Intense Football League
Encyclopedia
The Intense Football League was a professional indoor football league that initially began operations in 2004. Its focus was in Texas
, but was notable for being the first professional football league to place a franchise in Alaska
.
folded and the league oversaw operations of the team until the end of the season. In 2005, the Amarillo Dusters
left for the af2
, while the other teams joined the National Indoor Football League
and the league suspended operations. In 2006, the Intense Football League restarted. Three of the original teams (Odessa, San Angelo and Corpus Christi) returned to the IFL, joined by new teams from Belton
, Lake Charles
, and Laredo
.
Following the 2006 season, the Laredo Lobos
left for af2
, but the league expanded with three new teams for 2007 in the Frisco Thunder
, Katy Ruff Riders
, and Alaska Wild
(notable for being the first ever professional football team in the state of Alaska
). For 2008 another Alaskan team was added with the Fairbanks Grizzlies
. The league planned to add a team in El Paso
for 2009.
On July 22, 2008, it was announced that the IFL would be merging with United Indoor Football
for the upcoming 2009 season, following the National Indoor Bowl Championship between both leagues' champions on August 2. On August 1 it was announced the new league would be called Indoor Football League
.
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, but was notable for being the first professional football league to place a franchise in Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
.
History
During its first season, the El Paso RumbleEl Paso Rumble
The El Paso Rumble were a charter member of the original Intense Football League of 2004. They played at the El Paso County Coliseum in El Paso, Texas. They only played for one year, which was a horrendous 0-16 season....
folded and the league oversaw operations of the team until the end of the season. In 2005, the Amarillo Dusters
Amarillo Dusters
The Amarillo Venom are an professional indoor football team in the Lone Star Football League. The Venom began play in 2004 as the Amarillo Dusters, a charter member of the Intense Football League, a small indoor football league based in Texas. They won the championship in their first and only...
left for the af2
Af2
AF2 was the name of the Arena Football League's developmental league; it was founded in 1999 and played its first season in 2000. Like parent AFL, the AF2 played using the same arena football rules and style of play. League seasons ran from April through July with the postseason and ArenaCup...
, while the other teams joined the National Indoor Football League
National Indoor Football League
National Indoor Football League was a professional indoor football league in the United States. For their first six years, the league had teams in markets not covered by either the Arena Football League or its developmental league, af2, however, that changed briefly with their expansion into AFL...
and the league suspended operations. In 2006, the Intense Football League restarted. Three of the original teams (Odessa, San Angelo and Corpus Christi) returned to the IFL, joined by new teams from Belton
CenTex Barracudas
The CenTex Barracudas was a professional indoor football team based out of Belton, Texas. They competed in the Indoor Football League. They played their home games at Bell County Expo Center....
, Lake Charles
Louisiana Swashbucklers
The Louisiana Swashbucklers is a professional indoor football team formed in 2005 as an expansion member of the National Indoor Football League as the Southwest Louisiana Swashbucklers. In 2006, they moved to the Intense Football League and shortened their name to Louisiana Swashbucklers...
, and Laredo
Laredo Lobos
The Laredo Lobos were a professional arena football team based out of Laredo, Texas. They were a member of the af2 league. They played their home games at the Laredo Entertainment Center...
.
Following the 2006 season, the Laredo Lobos
Laredo Lobos
The Laredo Lobos were a professional arena football team based out of Laredo, Texas. They were a member of the af2 league. They played their home games at the Laredo Entertainment Center...
left for af2
Af2
AF2 was the name of the Arena Football League's developmental league; it was founded in 1999 and played its first season in 2000. Like parent AFL, the AF2 played using the same arena football rules and style of play. League seasons ran from April through July with the postseason and ArenaCup...
, but the league expanded with three new teams for 2007 in the Frisco Thunder
Frisco Thunder
The Frisco Thunder was an indoor football team in Frisco, Texas. They were a member of the Intense Football League and played their home games at the Dr Pepper Arena....
, Katy Ruff Riders
Katy Ruff Riders
The Abilene Ruff Riders is a professional indoor football team. The Ruff Riders are a member of the Lone Star Football League. The Ruff Riders play their home games at the Taylor County Expo Center, in Abilene, TX.-Team history:...
, and Alaska Wild
Alaska Wild
The Alaska Wild was a professional indoor football team, a member of the Indoor Football League. The Alaska Wild played their home games in the Sullivan Arena in Anchorage, Alaska...
(notable for being the first ever professional football team in the state of Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
). For 2008 another Alaskan team was added with the Fairbanks Grizzlies
Fairbanks Grizzlies
The Fairbanks Grizzlies are a professional indoor football team in the Indoor Football League. The team plays their home games at the Carlson Center in Fairbanks, Alaska...
. The league planned to add a team in El Paso
El Paso, Texas
El Paso, is a city in and the county seat of El Paso County, Texas, United States, and lies in far West Texas. In the 2010 census, the city had a population of 649,121. It is the sixth largest city in Texas and the 19th largest city in the United States...
for 2009.
On July 22, 2008, it was announced that the IFL would be merging with United Indoor Football
United Indoor Football
United Indoor Football was a United States indoor football league that started in 2005. Ten owners from the National Indoor Football League, including one expansion and two from arenafootball2 took their franchises and formed their own league...
for the upcoming 2009 season, following the National Indoor Bowl Championship between both leagues' champions on August 2. On August 1 it was announced the new league would be called Indoor Football League
Indoor Football League
The Indoor Football League began in 1999 as an offshoot of the troubled Professional Indoor Football League. Keary Ecklund, the owner of the Green Bay Bombers and Madison Mad Dogs, left the PIFL after its first, financially-troubled, season to start his own league. Unlike the PIFL, the IFL was an...
.
All-time IFL teams
- Alaska WildAlaska WildThe Alaska Wild was a professional indoor football team, a member of the Indoor Football League. The Alaska Wild played their home games in the Sullivan Arena in Anchorage, Alaska...
(2007-2008) - Amarillo DustersAmarillo DustersThe Amarillo Venom are an professional indoor football team in the Lone Star Football League. The Venom began play in 2004 as the Amarillo Dusters, a charter member of the Intense Football League, a small indoor football league based in Texas. They won the championship in their first and only...
(2004) - CenTex BarracudasCenTex BarracudasThe CenTex Barracudas was a professional indoor football team based out of Belton, Texas. They competed in the Indoor Football League. They played their home games at Bell County Expo Center....
(2006-2008) - Corpus Christi HammerheadsCorpus Christi HammerheadsThe Corpus Christi Hammerheads are a professional indoor football team from Corpus Christi, Texas. They are a member of the Lone Star Football League.-History:The Hammerheads were a charter member of the Intense Football League...
(2004, 2006-2008) - El Paso RumbleEl Paso RumbleThe El Paso Rumble were a charter member of the original Intense Football League of 2004. They played at the El Paso County Coliseum in El Paso, Texas. They only played for one year, which was a horrendous 0-16 season....
(2004) - Fairbanks GrizzliesFairbanks GrizzliesThe Fairbanks Grizzlies are a professional indoor football team in the Indoor Football League. The team plays their home games at the Carlson Center in Fairbanks, Alaska...
(2008) - Frisco ThunderFrisco ThunderThe Frisco Thunder was an indoor football team in Frisco, Texas. They were a member of the Intense Football League and played their home games at the Dr Pepper Arena....
(2007-2008) - Katy Ruff RidersKaty Ruff RidersThe Abilene Ruff Riders is a professional indoor football team. The Ruff Riders are a member of the Lone Star Football League. The Ruff Riders play their home games at the Taylor County Expo Center, in Abilene, TX.-Team history:...
(2007-2008) - Laredo LobosLaredo LobosThe Laredo Lobos were a professional arena football team based out of Laredo, Texas. They were a member of the af2 league. They played their home games at the Laredo Entertainment Center...
(2006) - Louisiana SwashbucklersLouisiana SwashbucklersThe Louisiana Swashbucklers is a professional indoor football team formed in 2005 as an expansion member of the National Indoor Football League as the Southwest Louisiana Swashbucklers. In 2006, they moved to the Intense Football League and shortened their name to Louisiana Swashbucklers...
(2006-2008) - Lubbock Lone StarsLubbock GunslingersThe Lubbock Gunslingers were a professional indoor football team. They played their home games in Lubbock, Texas at Lubbock Municipal Coliseum....
(2004) - Odessa RoughnecksOdessa RoughnecksThe West Texas Roughnecks is a professional indoor football team based in Odessa, Texas that plays in the Lone Star Football League. The team's nickname is a tribute to the oil industry, which has been the source of Odessa's wealth over the past century....
(2004, 2006-2008) - San Angelo Stampede ExpressSan Angelo Stampede ExpressThe San Angelo Stampede Express is a professional indoor football team from San Angelo, Texas. They are a member of the Lone Star Football League. They play their home games in the Foster Communications Coliseum...
(2004, 2006-2008)