Chicago Blitz (indoor football)

Chicago Blitz
Founded 2014
Folded 2016
Current season 2016
League CIFL (2014)
AIF (2015–2016)
Team history Chicago Blitz (2014–2016)
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 were a professional indoor football team based in Villa Park, Illinois. The Blitz were most recently members of American Indoor Football (AIF) in 2015 and 2016 and the Continental Indoor Football League (CIFL) in 2014. They played their home games at the Odeum Expo Center. Per their website, full ownership or ownership shares of the team are available.

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]

2016

The Blitz played their second season in the AIF as members of the Northern Division. The team earned a 3-3 record but cancelled their final game of the season at the West Michigan Ironmen and team owner Mike Oliver immediately announced that the team was for sale. After the season ended, the AIF removed the Blitz from its team listings.

Notable players

Final roster

Chicago Blitz roster
Quarterbacks
  •  9 Andre Locke

Running Backs

  • 17 Keenan Miller
  • 30 Lloyd Morgan

Wide Receivers

  • 11 David Brown
  • -- Brian Miles
  •  3 Bryan Pascascio
  • 12 Jermel Smith
  •  6 James Walton
Offensive Linemen
  • 56 Anthony Bullock
  • 66 Darius Crosby
  • 55 Tim Mueller
  • 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
  • 66 Marquis Walton
Linebackers
  •  1 Greg Barksdale
  • 13 Zo Hood
  • 44 Shannon Winesberry

Defensive Backs

  • 14 Jorrick Calvin
  • 21 Deshon Conley
  •  7 Darius Jones
  •  4 Brandon Onuselogu
  • 28 Robert Riley
  • 12 Leo Watkins
  • 24 Keith Woodson

Kickers

  • 19 Igor Materic
Injured Reserve

Exempt List

  • 93 Tyrone Saunders DL

Practice Squad

  • Currently vacant

Rookies in italics
Roster updated May 12, 2016
30 Active, 2 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

Name Term Regular season Playoffs Awards
W L T Win% W L
Mike Oliver 2014–2016 16 8 0 .667 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

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 Northern 3 3 0
Totals 16 8 0 All-time regular season record (2014–2016)
1 1 — All-time postseason record (2014–2016)
17 9 0 All-time regular season and postseason record (2014–2016)

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. Archived from the original on July 4, 2015. Retrieved June 8, 2015.
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