Lincoln Haymakers

Lincoln Haymakers
Founded 2004
League APFL (2004–2012)
CPIFL (2013–2014)
Team history Iowa Blackhawks (2004–2011)
Council Bluffs Express (2012)
Lincoln Haymakers (2013–2014)
Based in Lincoln, Nebraska
Arena Pershing Center
Colors Midnight Blue, Vegas Gold, Black & White
                   
Owner(s) Richard Tokheim
Head coach N/A
Championships 2 (2009, 2010 APFL)
Cheerleaders Haymakers' Knockouts
Mascot HayWire

The Lincoln Haymakers were a professional indoor football team based in Lincoln, Nebraska. The Haymakers played 2013-2014 home games at the Pershing Center.

The Haymakers were the second indoor football team to call Lincoln home, following the Lincoln Lightning/Capitols which played in the original Indoor Football League (1999-2000), arenafootball2 (2001), and the National Indoor Football League (2002-2006). The Haymakers were last coached by Cory Ross. In 2013, Ross served as an interim head coach after previous coach Dave Brumagen was suspended for the season after pushing an Omaha Beef player to the ground after the player had scored a touchdown on May 11. Brumagen was replaced by Trever Whiting on July 22, 2013 as the Haymakers Head Coach. Three months later Whiting was dismissed from the organization. On October 28, 2013 Cory Ross was officially announced by the team as the new Head Coach for the second season of play.

After playing in the Champions Professional Indoor Football League for two seasons, the league merged with the Lone Star Football League to create Champions Indoor Football for the 2015 season, Lincoln was left out of the league.

Mission Statement

To build the city of Lincoln a top tier indoor football organization on and off the playing field, with a focus on family entertainment and community involvement.

Nickname

The Haymakers name traces its roots as a boxing term used to describe a round-house punch. Nebraska's blue collar work ethic and agricultural base also adds to the significance of the Haymakers name. Lincoln's Arena, the Pershing Center, is located near a historic region in Lincoln named the Haymarket.

Mascot and Cheerleaders

The Haymakers mascot is a Black Stallion named "HayWire" who is officially listed as #85 on the team roster. The Cheerleaders are officially known as the "Haymakers' Knockouts" The Haymakers dropped cheerleaders after Rich Tokhiem purchased the team before the 2014 season.

Franchise history

The franchise started as the Council Bluffs Rams founded in 2000 by Jake Hiffernan.[1] The team started in the recreational Nebraska Indoor Football League, playing with football equipment purchased by Hiffernan, then 24, with his first credit card.[1] They played their games indoors in Lincoln for two years before moving to an outdoor eight-man field in Malcolm, Nebraska.[1] The team, which changed its name to the River City Redemption, won the NIFL title in 2003 and was invited to play an indoor exhibition game against the American Professional Football League champion, Kansas Koyotes.[1] The franchise would become the Iowa Blackhawks in 2004 and joined the APFL.[1] The Blackhawks won back-to-back APFL championships in 2009 and 2010,[1] with their 2009 victory ending the rival Kansas Koyotes six-year run as champions by defeating the Koyotes in the APFL Championship Game. The Blackhawks won the game in dominating fashion with a 63–17 victory over the Koyotes. Citing financial concerns, Hiffernan sold the team in 2011 to local businessman John Jerkovich in an attempt to keep it in Council Bluffs.[1] Brad Lindgren and Justin Hayes purchased the franchise and changed its name to the Council Bluffs Express.[1] Lindgren and Hayes were actually exploring the possibility of starting an expansion franchise in Lincoln prior to last season, but optioned to purchase the Blackhawks when Jerkovich offered the team to them instead.[1] The Express competed in the 2012 APFL Championship game before falling short to the Sioux City Bandits. Following the 2012 APFL season the franchise was purchased by Ho-Chunk Inc., the economic development of the Winnebago Tribe. The ownership group moved the franchise to Lincoln, where they play as the Lincoln Haymakers.[1] Lincoln's first year in the [CPIFL] failed to qualify for the playoffs with a 4-8 record. However, 7 of Lincoln's 8 losses came to playoff teams as the Haymakers had the #2 toughest schedule in the CPIFL. In the fall of 2013, Rich Tokhiem, who also owns the Omaha Beef indoor football team, purchased the Haymakers. Under Tokhiem's ownership, Lincoln traded their best player DB Courtney Grixby to the Omaha Beef before the 2014 season. The Haymakers finished 5-7 in 2014 and failed to make the playoffs. The Haymakers' ceased operations after the 2014 season.

League Award Winners

2014 All-CPIFL Team Member

K Benny Hanaphy

2013 CPIFL Best Media Relations and Social Media Award

[CPIFL Players of the Week] Week 1, 2013 DB Cortney Grixby (Defense) Week 2, 2013 DB Cortney Grixby (Special Teams) Week 9, 2013 DB Cortney Grixby (Special Teams) Week 13, 2013 WR Shane Scott (Offense) Week 14, 2013 LB Willie Horn (Defense)

Week 3, 2014 RB Travis Ribbing (Offense) Week 7, 2014 ATH Wayne Jacobs (Special Teams) Week 9, 2014 DL Marcus Miles (Defense) Week 10, 2014 DL Antonio Ficklin (Defense)

[2013 All-CPIFL Team Members] WR Nick Rhodes DB Cortney Grixby

Coaches of note

Head Coaches

Name Term Regular Season Playoffs Awards
W L T Win% W L
Dave Brumagen 2013 3 5 0 .375 0 0
Cory Ross 2013-2014 6 10 0 .375 0 0

Current Coaching Staff

Lincoln Haymakers staff
Front Office
  • Director of Football Operations/Player Personnel/Head Coach – N/A
  • General Manager – N/A
  • Head Athletic Trainer – N/A
  • Head Equipment Manager - N/A


Head Coach

  • Head Coach – N/A
  

Offensive Coaches

  • Offensive Coordinator –


Defensive Coaches

  • Defensive Coordinator – N/A
  • Defensive Secondary – N/A

Roster

Lincoln Haymakers roster
Quarterbacks
  • 14 Chuck Wright

Running Backs

  • 20 Brian McNeill

Wide Receivers

  •  2 Troy Brookins
  •  8 Marques Parker
  •  1 Nick Rhodes
  • 23 Marquis Rolle
  • 15 Steven Rush
  •  4 Shane Scott
  •  3 Demarius Washington
Offensive Linemen
  •  — Joshua Davis
  •  — Tyrice Ellebb
  • 50 Richard Lilla
  • 50 Billy Sonnemaker

Defensive Linemen

  • 50 Eric Banford
  • 16 Marcus Miles

Linebackers

  •  9 Devon Bridges
  • 11 Jesse Roberson
Defensive Backs
  • 27 Jon Banks
  • 31 Tyler Burks
  •  9 Kevin Clark
  •  7 Michael Pace
  •  0 Emmanuel Souarin

Kickers

  • 19 Benny Hanaphy

Multiple Positions

  •  6 Wayne Jacobs WR/RB
  • 45 Justin Powell OL/DL
Injured Reserve
  • 10 Antonio Bell DB
  • 66 Anthony Brock OT (long-term)
  • 21 Antonio Ficklin DT
  • 80 Dallas Huber WR
  • 90 Joseph Lara OL
  • 70 Derrick Morris OL
  • 22 Travis Ribbing RB
  • 69 Javon Ross OL

Transfer List

Refuse to Report

  • Currently vacant


Roster updated May 22, 2014
Transactions
24 Active, 12 Inactive


→ More CPIFL rosters


2013

Season Schedule

Week Date Kickoff Opponent Results
Final Score Team Record
1 Bye
2 March 17 (Sun) 4:30pm @Mid-Missouri Outlaws 38-31 1-0
3 Bye
4 March 29 (Fri) 7:05pm Sioux City Bandits 20-42 1-1
5 April 5 (Fri) 7:05pm @Bloomington Edge 40-62 1-2
6 April 13 (Sat) 7:05pm Omaha Beef 49-55 1-3
7 April 19 (Fri) 7:05pm Salina Bombers 19-31 1-4
8 April 26 (Fri) 7:05pm Oklahoma Defenders 46-40 2-4
9 May 3 (Fri) 7:05pm Bloomington Edge 48-39 3-4
10 May 11 (Sat) 7:30pm @Omaha Beef 23-27 3-5
11 May 18 (Sat) 7:05pm @Sioux City Bandits 17-24 3-6
12 May 25 (Sat) 7:30pm @Salina Bombers 14-46 3-7
13 June 1 (Sat) 7:05pm Omaha Beef 24-34 3-8
14 June 8 (Sat) 7:30pm @Kansas Koyotes 45-16 4-8

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
2011 2011 APFL 2nd 6 5 0 Won APFL Semifinals vs. Outlaws 57-45
Lost APFL Championship vs. Bandits 28-69
2012 2012 APFL 2nd 9 3 0 Won APFL Semifinals vs. Defenders 37-32
Lost APFL Championship vs. Bandits 34-56
2013 2013 CPIFL 7th 4 8 0 Failed To Make Playoffs
2014 2014 CPIFL 5th 5 7 0
Totals 24 25 0 All-time regular season record (2004–2014)
2 2 - All-time postseason record (2004–2014)
26 27 0 All-time regular season and postseason record (2004–2014)

* Season currently in progress

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Tony Boone (September 12, 2012). "Council Bluffs Express moving to Lincoln". www.southwestiowanews.com. Southwest Iowa News. Retrieved September 17, 2012.
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