2015 Salina Bombers season

The 2015 Salina Bombers season was the team's third and final season as a professional indoor football franchise and first as a member of Champions Indoor Football (CIF). One of nine teams in the CIF for the inaugural 2015 season, the Salina Bombers were owned by Chris Vercher. The Force played their home games at the Bicentennial Center in Salina, Kansas, under the direction of head coach Bob Ray. The season ended abruptly on May 28, 2015, after the CIF ejected the team from the league and the team subsequently folded entirely.

2015 Salina Bombers season
OwnerChris Vercher[1]
General managerPete Jackson
Head coachBob Ray
Home fieldBicentennial Center
800 The Midway
Salina, Kansas 67401
Results
Record6-5
League place6th
Playoff finishdid not qualify

Season summary

The Bombers' announced schedule for the 2015 season was altered after the New Mexico Stars abruptly postponed their entry into the league on February 21, just one week before the season began.[2] On March 3, the Albuquerque-based Duke City Gladiators were announced as a late entry into the league, partially replacing the Stars in the CIF schedule with a plan to play 11 games in 2015.[3]

Salina started 2015 with a preseason win over cross-state rivals Kansas Koyotes and three straight regular season victories over CIF opponents. A mid-March loss to league-leading Sioux City Bandits was followed by a victory over the cellar-dwelling Omaha Beef. The Bombers then lost 3 straight, won 2 in a row, and lost in overtime on the road at the Wichita Force. This loss dropped them to 6–5 and put their playoff chances in doubt leading into their bye week.

The Bombers league membership was suspended by the CIF on May 28, with safety and financial concerns cited for the suspension. Later that same day, the team announced that it was ceasing operations immediately and would issue refunds to ticket holders.[4][5][6] The Salina Journal reported that a lack of workers' compensation insurance for the players led the coach to suspend practices and the CIF to suspend the franchise.[1]

Off-field moves

After the 2014 season ended, the Champions Professional Indoor Football League announced it was merging with teams from other leagues to form a new league, Champions Indoor Football.[7] The Bombers are one of four CPIFL teams to join the CIF, alongside the Dodge City Law, Omaha Beef, and Sioux City Bandits.[8][9]

Awards and honors

Each week of the regular season, the CIF named league-wide Players of the Week in offensive, defensive, and special teams categories. For Week 1, the CIF named defensive back Isiah Barfield as the Defensive Player of the Week.[10] For Week 3, the CIF named quarterback Chris Coffin as the Offensive Player of the Week and kick returner OJ Simpson as the Special Teams Player of the Week.[11] For Week 4, the CIF named kicker Thomas Frevert as the Special Teams Player of the Week.[12] For Week 6, the CIF named defensive linesman Clarence Bumpass as the Defensive Player of the Week.[13] For Week 10, the CIF again named quarterback Chris Coffin as the Offensive Player of the Week.[14] For Week 11, the CIF once again named quarterback Chris Coffin as the Offensive Player of the Week and defensive back Isiah Barfield as the Defensive Player of the Week.[15]

On June 6, Bombers quarterback Chris Coffin was honored as the CIF's Offensive Player of the Year.[16]

Schedule

Key:   Win   Tie   Loss   Bye

Pre-season
Week Day Date Kickoff Opponent Results Location
Score Record
1 Sunday February 22 3:00pm Kansas Koyotes W 62–23[17] 1–0 Bicentennial Center[9]

Regular season
Week Day Date Kickoff Opponent Results Location
Score Record
1 Saturday February 28 7:05pm at Wichita Force W 64–61[18] 1–0 Intrust Bank Arena[19][20]
2 Saturday March 7 7:05pm Texas Revolution W 34–27[21][22] 2–0 Bicentennial Center[23][24]
3 Saturday March 14 7:05pm at Omaha Beef W 47–33[25][26] 3–0 Ralston Arena[27][28]
4 Saturday March 21 7:05pm at Sioux City Bandits L 59–73[29][30][31] 3–1 Tyson Events Center[32][33]
5 Saturday March 28 7:05pm Omaha Beef W 49–7[34][35] 4–1 Bicentennial Center[36][37]
6 Saturday April 4 7:05pm Dodge City Law L 43–47[38][39] 4–2 Bicentennial Center[40]
7 BYE
8 Saturday April 18 7:05pm at Sioux City Bandits L 56–79[41][42] 4–3 Tyson Events Center[43][44]
9 Saturday April 25 7:05pm Wichita Force L 32–45[45][46] 4–4 Bicentennial Center[47]
10 Saturday May 2 7:05pm at Dodge City Law W 55–48[48][49] 5–4 United Wireless Arena[50]
11 Saturday May 9 7:05pm Omaha Beef W 59–13[51][52] 6–4 Bicentennial Center[53][54]
12 Saturday May 16 7:05pm at Wichita Force L 40–46 (OT)[55][56] 6–5 Intrust Bank Arena[57][58]
13 BYE
14 Saturday May 30 7:05pm San Angelo Bandits CANCELLED2 – Bicentennial Center
15 Saturday June 6 7:05pm at Duke City Gladiators CANCELLED2 – Santa Ana Star Center1

1 Duke City alternate home site as Tingley Coliseum was unavailable in June[59]
2 Game cancelled after Salina Bombers ejected from league on May 28, 2015.[4][5]

Roster

2015 Salina Bombers roster
Quarterbacks
  •  2 Kyle Cool

Running backs

  • 33 Quentin Benning
  •  3 Jeff Mack

Wide receivers

  • 12 Jared Elmore
  •  7 Anthony Parks
  •  - Julius Record
  • 20 O. J. Simpson
  •  5 Attrail Snipes
Offensive linemen
  • 90 Marcus Bolden
  • 56 Rodney Ewing
  • 55 Edward Prince
  • -- Jeremy Walker

Defensive linemen

  • 45 Adam Davis
  • 11 Brandon Harold
  • 88 Brandon McKinney
Linebackers

Defensive backs

  • 19 Isiah Barfield
  • -- Delaney Dobard
  • -- DaMonte Horton

Kickers

  • 81 Terry Stecker
Injured Reserve
  • 13 Ira Autrey DB

Transfer List

Refuse to Report

  • currently vacant
  • rookies in italics
  • updated March 5, 2015
  • 20 Active, 0 Inactive

Standings
2015 Champions Indoor Football
W L PCT PF PA
z-Sioux City Bandits 93.750697536
y-Texas Revolution 84.667638475
x-Wichita Force 84.667553536
x-Amarillo Venom 75.583647598
Dodge City Law 75.583635578
Salina Bombers 65.545538483
Duke City Gladiators 44.500403389
San Angelo Bandits 110.091388627
Omaha Beef 111.083395672

x = clinched playoffs, y = clinched home playoffs, z = clinched top seed

Playoffs
Semifinals Champions Bowl I
      
3 Wichita 27
2 Texas 39
2 Texas 61
1 Sioux City 76
4 Amarillo 52
1 Sioux City 83

References
  1. Davidson, Bob (May 29, 2015). "Bombs Away". The Salina Journal. Salina, KS: Harris Enterprises. Retrieved June 1, 2015.
  2. Christ, Bob (February 22, 2015). "NM Stars owners pull plug on season". Albuquerque Journal. Albuquerque, NM. Retrieved February 26, 2015.
  3. "CIF Enjoys Relief and Balance with Replacement Team in New Mexico". Champions Indoor Football. March 4, 2015. Retrieved March 7, 2015 – via Our Sports Central.
  4. Copp, Jake (May 28, 2015). "Salina Bombers dissolving football team". Salina, KS: KWCH-DT. Archived from the original on May 29, 2015. Retrieved June 1, 2015.
  5. "Salina Bombers Suspended from CIF". Champions Indoor Football. May 28, 2015. Retrieved June 1, 2015 – via Our Sports Central.
  6. "Salina Bombers Drop The Big One: Team Folds". Salina, KS: KSAL. May 28, 2015. Retrieved June 1, 2015.
  7. Krieger, Dan (September 22, 2014). "Weekly Sports League and Franchise Report". Our Sports Central. Retrieved October 1, 2014.
  8. "Bombers begin to mold 2015 team". The Salina Journal. Salina, KS: Harris Enterprises. November 6, 2014. Retrieved May 9, 2015.
  9. Davidson, Bob (January 22, 2015). "Bombers for Sunday". The Salina Journal. Salina, KS: Harris Enterprises. Retrieved May 13, 2015.
  10. "CIF Players of the Week - Week 1". Champions Indoor Football. March 4, 2015. Archived from the original on March 12, 2015. Retrieved May 6, 2015.
  11. "CIF Players of the Week - Week 3". Champions Indoor Football. March 18, 2015. Archived from the original on March 12, 2015. Retrieved May 6, 2015.
  12. "CIF Players of the Week - Week 4". Champions Indoor Football. March 25, 2015. Archived from the original on March 12, 2015. Retrieved May 6, 2015.
  13. "CIF Players of the Week - Week 6". Champions Indoor Football. April 8, 2015. Archived from the original on April 25, 2015. Retrieved May 6, 2015.
  14. "CIF Players of the Week - Week 10". Champions Indoor Football. May 6, 2015. Archived from the original on May 12, 2015. Retrieved May 6, 2015.
  15. "CIF Players of the Week - Week 11". Champions Indoor Football. May 13, 2015. Archived from the original on May 12, 2015. Retrieved May 13, 2015.
  16. Grant, Ethan (June 8, 2015). "CIF announces end-of-year awards; Revs notch multiple honors". Allen American. Allen, TX: Star Local News. Retrieved June 9, 2015.
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  18. Lutz, Jeffrey (February 28, 2015). "Salina rallies past Force football team in inaugural game". The Wichita Eagle. Wichita, KS: The McClatchy Company. Retrieved May 11, 2015.
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