The Bemidji Axemen were a professional indoor football team based in Bemidji, Minnesota . The Axemen joined the Indoor Football League (IFL) as an expansion team in 2013 and first took the field for the 2014 season . They participated in the United Conference of the IFL. The Axemen played their home games at the Sanford Center in Bemidji.
9-600: The Axemen are the first-ever indoor/arena football team to call Bemidji home, as well as Minnesota's first indoor/arena football team since the Duluth-Superior Lumberjacks and the Mankato -based Minnesota Purple Rage both played in the original Indoor Football League for the 2000 season, the league's last before folding. The team would change their name to the Minnesota Axemen prior to
18-738: A charter team of the original incarnation of the Indoor Football League in 1998 along with several others franchises. In their only two seasons in the IFL, the team compiled a 1-11 record finishing in last place in the North Division in 1999 and a 2-12 record and finished in fourth in the Northern Division in the Eastern Conference and not making the playoffs in 2000. After the IFL was bought out by af2 ,
27-401: A team to begin play for the 2014 season, ownership had to be found between late August and early September at the latest. Reports of a potential ownership group forming surfaced on August 15. Five days later, on August 20, the IFL confirmed that an agreement had been reached and a team would indeed be coming to Bemidji, with an official press conference scheduled for the following day. The team
36-492: Is a list of all Axemen players who have won league Awards Duluth-Superior Lumberjacks The Duluth-Superior Lumberjacks were a professional indoor American football team based in Duluth, Minnesota . They were members of the original Indoor Football League founded in 1998 and began play in 1999. They competed in the Northern Division of the Eastern Conference. The Lumberjacks were founded as
45-619: The 2016 season. However, the league terminated the franchise's membership as they failed to meet the league's operational standards and commitments. Thus, the franchise folded on November 24, 2015 On July 15, 2013, the Bemidji Pioneer reported that the IFL was looking to expand to Northern Minnesota and the Sanford Center, with a press conference taking place three days later on July 18. League expansion director and Cedar Rapids Titans owner Chris Kokalis would state that for
54-644: The Minnesota Axemen prior to the start of the 2016 season as a new LLC will be created known as Minnesota Axemen, LLC. Said name change was confirmed on September 25, 2015. On November 24, 2015, the league terminated the Axemen's franchise membership as they failed to meet the league's operational standards and commitments according to league commissioner Mike Allshouse. Running backs Wide receivers Defensive linemen Defensive backs Kickers Transfer list Refused to report The following
63-489: The first 10 games of the season. After a 27-37 loss to the Colorado Ice , Wooten was released as the head coach of the Axemen, replaced by Lee Patten as the interim head coach. Two weeks after the Axemen's 2015 season had ended, the team named Richard Davis the team's fourth head coach in team history. Davis was also named the team's general manager. On August, 20, 2015, he announced that the team will change its name to
72-494: The season at 5-9 and 3rd place in the United Conference. Fuller was fired after the end of the season. Under the leadership of new head coach Dixie Wooten, the Axemen struggled out of the gate, dropping their first two games. The Axemen bounced back quickly, winning their next two games to even their record at 2-2. The Axemen struggled with consistency at the quarterback position, having 4 different players start during
81-614: Was officially named the Bemidji Axemen on September 5, 2013; the name is partly meant to reflect Bemidji's history and incorporated the Paul Bunyan tale so linked with the area. On February 22, 2014, the Axemen won their inaugural regular season game, claiming victory over the Green Bay Blizzard. The team performed well through early May, posting a 5-4 record, but then collapsed with 5 consecutive losses to complete
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