The Kentucky Horsemen (known as the Lexington Horsemen from 2003 to 2009) was an indoor football team based in Lexington, Kentucky. The team played its home games at Rupp Arena. The organization began as a 2003 expansion member of the National Indoor Football League, where they were successful. Following the 2004 season, where they defeated the Sioux Falls Storm to win Indoor Bowl IV, the Horsemen and other NIFL teams joined the new United Indoor Football (UIF) as a charter member, where they made the playoffs. They lost to the Sioux Falls Storm. They made the playoffs again in 2006 and advanced to United Bowl II where they lost to the Sioux Falls Storm. From 2008 to 2009, the Horsemen played in the AF2. The team announced intentions to compete in the new Arena Football League following the dissolution of the AF2, but instead ceased operations in October 2009.
During the 2007 season, the Horsemen finished with an 8-7 regular season record and then advanced through the playoffs to United Bowl III. They faced the undefeated Sioux Falls Storm and lost the game 62-59 after Collin Barber missed the potential game-tying field goal. The game was Head Coach Mike Zuckerman's final game.
The team's official mascot is Spike, a hero-like horseman.
The end, but then a new beginning
On August 22, 2007, Horsemen owner Lennie House announced that the Horsemen had played their final game. He cited poor attendance and lowered revenue, a fate not unusual for UIF teams.
However, on October 16, 2007, House opted to remain in operations by announcing that he changed his mind and the Horsemen would be playing the 2008 season in arenafootball2, where they would have an in-state rivalry ("The War on I-64") with the Louisville Fire. The Horsemen adopted new jerseys that included a slight change in their blue color scheme.[1]
Changes in 2009
The Horsemen saw numerous changes occur after the 2008 season. Most notably, ownership changed hands from the House family to the newly formed non-profit Horsemen Charitable Foundation. The foundation was spearheaded by former Horsemen general manager Brian Boehm in an effort to keep Central Kentucky from losing yet another professional sports team.
The end of the franchise
Just when they were about to play in the new Arena Football League in 2010, the team shut down operations due to financial situations. However, on the team's official website, a newly designed logo is shown with "Don't count us out yet!" underneath, possibly hinting at the team making a comeback.[2]
On March 29, 2003, the Horsemen played their first game in front of a crowd of 10,004 in Rupp Arena. They lost to the Lake Charles Land Sharks 41-50.
Indoor Bowl IV
In their second season (2004), the Horsemen beat the Sioux Falls Storm in Sioux Falls 59-38 to win the Indoor Bowl Championship.
United Bowl II
Under first year QB Eddie Eviston, the Horsemen lost to the undefeated Sioux Falls Storm 64-72 in United Bowl II. The Storm still retain that streak as of July 22, 2007
Road to United Bowl III
After leaving the team to play for the Cincinnati Jungle Kats of the AF2 quarterback, Eddie Eviston returned to play in a July 22, 2007 playoff game against the River City Rage. They won the game 48-33 and advanced to the Eastern Conference championship with home field advantage.
In the same game, running back Rayshawn Askew tied Hall of FameNFL wide receiver Jerry Rice for most touchdowns by a professional football player with 208. The following week in the eastern conference championship Askew broke the record on a touchdown catch from Eddie Eviston. The Horsemen won and advanced to the United Bowl.
^Roberts, Ben (2007-10-16). "Horsemen going up in class". Lexington Herald-Leader. Archived from the original on 2007-08-01. Retrieved 2007-10-16.
^Karla Ward (October 27, 2009). "Horsemen forced to fold". www.kentucky.com. Lexington Herald Leader. Retrieved July 5, 2016.
External links
Horsemen on ArenaFan.com
Horsemen on OurSports Central
March 30, 2023
kentucky, horsemen, known, lexington, horsemen, from, 2003, 2009, indoor, football, team, based, lexington, kentucky, team, played, home, games, rupp, arena, organization, began, 2003, expansion, member, national, indoor, football, league, where, they, were, s. The Kentucky Horsemen known as the Lexington Horsemen from 2003 to 2009 was an indoor football team based in Lexington Kentucky The team played its home games at Rupp Arena The organization began as a 2003 expansion member of the National Indoor Football League where they were successful Following the 2004 season where they defeated the Sioux Falls Storm to win Indoor Bowl IV the Horsemen and other NIFL teams joined the new United Indoor Football UIF as a charter member where they made the playoffs They lost to the Sioux Falls Storm They made the playoffs again in 2006 and advanced to United Bowl II where they lost to the Sioux Falls Storm From 2008 to 2009 the Horsemen played in the AF2 The team announced intentions to compete in the new Arena Football League following the dissolution of the AF2 but instead ceased operations in October 2009 Kentucky HorsemenEstablished 2002Folded 2009Played in Rupp Arena in Lexington KentuckyLeague conference affiliationsNIFL 2003 2004 Atlantic Conference 2003 2004 Eastern Division 2003 Northern Division 2004 UIF 2005 2007 Southern Division 2005 Eastern Division 2006 2007 AF2 2008 2009 American Conference 2008 2009 Midwest Division 2008 South Division 2009 Current uniformTeam colorsRoyal blue black white MascotSpikeCheerleadersFilliesPersonnelOwner s Horsemen Charitable FoundationHead coachTommy JohnsonTeam historyLexington Horsemen 2003 2008 Kentucky Horsemen 2009 ChampionshipsLeague championships 1 2004Conference championships 0 Division championships 4 2004 2005 2006 2007Playoff appearances 8 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009Home arena s Rupp Arena 2003 2009 Contents 1 History 1 1 The end but then a new beginning 1 2 Changes in 2009 1 3 The end of the franchise 2 Season by season 3 Highlights 3 1 Former head coaches 4 Notable players 5 Notes 6 External linksHistory EditDuring the 2007 season the Horsemen finished with an 8 7 regular season record and then advanced through the playoffs to United Bowl III They faced the undefeated Sioux Falls Storm and lost the game 62 59 after Collin Barber missed the potential game tying field goal The game was Head Coach Mike Zuckerman s final game The team s official mascot is Spike a hero like horseman The end but then a new beginning Edit On August 22 2007 Horsemen owner Lennie House announced that the Horsemen had played their final game He cited poor attendance and lowered revenue a fate not unusual for UIF teams However on October 16 2007 House opted to remain in operations by announcing that he changed his mind and the Horsemen would be playing the 2008 season in arenafootball2 where they would have an in state rivalry The War on I 64 with the Louisville Fire The Horsemen adopted new jerseys that included a slight change in their blue color scheme 1 Changes in 2009 Edit The Horsemen saw numerous changes occur after the 2008 season Most notably ownership changed hands from the House family to the newly formed non profit Horsemen Charitable Foundation The foundation was spearheaded by former Horsemen general manager Brian Boehm in an effort to keep Central Kentucky from losing yet another professional sports team The end of the franchise Edit Just when they were about to play in the new Arena Football League in 2010 the team shut down operations due to financial situations However on the team s official website a newly designed logo is shown with Don t count us out yet underneath possibly hinting at the team making a comeback 2 Season by season EditSeason records Season W L T Finish Playoff resultsLexington Horsemen NIFL 2003 9 6 0 2nd Atlantic Eastern Lost Round 1 Ohio Valley 51 42 2004 10 4 0 1st Atlantic North Won Round 1 Atlantic City 54 25 Won Atlantic Semi Final Houma 70 63 Won Atlantic Conference Championship Ohio Valley 35 34 Won Indoor Bowl IV Sioux Falls 59 38 Lexington Horsemen UIF 2005 11 4 0 1st South Won Round 1 Evansville 55 50 Lost Semifinals Sioux Falls 62 58 2006 13 2 0 1st East Won Semifinals Rock River 47 34 Lost United Bowl II Sioux Falls 72 64 2007 8 7 0 3rd East Won Round 1 River City 48 33 Won Eastern Championship Bloomington 67 49 Lost United Bowl III Sioux Falls 62 59 Lexington Horsemen af2 2008 9 7 0 3rd AC Midwest Lost AC Round 1 Green Bay 65 37 Kentucky Horsemen af2 2009 10 6 0 3rd AC South Won AC Round 1 South Georgia 66 63 Lost AC Semifinal Wilkes Barre Scranton 82 49 Totals 79 42 0 including NIFL UIF amp AF2 playoffs Highlights EditFirst gameOn March 29 2003 the Horsemen played their first game in front of a crowd of 10 004 in Rupp Arena They lost to the Lake Charles Land Sharks 41 50 Indoor Bowl IVIn their second season 2004 the Horsemen beat the Sioux Falls Storm in Sioux Falls 59 38 to win the Indoor Bowl Championship United Bowl IIUnder first year QB Eddie Eviston the Horsemen lost to the undefeated Sioux Falls Storm 64 72 in United Bowl II The Storm still retain that streak as of July 22 2007Road to United Bowl IIIAfter leaving the team to play for the Cincinnati Jungle Kats of the AF2 quarterback Eddie Eviston returned to play in a July 22 2007 playoff game against the River City Rage They won the game 48 33 and advanced to the Eastern Conference championship with home field advantage In the same game running back Rayshawn Askew tied Hall of Fame NFL wide receiver Jerry Rice for most touchdowns by a professional football player with 208 The following week in the eastern conference championship Askew broke the record on a touchdown catch from Eddie Eviston The Horsemen won and advanced to the United Bowl Former head coaches Edit 2003 Tony Franklin 2004 2005 Bob Sphire 2006 2007 Mike Zuckerman 2008 2009 Mike Harmon 2009 Tommy JohnsonNotable players EditRayshawn Askew RB Dusty Bonner QB Eddie Eviston QB Jason Hunter LB Antonio Hall OL DL Derek Homer RB Dennis Johnson OL DL Anthony Champ Kelly WR DB J T Haskins DB Craig Yeast WR DB Jared Lorenzen QB Bryan Stallings OL Shoebox Johnson K William Mulder DB Courtney White DLNotes Edit Roberts Ben 2007 10 16 Horsemen going up in class Lexington Herald Leader Archived from the original on 2007 08 01 Retrieved 2007 10 16 Karla Ward October 27 2009 Horsemen forced to fold www kentucky com Lexington Herald Leader Retrieved July 5 2016 External links EditHorsemen on ArenaFan com Horsemen on OurSports Central Horsemen s 2003 Stats Horsemen s 2004 Stats Horsemen s 2005 Stats Horsemen s 2006 Stats Horsemen s 2007 Stats Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Kentucky Horsemen amp oldid 1057647547, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
