Chicago Blitz (indoor football)

For the former United States Football League team, see Chicago Blitz.
Chicago Blitz
Founded 2014
Current season 2016
League CIFL (2014)
AIF (2015–present)
Division Northern
Team history Chicago Blitz (2014–present)
Based in Villa Park, Illinois
Arena Odeum Expo Center
Colors Gold, Black, White
              
Owner(s) Mike Oliver
Head coach Mike Oliver
General Manager Mike Dortch
Playoff berths (1)
AIF:2015
Local media WatchIDSN
Website Chicago Blitz

The Chicago Blitz are a professional indoor football team based in Villa Park, Illinois. The Blitz are currently members of American Indoor Football (AIF). The Blitz joined the Continental Indoor Football League (CIFL) in 2014 as an expansion team. They play their home games at the Odeum Expo Center.

Franchise history

2014

The Blitz came into existence in January 2014, after the Chicago Slaughter announced that they would be sitting out the 2014 season just one month before the regular season began.[1] The team's name and logo (but not the colors) are an adaptation of the United States Football League franchise of the same name.

On February 9, 2014, the Blitz played their first ever game, losing 42-25 to the Saginaw Sting.[2]

2015

On October 4, 2014, the Blitz announced they were joining X-League Indoor Football[3] for the 2015 season. Shortly after, the team was removed from the X-League website, and was no longer affiliated with the X-League. On October 15, 2014, the Blitz joined American Indoor Football (AIF), following former CIFL team, the Sting.[4] The Blitz finished the regular season 6-2, earning the 3 seed in the AIF playoffs. They defeated the 2nd seeded Saginaw Sting 63-45 in the AIF semifinals, earning a berth in the 2015 AIF Championship Game. The Blitz traveled to York, Pennsylvania to take on the York Capitals for the AIF crown. The Blitz fell to the Capitals 30-58.[5]

Notable players

Current roster

Chicago Blitz roster
Quarterbacks

Running Backs

  • -- Rance Hughes
  • 44 Keenan Miller

Wide Receivers

  • -- Andre Locke
  • -- Brian Miles
  •  3 Bryan Pascascio
  • 12 Jermel Smith
  •  6 James Walton
Offensive Linemen
  • 66 Darius Crosby
  • 55 Tim Mueller
  • 67 Kyle Powell
  • 57 Nick Torresso
  • 77 Baptiste Williams

Defensive Linemen

  •  5 Karl Grant
  • 18 Ramon Lacey
  •  8 Deandre Mosley
  • 90 Ryan O'Neil
  • 96 Evan Van Klei
Linebackers
  •  1 Greg Barksdale
  • 56 Zo Hood

Defensive Backs

  • 14 Jorrick Calvin
  • 11 Deshon Conley
  • -- Antwain Jones
  • -- Mitchell Moore
  • 28 Robert Riley
  • 24 Keith Woodson

Kickers

  • -- Igor Materic
Injured Reserve
  • Currently vacant

Exempt List

  • 93 Tyrone Saunders DL

Practice Squad

  • Currently vacant

Rookies in italics
Roster updated April 13, 2016
28 Active, 1 Inactive

→ More rosters

Awards and honors

The following is a list of all Chicago Blitz players who have won league Awards

Season Player Position Award
2014 Julie Harshbarger Kicker CIFL Special Teams of the Year
2015 Julie Harshbarger Kicker AIF Special Teams of the Year

All-League players

The following Blitz players have been named to All-League Teams:

Coaches of note

Head Coaches

Note: Statistics are correct through the end of Week 9 the 2016 American Indoor Football season.

Name Term Regular Season Playoffs Awards
W L T Win% W L
Mike Oliver 2014-present 15 7 0 .682 1 1

Coaching staff

Chicago Blitz staff
Front Office
  • General Manager - Mike Dortch
  • Director of Player Personnel - Vince Mucci
  • Equipment Manager - Jeff Henderson
  

Head Coach

  • Head Coach - Mike Oliver

Offensive Coaches

  • Offensive Coordinator – Mike Oliver
  • Assistant Offensive Coordinator - Dave Auwerda
  • Offensive Line - Chris Van Stone

Defensive Coaches

  • Defensive Coordinator – Noel Soto
  • Assistant Defensive Coordinator - Dennison Robinson
  • Defensive Line – Chris Van Stone

Statistics and records

Season-by-season results

Note: The Finish, Wins, Losses, and Ties columns list regular season results and exclude any postseason play.

League Champions Conference Champions Division Champions Wild Card Berth League Leader
Season Team League Conference Division Regular season Postseason Results
Finish Wins Losses Ties
2014 2014 CIFL North 3rd 7 3 0
2015 2015 AIF 3rd 6 2 0 Won AIF Semifinals (Saginaw) 63-45
Lost AIF Championship Game (York) 30-58
2016* 2016 AIF 2 2 0
Totals 15 7 0 All-time regular season record (2014–2016)
1 1 — All-time postseason record (2014–2016)
16 8 0 All-time regular season and postseason record (2014–2016)

* Season currently in progress

References

  1. ↑ "Weekly Sports League and Franchise Report". www.oursportscentral.com. OurSportsCentral. January 27, 2014. Retrieved January 30, 2014.
  2. ↑ Cory Butzin (February 10, 2014). "Saginaw Sting overcome slow start, roll to big win over Chicago Blitz in CIFL season opener". www.mlive.com. MLive Media Group. Retrieved February 10, 2014.
  3. ↑ "Chicago Blitz Are Latest to Join X-League". X-League Indoor Football. October 4, 2014. Retrieved October 4, 2014.
  4. ↑ "Chicago Blitz Joins AIF". www.oursportscentral.com. OurSports Central. October 15, 2014. Retrieved October 15, 2014.
  5. ↑ Eric Thomas (June 6, 2015). "Watson's defense spurs York Capitals to AIF championship vs. Chicago Blitz". www.ydr.com. The York Daily Record. Retrieved June 8, 2015.

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Wednesday, April 27, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.