Port Huron Patriots

Port Huron Patriots
Founded 2011
Folded 2014
League CIFL
Division North
Based in Port Huron, Michigan
Arena McMorran Arena
Colors Red, White, Navy Blue
Owner(s) Jude Carter
Lonnie Nichols
Lance Nichols
David Nichols
Larry Page
Matt Wuchte
Nick Kennedy-Saura
Head coach Vacant
General manager Jude Carter
Championships 0
Broadcasters Donald Mathews
Ray Clark
Local media Michigan Region Sports Network
Website porthuronpatriots.com

The Port Huron Patriots were a professional indoor football team based in Port Huron, Michigan. The team was a member of the North Division of the Continental Indoor Football League (CIFL).[1] The Patriots joined the CIFL in 2012 as an expansion team. The Patriots were the third indoor football team to be based in Port Huron, the first being CIFL charter members and inaugural champions the Port Huron Pirates (2006–2007), and the other being the CIFL based Port Huron Predators. The Owners of the Patriots were Jude Carter, Lonnie Nichols, Lance Nichols, David Nichols, Larry Page, Matt Wuchte and Nick Kennedy-Saura. The Patriots played their home games at the McMorran Arena.

Franchise history

Play begins: 2012

After the disappointing end to the Port Huron Predators season in 2011, Dave and Cyndi Kinsman wanted to bring back a team to Port Huron in 2012 and the future. Kinsman stated, "We are aware of the history of teams in this city and the bottom line is that you have to win on and off the field to make this succeed. Other teams could win on the field, but couldn't win off the field meaning they didn't have the front office and leadership it takes to succeed. We are confident in the direction this franchise will head and we are thrilled to be in Port Huron." The team also announced that they would be playing at McMorran Arena during Kinsman's press conference. In early September 2011, the Patriots signed former Predators head coach John Forti, as well as re-signed local players who had played for the Predators.[2] On December 24, 2011 the team announced its training camp roster.[3]

On February 11, 2012, the team played its first preseason game. They defeated the outdoor semi-professional Southern Michigan Timberwolves 35–21. This first unofficial win came in the wake of the tragic loss of Offensive Lineman Ken Hamilton, who was killed in a shooting outside of a Detroit nightclub. Teammate Antonio Martin was also injured in the shooting.[4][5] On March 10, 2012, the Patriots earned their first victory in franchise history with a 52–49 victory over the Chicago Vipers.

On March 29, 2012 Kinsman fired Head Coach John Forti, and the rest of his staff. Kinsman cited Forti's decision to hire his friends as assistant coaches and not make the best choices for the team as their reason for Forti's termination.[6]

Kinsman went on to lead the Patriots to a 3–4 record, making them 4–6 overall, clinching the 4th seed in the CIFL playoffs, but despite this factor, the league decided to shorten the playoffs. This left the Patriots and the Evansville Rage both out of the playoffs.[7]

2013

The Patriots will return to the CIFL in 2013. On February 21, just two games into the season, the Kinsman's sold the team, as David was scheduled to deploy to Afghanistan.[8] The team was sold locally to Jude Carter, Lonnie Nichols, Lance Nichols, David Nichols, Larry Page, Matt Wuchte and Nick Kennedy-Saura, with Carter also serving as the team's general manager.[8] The also announced that the team's new head coach would be Demar Cranford.[8]

2014

In June 2013, the Patriots agreed to terms with the CIFL to return for the 2014 season.[9] Coach Demar Cranford left the team as did several players just prior to their April 13, 2014, game against the Erie Explosion. He says he resigned, but team co-owner Jude Carter said he was fired due to "lack of leadership and the team’s lack of performance". The team (using replacement players from the Erie Express, a semi-pro team from the Explosion's hometown of Erie) would lose to the Explosion 114–0, leaving their future in serious doubt,[10] but Carter has stated otherwise.[11] After the season, the CIFL disbanded and its remaining active teams joined other leagues; by this time, the Patriots' owner could no longer be reached.[12]

Logos and uniforms

The team announced that its logo would be a bald eagle's head with a flag in the background, and the colors would be red, white and blue, during a September 24, 2011 press conference at the McMorran[13][14]

All-League players

The following Patriots 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
John Forti 2012 1 2 0 .333 0 0
Dave Kinsman 2012–2013 4 5 0 .444 0 0
Demar Cranford 2013–2014 4 11 0 .267 0 0
Terry Foster 2014 0 1 0 .000 0 0

Coaching staff

Port Huron Patriots staff
Front Office
  • Co-Owner/General Manager – Jude Carter
  • Co-Owner - Lonnie Nichols
  • Co-Owner - Lance Nichols
  • Co-Owner - David Nichols
  • Co-Owner - Larry Page
  • Co-Owner - Matt Wuchte
  • Co-Owner - Nick Kennedy-Saura
  • Game Day Coordinator - Lori Jones

Head Coach

  • Head Coach – Vacant

Offensive Coaches

  • Offensive Line/Offensive Coordinator – Darrel Rich
  

Defensive Coaches

  • Defensive Coordinator – Larry Page
  • Defensive Line/Asst. Defensive Coordinator – Darrel Rich

Special Teams Coaches

  • Special Teams Coordinator -

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
2012 2012 CIFL 4th 4 6 0
2013 2013 CIFL 6th 4 6 0
2014 2014 CIFL North 4th 1 8 0
Totals 9 20 0 All-time regular season record (2012–2014)
0 0 - All-time postseason record (2012–2014)
9 20 0 All-time regular season and postseason record (2012–2014)

References

  1. ↑ "Ask the GM volume 2". Retrieved 2011-10-17.
  2. ↑ James Kelley (September 30, 2011). "Indoor football coming back to Port Huron". The Voice. Retrieved January 23, 2012.
  3. ↑ Joseph Hayes (December 24, 2011). "Football: Port Huron Patriots declare their roster, initial schedule". The Times Herald. Retrieved January 23, 2012.
  4. ↑ Joseph Hayes (February 12, 2012). "Patriots win inaugural game against Timberwolves, 35-21". Times Herald. Retrieved February 12, 2012.
  5. ↑ Joseph Hayes (February 13, 2012). "Football:Death stings Port Huron Patriots". The Time Herald. Retrieved February 14, 2012.
  6. ↑ Joseph Hayes (March 30, 2012). "Football: Port Huron Patriots make big change". The Times Herald. Retrieved April 2, 2012.
  7. ↑ Kyle Austin (May 11, 2012). "CIFL shortens playoff format, puts Saginaw Sting in league title game". www.mlive.com. M Live. Retrieved August 8, 2012.
  8. 1 2 3 Joseph Hayes (February 22, 2013). "Dave Kinsman sell Port Huron Patriots locally". The Time Herald. Retrieved February 22, 2013.
  9. ↑ Cory Butzin (June 10, 2013). "Continental Indoor Football League agree to terms with five teams for next season". www.mlive.com. MLive Media Group. Retrieved June 11, 2013.
  10. ↑ Joseph Hayes (April 13, 2014). "Port Huron Patriots lose, 114-0, without coach and regulars". www.thetimesherald.com. The Times Herald. Retrieved April 14, 2014.
  11. ↑ Joseph Hayes (April 14, 2014). "Football: Patriots reach new low". www.thetimesherald.com. The Times Herald. Retrieved April 15, 2014.
  12. ↑ Joseph Hayes (November 25, 2014). "CIFL folds, Patriots future uncertain". www.thetimesherald.com. The Time Herald. Retrieved November 26, 2014.
  13. ↑ Hayes, Joseph (September 25, 2011). "Football: Port Huron Patriots introduce themselves to the community". thetimesherald.com. Retrieved 2011-10-17.
  14. ↑ Kelley, James (October 2, 2011). "Indoor football coming back to Port Huron". voicenews.com. Retrieved 2011-10-17.
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