The Bismarck Blaze were a professional indoor American football team based in Bismarck, North Dakota . They were members of the original Indoor Football League founded in 1999 and began play in 2000. They competed in the Northern Division of the Western Conference.
8-699: The Blaze were founded as an expansion team in 1999 and joined the original incarnation of the Indoor Football League along with several others expansion franchises. In the only season in the IFL, the team compiled an 11–3 record finishing in first place in the Western Conference and qualified for the IFL Gold Cup playoffs. They defeated the Sioux City Attack 30–14 in the second round of the playoffs, then
16-1735: A part of their developmental ("farm") league, the AF2 . The Wichita Warlords were rebranded the Wichita Stealth. Other teams resurfaced with new names in the Indoor Professional Football League (which consisted of the remnants of the PIFL that Ecklund left in 1999) and the National Indoor Football League . North Division 1. y- Peoria Pirates , 11-1 2. x- Green Bay Bombers , 9-3 3. Madison Mad Dogs , 6-6 4. Duluth-Superior Lumberjacks , 1-11 South Division 1. y- Lincoln Lightning , 7-5 2. x- Dayton Skyhawks , 6-6 3. Topeka Knights , 6-6 4. Steel Valley Smash , 2-10 Northern Division 1. z- Peoria Pirates (14-0) 2. x- Green Bay Bombers (10-4) 3. x- Madison Mad Dogs (8-6) 4. Minnesota Purple Rage (5-9) 5. Duluth-Superior Lumberjacks (2-12) 6. La Crosse River Rats (2-12) Southern Division 1. y- Steel Valley Smash (9-5) 2. x- Erie Invaders (6-8) 3. x- Dayton Skyhawks (6-8) 4. Johnstown Jackals (3-11) 5. Flint Flames (2-12) Northern Division 1. z- Bismarck Blaze (11-3) 2. x- Black Hills Machine (10-4) 3. x- Casper Cavalry (9-5) 4. Billings Thunderbolts (8-6) 5. Fargo Freeze (1-13) Southern Division 1. y- Topeka Knights/Kings (10-4) 2. x- Lincoln Lightning (10-4) 3. x- Sioux City Attack (9-5) 4. Sioux Falls Cobras (8-6) 5. Wichita Warlords (4-10) Erie Invaders The Erie Invaders were
24-639: A professional indoor American football team based in Erie, Pennsylvania . They were members of the original Indoor Football League founded in 1999 and began play in 2000 at Louis J. Tullio Arena in Erie. They competed in the Southern Division of the Eastern Conference. They were coached by Gary Tufford. After a 6-8 season and a defeat in the playoffs, the franchise folded due to financial reasons. The team
32-544: A sports team in North Dakota is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . This American football team article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Indoor Football League (1999-2000) The Indoor Football League ( IFL ) 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
40-645: The Topeka Kings 51–-27 in the semifinals advancing to the 2000 Gold Cup, only to lose to the Peoria Pirates in the championship game 69–42. After the IFL was bought out by af2 , the Blaze were not among the many teams that moved to the new league and subsequently folded. However, a new franchise resurfaced in Bismarck to play in the National Indoor Football League for the 2002 and 2003 seasons. This article about
48-402: The PIFL after its first, financially troubled, season to start his own league. Unlike the PIFL, the IFL was an "entity league"; teams were owned by the league and franchised out to management groups. NFL Hall-of-Famer Kellen Winslow was brought in as commissioner. The league was successful enough for a major expansion in 2000. Expansion was done regionally to cut down on travel expenses. Hence,
56-729: The majority of the teams were in the Midwest . Their championship game was known as the Gold Cup. Midway through the 2000 season, the Topeka Knights changed management and nicknames and became the Kings. After the season, the entire league was purchased by the Arena Football League 's Orlando Predators . Two teams, the Lincoln Lightning and Peoria Pirates , as well as many players, became
64-563: Was originally slated to join the original incarnation of the Indoor Football League as the Erie Xpress in 1999, but would finally join the league as the Invaders. In 2000, the team compiled a 6-8 record finishing in 2nd place in the Southern Division and would make the Eastern Conference playoffs. The Invaders would subsequently fold after their only season due to financial problems. Indoor football would not be played again in Erie until 2005 when
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