The Myrtle Beach Freedom were a professional indoor football team based in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and played their home games at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center. They were a member of American Indoor Football for one season until the league ceased operations in the summer of 2016.
The Freedom were the second indoor football team to call Myrtle Beach home, following the Myrtle Beach Stingrays of the National Indoor Football League, which only played part of the 2003 season in Myrtle Beach before moving to Florence, South Carolina, the following season.
History The Freedom had originally joined X-League Indoor Football (X-League), but the Freedom were forced to choose a new league after the X-League ceased operations. The Freedom joined American Indoor Football (AIF) in October, 2015.
On April 19, 2016, the Freedom replaced coach Ryan David with Terry Foster. Coach David, along with two assistant coaches, resigned from the team in protest of what they considered dangerous conditions for their players. Coach Foster came from the recently defunct travelling team, the Steel City Menace.
Following the conclusion of the 2016 season, the AIF announced that it was ceasing operations, thus leaving the Freedom without a league. The Freedom's assets ended up in the hands of the Myrtle Beach Sharks, who wore the Freedom's uniforms throughout their brief existence in Arena Pro Football.
In March 2017, the Freedom and the AIF were sued for providing unsafe field conditions during their May 23, 2016, home game against the Columbus Lions. Two of the Lions' players, Christopher Donnell Smith and David Toussaint, claim the turf came loose from the floor, which then caught their feet causing permanent damage to their knees and ending their careers.
Final roster 2016 Myrtle Beach Freedom roster Quarterbacks
Running backs vacant
Wide receivers Offensive linemen
Defensive linemen Linebackers
Defensive backs
Kickers Injured reserve vacant
Exempt list
Final staff Myrtle Beach Freedom staff Front office
Owner/General manager – Ronnie McCuin Director of Marketing/Advertising - Patty Mungo Director of merchandise – Vickie Gill Director of ticket sales – Andre White Director of game day operations – Chad Fryar Head coach Head coach/offensive coordinator – Terry Foster
Assistant coaches Defensive coordinator – Larry Green Offensive/Defensive Linemen - Brian Bashaw Strength and Conditioning -
Statistics and records
Season result League championsDivision championsPlayoff berthLeague leader
Season League Division Regular season Postseason results Finish Wins Losses Ties 2016 AIF Southern 3rd 4 4 0 Lost Northern Semifinals (Ironmen) 37–78Totals 4 5 0 All-time record (2016)
Head coaches' records Name Term Regular season Playoffs Awards W L T Win% W L Ryan David 2016 2 2 0 — — Terry Foster 2016 2 2 0 0 1
2016 season
Key:
Exhibition All start times were local to home team Week Day Date Kickoff Opponent Results Location Score Record 1 Sunday March 6 7:05pm Carolina Dynasty W 49–22 1–0 Myrtle Beach Convention Center 2 Monday May 9 7:05pm South Carolina Ravens W 43–20 2–0 Myrtle Beach Convention Center
Regular season All start times were local to home team Week Day Date Kickoff Opponent Results Location Score Record 1 BYE 2 BYE 3 BYE 4 BYE 5 Monday March 28 7:05pm Savannah Steam W 34–33 1–0 Myrtle Beach Convention Center 6 Saturday April 2 7:05pm at Central Florida Jaguars W 47–34 2–0 Lakeland Center 7 Monday April 11 7:05pm Georgia Firebirds L 20–49 2–1 Myrtle Beach Convention Center 8 Saturday April 16 7:05pm at Columbus Lions L 15–65 2–2 Columbus Civic Center 9 Saturday April 23 7:05pm at Georgia Firebirds L –56 2–3 Albany Civic Center 10 Sunday May 1 7:05pm at Atlanta Vultures W 2–0 (by forfeit) 3–3 Georgia International Convention Center 11 BYE Cancelled 12 Monday May 16 7:05pm Carolina Commandos W 83–18 4–3 Myrtle Beach Convention Center 13 Monday May 23 7:05pm Columbus Lions L 15–52 4–4 Myrtle Beach Convention Center 14 BYE
Standings
Playoffs When the playoff schedule was initially announced, the Freedom were set to play the Southern Division's second-seeded Florida Tarpons. On May 30, the Freedom replaced the Northern Division's fourth-seeded Central Penn Capitals against the West Michigan Ironmen. The Freedom's former position was replaced by the Southern Division's fourth-seed, the Savannah Steam.
Round Day Date Kickoff Opponent Score Location Div. Semifinals Saturday June 4 7:05pm at West Michigan Ironmen L 37–78 L. C. Walker Arena
References
External links Myrtle Beach Freedom official website American Indoor Football official website