The Colorado Wildcats was a team in the Professional Indoor Football League (PIFL) in 1998. The Wildcats franchise was owned by Gary Kozacek, who also was head coach/owner of the same Wildcats team for the previous 9 years, as they competed in semi-pro football in and around Colorado. The Wildcats played their home games at the Denver Coliseum , with the team office also located in Denver, CO. The team's colors were: Old Gold, Purple, and White. Colorado's head coach listed in the 1998 PIFL league media guide was Larry Jobe, but the actual head coach was Collins Sanders .
20-611: The Wildcats played three preseason PIFL games in '98. They went 1–2 in those games, with the lone victory at home: The Wildcats compiled a 9–5 record in their only year of play. They struggled financially, even folding for two weeks before a new owner, Tom Shafer , bailed the team out and allowed them to finish the season. The team made the playoffs, but even with the new owner in place, the Wildcats were still financially strapped and were about to forfeit their playoff appearance, rather than pay travel costs to Baton Rouge, LA. The Shivers,
40-804: A pair of players on the defensive first team. In February 1998, the Arena Football League sued the PIFL for allegedly infringing its trademarks, copyrights and patent. The PIFL answered and denied the Arena Football League's allegations. Late in June 1998, the Arena Football League filed a Motion for Preliminary Injunction before Judge Harry Leinenweber in Federal Court in the Northern District of Illinois. The Motion
60-762: A very successful European minor American football club, trying to move up to the pro level. The Spartans played two exhibition games in the US on April 27, 1998, at the Madison Mad Dogs and on April 29, 1998, at the Green Bay Bombers . They lost both games, 12–29 to Madison and 34–55 to Green Bay. The proposed European Division never started play. Minnesota Monsters The Minnesota Monsters were an indoor football team based in Falcon Heights, Minnesota . The Monsters were charter members of
80-606: The Green Bay Bombers and Madison Mad Dogs , took his two teams and form the Indoor Football League . On January 4, 1999, the remaining teams of the PIFL renamed the league to the Indoor Professional Football League . August 7, 1998 — # 3 Green Bay Bombers 19 at # 2 Madison Mad Dogs 46 August 9, 1998 — # 4 Colorado Wildcats * 51 at # 1 Louisiana Bayou Beast 67 (at Riverside Centroplex ) * Colorado's trip to Louisiana
100-646: The Louisiana Bayou Beast owners, offered to pay travel expenses for the Wildcats to compete against the Beast. This would also be the Beasts' chance to avenge the only loss of the Bayou Beast season (13–1) by defeating the Wildcats in the playoffs. The Bayou Beast did just that by winning 67–61, slamming Colorado wide receiver Matt Cinquanta to the turf as he made a miraculous catch just one yard shy of
120-411: The Arena Football League against the PIFL for patent infringement. As part of the settlement, all present and future PIFL teams have agreed to honor the patents, trademarks, copyrights and net structure of the Arena Football League, and in return the Arena Football League has withdrawn its motion to seek a restraining order to prevent the PIFL from playing its games. Additionally, the PIFL has agreed to use
140-414: The Arena Football League's efforts to challenge the practices of any competing professional "indoor" football league and clarified that its patent essentially applied to its end zone rebound nets, not any and all efforts to play American football indoors. On November 12, 1998, The Professional Indoor Football League (PIFL) and the Arena Football League reached a settlement agreement in the lawsuit brought by
160-651: The Monsters forfeited a home game scheduled against the Colorado Wildcats on May 16, 1998. The following weekend, on May 22, 1998, a road trip game at the Honolulu Hurricanes was on the schedule. Due to a shipping error, the Monsters had to play the first half of the game wearing the Hurricanes' road uniforms. Minnesota actually got their lone regular season victory in that game. The victory
180-441: The PIFL coaches. The Green Bay Bombers lead the list with five first team selections, including top vote getter quarterback Jay McDonagh. He was joined on the offensive first team by teammates Chris Perry and Heath Garland (both receivers), Louisiana's Michael Lewis (WR), Chris Cloud (center) and Matt Huerkamp (kicker), Colorado's Rob Satterly (offensive line) and Utah's Matt Meservy (OL). Green Bay, Colorado and Madison each placed
200-848: The basis that this settlement will allow the Professional Indoor Football League to expand in an orderly fashion." The PIFL proposed European Division was set to kick off in November 1998 with teams in England and Ireland. A six-team tournament was planned for August 22, 1998 in Manchester , England. Terry Smith was the PIFL European League Director and was the head coach of the Great Britain Spartans . The Spartans were
220-669: The endzone on the game's last play. As a result, the Louisiana Bayou Beast advanced to the PIFL Championship game. When Green Bay Bombers and Madison Mad Dogs owner Keary Ecklund announced his intentions to start a new league in 1999, Indoor Football League (IFL), Shafer stood by him and proclaimed the Wildcats would be a part of the IFL. Although the Colorado Wildcats ceased operations, much of
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#1732794095991240-403: The following disclaimer, "PIFL and its teams are not affiliated, sponsored or associated with the Arena Football League or any of its member teams", on all official publications. Professional Indoor Football League Commissioner Mike Storen stated, "The Professional Indoor Football League is happy to acknowledge the uniqueness of the Arena Football League's patented net system and method of play on
260-770: The original Professional Indoor Football League (PIFL) in 1998. The Monsters franchise was owned by Robert and Joann Edwards. The team office was based in Minneapolis-St. Paul , Minnesota , and played their games at the Coliseum on the Minnesota State Fairgrounds . The team colors were: Blue, Black, and White/Gold. The Monsters were coached by Ron Simmons for the few PIFL games they did participate in. The Monsters played two preseason PIFL games in '98. Both were victories at home: Minnesota's first three PIFL regular season games were losses. Then,
280-1287: The roster and staff transitioned to become the Rocky Mountain Thunder, competing in the newly-formed Indoor Professional Football League (IPFL) for the 1999 season. April 11 - Honolulu Hurricanes 37, at Colorado Wildcats 48 April 26 - Utah Catzz 27, at Colorado Wildcats 29 May 9 - Louisiana Bayou Beast 41, at Colorado Wildcats 49 May 16 - Colorado Wildcats at Minnesota Monsters - Minnesota forfeits May 23 - Colorado Wildcats 43, at Utah Catzz 26 May 30 - Colorado Wildcats 42, at Honolulu Hurricanes 34 June 7 - Texas Bullets 28, at Colorado Wildcats 51 June 20 - Green Bay Bombers 45, at Colorado Wildcats 38 June 27 - Minnesota Monsters at Colorado Wildcats - Minnesota forfeits July 4 - Madison Mad Dogs at Colorado Wildcats - Colorado forfeits July 11 - Colorado Wildcats 22, at Louisiana Bayou Beast 31 July 18 - Colorado Wildcats 18, at Madison Mad Dogs 54 July 25 - Colorado Wildcats 0, at Green Bay Bombers 45 August 1 - Colorado Wildcats at Texas Bullets - Texas forfeits August 9 - Colorado Wildcats 61, at Louisiana Bayou Beast 67 Professional Indoor Football League (1998) The Professional Indoor Football League ( PIFL )
300-550: Was deeply involved in football on the semi-pro and minor league level, and was editor–publisher of the Minor League Football News . In 1996, he began shopping around the idea of the PIFL, an indoor league created from the top minor league programs around the country. The league was finally formed in late 1997 and began its first season in 1998. The league offices were located in Las Vegas, Nevada . The PIFL
320-471: Was paid for by the owners of the Bayou Beast August 15, 1998 — #2 Madison Mad Dogs 41 at #1 Louisiana Bayou Beast 42 (at Pete Maravich Assembly Center ) Following the championship game, the Professional Indoor Football League held an on-the-field awards ceremony. Those honored were as follows: The Professional Indoor Football League earlier announced its 1998 All-Star teams as chosen by
340-439: Was rife with problems from the start. The Colorado Wildcats changed coaches during the preseason. By the third game, many teams were in serious financial trouble and started forfeiting games. The Minnesota Monsters folded after Week 5. Many other teams missed payrolls and this resulted in many players, including some of the best players, quitting. In 1999 , the PIFL essentially "split" into two leagues. Keary Ecklund, owner of
360-454: Was set for hearing on July 21, 1998. On July 20, 1998, the PIFL and its league members filed their response, which included video tapes and other evidence refuting the Arena Football League's allegations. On July 22, 1998, the day after receiving the PIFL's legal papers, the Arena Football League withdrew its Motion for Preliminary Injunction in a lawsuit in Federal Court in Chicago . This ended
380-482: Was taken away by the league president for unpaid bills. The team was officially folded on May 28, 1998. After forfeiting another home game the following weekend against the Utah Catzz , The Monsters lost to Madison 20-36. The league ruled this game as an "exhibition game" for the standing purposes. From that point on, all remaining Minnesota Monsters games were ruled to be forfeits. † Exhibition Game ‡ victory
400-471: Was the second league to successfully play indoor football as a paid pro-league sport, after the Arena Football League (AFL). Since the AFL had a patent given in 1990 on the gameplay of " Arena Football " (mainly the endzone nets), the PIFL played with mostly the same rules, but without the endzone nets. The PIFL only lasted one season ( 1998 ) under that name. The PIFL was started by Richard "Dick" Suess. Suess
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