The 2016 Indoor Football League season was the eighth season of the Indoor Football League (IFL). Playing with ten teams in two conferences located primarily in mid-level cities in the central United States, the league's regular season kicked off on February 20, 2016 and ended on June 24, 2016. The playoffs were held in three rounds, with the top seed in each conference receiving a first-round bye as the second and third seeds facing each other in the conference semifinal (both division winners had automatic bids, and the third seed was a wild card), with the winner of that game facing the top seed in a conference championship game followed by the winners of those games meeting in the United Bowl.
Teams All ten teams from the previous season were scheduled to return, and a new team called the Spokane Empire joined the IFL. The team was originally going to be called the Spokane Shock after the owner of the franchise decided to leave the Arena Football League on September 1, 2015, for the IFL due to easier regional travel. However, on October 12, 2015, the AFL released a statement saying that the franchise and the AFL could not come to terms over the purchase and use of the Shock identity (name, logos, colors, etc.) and that the AFL has retained the rights to the identity., ArenaFootball.com, October 12, 2015 In addition, the IFL accepted the expansion franchise of the Minnesota Havok. Two teams retained their locations but changed their team name; the former Colorado Ice changed its name to the Colorado Crush, and the former Bemidji Axemen changed their name to the Minnesota Axemen.
The IFL originally announced that it would continue with a two-conference format, but would return to having two divisions in each conference, with each of the 12 teams playing 16 games during the 18-week regular season. This was two more teams, games, and weeks than the numbers as played in the 2015 IFL season. However, prior to the season, the league terminated the two Minnesota teams and returned to a division-less two conference format.
TeamLocationArenaCapacityFoundedJoinedUnited ConferenceCedar Rapids TitansCedar Rapids, IowaU.S. Cellular Center6,90020122012Green Bay BlizzardGreen Bay, WisconsinResch Center8,60020032010Iowa BarnstormersDes Moines, IowaWells Fargo Arena15,18119952015Sioux Falls StormSioux Falls, South DakotaDenny Sanford Premier Center10,67820002009Wichita Falls NighthawksWichita Falls, TexasKay Yeager Coliseum7,38020132015Intense ConferenceBillings WolvesBillings, MontanaRimrock Auto Arena at MetraPark7,00020152015Colorado CrushLoveland, ColoradoBudweiser Events Center5,28920072009Nebraska DangerGrand Island, NebraskaEihusen Arena6,00020112011Spokane EmpireSpokane, WashingtonSpokane Veterans Memorial Arena10,77120152016Tri-Cities FeverKennewick, WashingtonToyota Center6,00020052010
Expansion/Contraction On September 9, 2015, the IFL announced the Minnesota Havok would join the league for the 2016 season. The Havok were to play their home games at Verizon Wireless Center in Mankato, Minnesota, however, the league terminated the franchise prior to the start of the season for failing to meet league obligations."Minnesota Havok Fold Before Season Starts". Mankato Free Press. January 29, 2016. Retrieved January 29, 2016.
On November 25, 2015, the Minnesota Axemen franchise was terminated by the league for failing to meet the league's operational standards and commitments.IFL Issues Statement on Minnesota Axemen , IFL website, November 25, 2015
Standings
Playoffs
Awards Individual season awards Award Winner Position Team Most Valuable Player Charles McCullum Quarterback Wichita Falls Nighthawks Offensive Player of the Year Demarius Washington Wide receiver Colorado Crush Defensive Player of the Year Jeremiah Price Defensive lineman Cedar Rapids Titans Special Teams Player of the Year Korey Williams Wide receiver Sioux Falls Storm Offensive Rookie of the Year Trevor Kennedy Running back Spokane Empire Defensive Rookie of the Year Jabari Gorman Defensive back Nebraska Danger Most Improved Award Markeith Summers Wide receiver Green Bay Blizzard Adam Pringle Award Peter Evans Offensive lineman Iowa Barnstormers Coach of the Year Billy Back Head coach Wichita Falls Nighthawks
1st Team All-IFL
OffenseQuarterbackCharles McCullum, Wichita FallsRunning backTrevor Kennedy, SpokaneWide receiverDemarius Washington, ColoradoBrady Roland, IowaJordan Jolly, Wichita FallsOffensive tackleMyniya Smith, Sioux FallsDave Lefotu, SpokaneCenterCharlie Sanders, Sioux FallsDefenseDefensive lineJeremiah Price, Cedar RapidsBrandon Peguese, Sioux FallsXzavie Jackson, Cedar RapidsLinebackerTyler Knight, Sioux FallsDefensive backMichael Green, BillingsRashard Smith, ColoradoJabari Gorman, NebraskaRobert Brown, Spokane
Special teamsKickerRockne Belmonte, Wichita FallsKick returnerKorey Williams, Sioux Falls
2nd Team All-IFL
OffenseQuarterbackCharles Dowdell, SpokaneRunning backTyler Williams, Wichita FallsWide receiverMarkeith Summers, Green BayO. J. Simpson, NebraskaBryan Pray, IowaOffensive tackleJames Atoe, ColoradoA. J. Harmon, Cedar RapidsCenterNathaniel Ryan, BillingsDefenseDefensive endBenjamin Perry, SpokaneWalter Thomas, Wichita FallsClaude Davis, Sioux FallsLinebackerNikolas Sierra, Cedar RapidsNick Haag, SpokaneDefensive backBoubacar Cissoko, Tri-CitiesElijah Fields, Sioux FallsDee Maggitt, Jr., Tri-Cities
Special teamsKickerNicholas Belcher, Cedar RapidsKick returnerChevelle Buie, Green Bay
References