports League & Franchise Report". OurSports Central. April 24, 2017. Retrieved August 13, 2017.
  2. ↑ "IFL Plans for 2018 Season - Indoor Football League". goifl.com. Archived from the original on July 29, 2017. Retrieved August 13, 2017.
  3. ↑ Brad Hegland (July 12, 2017). "Spokane Empire to cease operations and will not play football in - Spokane, North Idaho News & Weather KHQ.com". khq.com. Retrieved August 13, 2017.
  4. ↑ "Storm Announce Move to CIF". Champions Indoor Football . August 30, 2017. Archived from the original on August 30, 2017. Retrieved August 30, 2017.
  5. ↑ "IFL Announces Addition of Bloomington & West Michigan". goifl.com. September 12, 2017. Archived from the original on September 20, 2017. Retrieved September 19, 2017.
  6. ↑ "Tryon addresses legal aspect of switching leagues". KWSN . October 5, 2017. Archived from the original on October 8, 2017. Retrieved February 6, 2018.
  7. ↑ "CIF Commissioner Issues State of the League Address". Salina Scoop. October 4, 2017. Archived from the original on October 5, 2017. Retrieved February 6, 2018.
  8. ↑ "LETTER FROM TODD TRYON". Sioux Falls Storm. October 4, 2017. Archived from the original on October 5, 2017. Retrieved October 5, 2017.
  9. ↑ "Nighthawks suspend operations for 2018". KAUZ-TV . October 16, 2017.
  10. ↑ "TEMPORARY INJUNCTION BARS RENEGADE TEAMS FROM LEAVING C.P.I.F.L." KSCJ . January 31, 2018.
  11. ↑ "Ironmen will be independent in 2018, due to ruling that leaves them without a league". Local Sports Journal. February 6, 2018.
  12. ↑ "IFL Revises 2018 Regular Season Schedule". IFL. Archived from the original on February 7, 2018. Retrieved February 6, 2018.
  13. 1 2 "2018 IFL MVP and Coach of the Year Announced". July 5, 2018. Archived from the original on July 8, 2018. Retrieved July 8, 2018.
  14. 1 2 3 "2018 Players of the Year Announced". July 3, 2018. Archived from the original on July 8, 2018. Retrieved July 8, 2018.
  15. 1 2 "2018 IFL Rookies of the Year Announced". July 3, 2018. Archived from the original on July 8, 2018. Retrieved July 8, 2018.


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