Kentucky Horsemen

Kentucky Horsemen
Founded 2003
League NIFL (2003-2004)
UIF (2005-2007)
af2 (2008-2009)
Team history Lexington Horsemen (2003-2008)
Kentucky Horsemen (2009)
Based in Lexington, Kentucky
Arena Rupp Arena
Colors Black, Royal Blue, White
President Horsemen Charitable Foundation
Head coach Tommy Johnson
General Manager Matt DiLorenzo
Championships 1 (NIFL: 2004)
Division titles 4 (NIFL: 2004
UIF: 2005, 2006, 2007)
Dancers Fillies
Mascot Spike

The Kentucky Horsemen (Known as the Lexington Horsemen from 2003 - 2009) were an indoor football team based in Lexington, Kentucky. The team played its home games at Rupp Arena. The organization began as a 2003 expansion member of the National Indoor Football League, where they were successful. Following the 2004 season, where they defeating the Sioux Falls Storm to win Indoor Bowl IV, the Horsemen and other NIFL teams joined the new United Indoor Football (UIF) as a charter member, where they made the playoffs. They yet lost to the Sioux Falls Storm (the team they beat in their last year in the NIFL). They made the playoffs again in 2006 advancing to United Bowl II; losing to the Sioux Falls Storm. From 2008 through 2009, the Horsemen played in the af2. The team had announced intentions to compete in the new Arena Football League following the dissolution of the af2, but instead ceased operations in October 2009.

Overview

During the 2007 season the Horsemen finished with an 8-7 regular season record and then advance through the playoffs to United Bowl III where they faced none other than their longtime playoff foe the undefeated Sioux Falls Storm they lost the game 62-59 after Collin Barber missed the potential game tying field goal as time expired. The game was Head Coach Mike Zuckerman's final game.

The team's official mascot is Spike, a hero-like horseman.

The end, but then a new beginning

On August 22, 2007 Horsemen owner Lenny House announced that the Horsemen had played their final game. Citing poor attendance and lowered revenue, a fate not unusual for UIF teams.

However, on October 16, 2007, House opted to remain in operations by announcing he changed his mind and the Horsemen would be playing the 2008 season in arenafootball2, where they would have an in-state rivalry ("The War on I-64") with the Louisville Fire. With the move the Horsemen adopted new jerseys, that included a slight change in their blue color scheme.[1]

Changes in 2009

The Horsemen saw numerous changes occur aft the 2008 season. Most notably, ownership changed hands from the House family to the newly formed not for profit Horsemen Charitable Foundation. The foundation was spearheaded by former Horsemen general manager Brian Boehm in an effort to keep Central Kentucky from losing yet another professional sports team.

The end of the franchise

Just when they were about to play in the new Arena Football League in 2010, the team shut down operations due to financial situations. However, on the team's official website, a newly designed logo is shown with "Don't count us out yet!" underneath, possibly hinting at the team making a comeback.[2]

Season-by-season

Season W L T Finish Playoff results
Lexington Horsemen (NIFL)
2003 9 6 0 2nd Atlantic Eastern Lost Round 1 (Ohio Valley 51-42)
2004 10 4 0 1st Atlantic North Won Round 1 (Atlantic City 54-25)
Won Atlantic Semi-Final (Houma 70-63)
Won Atlantic Conference Championship (Ohio Valley 35-34)
Won Indoor Bowl IV (Sioux Falls 59-38)
Lexington Horsemen (UIF)
2005 11 4 0 1st South Won Round 1 (Evansville 55-50)
Lost Semifinals (Sioux Falls 62-58)
2006 13 2 0 1st East Won Semifinals (Rock River 47-34)
Lost United Bowl II (Sioux Falls 72-64)
2007 8 7 0 3rd East Won Round 1 (River City 48-33)
Won Eastern Championship (Bloomington 67-49)
Lost United Bowl III (Sioux Falls 62-59)
Lexington Horsemen (af2)
2008 9 7 0 3rd AC Midwest Lost AC Round 1 (Green Bay 65-37)
Kentucky Horsemen (af2)
2009 10 6 0 3rd AC South Won AC Round 1 (South Georgia 66-63)
Lost AC Semifinal (Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 82-49)
Totals 79 42 0 (including NIFL, UIF, & af2 playoffs)
Original Lexington Horsemen Logo

Highlights

First game
Indoor Bowl IV
United Bowl II
Road to United Bowl III

Former head coaches

Notable players, past and present

Notes

  1. ↑ Roberts, Ben (2007-10-16). "Horsemen going up in class". Lexington Herald-Leader. Retrieved 2007-10-16.
  2. ↑ Karla Ward (October 27, 2009). "Horsemen forced to fold". www.kentucky.com. Lexington Herald Leader. Retrieved July 5, 2016.

External links

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