Ozarks Lunkers

The Ozarks Lunkers are a professional indoor football team based in Springfield, Missouri. They are currently members of The Arena League (TAL). They will play their home games at Wilson Logistics Arena, a multipurpose arena built next to the Ozark Empire Fairgrounds.

Ozarks Lunkers
Established 2023
Play in Springfield, Missouri
League/conference affiliations
The Arena League
Current uniform
Team colorsRed, Foliage Green, Sky Blue, Darker Lake Blue
       
Personnel
Owner(s)Mark Burgess
General managerCaleb Scott[1]
Head coachCam Bruffett
Team history
Ozarks Lunkers (2023-present)
Championships
League championships (0)
Conference championships (0)
Division championships (0)
Home arena(s)
Wilson Logistics Arena (2024)

History

On March 9, 2023, League Commissioner Tim Brown announced Springfield, Missouri as one of four cities that would be receiving an Arena League team.[2] The Lunkers are the second Arena Football team in Springfield, Missouri, after the short-lived Springfield WolfPack of the APFL.

On October 20, 2023 CoxHealth signed into a partnership with the Lunkers as the team's health care provider.[3][4]

After receiving nearly five thousand entries for the name-the-team contest, Ozarks Lunkers was selected; submitted by Nixa resident, Diane Buatte. Lunker is an exceptionally large specimen, particularly a fish. The team's primary logo depicts a leaping largemouth bass wearing a red football helmet. The logos were designed by Ryan Foose.

Many submissions were related to fishing, Route 66, soda jerks, or the Great Cobra Scare of 1953.

Roster

The first of two open tryouts for the Lunkers was held on October 21, 2023.[5]

Ozarks Lunkers roster
Quarterbacks
  • Currently vacant

Running backs

  • Currently vacant

Wide receivers

  • Currently vacant
 Offensive linemen
  • Currently vacant

Defensive linemen

  • Currently vacant
 Linebackers
  • Currently vacant

Defensive backs

  • Currently vacant

Special teams

  • Currently vacant
 Reserve lists
  • Currently vacant
  • Rookies in italics
  • updated October 26, 2023
  • 0 Active, 0 Inactive

Management

On June 14, 2023, the league announced Mark A. Burgess, a local airline owner, would be the principal owner of the team and that the team would be called the Ozarks Lunkers for their inaugural season. [6]

On October 4, 2023 the team announced Cam Bruffett as the head coach.[7]

References
  1. "Ozarks Lunkers Hire Caleb Scott as General Manager". Ozarks Sports Zone. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
  2. Schmidt, John (9 March 2023). "Springfield to get arena football team". KOLR. Retrieved 15 June 2023.
  3. Pickle, Geoff (20 October 2023). "CoxHealth to provide care for Ozarks Lunkers". Springfield Business Journal. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
  4. "The Ozarks Lunkers partner with CoxHealth for inaugural season". CoxHealth. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
  5. "Tryouts". Ozarks Lunkers. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  6. "Owner reveals name for Springfield's new Arena League football team". KY3. 14 June 2023. Retrieved 15 June 2023.
  7. "Ozarks Lunkers Hire Cam Bruffett as Inaugural Head Coach". Ozarks Sports Zone. 4 October 2023. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
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