Indianapolis Capitols

The Indianapolis Capitols were a professional American football team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. They played in the Continental Football League from 1968 to 1969 and Midwest Football League from 1972 to 1974 and 1977 to 1978.

For the ice hockey team, see Indianapolis Capitals.
Indianapolis Capitols
Team logo
Established1968
Folded1979
Based inIndianapolis, Indiana
Home stadiumBush Stadium
LeagueContinental Football League (1968–1969)
Atlantic Coast Football League (1970)
Midwest Football League (1972–1974, 1977–1978)
League titles3 (1969, 1972, 1973)

History

The team was considered "an outgrowth" of the Indianapolis Warriors, which played in the United Football League from 1961 to 1964, moved to Fort Wayne, Indiana, to become the Fort Wayne Warriors in 1965 with the Continental Football League (CFL), and then moved again to Montreal to become the Montreal Beavers with the CFL from 1966 to 1967.[1]

The Capitols started play in 1968 as members of the CFL and played their home games at Bush Stadium. The team won the COFL championship in 1969, the final season of the league. On April 4, 1970, with the future of the COFL uncertain, the Capitols moved to the rival Atlantic Coast Football League.[2] The Capitols went 6–6 in 1970.[3] After one season in the ACFL, Indianapolis announced that it was ceasing operations due to a lack of fan support and adequate playing facilities.[4]

A reconstituted version of the Indianapolis Capitols started play in the Midwest Football League in 1972 as the Indiana Caps.[5] The Caps won the MWL championship in 1972 after posting an 8–2 regular season record.[6] The team changed its name to the Hoosier Caps in April 1973,[7] then again in June to the Indy Caps.[8] They had a farm team agreement with the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL) for the 1973 season.[9] They went 8–2 in 1973,[10] and were named league champions after a coin toss to break a tie.[11] Indy won the Capitol Division in 1974 with a record of 9–1,[12] and lost in the championship game against the Flint Sabres, 15–2.[13] The team withdrew from the MFL before the 1975 season.[14]

Indianapolis returned to the MFL in 1977 as the Indy Superstars,[15] coached by Percy Griffin.[16] The team went 2–4 and finished in third place for the season.[17] They changed their team name in 1978 to the Indy Kaps.[18] They placed third in their division with a 6–4 record,[19] and lost in the first round of the playoffs to the Kalamazoo All-Stars.[20]

In 1979, the team joined the Northern States Football League.[21][22]

Season-by-season
YearTeam nameLeagueWLTFinishCoach
1968Indianapolis CapitolsContinental Football League8401stBob Snyder
19698401stKen Carpenter
1970Atlantic Coast Football League660
No team in 1971
1972Indiana CapsMidwest Football League8201stKen Carpenter
1973Indy Caps8201st
19749102nd
No team from 1975 to 1976
1977Indy SuperstarsMidwest Football League2403rdPercy Griffin
1978Indy Kaps6403rd (Southern)

References
  1. "Caps To Open MFL Title Defense At Detroit July 13". The Indianapolis Star. May 31, 1974. Retrieved April 13, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. "Capitols Join Atlantic Loop". The Indianapolis Star. April 5, 1970. Retrieved April 12, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. Miller, Robin (December 6, 1970). "Caps Manhandle Bulls". The Indianapolis Star. Retrieved April 12, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. "Money Problems Stop Indianapolis Capitols". The Daily Herald. UPI. April 7, 1971. Retrieved April 12, 2021.
  5. Stultz, Max (July 7, 1972). "Caps Start Anew; New League, Town". The Indianapolis Star. Retrieved April 12, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. "Caps Win MFL Title". The Indianapolis Star. October 15, 1972. Retrieved April 12, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. "Grid Caps Back In Business Again". The Indianapolis News. April 23, 1973. Retrieved April 12, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. Angelopoulos, Jimmie (July 11, 1973). "Caps Play For The Love Of It". The Indianapolis News. Retrieved April 12, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. "Ed Dubaj Fills Role of Grid Coach With 2 Teams". Lansing State Journal. May 20, 1973. Retrieved April 12, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. Gill, Bob; Maher, Tod; Brainerd, Steve (2010). Outsiders II: Minor League and Independent Football 1951–1985. St. Johann Press. pp. 113–116. ISBN 9781878282651.
  11. Fortner, Larry (May 31, 1974). "Caps Say 'We're For Real'". The Indianapolis News. Retrieved April 13, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. "Midwest Football League (Final Standings)". Lansing State Journal. September 18, 1974. Retrieved April 14, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. "Caps Drop 15–2 Playoff Battle". The Indianapolis Star. September 29, 1974. Retrieved April 14, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. Myers, Mike (July 23, 1975). "'Sleeping' Caps Eye '76 Awakening". The Indianapolis News. Retrieved April 14, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. "'Superstars' Eye MPFL Battle". The Indianapolis Star. August 24, 1977. Retrieved April 14, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. "Indy Superstars Face Michigan". The Indianapolis News. August 25, 1977. Retrieved April 14, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. "Midwest Football League standings". Lansing State Journal. October 16, 1977. Retrieved April 14, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. "Kaps Host Kalamazoo". The Indianapolis News. July 14, 1978. Retrieved April 14, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. "MFL playoffs begin". Lansing State Journal. September 13, 1978. Retrieved April 14, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. "Caps crushed by Columbus". Lansing State Journal. September 19, 1978. Retrieved April 14, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. Hurt, Murray (May 17, 1979). "Black Hawks to tour Europe". The Rock Island Argus. Retrieved April 14, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  22. "Caps". The Indianapolis Star. July 28, 1980. Retrieved April 14, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
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