The team would change their name to the Minnesota Axemen prior to the 2016 season.[1] However, the league terminated the franchise's membership as they failed to meet the league's operational standards and commitments. Thus, the franchise folded on November 24, 2015[2]
On July 15, 2013, the Bemidji Pioneer reported that the IFL was looking to expand to Northern Minnesota and the Sanford Center, with a press conference taking place three days later on July 18.[3] League expansion director and Cedar Rapids Titans owner Chris Kokalis would state that for a team to begin play for the 2014 season, ownership had to be found between late August and early September at the latest. Reports of a potential ownership group forming surfaced on August 15.[4] Five days later, on August 20, the IFL confirmed that an agreement had been reached and a team would indeed be coming to Bemidji, with an official press conference scheduled for the following day.[5][6]
The team was officially named the Bemidji Axemen on September 5, 2013; the name is partly meant to reflect Bemidji's history and incorporated the Paul Bunyan tale so linked with the area.[7] On February 22, 2014, the Axemen won their inaugural regular season game, claiming victory over the Green Bay Blizzard.[8] The team performed well through early May, posting a 5-4 record, but then collapsed with 5 consecutive losses to complete the season at 5-9 and 3rd place in the United Conference. Fuller was fired after the end of the season.
Under the leadership of new head coach Dixie Wooten, the Axemen struggled out of the gate, dropping their first two games.[9] The Axemen bounced back quickly, winning their next two games to even their record at 2-2.[10] The Axemen struggled with consistency at the quarterback position, having 4 different players start during the first 10 games of the season. After a 27-37 loss to the Colorado Ice, Wooten was released as the head coach of the Axemen, replaced by Lee Patten as the interim head coach.[11]
Changes and folding
Two weeks after the Axemen's 2015 season had ended, the team named Richard Davis the team's fourth head coach in team history. Davis was also named the team's general manager.[12] On August, 20, 2015, he announced that the team will change its name to the Minnesota Axemen prior to the start of the 2016 season as a new LLC will be created known as Minnesota Axemen, LLC.[1] Said name change was confirmed on September 25, 2015.[13]
On November 24, 2015, the league terminated the Axemen's franchise membership as they failed to meet the league's operational standards and commitments according to league commissioner Mike Allshouse.[14]
^ abNew Axemen GM starting fresh: Changes on the horizon as IFL team will drop ‘Bemidji,’ become ‘Minnesota Axemen’, Kristopher Lodes, The Bemidji Pioneer, August 20, 2015
^IFL Issues Statement on Minnesota Axemen 2015-11-26 at the Wayback Machine, IFL website, November 25, 2015
^Hageman, John (July 15, 2013). "Indoor Football League officials to visit Bemidji". Bemidji Pioneer. Retrieved August 21, 2013.
^Hittinger, Jack (August 15, 2013). "Possible ownership group lined up for IFL franchise". Bemidji Pioneer. Retrieved August 21, 2013.
^Hittinger, Jack (August 20, 2013). "It's official: Bemidji gets IFL franchise". Bemidji Pioneer. Retrieved August 21, 2013.
^. Indoor Football League. August 20, 2013. Archived from the original on February 22, 2014. Retrieved August 21, 2013.
^Hittinger, Jack (September 5, 2013). "IFL team name: Bemidji Axemen (with video)". Bemidji Pioneer. Retrieved September 5, 2013.
^Hittinger, Jack (February 22, 2014). . Bemidji Pioneer. Archived from the original on February 27, 2014. Retrieved March 24, 2014.
^Kristopher Lodes (March 16, 2015). "INDOOR FOOTBALL: Turnovers doom Axemen in 38-26 loss to Iowa". www.bemidjipioneer.com. The Bemidji Pioneer. Retrieved April 15, 2015.
^Kristopher Lodes (March 30, 2015). "INDOOR FOOTBALL: Axemen beat Green Bay on final play, 55-54". www.bemidjipioneer.com. The Bemidji Pioneer. Retrieved April 15, 2015.
^Kristopher Lodes (May 13, 2015). "INDOOR FOOTBALL: Wooten out as Axemen head coach". www.bemidjipioneer.com. The Bemidji Pioneer. Retrieved May 14, 2015.
^Kristopher Lodes (July 7, 2015). "INDOOR FOOTBALL: Axemen name new GM/head coach". www.bemidjipioneer.com. The Bemidji Pioneer. Retrieved July 9, 2015.
^"INDOOR FOOTBALL: It's official: Hello 'Minnesota' Axemen". Bemidji Pioneer. September 25, 2015. Retrieved September 25, 2015.
^IFL Issues Statement on Minnesota Axemen 2015-11-26 at the Wayback Machine, IFL website, November 25, 2015
External links
January 28, 2023
bemidji, axemen, were, professional, indoor, football, team, based, bemidji, minnesota, axemen, joined, indoor, football, league, expansion, team, 2013, first, took, field, 2014, season, they, participated, united, conference, axemen, played, their, home, game. The Bemidji Axemen were a professional indoor football team based in Bemidji Minnesota The Axemen joined the Indoor Football League IFL as an expansion team in 2013 and first took the field for the 2014 season They participated in the United Conference of the IFL The Axemen played their home games at the Sanford Center in Bemidji Bemidji AxemenEstablished 2013Folded 2015Played in Sanford Centerin Bemidji MinnesotaMinnesotaAxemen comLeague conference affiliationsIndoor Football League 2014 2015 United Conference 2014 2015 Team colorsRed blue silver white MascotAxel the AxemanCheerleadersThe AxesPersonnelOwner s Phil SallbergNate CoffinDan SkaugTom UlvePresidentTom UlveGeneral managerRichard DavisHead coachRichard DavisTeam historyBemidji Axeman 2014 2015 Minnesota AxemenChampionshipsLeague championships 0 0Conference championships 0 0Division championships 0 0Home arena s Sanford Center 2014 2015 The Axemen are the first ever indoor arena football team to call Bemidji home as well as Minnesota s first indoor arena football team since the Duluth Superior Lumberjacks and the Mankato based Minnesota Purple Rage both played in the original Indoor Football League for the 2000 season the league s last before folding The team would change their name to the Minnesota Axemen prior to the 2016 season 1 However the league terminated the franchise s membership as they failed to meet the league s operational standards and commitments Thus the franchise folded on November 24 2015 2 Contents 1 History 1 1 Changes and folding 2 Players 2 1 Final roster 2 2 All League selections 2 3 Individual awards 3 Staff 4 Statistics and records 4 1 Season by season results 4 2 Head coach records 5 References 6 External linksHistory EditOn July 15 2013 the Bemidji Pioneer reported that the IFL was looking to expand to Northern Minnesota and the Sanford Center with a press conference taking place three days later on July 18 3 League expansion director and Cedar Rapids Titans owner Chris Kokalis would state that for a team to begin play for the 2014 season ownership had to be found between late August and early September at the latest Reports of a potential ownership group forming surfaced on August 15 4 Five days later on August 20 the IFL confirmed that an agreement had been reached and a team would indeed be coming to Bemidji with an official press conference scheduled for the following day 5 6 Main article 2014 Bemidji Axemen season The team was officially named the Bemidji Axemen on September 5 2013 the name is partly meant to reflect Bemidji s history and incorporated the Paul Bunyan tale so linked with the area 7 On February 22 2014 the Axemen won their inaugural regular season game claiming victory over the Green Bay Blizzard 8 The team performed well through early May posting a 5 4 record but then collapsed with 5 consecutive losses to complete the season at 5 9 and 3rd place in the United Conference Fuller was fired after the end of the season Main article 2015 Bemidji Axemen season Under the leadership of new head coach Dixie Wooten the Axemen struggled out of the gate dropping their first two games 9 The Axemen bounced back quickly winning their next two games to even their record at 2 2 10 The Axemen struggled with consistency at the quarterback position having 4 different players start during the first 10 games of the season After a 27 37 loss to the Colorado Ice Wooten was released as the head coach of the Axemen replaced by Lee Patten as the interim head coach 11 Changes and folding Edit Two weeks after the Axemen s 2015 season had ended the team named Richard Davis the team s fourth head coach in team history Davis was also named the team s general manager 12 On August 20 2015 he announced that the team will change its name to the Minnesota Axemen prior to the start of the 2016 season as a new LLC will be created known as Minnesota Axemen LLC 1 Said name change was confirmed on September 25 2015 13 On November 24 2015 the league terminated the Axemen s franchise membership as they failed to meet the league s operational standards and commitments according to league commissioner Mike Allshouse 14 Players EditFinal roster Edit Minnesota Axemen rosterQuarterbacks Brion CarnesRunning backs Currently vacantWide receivers De Joshua Johnson Elby Pope Dominic Rufran Cody Ward Offensive linemen 50 Henry Orelus 56 William Slade 70 Kasimili Uitalia 55 Neemia VitaleDefensive linemen 32 Rony Nelson Mohammed Usman Linebackers Currently vacantDefensive backs 4 Tony Grimes Melvin Taveras 2 Antonie TharpeKickers Currently vacant Injured reserve Currently vacantTransfer list Currently vacantRefused to report Currently vacantRookies in italics Roster updated November 16 2015 14 Active 0 InactiveAll League selections Edit WR Ryan Balentine 1 Josh Jarboe 1 DL Jordan Morgan 1 KR Mulku Kalokoh 1 Individual awards Edit The following is a list of all Axemen players who have won league Awards Adam Pringle AwardSeason Player Position2014 Cody Kirby QB Special Teams Player of the YearSeason Player Position2015 Mulku Kalokoh KRStaff EditMinnesota Axemen staffOwner President Tom Ulve Owner Phil Sallberg Owner Nate Coffin Owner Dan Skaug Head coach Richard DavisStatistics and records EditSeason by season results Edit League Champions Conference Champions Division Champions Wild Card Berth League LeaderSeason Team League Conference Division Regular season Postseason resultsFinish Wins Losses Ties2014 2014 IFL United 3rd 5 9 02015 2015 IFL United 5th 2 12 0Totals 7 21 0 All time regular season record 2014 2015 0 0 All time postseason record 2014 2015 7 21 0 All time regular season and postseason record 2014 2015 Head coach records Edit Name Term Regular season Playoffs AwardsW L T Win W LRobert Fuller 2014 5 9 0 357 0 0Dixie Wooten 2015 2 8 0 200 0 0Lee Patten 2015 0 4 0 000 0 0Richard Davis 2016 0 0 0 0 0References Edit a b New Axemen GM starting fresh Changes on the horizon as IFL team will drop Bemidji become Minnesota Axemen Kristopher Lodes The Bemidji Pioneer August 20 2015 IFL Issues Statement on Minnesota Axemen Archived 2015 11 26 at the Wayback Machine IFL website November 25 2015 Hageman John July 15 2013 Indoor Football League officials to visit Bemidji Bemidji Pioneer Retrieved August 21 2013 Hittinger Jack August 15 2013 Possible ownership group lined up for IFL franchise Bemidji Pioneer Retrieved August 21 2013 Hittinger Jack August 20 2013 It s official Bemidji gets IFL franchise Bemidji Pioneer Retrieved August 21 2013 IFL Announces Expansion Team in Northern Minnesota Indoor Football League August 20 2013 Archived from the original on February 22 2014 Retrieved August 21 2013 Hittinger Jack September 5 2013 IFL team name Bemidji Axemen with video Bemidji Pioneer Retrieved September 5 2013 Hittinger Jack February 22 2014 Indoor football Axemen stop Green Bay in season opener Bemidji Pioneer Archived from the original on February 27 2014 Retrieved March 24 2014 Kristopher Lodes March 16 2015 INDOOR FOOTBALL Turnovers doom Axemen in 38 26 loss to Iowa www bemidjipioneer com The Bemidji Pioneer Retrieved April 15 2015 Kristopher Lodes March 30 2015 INDOOR FOOTBALL Axemen beat Green Bay on final play 55 54 www bemidjipioneer com The Bemidji Pioneer Retrieved April 15 2015 Kristopher Lodes May 13 2015 INDOOR FOOTBALL Wooten out as Axemen head coach www bemidjipioneer com The Bemidji Pioneer Retrieved May 14 2015 Kristopher Lodes July 7 2015 INDOOR FOOTBALL Axemen name new GM head coach www bemidjipioneer com The Bemidji Pioneer Retrieved July 9 2015 INDOOR FOOTBALL It s official Hello Minnesota Axemen Bemidji Pioneer September 25 2015 Retrieved September 25 2015 IFL Issues Statement on Minnesota Axemen Archived 2015 11 26 at the Wayback Machine IFL website November 25 2015External links EditMinnesota Axemen official website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bemidji Axemen amp oldid 1098262650, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
