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Dayton Colts

April 11, 2024

The Dayton Colts were a semi-professional American football team that played from 1946 to 1949 and 1953 to 1975. The team was based in Ohio. It competed in the Inter-State Semipro Football League in 1947 as the Dayton Rockets; Tristate Semipro Football League in 1953 and American Football Conference from 1959 to 1961 as the Dayton Triangles; Midwest Football League from 1963 to 1969, 1971 to 1973, and 1975 as the Cedarville Spartans, Dayton Colts, Columbus Bucks, and Columbus Barons; and Ohio–Pennsylvania Football League in 1974 as the Bellbrook Colts. It was also known as the John Stanko Barons and Wiedemann Buds in 1948 and 1949.

Dayton Colts
Established1946
Folded1976
Based inDayton, Ohio
LeagueInter-State Semipro Football League (1947)
Tristate Semipro Football League (1953)
American Football Conference (1959–1961)
Midwest Football League (1963–1969, 1971–1973, 1975)
Ohio–Pennsylvania Football League (1974)
League titles3 (1968, 1971, 1974)
Division titles1 (1971)

History edit

Alex Rado iteration (1946–1949) edit

The Dayton Rockets fielded a team in 1946, coached by Alex Rado.[1] They won the Dayton semi-pro city championship over the Dayton Bombers, 12–7.[2] The team joined the Inter-State Semipro Football League in 1947.[3][4] They won the city championship over the Bombers again by a score of 32–0.[2] They were also known as Mickey's Rockets for the 1946 and 1947 seasons, due to a sponsorship with a local restaurant.[5]

The team became the John Stanko Barons for the 1948 season,[6] and played an independent schedule.[7] Tony Furst joined the coaching staff as the line coach during the season.[8] They went 7–1–1 in 1948 before playing in the city championship again opposite the Bombers,[2] which they won for the third year in a row with a score of 30–6.[9] Renamed the Wiedemann Buds,[10] they played for the city championship against the Dayton Bombers again in 1949[11] and won their fourth title, 25–6.[12]

Dayton Triangles (1953–1961) edit

The Dayton Rockets fielded a new team for the 1953 season under head coach Bob Puckett.[13] The Rockets became the Dayton Triangle Rockets in October 1953 through an arrangement with a town bar called the Triangle Bar.[14] The Triangles played in the Tristate Semipro Football League in 1953.[15]

In 1954, the Dayton Triangles were coached by Bill Snyder,[16] with Jack Lininger as an assistant coach.[17] The team went 5–2 in 1955.[18] John Pierce became head coach by 1956,[19] and the team went 8–1 on the season.[20]

The Triangles entered the Ohio Semi-Pro Football League for the 1957 season.[21] Dayton was named league champion and the "mythical" Ohio semi-professional football champion in 1957 after defeating the Toledo All-Stars, 26–12.[22][23] They also earned the mythical Midwest semi-professional football title after beating the St. Louis Raiders.[23][24] They finished the season 12–0–1.[24] Bill Lange was named line coach of the team in 1958,[25] and they went 8–4 on the season.[26]

Lange became head coach of the Triangles in June 1959.[27] The Dayton Triangles played in the American Football Conference from 1959 to 1961.[28] They joined the league in July 1959.[29] The Triangles finished the season 3–5, placing third in the league standings.[30] Don "Butch" Zimmerman became the head coach in August 1960,[31] and they finished the season with an overall 7–7 record and 4–6 league record.[32] Zimmerman was re-signed for the 1961 season,[32] and the team finished last in the standings with a 3–7 record.[33] The AFC dissolved before the 1962 season, and the Triangles played an independent schedule for the season.[34] Ed McCracken became the head coach, with Zimmerman resigning to become the team's starting quarterback.[35] They went 4–2–1 on the season.[36]

Midwest Football League (1962–1975) edit

An application for a franchise from Dayton, Ohio, in the Midwest Football League was approved on March 11, 1962.[37] The Spartan Athletic Club received approval to join the league in April 1963,[38] and they initially chose a team name of Dayton Spartans.[39] They were later called the Cedarville Spartans.[40] The Spartans finished the 1963 season in second place with a 6–3–1 record,[a 1] and they won the Dayton city semi-professional football championship in a win over Hudson Bar, 7–6.[43]

McCracken was elected league commissioner in March 1964.[44] The Spartans became the Dayton Colts in 1964,[45] and they had a $7,000 budget for the season.[46] The team finished third in the league in 1964 with a 6–4–0 record.[42] They defeated Hudson Bar after the season, 32–6,[47] to win the Dayton semi-professional football championship for a second consecutive year.[48]

Dayton was purchased by a new ownership group in 1965.[49] The Colts had to cancel and forfeit a game against the Milan Vikings due to bad weather.[50] Dayton scheduled the game to be played at a local high school football field, but the school would not allow the game to be played, citing a long-standing policy about wet fields.[50] Dayton was placed a one-year probation by the league as punishment.[51] Dayton went 5–2–1 in 1965, good for second in the league.[52]

John Abel from Pontiac was named commissioner of the league in January 1966, replacing McCracken, who resigned to be the head coach for the Dayton Colts.[53][54] The Dayton Colts played an exhibition game of basketball with the National Football League's Cleveland Browns in March 1966 as a fundraiser.[55] Dayton went 6–4 in 1966 and placed third in the league.[a 2]

In 1967, Dayton went 7–5 and placed fourth in the league.[57][58]

The Dayton Colts were sold to Recreation Projects, Inc. in April 1968.[59] The team went 12–0 during the season and were named league champions.[60] McCracken resigned as head coach before the last game of the season, with defensive coach Danny Bilovecky taking over for the final game.[61] In the all-star game on November 16, 1968, the Colts beat the team of league all-stars, 43–0.[62] They were the first team in league history to go undefeated in a season after posting a 12–0 record.[60]

Dayton went 10–4 in 1969, finishing second in the Lakes division.[63]

The Dayton Colts were suspended for the season due to financial conditions,[64] but fielded an independent team and played games against members of the league.[65][66]

The Dayton Colts returned to the league in 1971, moved to Columbus, Ohio, in April,[67] and became the Columbus Bucks.[68][69][70] The league prevented players being paid salaries for 1971 after financial struggles the previous season.[71] Bill Byrne, president of the Bucks, was elected vice president of the league in September 1971.[72] The team was coached by Bobby Benjamin.[73] The Bucks went 13–0–1 in the 1971 season and won the Lakes division.[74] The Bucks were scheduled to play the second-place team in the Central Division, the Flint Wildcats, in the first round of the playoffs, but the opponent was replaced by the Michigan Barons due to eligibility concerns with Flint's roster.[75] The Barons were made up of players from the Flint and Pontiac Firebirds rosters.[76] In the divisional round of the playoffs, Columbus beat the Barons, 34–0, on November 6, 1971.[77] On November 13, 1971, Columbus won the league championship with a win over Lansing, by a score of 20–17.[78] After the championship game, Columbus played against the Pennsylvania Bruins of the Interstate League.[79] The game was called the "Ohio Mini Super Bowl",[80] with Columbus winning 44–13 in the November 20 game.[81]

Benjamin returned as head coach in 1972,[82] and the Bucks went 7–3 in 1972, finishing third in the league.[42]

The Columbus Bucks became the Columbus Brewers before the 1973 season,[83] and then later the Columbus Barons.[84] Columbus had an agreement with the Cincinnati Bengals of the NFL to act as a farm team in 1973.[85] By August 1973, the NFL had sent $11,000 to MFL teams during the season in exchange for being able to sign 11 of their players, including four from Columbus.[86] Benjamin was coach again for 1973.[87] The Barons went 3–7 in 1973, placing fourth.[42] The team left the league before the start of the 1974 regular season,[88] becoming the Bellbrook Colts and joining the Ohio–Pennsylvania Football League for 1974.[70] They won the league championship after going 10–1 for the season.[89]

The Dayton Colts were brought back to the league for the 1975 season.[90] Dayton went 5–5 in 1975.[42] The team folded before the 1976 season.[91] Alumni of the Dayton Triangles and Colts held multiple reunions in the 1990s and 2000s.[92][93]

Season-by-season edit

Year Team name League W L T Finish Coach Postseason results
1946 Dayton Rockets Independent No data available Alex Rado Dayton semipro city champions
1947 Inter-State Semipro Football League Dayton semipro city champions
1948 John Stanko Barons Independent 8 1 1 N/A Dayton semipro city champions
1949 Wiedemann Buds No data available Dayton semipro city champions
No team from 1950 to 1952
1953 Dayton Triangles Tristate Semipro Football League No data available Bob Puckett
1954 Independent Bill Snyder
1955 5 2 0 N/A No data available
1956 8 1 0 N/A John Pierce
1957 Ohio Semi-Pro Football League 12 0 1 1st League champions
Ohio semi-pro champions
Midwest semi-pro champions
1958 Independent 8 4 0 N/A
1959 American Football Conference 3 5 0 3rd Bill Lange
1960 4 6 0 No data Butch Zimmerman
1961 3 7 0 T-6th
1962 Independent 4 2 1 N/A Ed McCracken
1963 Cedarville Spartans Midwest Football League 6 3 1 2nd Dayton semipro city champions
1964 Dayton Colts 6 4 0 3rd Dayton semipro city champions
1965 5 2 1 2nd
1966 6 4 0 3rd
1967 7 5 0 4th
1968 12 0 0 1st Ed McCracken
(resigned before final game)
Danny Bilovecky
(final game)		 Midwest Football League champions
1969 10 4 0 2nd (Lakes) Ed McCracken
1970 Independent
1971 Columbus Bucks Midwest Football League 13 0 1 1st (Lakes) Bobby Benjamin
1972 7 3 0 3rd
1973 Columbus Barons 3 7 0 4th
1974 Bellbrook Colts Ohio–Pennsylvania Football League 10 1 0 1st Ed McCracken Ohio–Pennsylvania Football League champions
1975 Dayton Colts Midwest Football League 5 5 0 2nd (Central)

Notes edit

  1. ^ The Dayton Daily News reported the Cedarville Spartans' record for 1963 as 6–3–1,[41] while Outsiders II stated they had a 5–2–2 record with a note about missing information.[42]
  2. ^ The Lansing State Journal reported the Dayton Colts' final record as 5–4–1, which would be the third tie in the standings.[56] It is impossible for an odd-number of total ties to have occurred, and Outsiders II shows the Colts' record for 1966 as 6–4–0.[42]

References edit

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  39. ^ Olesky, John (April 28, 1963). "Dolphins Double In Coaching Brass". Dayton Daily News. Retrieved April 18, 2021.
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  41. ^ "Hudson, Spartans In Semi-Pro Bowl". Dayton Daily News. December 5, 1963. Retrieved April 2, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  42. ^ a b c d e f Gill, Maher & Brainerd 2010, pp. 113–116.
  43. ^ "Will Hudson Bar Colts' 'Title' Bid?". Dayton Daily News. November 21, 1964. Retrieved May 8, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
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  46. ^ Bleck, Tim (October 6, 1964). "Dayton's Unknown Pro Gridders Keep Trying". The Journal Herald. Retrieved May 8, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
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  49. ^ Wohlfarth, Dave (October 6, 1965). "Ambitious Colts Seeking Loftier Status In 1966". The Journal Herald. Retrieved April 3, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  50. ^ a b Carroll, Tom (September 12, 1965). "No Playing Field Available; Colts May Lose Franchise". Dayton Daily News. Retrieved April 3, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  51. ^ "Midwest League Places Colts On Probation". The Journal Herald. September 13, 1965. Retrieved April 3, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  52. ^ "7 Lansing Gridders in All-Star Tilt". Lansing State Journal. November 11, 1965. Retrieved April 3, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  53. ^ "Abel Named MFL Commissioner". Petosky News-Review. January 6, 1966. Retrieved April 3, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  54. ^ Carroll, Tom (January 9, 1966). "McCracken Quits As Commissioner". Dayton Daily News. Retrieved April 3, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  55. ^ "Colts To Play Browns "5"". The Journal Herald. March 7, 1966. Retrieved April 3, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
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  58. ^ "Colts Facing Better Test In Ypsilanti on Saturday". Dayton Daily News. August 8, 1968. Retrieved April 4, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  59. ^ "Dayton Football Franchise Is Sold". The Cincinnati Enquirer. April 10, 1968. Retrieved April 4, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
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  63. ^ "Lansing 'Stars Face Lackawanna in Playoff". Lansing State Journal. November 3, 1969. Retrieved April 5, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  64. ^ "Tri-City Apollos Join Midwest Football League". Lansing State Journal. April 9, 1970. Retrieved April 6, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  65. ^ "Coach to Present Independent Colts". Dayton Daily News. July 5, 1970. Retrieved April 6, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  66. ^ "1970 Dayton Colts". ProFootballArchives.com. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
  67. ^ "League adds two teams". The South Bend Tribune. April 5, 1971. Retrieved April 10, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  68. ^ "Walet Foresakes Pro Grid". The Town Talk. June 30, 1971. Retrieved April 10, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  69. ^ "Columbus Bucks Open On Sunday". Dayton Daily News. June 28, 1972. Retrieved April 12, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  70. ^ a b Long, Dave (August 25, 1974). "Pro Football Back in Town". Dayton Daily News. Retrieved April 12, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  71. ^ Senyczko, Ed (July 29, 1971). "All Stars Question Pay Rule". Lansing State Journal. Retrieved April 10, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  72. ^ "Byrne Elected Midwest Football Vice President". The Circleville Herald. September 10, 1971. Retrieved April 10, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
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  75. ^ Senyczko, Ed (November 6, 1971). "Stars Host Niagara". Lansing State Journal. Retrieved April 10, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  76. ^ Senyczko, Ed (November 11, 1971). "All Stars Bid for Third MFL Title". Lansing State Journal. Retrieved April 10, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  77. ^ "It's Stars, Columbus In Finals". Lansing State Journal. November 7, 1971. Retrieved April 10, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  78. ^ "Columbus Unseats All Stars". Lansing State Journal. November 14, 1971. Retrieved April 10, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  79. ^ "Lansing All Stars Not Through Yet". Lansing State Journal. November 18, 1971. Retrieved April 10, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  80. ^ "Penna. Bruins Play Saturday At Columbus". Lebanon Daily News. November 19, 1971. Retrieved April 10, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  81. ^ "Columbus Team Easily Defeats Penna. Bruins". Lebanon Daily News. November 22, 1971. Retrieved April 10, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  82. ^ "Columbus Bucks Open On Sunday". Dayton Daily News. June 28, 1972. Retrieved May 5, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  83. ^ "Grid Caps Back In Business Again". The Indianapolis News. April 23, 1973. Retrieved April 12, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  84. ^ Long, Dave (September 2, 1973). "Barons Still Feature Dayton Area Gridders". Dayton Daily News. Retrieved April 12, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  85. ^ "Ed Dubaj Fills Role of Grid Coach With 2 Teams". Lansing State Journal. May 20, 1973. Retrieved April 12, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  86. ^ "Hawks Seeking Field, Gate Wins". The News-Palladium. August 24, 1973. Retrieved April 13, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  87. ^ Coccagna, Tom (July 20, 1973). "Columbus Has Strong Club For Cardinals". Public Opinion. Retrieved May 5, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  88. ^ "Sub Passer Stalls Pontiac". The Indianapolis News. July 29, 1974. Retrieved April 13, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  89. ^ "Work's Cut Out for Capitals". Lansing State Journal. July 24, 1975. Retrieved May 5, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  90. ^ "Dayton Colts Return". Dayton Daily News. June 6, 1975. Retrieved April 14, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  91. ^ "It's a labor of love". The Journal Herald. July 9, 1976. Retrieved May 3, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  92. ^ Katz, Marc (June 8, 1994). "Old Dayton Colts recall the glory days of semi-pro football". Dayton Daily News. Retrieved May 4, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  93. ^ Nagel, Kyle (July 15, 2000). "Triangles-Colts hold reunion". Dayton Daily News. Retrieved May 4, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.

Bibliography edit

  • Gill, Bob; Maher, Tod; Brainerd, Steve (2010). Outsiders II: Minor League and Independent Football 1951–1985. St. Johann Press. ISBN 9781878282651.

Further reading edit

  • "They won crown at Hicksville". The Journal Herald. July 31, 1975. Retrieved April 18, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.

April 11, 2024
dayton, colts, were, semi, professional, american, football, team, that, played, from, 1946, 1949, 1953, 1975, team, based, ohio, competed, inter, state, semipro, football, league, 1947, dayton, rockets, tristate, semipro, football, league, 1953, american, foo. The Dayton Colts were a semi professional American football team that played from 1946 to 1949 and 1953 to 1975 The team was based in Ohio It competed in the Inter State Semipro Football League in 1947 as the Dayton Rockets Tristate Semipro Football League in 1953 and American Football Conference from 1959 to 1961 as the Dayton Triangles Midwest Football League from 1963 to 1969 1971 to 1973 and 1975 as the Cedarville Spartans Dayton Colts Columbus Bucks and Columbus Barons and Ohio Pennsylvania Football League in 1974 as the Bellbrook Colts It was also known as the John Stanko Barons and Wiedemann Buds in 1948 and 1949 Dayton ColtsEstablished1946Folded1976Based inDayton OhioLeagueInter State Semipro Football League 1947 Tristate Semipro Football League 1953 American Football Conference 1959 1961 Midwest Football League 1963 1969 1971 1973 1975 Ohio Pennsylvania Football League 1974 League titles3 1968 1971 1974 Division titles1 1971 Contents 1 History 1 1 Alex Rado iteration 1946 1949 1 2 Dayton Triangles 1953 1961 1 3 Midwest Football League 1962 1975 1 4 Season by season 2 Notes 3 References 4 Bibliography 5 Further readingHistory editAlex Rado iteration 1946 1949 edit The Dayton Rockets fielded a team in 1946 coached by Alex Rado 1 They won the Dayton semi pro city championship over the Dayton Bombers 12 7 2 The team joined the Inter State Semipro Football League in 1947 3 4 They won the city championship over the Bombers again by a score of 32 0 2 They were also known as Mickey s Rockets for the 1946 and 1947 seasons due to a sponsorship with a local restaurant 5 The team became the John Stanko Barons for the 1948 season 6 and played an independent schedule 7 Tony Furst joined the coaching staff as the line coach during the season 8 They went 7 1 1 in 1948 before playing in the city championship again opposite the Bombers 2 which they won for the third year in a row with a score of 30 6 9 Renamed the Wiedemann Buds 10 they played for the city championship against the Dayton Bombers again in 1949 11 and won their fourth title 25 6 12 Dayton Triangles 1953 1961 edit The Dayton Rockets fielded a new team for the 1953 season under head coach Bob Puckett 13 The Rockets became the Dayton Triangle Rockets in October 1953 through an arrangement with a town bar called the Triangle Bar 14 The Triangles played in the Tristate Semipro Football League in 1953 15 In 1954 the Dayton Triangles were coached by Bill Snyder 16 with Jack Lininger as an assistant coach 17 The team went 5 2 in 1955 18 John Pierce became head coach by 1956 19 and the team went 8 1 on the season 20 The Triangles entered the Ohio Semi Pro Football League for the 1957 season 21 Dayton was named league champion and the mythical Ohio semi professional football champion in 1957 after defeating the Toledo All Stars 26 12 22 23 They also earned the mythical Midwest semi professional football title after beating the St Louis Raiders 23 24 They finished the season 12 0 1 24 Bill Lange was named line coach of the team in 1958 25 and they went 8 4 on the season 26 Lange became head coach of the Triangles in June 1959 27 The Dayton Triangles played in the American Football Conference from 1959 to 1961 28 They joined the league in July 1959 29 The Triangles finished the season 3 5 placing third in the league standings 30 Don Butch Zimmerman became the head coach in August 1960 31 and they finished the season with an overall 7 7 record and 4 6 league record 32 Zimmerman was re signed for the 1961 season 32 and the team finished last in the standings with a 3 7 record 33 The AFC dissolved before the 1962 season and the Triangles played an independent schedule for the season 34 Ed McCracken became the head coach with Zimmerman resigning to become the team s starting quarterback 35 They went 4 2 1 on the season 36 Midwest Football League 1962 1975 edit An application for a franchise from Dayton Ohio in the Midwest Football League was approved on March 11 1962 37 The Spartan Athletic Club received approval to join the league in April 1963 38 and they initially chose a team name of Dayton Spartans 39 They were later called the Cedarville Spartans 40 The Spartans finished the 1963 season in second place with a 6 3 1 record a 1 and they won the Dayton city semi professional football championship in a win over Hudson Bar 7 6 43 McCracken was elected league commissioner in March 1964 44 The Spartans became the Dayton Colts in 1964 45 and they had a 7 000 budget for the season 46 The team finished third in the league in 1964 with a 6 4 0 record 42 They defeated Hudson Bar after the season 32 6 47 to win the Dayton semi professional football championship for a second consecutive year 48 Dayton was purchased by a new ownership group in 1965 49 The Colts had to cancel and forfeit a game against the Milan Vikings due to bad weather 50 Dayton scheduled the game to be played at a local high school football field but the school would not allow the game to be played citing a long standing policy about wet fields 50 Dayton was placed a one year probation by the league as punishment 51 Dayton went 5 2 1 in 1965 good for second in the league 52 John Abel from Pontiac was named commissioner of the league in January 1966 replacing McCracken who resigned to be the head coach for the Dayton Colts 53 54 The Dayton Colts played an exhibition game of basketball with the National Football League s Cleveland Browns in March 1966 as a fundraiser 55 Dayton went 6 4 in 1966 and placed third in the league a 2 In 1967 Dayton went 7 5 and placed fourth in the league 57 58 The Dayton Colts were sold to Recreation Projects Inc in April 1968 59 The team went 12 0 during the season and were named league champions 60 McCracken resigned as head coach before the last game of the season with defensive coach Danny Bilovecky taking over for the final game 61 In the all star game on November 16 1968 the Colts beat the team of league all stars 43 0 62 They were the first team in league history to go undefeated in a season after posting a 12 0 record 60 Dayton went 10 4 in 1969 finishing second in the Lakes division 63 The Dayton Colts were suspended for the season due to financial conditions 64 but fielded an independent team and played games against members of the league 65 66 The Dayton Colts returned to the league in 1971 moved to Columbus Ohio in April 67 and became the Columbus Bucks 68 69 70 The league prevented players being paid salaries for 1971 after financial struggles the previous season 71 Bill Byrne president of the Bucks was elected vice president of the league in September 1971 72 The team was coached by Bobby Benjamin 73 The Bucks went 13 0 1 in the 1971 season and won the Lakes division 74 The Bucks were scheduled to play the second place team in the Central Division the Flint Wildcats in the first round of the playoffs but the opponent was replaced by the Michigan Barons due to eligibility concerns with Flint s roster 75 The Barons were made up of players from the Flint and Pontiac Firebirds rosters 76 In the divisional round of the playoffs Columbus beat the Barons 34 0 on November 6 1971 77 On November 13 1971 Columbus won the league championship with a win over Lansing by a score of 20 17 78 After the championship game Columbus played against the Pennsylvania Bruins of the Interstate League 79 The game was called the Ohio Mini Super Bowl 80 with Columbus winning 44 13 in the November 20 game 81 Benjamin returned as head coach in 1972 82 and the Bucks went 7 3 in 1972 finishing third in the league 42 The Columbus Bucks became the Columbus Brewers before the 1973 season 83 and then later the Columbus Barons 84 Columbus had an agreement with the Cincinnati Bengals of the NFL to act as a farm team in 1973 85 By August 1973 the NFL had sent 11 000 to MFL teams during the season in exchange for being able to sign 11 of their players including four from Columbus 86 Benjamin was coach again for 1973 87 The Barons went 3 7 in 1973 placing fourth 42 The team left the league before the start of the 1974 regular season 88 becoming the Bellbrook Colts and joining the Ohio Pennsylvania Football League for 1974 70 They won the league championship after going 10 1 for the season 89 The Dayton Colts were brought back to the league for the 1975 season 90 Dayton went 5 5 in 1975 42 The team folded before the 1976 season 91 Alumni of the Dayton Triangles and Colts held multiple reunions in the 1990s and 2000s 92 93 Season by season edit Year Team name League W L T Finish Coach Postseason results1946 Dayton Rockets Independent No data available Alex Rado Dayton semipro city champions1947 Inter State Semipro Football League Dayton semipro city champions1948 John Stanko Barons Independent 8 1 1 N A Dayton semipro city champions1949 Wiedemann Buds No data available Dayton semipro city championsNo team from 1950 to 19521953 Dayton Triangles Tristate Semipro Football League No data available Bob Puckett1954 Independent Bill Snyder1955 5 2 0 N A No data available1956 8 1 0 N A John Pierce1957 Ohio Semi Pro Football League 12 0 1 1st League championsOhio semi pro championsMidwest semi pro champions1958 Independent 8 4 0 N A1959 American Football Conference 3 5 0 3rd Bill Lange1960 4 6 0 No data Butch Zimmerman1961 3 7 0 T 6th1962 Independent 4 2 1 N A Ed McCracken1963 Cedarville Spartans Midwest Football League 6 3 1 2nd Dayton semipro city champions1964 Dayton Colts 6 4 0 3rd Dayton semipro city champions1965 5 2 1 2nd1966 6 4 0 3rd1967 7 5 0 4th1968 12 0 0 1st Ed McCracken resigned before final game Danny Bilovecky final game Midwest Football League champions1969 10 4 0 2nd Lakes Ed McCracken1970 Independent1971 Columbus Bucks Midwest Football League 13 0 1 1st Lakes Bobby Benjamin1972 7 3 0 3rd1973 Columbus Barons 3 7 0 4th1974 Bellbrook Colts Ohio Pennsylvania Football League 10 1 0 1st Ed McCracken Ohio Pennsylvania Football League champions1975 Dayton Colts Midwest Football League 5 5 0 2nd Central Notes edit The Dayton Daily News reported the Cedarville Spartans record for 1963 as 6 3 1 41 while Outsiders II stated they had a 5 2 2 record with a note about missing information 42 The Lansing State Journal reported the Dayton Colts final record as 5 4 1 which would be the third tie in the standings 56 It is impossible for an odd number of total ties to have occurred and Outsiders II shows the Colts record for 1966 as 6 4 0 42 References edit Galion Vet Cubs Ready For Dayton Rockets Sunday Aft Telegraph Forum October 12 1946 Retrieved April 19 2021 via Newspapers com a b c Barons Bombers Play For Semipro Grid Title Dayton Daily News November 28 1948 Retrieved April 19 2021 via Newspapers com Grid Angels To Play Mendon Tomorrow The Marion Star September 26 1947 Retrieved April 19 2021 via Newspapers com Sheridan Gridders Win 14th Straight The Indianapolis News October 13 1947 Retrieved April 19 2021 via Newspapers com Danny Ryan Quite a Guy To Become Californian The Dayton Herald August 13 1947 Retrieved May 5 2021 via Newspapers com Title At Stake In Bombers Barons Fray The Journal Herald November 27 1948 Retrieved April 19 2021 via Newspapers com Rockets Play At Middletown Dayton Daily News October 3 1948 Retrieved April 19 2021 via Newspapers com Furst To Coach Dayton Rockets The Dayton Herald October 14 1948 Retrieved April 19 2021 via Newspapers com Rado Carries Baron Eleven To Third Straight Title The Dayton Herald December 6 1948 Retrieved April 19 2021 via Newspapers com Buds Battle Columbus 11 Here Today Dayton Daily News October 16 1949 Retrieved April 19 2021 via Newspapers com Radomen Bombers In Title Grid Tilt Today Dayton Daily News November 13 1949 Retrieved April 19 2021 via Newspapers com Buds Rocks Tilt Is Hinted Dayton Daily News November 20 1949 Retrieved April 19 2021 via Newspapers com Dayton Semipro Grid Squad At Hamilton Today Dayton Daily News October 4 1953 Retrieved April 19 2021 via Newspapers com McFadden Lefty October 13 1953 Dressing Room Signs Didn t Help Hamilton Dayton Daily News Retrieved April 18 2021 via Newspapers com Trolley Rolls To 38 0 Win Penridge Edges Heidel Hall The Cincinnati Enquirer November 30 1953 Retrieved April 19 2021 via Newspapers com Semi Pro Grid Team Drilling The Journal Herald September 13 1954 Retrieved April 19 2021 via Newspapers com Semi Pro Triangles Open Season Today Dayton Daily News September 26 1954 Retrieved April 19 2021 via Newspapers com Triangle 11 Opens On Chicago Gridiron Dayton Daily News September 15 1956 Retrieved April 20 2021 via Newspapers com O Neil Ed November 25 1956 Triangles Coast Behind Defense Dayton Daily News Retrieved April 20 2021 via Newspapers com Triangles Top Detroit 18 0 The Journal Herald December 3 1956 Retrieved April 20 2021 via Newspapers com Triangles In New League Dayton Daily News September 10 1957 Retrieved April 20 2021 via Newspapers com Unbeaten Semi Pro Dayton Team to Play Here Sunday The Newark Advocate November 23 1957 Retrieved April 20 2021 via Newspapers com a b Triangles Bid For Unbeaten Year Title The Journal Herald November 30 1957 Retrieved April 20 2021 via Newspapers com a b Triangles Finish Season Undefeated Dayton Daily News December 9 1957 Retrieved April 20 2021 via Newspapers com Bill Lange President of Triangles Dayton Daily News March 9 1958 Retrieved April 20 2021 via Newspapers com McCracken Plays Triangle Finale Dayton Daily News November 21 1958 Retrieved April 20 2021 via Newspapers com Nichols Jim June 9 1959 Daytonian Aids College Net Win Dayton Daily News Retrieved April 22 2021 via Newspapers com Clark Jan November 15 1967 Minor League Pro Grid Game To Be Played Here Nov 25 Palladium Item Retrieved April 18 2021 via Newspapers com Triangles Join New Grid Conference Open Aug 29 Dayton Daily News July 28 1959 Retrieved April 22 2021 via Newspapers com Semi Pro Loop May Expand Grid Ranks The Journal Herald November 26 1959 Retrieved April 22 2021 via Newspapers com Don Zimmerman Triangles Coach Dayton Daily News August 7 1960 Retrieved May 3 2021 via Newspapers com a b Triangles Sign Coach Dayton Daily News June 15 1961 Retrieved May 3 2021 via Newspapers com Triangles On Winter Hunt For Dollars Dayton Daily News November 13 1961 Retrieved May 3 2021 via Newspapers com Triangles Try All Over Again Dayton Daily News August 15 1962 Retrieved May 3 2021 via Newspapers com Triangles Coach Returns To Quarterbacking Duty The Journal Herald August 17 1962 Retrieved May 3 2021 via Newspapers com Butch Hurls Triangles Win Dayton Daily News October 28 1962 Retrieved May 3 2021 via Newspapers com Lansing All Stars Plan Home Football Sked Lansing State Journal March 12 1962 Retrieved April 18 2021 via Newspapers com Spartans the Name Dayton Daily News April 3 1963 Retrieved April 18 2021 via Newspapers com Olesky John April 28 1963 Dolphins Double In Coaching Brass Dayton Daily News Retrieved April 18 2021 Cedarville Home Tonight Dayton Daily News October 5 1963 Retrieved April 18 2021 via Newspapers com Hudson Spartans In Semi Pro Bowl Dayton Daily News December 5 1963 Retrieved April 2 2021 via Newspapers com a b c d e f Gill Maher amp Brainerd 2010 pp 113 116 Will Hudson Bar Colts Title Bid Dayton Daily News November 21 1964 Retrieved May 8 2021 via Newspapers com McCracken Heads Loop Dayton Daily News March 18 1964 Retrieved April 18 2021 via Newspapers com Dayton To Field Team In Midwest Grid Loop The Journal Herald August 15 1964 Retrieved April 18 2021 via Newspapers com Bleck Tim October 6 1964 Dayton s Unknown Pro Gridders Keep Trying The Journal Herald Retrieved May 8 2021 via Newspapers com Colts Roll To Victory Dayton Daily News November 22 1964 Retrieved May 8 2021 via Newspapers com Colts Keep Title Against Hudson The Journal Herald November 23 1964 Retrieved May 8 2021 via Newspapers com Wohlfarth Dave October 6 1965 Ambitious Colts Seeking Loftier Status In 1966 The Journal Herald Retrieved April 3 2021 via Newspapers com a b Carroll Tom September 12 1965 No Playing Field Available Colts May Lose Franchise Dayton Daily News Retrieved April 3 2021 via Newspapers com Midwest League Places Colts On Probation The Journal Herald September 13 1965 Retrieved April 3 2021 via Newspapers com 7 Lansing Gridders in All Star Tilt Lansing State Journal November 11 1965 Retrieved April 3 2021 via Newspapers com Abel Named MFL Commissioner Petosky News Review January 6 1966 Retrieved April 3 2021 via Newspapers com Carroll Tom January 9 1966 McCracken Quits As Commissioner Dayton Daily News Retrieved April 3 2021 via Newspapers com Colts To Play Browns 5 The Journal Herald March 7 1966 Retrieved April 3 2021 via Newspapers com 4 All Stars Place High In Stats Lansing State Journal November 12 1966 Retrieved April 3 2021 via Newspapers com Colts Finish 7 5 The Journal Herald November 27 1967 Retrieved April 4 2021 via Newspapers com Colts Facing Better Test In Ypsilanti on Saturday Dayton Daily News August 8 1968 Retrieved April 4 2021 via Newspapers com Dayton Football Franchise Is Sold The Cincinnati Enquirer April 10 1968 Retrieved April 4 2021 via Newspapers com a b Carroll Tom November 10 1968 McElligott MVP As 5 Colts Make Midwest All Star Team Dayton Daily News Retrieved April 4 2021 via Newspapers com Carroll Tom October 31 1968 McCracken Calls It Quits Dayton Daily News Retrieved May 5 2021 via Newspapers com Colts Make Big Point Rip Stars Dayton Daily News November 17 1968 Retrieved April 4 2021 via Newspapers com Lansing Stars Face Lackawanna in Playoff Lansing State Journal November 3 1969 Retrieved April 5 2021 via Newspapers com Tri City Apollos Join Midwest Football League Lansing State Journal April 9 1970 Retrieved April 6 2021 via Newspapers com Coach to Present Independent Colts Dayton Daily News July 5 1970 Retrieved April 6 2021 via Newspapers com 1970 Dayton Colts ProFootballArchives com Retrieved April 20 2021 League adds two teams The South Bend Tribune April 5 1971 Retrieved April 10 2021 via Newspapers com Walet Foresakes Pro Grid The Town Talk June 30 1971 Retrieved April 10 2021 via Newspapers com Columbus Bucks Open On Sunday Dayton Daily News June 28 1972 Retrieved April 12 2021 via Newspapers com a b Long Dave August 25 1974 Pro Football Back in Town Dayton Daily News Retrieved April 12 2021 via Newspapers com Senyczko Ed July 29 1971 All Stars Question Pay Rule Lansing State Journal Retrieved April 10 2021 via Newspapers com Byrne Elected Midwest Football Vice President The Circleville Herald September 10 1971 Retrieved April 10 2021 via Newspapers com Miss Diller fails to show as Bucks win mini bowl Chillicothe Gazette November 22 1971 Retrieved May 5 2021 via Newspapers com Midwest Football League Final Standings Lansing State Journal November 4 1971 Retrieved April 10 2021 via Newspapers com Senyczko Ed November 6 1971 Stars Host Niagara Lansing State Journal Retrieved April 10 2021 via Newspapers com Senyczko Ed November 11 1971 All Stars Bid for Third MFL Title Lansing State Journal Retrieved April 10 2021 via Newspapers com It s Stars Columbus In Finals Lansing State Journal November 7 1971 Retrieved April 10 2021 via Newspapers com Columbus Unseats All Stars Lansing State Journal November 14 1971 Retrieved April 10 2021 via Newspapers com Lansing All Stars Not Through Yet Lansing State Journal November 18 1971 Retrieved April 10 2021 via Newspapers com Penna Bruins Play Saturday At Columbus Lebanon Daily News November 19 1971 Retrieved April 10 2021 via Newspapers com Columbus Team Easily Defeats Penna Bruins Lebanon Daily News November 22 1971 Retrieved April 10 2021 via Newspapers com Columbus Bucks Open On Sunday Dayton Daily News June 28 1972 Retrieved May 5 2021 via Newspapers com Grid Caps Back In Business Again The Indianapolis News April 23 1973 Retrieved April 12 2021 via Newspapers com Long Dave September 2 1973 Barons Still Feature Dayton Area Gridders Dayton Daily News Retrieved April 12 2021 via Newspapers com Ed Dubaj Fills Role of Grid Coach With 2 Teams Lansing State Journal May 20 1973 Retrieved April 12 2021 via Newspapers com Hawks Seeking Field Gate Wins The News Palladium August 24 1973 Retrieved April 13 2021 via Newspapers com Coccagna Tom July 20 1973 Columbus Has Strong Club For Cardinals Public Opinion Retrieved May 5 2021 via Newspapers com Sub Passer Stalls Pontiac The Indianapolis News July 29 1974 Retrieved April 13 2021 via Newspapers com Work s Cut Out for Capitals Lansing State Journal July 24 1975 Retrieved May 5 2021 via Newspapers com Dayton Colts Return Dayton Daily News June 6 1975 Retrieved April 14 2021 via Newspapers com It s a labor of love The Journal Herald July 9 1976 Retrieved May 3 2021 via Newspapers com Katz Marc June 8 1994 Old Dayton Colts recall the glory days of semi pro football Dayton Daily News Retrieved May 4 2021 via Newspapers com Nagel Kyle July 15 2000 Triangles Colts hold reunion Dayton Daily News Retrieved May 4 2021 via Newspapers com Bibliography editGill Bob Maher Tod Brainerd Steve 2010 Outsiders II Minor League and Independent Football 1951 1985 St Johann Press ISBN 9781878282651 Further reading edit They won crown at Hicksville The Journal Herald July 31 1975 Retrieved April 18 2021 via Newspapers com Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Dayton Colts amp oldid 1159331243, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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