Ho-Chunk, Inc. Launches New CPIFL Team

Ho-Chunk, Inc. together with partners, Justin Hayes and Brad Lindgren, has formed the Lincoln Haymakers. Ho-Chunk, Inc. officially announced today, along with Hayes and Lindgren, that the team will be part of the new Champions Professional Indoor Football League (CPIFL).
The Lincoln Haymakers will be holding a Try Out Session on October 20, 2012 at the Bison Sports Arena located at 710 Hill Street in Lincoln. Check in starts at 12:00 P.M. and try outs will run until 5:00 P.M. For more information, email: cpifllincoln@gmail.com or jhayes@lincolnhaymakers.com.
The new team has already signed two former Cornhusker standouts, Cory Ross and Marlon Lucky. As a Cornhusker, running back Cory Ross earned the nickname "Pork Chop" due to his 5'6", 220 lb. stature. Ross earned several honors including Nebraska Offensive MVP (2004, 2005) and the Tom Novak Award (2005). After college, Ross went on to play for the Baltimore Ravens (2006 - 2007), the Sacramento Mountain Lions (2009 - 2011) and the Edmonton Eskimos (2012). In addition to playing, Ross will serve as Assistant Director of Player Personnel and assist with sales and marketing.
Ranked by Rivals.com as the second best high school running back in the country in 2005, Marlon Lucky was one of the most sought after prospects in the nation. Lucky chose to play for Nebraska, turning down USC, Washington and other schools. During his freshman year, Lucky was backup to senior Cory Ross. The Omaha Nighthawks of the United Football League (UFL) signed Lucky in July, 2011.
"We are excited to bring this new franchise to Lincoln and plan on building a championship team beginning with these two great former UNL players," said partner Justin Hayes.
The Lincoln Haymakers also signed four other players, James Patterson, Marques Parker, Everett Corley and Julius Nero. Patterson (Sacramento State University, University of Mary) most recently played with the Council Bluffs Express of the American Professional Football League (APFL) and will play defensive lineman. Parker is a graduate of Omaha Westside and played football at UNO. Offensive lineman Corley (Midland University) comes from the Omaha Beef, a member of the Indoor Football League (IFL). Nero attended Omaha North and Northwest Missouri State University. During the 2011 - 2012 season, he was a team captain.
The team is majority-owned by Ho-Chunk, Inc., with minority ownership held by Hayes and Lindgren. Lance Morgan, Chief Executive Officer of Ho-Chunk, Inc. launched the company in 1994 as the economic development corporation for the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska. During his association with Ho-Chunk, Inc. he has directed the development of 30 subsidiaries with operations throughout the United States and in five foreign countries. Headquartered in Winnebago, the company maintains offices in Bellevue and Elkhorn, Nebraska.
"The Winnebago Tribe has been in Nebraska for 150 years and Ho-Chunk, Inc. is a Nebraska corporation. We are committed to economic development in our region and in the state," says Morgan. "This is an opportunity for us to provide both an entertainment venue and a sports franchise for Lincoln, and it is an opportunity to be associated with a game that all Nebraskans love."
The Haymaker name was derived from reference to the very popular Lincoln Haymarket and from the common term used for a knock out punch in boxing.
Justin Hayes, a Lincoln native, will be the Director of Football Operations & Player Personnel for the Lincoln Haymakers. For the past 10 years, Hayes has served at Nebraska and Iowa high schools in a variety of roles such as position coach, special teams coordinator and Director of Operations. He also spent time with the Omaha Beef of the IFL and the Iowa Blackhawks of the APFL. Most recently, as Offensive Coordinator he assisted the Council Bluffs Express in getting to the championship game. Hayes currently resides in Omaha.
Brad Lindgren, Lincoln resident, will take on the role of General Manager for the Lincoln Haymakers. Lindgren's primary duties will include running the day to day operations. Having served as General Manager of the Council Bluffs Express, Lindgren brings extensive business experience to the team.
Lincoln resident Dave Brumagen will serve as Head Coach for the team. Coach Brumagen was with the Omaha Nighthawks where he served as the Assistant Director of Player Personnel. While serving as Council Bluffs Express Interim Head Coach for the last 10 games of the 2012 season, Brumagen led the team to play in the APFL Championship game.