PIFL Announces Week 12 Players of the Week

The Professional Indoor Football League announces that Lehigh Valley Steelhawks QB Adam Bednarik, Richmond Raiders WR Hakeem Moore, and Richmond Raiders DB RoShawn Marshall are the Week 12 Players of the Week. Saturday's matchups were so spellbinding that for the first time in PIFL history the league named co-offensive players.

For the second time this season Lehigh Valley Steelhawks QB Adam Bednarik (6'2 223, West Virginia) has earned Player of the Week honors. After beginning the season 2-4, Lehigh has arguably become the hottest team in the PIFL winning four straight placing them in the middle of the pack of the impending playoffs. QB Adam Bednarik has been a big part of that and in Saturday's 67-42 victory over the Knoxville Nighthawks he completed over 75% (26-34) of his passes for the third time this season for 333 yards and eight touchdowns. Despite having missed action in two games, Bednarik leads the PIFL in completions (205) and completion percentage (70.9%) and of the QB's to attempt more than 150 passes he has the second fewest interceptions (8). WR Hakeem Moore (5'11 175, Towson) has come into his own this season becoming a key component in the Richmond Raiders passing attack. On Saturday Moore had his coming out party in Saturday's 48-42 overtime victory leading all receivers in receptions for the week with eleven. But it would be his last two catches that proved worthy of this week's Co-Offensive Player of the Week. The first catch was the touchdown that ultimately forced overtime with the latter serving as the game-winner keeping the Raiders in the thick of the playoff hunt. Moore is currently second in the PIFL in receiving yards (833) and eighth in receptions (51).

For a league-leading third time this season, Richmond Raiders DB RoShawn Marshall (5'10 205, CMS) brings home the Defensive Player of the Week honor having previously taking home the award back in Week 4 and 8. Saturday's thrilling overtime win, Marshall was all over the field matching his season total of three interceptions with three more tallies with the biggest one coming on the first play in OT. Currently second in the PIFL in interceptions, Marshall owns six of the Raiders eight total picks.

The 2013 playoff push continues this weekend beginning with a double-header this Saturday when the Richmond Raiders (6-3) make a return visit to Albany (4-4) for the first time since the inaugural PIFL Championship game last June. Then the first-place Alabama Hammers (6-2) return home to the Von Braun Center to host the Louisiana Swashbucklers (4-4). To close out the weekend on Sunday Lehigh Valley (6-4) will try and keep their playoff push going when they make back-to-back trips to the Peach State beginning with a visit to Columbus to take on the reeling Lions (3-6) losers of four straight.

PIFL Names Week 11 Players of the Week

The Professional Indoor Football League announces that Louisiana Swashbucklers QB Chris Mitchell, Alabama Hammers DB Cortez Stubbs, and Alabama Hammers KR Charles McClain are the Week 11 Players of the Week.

This past Saturday the Swashbucklers (4-4) moved back to .500 with a thrilling 68-66 double overtime victory over the Raiders (5-3) thanks in large part to QB Chris Mitchell (6'3 208, Alabama St.) and his seven touchdown performance as the Week 11 Offensive Player of the Week.. Louisiana overcame a thirteen point second half deficit with Mitchell completing 19 of 34 passes for 243 yards and five touchdown passes but it was his final of two rushing touchdowns with two minutes left in the 4th that gave the Bucs their first lead of the game since back in the 2nd. In addition to leading his team to their fourth win in five games, Mitchell has a streak of 85 pass attempts without throwing an interception.

Traded from Knoxville just three days prior to Saturday, DB Cortez Stubbs (5'9 185, Concordia) made an immediate impact for his team picking up two fumbles and an interception in the Hammers 70-43 thrashing of the Columbus Lions. Already playing on his third team this season, Stubbs played as a rookie for the Lions in 2012 earning All-PIFL 2nd team honors and was signed through training camp earlier this season before getting traded to Knoxville back in late March. Now in a switch from last-to-first, Stubbs picked up the Week 11 Defensive Player of the Week for his return performance in Columbus.

With teammate WR Mico McSwain racking in all the accolades, often times the forgotten man in Huntsville has been WR Charles McClain (5'9 185, North Alabama). McClain had arguably his greatest performance as professional on Saturday receiving the Week 11 Special Teams Player of the Week by almost single-handedly taking out the Lions with 228 all-purpose yards. In addition to leading all receivers with 146 yards, McClain picked up his second interception of the season and helped put the game out of reach when late in the 3rd quarter he scored on a 54-yard kickoff return.

Which teams will begin making playoff runs? We find out in Week 12 with some possible playoff previews when the first-place Alabama Hammers travel west to face off against the Swashbucklers. Then the reeling Columbus Lions (3-5) losers of three straight try and keep their playoff hopes alive when they hit the road to take on the Richmond Raiders (5-3). After a week off, the Knoxville Nighthawks (2-7) return to try and play playoff spoiler when they meet up against the PIFL's hottest team and winners of three straight in the Lehigh Valley Steelhawks (5-4).

PIFL Names Week 10 Players of the Week

The Professional Indoor Football League (PIFL) announces that Lehigh Valley Steelhawks QB Hunter Wanket, Albany Panthers DL Tito Hannah, and Albany Panthers K Meredith Trout are the Week 10 Players of the Week.

Winners of two straight, the Lehigh Valley Steelhawks (4-4) have been a bit of roll getting back even at .500 right in the middle of the playoff discussion. For the second time in less than a month the Steelhawks needed to rely on the services of their backup QB Hunter Wanket (6'4 220, Central Connecticut St.) who stepped in for the idle starter Adam Bednarik. In their 63-47 victory over Knoxville, Lehigh's Wanket picked up the Week 10 Offensive Player of the Week completing 23 of 29 passes for 253 yards scoring four total touchdowns (3 passing, 1 rushing) giving a member of the Steelhawks offense the nod for the second time in as many weeks.

The Albany Panthers ended their franchise long three-game losing streak on Saturday with a 45-42 win over Louisiana thanks in large to a big push up-front from their defensive line. In all the Panthers brought down Bucs QB Chris Mitchell four times as DL Tito Hannah (6'3 275, South Carolina St.) earned the Week 10 Defensive Player of the Week picking up two of the four sacks. One key sack came at the start of the 2nd half in which he forced and recovered a fumble sparking the Panthers come from behind win.

Making just his second appearance in a Panthers uniform, K Meredith Trout (5'10 205, Graceland) has already been paying off huge dividends for the defending champs. Last Saturday Trout earned the Week 10 Special Teams Player of the Week after going a perfect 5-5 on PAT attempts, 2-3 on field goal tries (20, 24) and notched two Uno's giving him a two-game total of 20 points.

Week 11 of the PIFL season features a triple-header on Saturday beginning at 7:00 PM with the first ever meeting between the Albany Panthers (4-3) and the Lehigh Valley Steelhawks (4-4). Then at 7:30 PM the Columbus Lions (3-4) will try to end a two-game losing streak when they host the first-place Alabama Hammers (5-2) who return after a two-week layoff. Closing out the action will be the Louisiana Swashbucklers (3-4) returning home to the Smugglers Den to host the Richmond Raiders (5-2).

PIFL Names Week Nine Players of the Week

The Professional Indoor Football League (PIFL) announces that Lehigh Valley Steelhawks WR Tyrone Collins, Louisiana Swashbucklers DB Greg Harvey, and Richmond Raiders KR Joseph Jean-Pierre are the Week Nine Players of the Week.

For the first time since Week 3, a Lehigh Valley Steelhawks (3-4) offensive player comes home with the Offensive Player of the Week award with WR Tyrone Collins (6'0 195, Wagner) earning the Week 10 nod. In Sunday's 60-51 win over Columbus, Collins nabbed a game-high 13 receptions for 140 yards and one touchdown giving him a touchdown reception in five consecutive games. Lehigh's victory ended a season-high three-game losing streak while Collins now ranks fifth in the PIFL in receptions (43), 14 behind team-leader WR Thomas Gilson.

The Louisiana Swashbucklers (3-3) continue to be the PIFL's hottest team winning their third consecutive game with a 45-37 victory over Knoxville this past weekend. DB Greg Harvey (5'10 185, Florida A&M) earned the Week 9 Defensive Player of the Week picking up his fourth interception in three games. Harvey pitched in with eight tackles helping beat Knoxville for the second time in three weeks.

For first time all season someone other than a kicker earns the Special Teams Player of the Week award as KR Joseph Jean-Pierre (6'2 220, Virginia Union) of Richmond (5-2) sparked their 16-point 4th quarter comeback victory over Albany with two of the game's biggest plays. First spark came on the last play of the 3rd quarter with a 52-yard kickoff return for a touchdown while the ladder came on an on-side kick recovery which eventually led to the Raiders grabbing their first lead of the game. Richmond ultimately held off Albany 51-49 thanks to a game-winning 25-yard field goal from kicker T.C. Stevens.

Week 10 of the PIFL season includes a double-header beginning with the Lehigh Valley Steelhawks (3-4) looking to get back to .500 when they pay a visit to the Knoxville Nighthawks (2-6). The day will conclude with arguably the PIFL's hottest team in the Louisiana Swashbucklers (3-3), winners of three straight, traveling to take on the struggling Albany Panthers (3-3), losers of three straight.

PIFL Names Week Eight Players of the Week

The Professional Indoor Football League (PIFL) names Louisiana Swashbucklers WR Jordan Rideaux, Richmond Raiders DB RoShawn Marshall, and Knoxville Nighthawks K Armando Cuko the Week 8 Players of the Week.

For the first time this season a player from Louisiana grabs a weekly award as WR Jordan Rideaux (5'9 165, Louisiana College) earned the Week 8 Offensive Player of the Week with his nine reception, 117 yards, and five touchdown performance in the Swashbucklers 77-65 victory over the Lions this past Saturday. After beginning the season 0-3, Saturday's win was the Bucs second consecutive placing them in the middle of the pack of the PIFL's playoff picture.

For the second time this season Richmond Raiders DB RoShawn Marshall (5'10 205, CMS) nabs the Defensive Player of the Week award earning the nod earlier this season back in Week 4. In Saturday's come-from-behind victory over the Steelhawks, Marshall helped close out the game by picking up his second and third interceptions of the season on Lehigh's final two drives. Through the Raiders six games Marshall owns four of the team's six total turnovers, fewest of all the teams in the PIFL.

Armando Cuko (5'11 183, UMASS) earned his second 2013 Special Teams Player of the Week nod after scoring a league-high 17 points in the Nighthawks 53-51 upset victory over the first-place Alabama Hammers. Cuko, who previously won the award in Week 5, was 5-6 on PAT attempts, 3-3 on field goal attempts (30, 40, 28) and wedged in three Uno's. In six games, Armando has shot to the top of the PIFL leaderboard currently leading all kickers in scoring (59) and Uno's (9).

This weekend, The Professional Indoor Football League enters the second half of the 2013 season beginning with a double-header this Saturday starting with the Albany Panthers (3-2) hitting the road after a two-week hiatus to face-off in a rematch of the inaugural PIFL Championship against the Richmond Raiders (4-2). The Swashbucklers (2-3) and Nighthawks (2-5) will look to maintain momentum off their upset wins from last weekend in a showdown against one another in Knoxville. Then on Sunday the reeling Lehigh Valley Steelhawks (2-4), losers of three straight, will try to right the ship when they host the Columbus Lions (3-3) in the duo's first ever meeting.

PIFL Names Players of the Week

The Professional Indoor Football League (PIFL) names Columbus Lions WR Maurice Dupree, Richmond Raiders DL Brandon Sutton, and Richmond Raiders K T.C. Stevens the Week Six Players of the Week.

Compared to his 2012 campaign the PIFL Offensive MVP WR Maurice Dupree (5'10 190, Jacksonville St.) has had a relatively quiet start to the 2013 season, until Saturday when Dupree exploded grabbing 15 receptions for 230 yards and four TD's in the Lions 45-42 victory over the Swashbucklers. Down the stretch every catch was crucial as Columbus erased a 14-point 3rd quarter deficit ending a two-game losing streak. Maurice is once again back in the mix as one the league's top receiving targets leading the PIFL in receiving yards (532) and is the only receiver to average over 100 receiving yards per game. His efforts on Saturday give him the Week 6 PIFL Offensive Player of the Week.

Richmond Raiders DL Brandon Sutton (6'2 315, Catawba) earned the Week 6 PIFL Defensive Player of the Week after being the defensive catalyst behind his team's 62-51 victory over the Steelhawks. Sutton notched seven tackles and 3.5 sacks but it was his blocked field goal on Lehigh's first drive that set the tempo for the Raiders defense. Under pressure for majority of the night, Hawks QB Adam Bednarik was sacked a total of six times in addition to throwing a couple of intentional grounding calls on consecutive drives in the 3rd quarter and 4th quarter helping the Raiders seize control of the game.

Raiders K T.C. Stevens (5'9 175, Hampden-Sydney) has the distinction of being the first repeat winner of the 2013 season receiving the Week 6 Specials Teams Player of the Week for the second time in three weeks. The 2012 PIFL Special Teams Player of the Year led all kickers on Saturday with twelve points going 7-8 on PAT attempts, 1-1 (36) on FG attempts, in addition to scoring two Uno's moving him into a first-place tie with Knoxville's Armando Cuko for the league-lead.

Week 7 of the PIFL season is chock-full of action with Saturday being another triple-header beginning with a Week 1 re-match with the Alabama Hammers (4-1) hitting the road to take on the Lehigh Valley Steelhawks (2-2). In season's first meeting, Hammers needed a hook-and-ladder on the game's final play to defeat the Hawks 29-28. Then at 7:30 PM, the Raiders (3-1), winners of three straight make their first appearance in Columbus in over two years to take on the Lions (2-2). Saturday's action concludes with the idle Knoxville Nighthawks (1-4) looking to ride the momentum of their big win from two weeks ago when they face-off against the winless Louisiana Swashbucklers (0-3).

PIFL Names Week 5 Players of the Week

The Professional Indoor Football League (PIFL) has named Alabama Hammers WR Mico McSwain, Columbus Lions DB LeRoy Vann, and Knoxville Nighthawks K Armando Cuko as the Week 5 Players of the Week.

It hasn't a total landslide, but WR Mico McSwain (6'3 215, North Alabama) has arguably been the most dominating receiver to date leading the PIFL in receptions (30), receiving yards (436) and touchdowns (11). Saturday night was another prime example of the pain McSwain has laid on his opponents hauling in nine receptions for 201 yards and five touchdowns in the Hammers 72-45 dominating victory over Columbus making him an easy selection for the Week 5 PIFL Offensive Player of the Week.

Despite losing by 27 to Alabama, the Columbus Lions defense did have some shining moments of which included the play-making ability of DB LeRoy Vann (5'9 185, Florida A&M). Vann attributed for two of the Lions three turnovers on Saturday in addition to accounting for 25% of the Lions total scoring by stepping in front of two Russell Hill passes and returning them both for touchdowns giving him the honor of the Week 5 PIFL Defensive Player of the Week.

In what arguably was the biggest upset in two years, the Knoxville Nighthawks (1-4) defeated the Albany Panthers 31-28 in large part to some timely kicking from K Armando Cuko (5'11 183, UMASS). Despite leading for majority of the game, Knoxville held on by the skin of their teeth thanks to Cuko going 2-3 on PAT attempts, 3-5 on field goal attempts (20, 24, 38) and two Uno's for a total of 13 points. He scored the Hawks final seven points edging them to their first victory of the 2013 season helping him earn the Week 5 PIFL Special Teams Player of the Week.

This Saturday Week 6 of the PIFL season will kick-off with a triple-header beginning with the Lehigh Valley Steelhawks (2-1) looking to ride their early season momentum into Richmond to take on a Raiders (2-1) squad. Later on the defending champion Albany Panthers (3-1) will look to forget the memories of last week when they head to Huntsville, AL to face off against the Alabama Hammers (3-1) in a battle for first-place. The night concludes when the Columbus Lions (1-2) and Louisiana Swashbucklers (0-2) with both teams looking to avoid a third straight loss.

PIFL Names Players of the Week

The Professional Indoor Football League (PIFL) has named Richmond Raiders QB Warren Smith, DB RoShawn Marshall, and K T.C. Stevens as the Week 4 Players of the Week.

In last week's lone Week 4 matchup, the Richmond Raiders (2-1) made a clean sweep in the Player of the Week awards beginning with QB Warren Smith (6'1 200, Maine) earning the Offensive Player of the Week honor by completing 21 of 26 passes for 232 yards and 4 TD's. In just his second start of his rookie campaign, Smith helped erase a late first half 22-13 deficit leading the Raiders on a 24 and 0 run extending into the early moments of the second half helping seize the lead for good. Richmond would go on to extinguish Knoxville 51-36.

DB RoShawn Marshall (6'4 270, Montgomery JC) is one of the key returnees from a stout 2012 defense. On Saturday, Marshall grabbed the Week 4 Defensive Player of the Week after making some key plays one of which included a forced and recovered fumble leading to a Raiders touchdown. After falling behind early, Marshall and company held the Nighthawks to just 14 second half points pushing the Raiders to their second consecutive victory.

K T.C. Stevens (5'9 175, Hampden-Sydney) is no stranger to winning Special Teams honors winning the award three times in 2012. Stevens earned his first Special Teams Player of the Week award of the 2013 season finishing with a game-high nine points in Saturday's victory over Knoxville. At the end of the first half, he also nailed a PIFL season-long 52-yard field goal giving the Raiders the lead for good.

Week 5 action of the PIFL season will kick-off this Friday when the defending champion Albany Panthers (3-0) hope to keep their hot-streak alive when they travel to take on the winless Knoxville Nighthawks (0-4). Then on Saturday after a two-week hiatus the Columbus Lions (1-1) return to action to face off against the Alabama Hammers (2-1).

PIFL Names Players of the Week

The Professional Indoor Football League (PIFL) has named Lehigh Valley Steelhawks QB Adam Bednarik, Albany Panthers DB Damian Daniels, and Lehigh Valley Steelhawks K George Pierson as the Week 3 Players of the Week.

This past weekend, QB Adam Bednarik (6'2 223, West Virginia) guided the Steelhawks (2-1) to their second consecutive win of the 2013 season by completing 27 of 35 passes for 282 yards and four touchdowns in their 44-22 victory over Louisiana. Through their first three games, the newest member of the PIFL has proved to be a stingy opponent having only turned the ball over one time with a lot of the credit going towards the signal-caller. Bednarik, who also leads the Hawks in rushing TD's (3), completed passes to five different receivers on Saturday giving him the honor as the Week 3 Offensive Player of the Week.

Albany Panthers DB Damian "The Nighthawk" Daniels (5'10 180, West Georgia) has always been known as a tightfisted defender to opposing offenses having garnered an 89 career interceptions. Through Albany's first two games, Daniels for the most part had been held in check having not picked off a pass in over 60 pass attempts. On Saturday "Nighthawk" would make up for the lost time picking off two Russell Hill passes in the Panthers 64-51 victory over the Alabama Hammers. In addition to winning the Week 3 Defensive Player of the Week, his two INT performance brings him to just seven shy of the all-time arena/indoor record of 98 held by Kenny McIntyre.

Lehigh Valley Steelhawks K George Pierson (6'1 210, Kansas) earned the Week 3 Special Teams Player of the Week by scoring ten points in Saturday's victory over the Swashbucklers. In addition to knocking in his first Uno of the season, Pierson kicked field goals of 34 and 28 yards out helping extend his PIFL lead of field goals made (5). Through the PIFL's first three weeks he also leads all kickers in scoring (25) and has notched the two longest field goals (38, 34) of the season.

The Professional Indoor Football League returns to action this Saturday when the Knoxville Nighthawks (0-3) make their 2013 home debut in an Easter Weekend showdown against the Richmond Raiders (1-1). Knoxville will look to exact some revenge after falling 41-23 to the Raiders last week. The other five teams will enjoy the holiday weekend off and will return the following weekend.

PIFL Names Players of the Week

The Professional Indoor Football League (PIFL) has named Alabama Hammers QB Russell Hill, Alabama Hammers LB Jake Trantin, and Albany Panthers K Ryan Gates as the Week 2 Players of the Week.

On Saturday, QB Russell Hill (6'0 200, Idaho) led the Alabama Hammers to an impressive 65-23 victory over the Richmond Raiders by completing 30 of 40 passes for 340 yards and nine touchdowns. Hill, who spent the 2012 season in Knoxville, got his first start of the season on Saturday after coming in mid-relief in the Hammers first game versus Lehigh Valley. Russell managed to put up those numbers against a Raiders squad that was primed to repeat a 2012 season in which they led the PIFL in total defense. Hill's performance earned him the Week 2 PIFL Offensive Player of the Week.

Through the first two games, LB Jake Trantin (6'2 240, William & Mary) has been the main catalyst leading the Hammers to the number one spot in total defense (184 yards allowed/game) and team sacks (10). This past weekend Trantin, who is the nephew of former NFL Head Coach Marty Schottenheimer, lead Alabama in their victory over Richmond gathering seven tackles, one pass break-up, two sacks, as well as a safety holding the Raiders to just 23 points and 170 yards of total offense. His play earned him the Week 2 PIFL Defensive Player of the Week.

Albany Panthers K Ryan Gates (5'9 180, Gardner-Webb) all but won Saturday's game against the Columbus Lions off his right leg scoring 10 points in a game where every point was at a premium. Gates was a perfect 5 for 5 on PAT attempts while notching his first two Uno's of the season. But it was arguably his last three points that proved to be the difference as his 28-yard field goal with two seconds remaining ended up as the game-winner in Albany's 40-37 victory over the Lions. His late-game heroics validated him as the Week 2 PIFL Special Teams Player of the Week.

Week 3 of the PIFL season gets underway this Saturday with a triple-header beginning at 7:00 PM with the Richmond Raiders (0-1) looking to bounce back off their season opening loss by hosting the Knoxville Nighthawks (0-2) who are also in search of their first win. After Saturday, only one team will stand alone as undefeated as the defending champion Albany Panthers (2-0) will back at home to host the upstart Alabama Hammers (2-0). Lastly, first off their first win in the PIFL the Steelhawks (1-1) make their first ever trip to the Bayou to take on the Louisiana Swashbucklers (0-1).

PIFL Names Players Of The Week

The Professional Indoor Football League (PIFL) has named Albany Panthers QB Cecil Lester, Columbus Lions LB Justen Rivers, and Columbus Lions K Chandler Brooks as the Week 1 Players of the Week.
QB Cecil Lester (6'1 220, Fort Valley St.) began his ninth indoor football season off with a bang on Saturday leading the Panthers to 50-41 domination over the Louisiana Swashbucklers. In the ninth overall meeting in the Albany, Louisiana series, it was a bit one-sided with the Panthers never once relinquishing the lead. Lester made it six in a row over the Swashbucklers by completing 26 of 39 passes for 269 yards while evenly distributing five passing touchdowns to a different receiver. His efforts earned him the PIFL Week 1 Offensive Player of the Week.
LB Justen Rivers (6'1 255, Eastern Kentucky) has been the mainstay on the Columbus Lions defense for the past seven seasons and on Sunday with almost entirely new cast on defense Rivers led a Columbus defensive charge in a 58-28 victory over the Knoxville Nighthawks. The wily vet finished the Lions opening game on Sunday with three tackles and two sacks. Rivers biggest impact was his blocking of a field goal and returning it in for a touchdown helping spark his keep as the PIFL Week 1 Defensive Player of the Week.
K Chandler Brooks (6'1 175, Auburn) briefly introduced himself to Lions fans last season when he nailed a game-winning field goal in his indoor debut. On Sunday, Brooks kicked off his second season with bang leading all kickers in scoring with ten points going 7 of 8 on extra point attempts as well as tacking on three Uno's. His efforts earned him the PIFL Week 1 Special Teams Player of the Week.
Week 2 of the PIFL season kicks begins this Saturday at 7:00 PM when the Richmond Raiders make their season debut by hosting the Alabama Hammers (1-0) whom are hot off their heels of a last second hook-and-ladder win. Thirty minutes later, one of indoor football's biggest in-state rivalry resumes when the Columbus Lions (1-0) hit the road to take on the defending PIFL Champion Albany Panthers (1-0). The weekend concludes on Sunday at 4:00 PM with the Lehigh Valley Steelhawks (0-1) taking on the Knoxville Nighthawks (0-1) in their home-opener.

PIFL, NFL Officials Meet For 2013 Rules Clinic

The Professional Indoor Football League (PIFL), along with officials from the National Football League, converged on the Atlanta suburb of East Point, Ga. this weekend to kick off the upcoming season with the 2013 PIFL Rules Clinic. Representatives from the NFL included Director of Recruiting Ron Baynes; NFL officials Allen Baynes and Tom Symonette; and NFL officiating supervisor Johnny Grier, who was a pioneer in his field as the NFL's first African-American referee. Other members of the clinic's instructional team included PIFL Director of Officiating Dan Blum and Conference USA referee Ed Ardito. The instructional team and league officials reviewed mechanics, penalty enforcement and rules, timing, and other subjects, including an intensive video review and breakdown of plays from the 2012 PIFL season. Over 35 returning and first-time PIFL officials were in attendance.
The upcoming campaign marks the second season the NFL is using the PIFL as a training ground for prospective officials. Officiating supervisors from the NFL will grade PIFL officials' performance for each game of the 2013 season. The PIFL is the only pro football league in the country with an affiliation agreement with the NFL to cultivate and develop promising NFL officials.
"I thought it was as professionally done in a 10-hour timeframe as clinics in major college conferences," Blum said of the clinic. "The fact we looked at a lot of video is a positive thing; seeing it instead of just talking about it is much more meaningful and beneficial to our officials. I think we have a good group, and we will build on last year's experiences and only get better. The system in place proved itself to work last season."
"We feel privileged to be the only indoor football league to have an affiliation with the National Football League," said PIFL Compliance Director Jeff Gonos. "They are a tremendous group of officials with the vast majority having prior experience in indoor football. I am confident the PIFL will set the bar in terms of officiating in indoor football this upcoming season."
The PIFL kicks off its sophomore season in less than three weeks with seven teams in the league: the Alabama (Huntsville) Hammers; the Albany (GA) Panthers; the Columbus (GA) Lions; the Knoxville (TN) NightHawks; the Louisiana (Lake Charles) Swashbucklers; the Richmond (VA) Raiders; and the expansion Lehigh Valley (Bethlehem, PA) Steel Hawks.

Alabama Hammers Announce 2013 Promotional Schedule

The Alabama Hammers released the 2013 promotional schedule and Hammer Fans have a lot to look forward at Propst Arena at the VBC as they kick off the 14th year of professional football in Alabama. They still have some of traditional nights like Military Night and community Night and this year the team has added the Night of Champions. March 8th, opening night, features the 2012 State Champions Madison Academy Mustangs and Tanner Rattlers as they are congratulated for their on the field success. Also be one of the 1st 1000 people in the doors and get a free 2013 game schedule cup that can be used for $2 refills at the VBC Concessions throughout the Hammers season. Also new to this years schedule is the Hammers Breast Cancer Awareness game to benefit the Liz Hurley breast cancer fund. The Hammers will be selling special pink T shirts and the special jerseys worn during the game will be auctioned off afterwards with all proceeds to go to the Liz Hurley Breast cancer Fund.
There is still time to secure your seat for every home game and have first rights to the playoffs as Coach Dean Cokinos makes his return to the Valley. Tickets for all 2013 Hammer Season tickets are on sale now! Individual game tickets to go on sale shortly. Note that all games will start at 7:00 pm with the exception the Friday game March 8th will kickoff at 7:30 pm.
March 8th, Friday - Game Schedule Cup Giveaway Night brought to you by Huntsville Hospital, TOC, and H&R Block
April 6th, Saturday - Bud Light Adult Cap Night / Coca Cola Kids Cap Night
April 13th, Saturday - Hammers Youth Jersey Night brought to you by Huntsville Hospital, TOC Sports, and Fox-54
April 27th, Saturday - Hammers Breast Cancer Awareness game to benefit the Liz Hurley Breast Cancer Fund
June 1st, Saturday - Military Night
June 8th Saturday - Community Night

Columbus Lions Make Addition To Ownership Group

In a press conference at the Columbus Civic Center, the Columbus Lions of the Professional Indoor Football League (PIFL) announced today the addition of Duke Liberatore and Jan McBarron to the team's ownership group.
"I am thrilled to announce the addition of 'Duke and The Doctor' to our ownership group," said Principal Owner John Hargrove. "Throughout this process it was not only important to find new partners but to find the right partners who could help validate our business model. Duke and Jan's business savvy, humanitarian interests and connections to the community will be a huge asset the Lions organization."
CEO of Peachtree Natural Foods, Duke is a known sports advocate. A graduate of Georgia State University, at the age of 20 Duke began an interest in preventive health. After losing both of his parents to heart disease in the same year, Duke became determined to minimize his risk of this hereditary disease. After educating himself, he realized that there were measures that could be taken to help prevent other health conditions from occurring. It was then that he started to make a career out of healthy living. In 1990 he opened his first of now twelve Peachtree Natural Foods stores.
Married to medical physician and best-selling author, Jan McBarron, M.D., together they host their own radio and television health program. In addition to serving as a board certified medical doctor in a thriving practice near Atlanta, Dr. McBarron is a specialist in weight loss and preventive medicine and has a private medical practice in Columbus, GA. Author of three best-selling books Flavor Without Fat, The Columbus Nutrition Program and Being a Woman Naturally - Dr. Jan McBarron's Guide to Natural Supplements Beyond 25 and has been featured in Time, U.S. News & World Report, Readers' Digest, Sports Illustrated, Women's World and Fitness magazines.
"Before joining the Lions organization we did an extensive look at all aspects of the team from its presence in the community to the experience of attending games," said new owner Duke Liberatore. "The excitement they provide to their fans to the high-level of commitment members to serving the community this organization has become a model for other indoor teams to follow and I just wanted to be a part of that excellence as well as help in the growth process for the club."

Alabama Hammers Announce PIFL Open Tryouts

The Alabama Hammers will hold a free agent open tryout on Saturday, February 16th at the Von Braun Center in Huntsville, AL to launch the start of their 2013 Professional Indoor Football League campaign.
This tryout will be the last by the Hammers and recently hired Head Coach Dean Cokinos, who returns to Huntsville (where he won af2 championship with the Tennessee Valley Vipers of the af2) after a two year stint as the head man for the Georgia Force of the AFL. Cokinos has a strong reputation for finding and developing players. He has helped dozens of players move up to the NFL and CFL ranks while serving as a coach in the AFL and af2, as well as working in player personnel evaluating arena/indoor players for the Tennessee Titans. "We're in a talent rich region and hope to find some quality players who can contribute to our organization. We want tough, hardworking players and this will be one more chance for potential candidates to showcase their abilities. We are looking to sign a few more players heading into camp." said Cokinos.
Hammers Tryout Info:
When - Saturday, February 16th
Where - Von Braun Center South Hall, 700 Monroe Street, Huntsville, AL 35801
Cost - The tryout cost is $50 to pre-register and $60 cash the day of.
Time - Registration will begin at 9:00 am and the tryout will start shortly after.
Additional Info:
Cash only will be accepted on the day of the tryout.
There are no hotel arrangements being provided.
Registration will begin at 9 a.m. Sharp
There is no full contact and therefore no need for shoulder pads.
Appropriate dress consists of workout clothes and shoes suited for Astro turf
No refunds accepted for any reason.
Tryout will be conducted rain or shine.
Please send any game film and player bios to: playerpersonnel@alabamahammers.com
Or by mail to:
ATTN: Player Personnel
Alabama Hammers
Von Braun Center
700 Monroe St
Huntsville,AL 35801

Albany Panthers To Hold Open Tryout On February 2nd

The Professional Indoor Football League Champion Albany Panthers will hold an open player tryout on Saturday, February 2 on Phoebe Field in the Albany James H. Gray Civic Center located at 100 West Oglethorpe Blvd., Albany, GA.  Panthers Head Coach Lucious Davis, General Manager Will Carter and staff will be evaluating all players in attendance.
The Panthers All-PIFL defensive lineman Chauncey "Sack City" Debose (6'3" - 280 - Eastern Kentucky) was signed from last season's tryouts and PIFL Championship Game MVP WR Antwontis Cutts (6'2'' - 170 - Fort Valley State University) was signed at an open tryout in 2010.
"South Georgia clearly has the talent," said Carter.  "We have been impressed by what we have seen here over the years and the signing of Chauncey and Antwontis shows that we are serious about finding local players that will help get us back to the Championship."
All participants can pre-register before Friday, February 1st at www.albanypanthers.net.  The cost of the tryout is $40 for those who pre-register and $50 at the door by cash or money order.
On the day of the tryout, registration will begin at 11 a.m., with stretching starting promptly at 12 p.m.
Players will be tested on their 40-yard dash time, broad jump, and short shuttle with other position-specific drills and one-on-ones to follow.  Please bring appropriate workout gear and turf shoes.  Testing will take place on turf - no metal cleats are permitted.  A trainer will be on hand for emergencies only - not for player taping.

Alabama Hammers Announce 2013 Coaching Staff

Alabama Hammers head coach Dean Cokinos has announced his coaching staff for the 2013 Professional Indoor Football League season.
Demetrius Derico will serve as defensive backs coach, Calvin "Big O" Ousby will direct the offensive line and Eric Scott will coach the defensive line. Joining the former Vipers on the sideline will be Don Clauser, who will be in charge of special teams.
"I am really pleased with the way the team is coming together and I am excited about the opportunity to work with this young coaching staff," Cokinos said.
"Demetrius, Calvin, Eric and I have all been through the battles together and have achieved the highest goal possible along the way (the Vipers 2008 af2 championship.) These guys will bring a lot of experience and knowledge of the game to the players, as well as support the culture and attitude that we will strive to incorporate here in Huntsville."
Derico served as defensive backs coach alongside Cokinos with the AFL's Georgia Force the last two seasons and served in the same capacity with the AFL's Alabama Vipers in 2010. As a player, Derico led the Vipers in tackles through the '08 and '09 seasons.
Ousby has served as an assistant coach at Grissom and was an anchor on the Tennessee Valley offensive line from 2006-09, while Scott currently coaches at Scottsboro and is coming off an arena career that saw him set a Viper team record with 17.5 sacks in '08 and later spend time with Georgia in the AFL and the Hammers last season.
Clauser is a long-time coaching veteran and two-year coordinator with the Hammers. He currently helps direct the Madison Academy football program.

Knoxville Nighthawks Announce GM

The Knoxville Nighthawks have named professional sports veteran Andy Haskell as their new general manager.
Haskell brings over 20 years of experience to the Knoxville front office.
"It's exciting to add someone with Andy's experience to our organization," Southern Sports & Entertainment president Joe Stroud said.
"Andy is a total professional and knows the ins and outs of the business. He will work well with the Knoxville business community and surrounding areas."
Haskell's professional career includes stops with the Wichita Outlaws of the Global Basketball Association, University of Arkansas Little Rock athletic department, the Arkansas RiverBlades of the East Coast Hockey League, Arkansas Twisters and Tennessee Valley Vipers of arena football 2, the Alabama Vipers of the Arena Football League, and most recently the AFL's Georgia Force.
He has held a variety of titles during that time that range from account executive to general manager. Many of his responsibilities have been in the area of ticket and corporate sales.

Steelhawks And Jerusalem House Team Up To Give Back

The Lehigh Valley Steelhawks are proud to announce that they will be teaming up with Jerusalem House Ministries to help people in need in our surrounding communities. Now and throughout the season, the Steelhawks will be accepting donated items at our office (648 N. New St. Bethlehem, PA 18018), and at all our home games at Stabler Arena.
As a special thank you to all our fans helping those in need, if you bring 3 canned goods or a clothing article to the Steelhawk office, you will receive a ticket voucher good for one general admission ticket at a Steelhawk game of your choosing! Fans can also make donations at all home games.
Jerusalem House Ministries was founded in 1993 as a resource for those who are unable to overcome their social handicaps, dysfunction, and inability to achieve the most basic hopes and dreams of our society. Part of their efforts is serving our neighbors physically by soliciting resources from groups and individuals to meet the needs of those to whom our supporters are often separated by society's boundaries. Their mission is to establish a mission in inner-city Allentown that ministers comprehensive services to the body, soul and spirit of those who church and society find it most difficult to reconcile to God and to the community in which they live.
The Steelhawks will be holding a second and final open tryout for the 2013 PIFL season on January 19th at Iron Lakes Sports complex. The team is still hard at work recruiting for the upcoming season and filling their preseason roster with a ton of talent. The Steelhawks' 2013 PIFL schedule is now available online and season tickets are available. Get yours now! For further information please call Lehigh Valley Steelhawks Executive Vice President and General Manager Mike Clark at (610) 282-3100, or visit our website at www.LVSteelhawks.com for the latest Steelhawks news!
Fans are reminded that 2013 season ticket deposits are being accepted now to reserve your seats for the 2013 PIFL season. You can reserve your seats by calling the Steelhawks front office at 610-282-3100. Ticket packages start as low as $48!

Albany Panthers To Hold Open Tryout In Tallahassee on January 26th

The 2012 Professional Indoor Football League Champion Albany Panthers will hold an open player tryout on Saturday, January 26, 2013 at Lincoln High School located at 3838 Trojan Trail, Tallahassee, Florida.  Panthers Head Coach Lucious Davis, General Manager Will Carter and staff will be evaluating all players in attendance.
"The journey back to the PIFL Championship begins here," said Carter. "The turnout for the previous tryouts was tremendous.  We were impressed by the amount of talent in this area last year and we look for more of the same this year."
The Panthers found - Chauncey DeBose - who became a second team all-PIFL lineman from previous open tryouts.
"We look for all players, no matter what position," Panthers Head Coach Lucious Davis said. "We are looking for players to come and make our team better. It does not matter if the player is a quarterback, a kicker, or a defensive back."
"The players who are discovered might be the boost our team needs to get over the hump and back into the playoffs.  They could be the difference between a season to remember and a season to forget."
All participants can pre-register before Thursday, January 24th.  The cost of the tryout is $40 for those who pre-register and $50 at the door by cash or money order.  Mail information form and money order to Albany Panthers, P.O. Box 72153, Albany, GA 31708, and all fees are non-refundable.
On the day of the tryout, registration will begin at 11 a.m., with stretching starting promptly at noon.
Players will be tested on their 40-yard time, broad jump and short shuttle with other position-specific drills and one-on-ones to follow.  Please bring appropriate workout gear and shoes/cleats.