Columbus Lions

Columbus Lions
Founded 2006
Current season 2015
League WIFL (2007)
AIFA (2008–2009)
SIFL (2010-2011)
PIFL (2012–present)
Conference Western (2008)
Eastern (2011)
American (2014)
Division South (2008–2009, 2011)
Team history Columbus Lions (2007–present)
Based in Columbus, Georgia
Arena Columbus Civic Center
Colors

Blue, Black, Silver, White

                   
Owner(s) John Hargrove
Keith Norred
Kike Seda
Skip Seda
Rick Jacobson
Head coach Jason Gibson
Championships (1)
SIFL: 2010
Conference titles (0)
Division titles (2)
AIFA South: 2009
SIFL South: 2011
Playoff berths (7)
2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014
Dancers Lady Lions
Mascot Beamer
Website www.ColumbusLions.net

The Columbus Lions are a professional indoor football team based in Columbus, Georgia. They are a member of the Professional Indoor Football League (PIFL). The Lions joined the PIFL in 2012 when the SIFL teams split up into two new leagues. 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).

In their eight years of existence, the Lions have compiled a record of 67-34 with division championships in 2009 and 2011. Their only championship appearance was during the 2010 season where they defeated the Louisiana Swashbucklers in President's Cup II.[1]

History

The Lions' inaugural game on February 26, 2007 was marred by tragedy when opposing defensive back Javon Camon of the Daytona Beach Thunder was killed after a hard but clean hit by Lions fullback Cedric Ware during the fourth quarter.[2][3]

For the Lions' impressive inaugural season, Head Coach Jason Gibson won the league's inaugural Coach of the Year Award.

The Columbus Lions also have a dance team, the Lady Lions. This group is made up of seven to fifteen young women who perform jazz, hip hop, and sideline cheering during all home games.

Players of note

Current roster

Columbus Lions roster
Quarterbacks
  • 12 Casey Kacz
  •  5 Antwon Young

Running Backs

  • 24 Kendrick Perry

Wide Receivers

  • 15 Dezmond Beverly
  • -- Darren Daniel
  • 25 Terrence Ebagua
  •  6 Jarmon Fortson
  •  1 John Harris
  • -- Morrel Presley
  • -- Michael Reeve
Offensive Linemen
  • 50 Pat Lang
  • 58 Dion Small
  • 75 Brandon Thomas
  • 55 Aaron Wheeler

Defensive Linemen

  • -- Jordan Jones
  •  7 Damian Thornton
  • 98 David Washington
  • 10 Kendrick Washington
  • 13 Jerry Willis
Linebackers

Defensive Backs

  • 11 Ed Burns
  •  4 Damian Daniels
  •  2 Roshawn Marshall
  • 21 Chris Pickett
  • 22 Marvin Ross

Kickers

  • 14 Lindsey Wolfe
Injured Reserve
  • Currently vacant

Failure to Report

  • -- Travis Cobb WR
  • -- Kevin Fuller WR
  • -- Roland Johnson DL
  • -- Johnnie Taylor DB

AFL - Exempt

  • -- Daryl Cato-Bishop DL
  • -- Dexter Davis DL

CFL - Exempt

  • Currently vacant

Suspended

  • Currently vacant

Practice Squad

  • Currently vacant

Left Squad

  • -- Chris Davis WR
  • -- Martin Davis OL
  • -- Dexter Moody DB

Rookies in italics
Roster updated April 23, 2015
26 Active, 9 Inactive

→ More rosters

Awards and honors

The following is a list of all Lions players who have won league awards:

Season Player Position Award
2010 Chris McCoy Quarterback Offensive Player of the Year
2010 Damian Daniels Defensive back Defensive Player of the Year
2010 Trey Crum Kicker Special Teams of the Year
2010 Franklin Lloyd Defensive lineman Lineman of the Year
2011 Damian Daniels Defensive back Defensive Player of the Year
2012 Maurice Dupree Wide Receiver Offensive Player of the Year
2012 London Crawford Wide Receiver Offensive Rookie of the Year
2013 Anthony Shutt Defensive Back Defensive Player of the Year

Statistics and records

Columbus playing the Louisiana Swashbucklers on April 14, 2012. Note the pink numbers in support of cancer awareness.[4]

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
2007 2007 WIFL 1st 10 4 0 Lost World Indoor Bowl I 60-63 (Augusta)
2008 2008 AIFA Western South 2nd 10 4 0 Lost Divisional Round 50-52 (Mississippi)
2009 2009 AIFA South 1st 11 3 0 Won Divisional Round 45-35 (Fayetteville)
Lost Semifinal 51-60 (Reading)
2010 2010 SIFL 2nd 8 3 0 Won Semifinal (Lafayette)
Won President's Cup II (Louisiana)
2011 2011 SIFL Eastern South 1st 11 1 0 Won Divisional 62-60 (Trenton)
Lost Eastern Conference Championship 61-75 (Albany)
2012 2012 PIFL 3rd 6 6 0 Lost Semi-final 36-60 (Albany)
2013 2013 PIFL 6th 4 8 0
2014 2014 PIFL American 2nd 7 5 0 Lost American Conference Championship 39-44 (Nashville)
2015 2015 PIFL 4 1 0
Totals 71 35 0 All-time regular season record (2007–2015)
4 6 - All-time postseason record (2007–2015)
75 41 0 All-time regular season and postseason record (2007–2015)

* Season currently in progress

References

  1. ↑ Chris White (July 19, 2010). "SIFL CHAMPIONSHIP: Fans soak up Lions’ big win". www.ledger-enquirer.com. Ledger-Enquirer. Retrieved July 8, 2014.
  2. ↑ "Indoor football player dies after head-to-head hit". www.espn.go.com. ESPN Internet Ventures. February 27, 2007. Retrieved February 27, 2007.
  3. ↑ "Daytona player dies". www.ledger-enquirer.com. Ledger-Enquirer. Retrieved February 27, 2007.
  4. ↑ Matthew Hester (April 10, 2012). "Kicker Trey Crum Returns to Lions". www.proifl.com. Professional Indoor Football League. Retrieved July 8, 2014.

External links