Chicago Bruisers
| Chicago Bruisers | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Founded | 1987 |
| Folded | 1989 |
| League | Arena Football League |
| Arena | Rosemont Horizon |
| Based in | Chicago, Illinois |
| Team colors | Black, Light Blue, White |
| Head coach | George Brancato |
| Playoff berths | 2 (1988 & 1989) |
The Chicago Bruisers were a charter member of the Arena Football League, playing in the four-team "demonstration season" of 1987. They played their home games at the Rosemont Horizon.
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History [edit]
The Bruisers were an outgrowth of the Chicago Politicians, a team put together by Jim Foster to play an exhibition game to prove the feasibility of the sport the previous year. The team logo depicted a bulldog. One of the founders of the Bruisers was former Chicago Bears linebacker and WSCR host Doug Buffone.
The Bruisers were part of the 1987 "Showcase Game", losing to the Miami Vise by a score of 33-30.
The Bruisers took a chance with a young team that averaged 25 years of age.[1] The Bruisers' lost their first game in franchise history, 44-52 in overtime, to the Denver Dynamite.[2] The Bruisers struggled in their second game, giving up 45 points in the first half before losing 23-60 to the Pittsburgh Gladiators.[3] Despite getting off to a 2-3 start, the Bruisers had an opportunity to make it to ArenaBowl I with a win in the final week of the season against the Dynamite.[4] The Bruisers however would lose 35-52. They finished with a record of 2-4 and failed to qualify for the playoffs.
The Bruisers' play-by-play announcer on radio and TV for all three of their seasons was Les Grobstein and their color commentator was Chicago Bears tight end Emery Moorehead.
The Bruisers, like the Pittsburgh Gladiators but unlike the other two charter teams, the Denver Dynamite and the Washington Commandos, returned to play in the 1988 season. In February, the team hired Perry Moss as the franchise's second coach.[5] Moss also served as General Manager.[6] The team competed in the ArenaBowl that year, losing to the Detroit Drive.
The Bruisers would be disbanded after competing in the 1989 season. The final two games they played were in exhibition games overseas against the Detroit Drive in Paris and then London in October 1989. These games are famous for punter Mike Stein losing both games on botched punts.
The Chicago Bruisers are also featured in the film Kinjite: Forbidden Subjects, directed by J. Lee Thompson and starring Charles Bronson. The game shown sees the Bruisers visit the Los Angeles Cobras. It was released in early 1989.
The rights to the Bruisers name and history were purchased by Arena Football 1 in December 2009, along with the rest of the Arena Football League. There was a possibility that the AF1's new expansion team in Chicago would adopt the Bruisers name, but said team instead decided to adopt the identity of the Chicago Rush instead. Since the Rush and the Bruisers never played at the same time, it's conceivable that the new Rush will adopt the history of both the old Rush and the Bruisers.
2011 Honors [edit]
In 2011, the Chicago Rush celebrated its 10th season in the Arena Football League and honored the Chicago Bruisers.
In the Rush home opener on March 18, 2011 against the Philadelphia Soul, Chicago wore black uniforms similar to the Bruisers with a patch featuring the original Bruiser Bulldog. In the game, Chicago won the game 62-28. The Rush also adopted a real bulldog from a local Chicago pound that can be seen during games around the arena. Starting during the 2011 season, the Chicago Rush began wearing black uniforms more often over their traditional navy home jerseys the team has worn from 2001 to 2010 to honor the Bruisers.
Notable players [edit]
Final Roster [edit]
| Chicago Bruisers roster | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Quarterbacks
Wide Receivers/Defensive Backs
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Running Backs/Linebackers
Offensive Linemen/Defensive Linemen
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Wide Receivers/Linebackers
Kickers Rookies in italics |
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Past players [edit]
- Steve Thonn, Wide Receiver/Defensive Back 1988-89
- Willie Totten, Quarterback (Jerry Rice's college QB at Miss. Valley St.)
- Mark Rodenhauser, Centre/Linebacker/Kick Snapper (Featured on the All-Madden Team, 1997 as best kick snapper in Pro Football)
- Eddie Phillips, Running back/Defensive Back (First player signed by Arena Football, 1986)
- Mike Hold, Jr., Quarterback 1987
- Sean Payton, Quarterback 1987 - Current Coach of the New Orleans Saints
- Brent Johnson, Offensive/Defensive line 1987-88
- Durwood Roquemore, Wide Receiver/Defensive back 1987-88
- Reggie Smith, Kick Returner/Wide Receiver/Defensive back 1987-89
- Carl Aiken, Jr., Wide Receiver/Defensive Back 1987
- Mike Clark, Offensive Line/Defensive Line 1987
- Dane Griffin, Offensive Line/Defensive Line 1987
- Stephen C Finch, Wide Receiver/Defensive Back 1987
- Terry Hinn, Wide Receiver/Defensive Back 1987
- Rich Salzer, Safety/Wide Receiver/Kicker 1986-87
- Mike McCurry, Offensive/Defensive Lineman 1987-88
- Billy Stone, Fullback/Linebacker 1987-88
- Troy Hill, Wide Receiver/Defensive Back 1987
- Daryl Hart, Wide Receiver/Defensive Back 1987
- Eric Larson, Offensive Line/Defensive Line 1987
- Nick Mike-Mayer, Kicker 1987
- Marco Morlaes, Kicker 1988
- Reggie Oliver, Fullback/Linebacker 1987
- Ken Sanders, Wide Receiver/Defensive Back 1987
- Keith C Williams, Offensive/Defensive Line 1987-88
- William Logan, Offensive Line/Defensive Line 1987
- Clyde Skipper, Wide Receiver/Defensive Back 1987
- Dennis Washington, Fullback/Linebacker 1987
- Charles Tobais, Offensive Line/Defensive Line 1988
- Durell Taylor, Wide Receiver/Defensive Back 1988
Arena Football League Hall of Famers [edit]
| Chicago Bruiser Hall of Famers | ||||
| No. | Name | Year Inducted | Position(s) | Years w/ Bruisers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 84 | Carl Aiken, Jr. | 2000 | WR/DB | 1988-89 |
| 5 | Ben Bennett | 2000 | QB | 1988-89 |
| -- | Perry Moss | 2000 | Head Coach | 1988 |
| 21 | Durwood Roquemore | 1999 | DS | 1987-88 |
| -- | Reggie Smith | 2002 | OS | 1987-89 |
Season-by-season [edit]
Note: W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties
| Season | W | L | T | Finish | Playoff results |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 3rd | -- |
| 1988 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 1st | Won Semifinals (Los Angeles 29-16) Lost ArenaBowl II (Detroit 23-14) |
| 1989 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 4th | Lost Week 1 (Detroit 43-10) |
| Totals | 14 | 9 | 1 | (including playoffs) | |
Notes [edit]
- The team appeared on the game EA Sports Arena Football as a hidden bonus team.
References [edit]
- ^ "And Now, Your Chicago Bruisers". Chicago Tribune. June 16, 1987. Retrieved January 31, 2013.
- ^ Linda Young (June 22, 1987). "So Far, So Good For Arena Football". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved January 31, 2013.
- ^ Linda Young (June 28, 1987). "Pittsburgh Bombs Bruisers". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved January 31, 2013.
- ^ "Arena Football Officials Truly A Calculating Bunch". Chicago Tribune. July 24, 1987. Retrieved January 31, 2013.
- ^ Linda Kay & Mike Conklin (February 23, 1988). "The Silver Fox is on the scene: Blackhawks General Manager...". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved February 11, 2013.
- ^ Linda Kay & Mike Conklin (February 26, 1988). ""Well," Harry Caray told us Thursday from his home in Palm...". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved February 11, 2013.
External links [edit]
| Preceded by Chicago Politicians |
Chicago Bruisers 1987–1989 |
Succeeded by Chicago Rush |
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