Mesquite Bandits
 | |
| Founded | November 2011 |
|---|---|
| Folded | January 2012 |
| League | Lone Star Football League |
| Based in | Mesquite, Texas |
| Arena | Resistol Arena |
| Colors | Green, black, gray, white |
| Owner | David Hawkins |
| Head coach | Rodney Blackshear |
The Mesquite Bandits indoor football club was a charter member of the Lone Star Football League (LSFL) that was scheduled to begin play for its 2012 inaugural season. Based in Mesquite, Texas, the Bandits would have played their home games at the Resistol Arena, home of the famous Mesquite Championship Rodeo. Citing financial and organizational issues, the LSFL revoked the team's franchise in January 2012.
History
The LSFL announced the Mesquite Bandits as the eighth franchise set to play in the league's inaugural season. Under the ownership of David Hawkins and leadership of general manager Steve Gander, the Bandits promised an "experienced coaching staff, great players, and a knowledgeable front office staff" as well as "family-oriented events that will be enjoyable for all ages".[1][2] On December 5, 2011, the team named former professional football player Louis Fite as its inaugural head coach.[3] The team also announced that player tryouts would be held on December 17, 2011.[3] In early January 2012, veteran coach Rodney Blackshear was named to replace Fite as head coach and Michelle Mitchell replaced Gander as general manager.
When the LSFL announced its 2012 regular season schedule on December 15, 2011, Mesquite was set to play 12 games over 14 weeks with home games against the Laredo Rattlesnakes, Amarillo Venom, Rio Grande Valley Magic, Corpus Christi Hammerheads, Abilene Bombers, Houston Stallions, and away games against Houston, Abilene, Laredo, Rio Grande Valley, Corpus Christi, and the West Texas Roughnecks.[4]
At the LSFL's league meetings in mid-January 2012, the league determined that the Mesquite franchise had "not established infrastructure to support the team for the entire 2012 season" and, after a brief investigation, revoked the team's membership in the league.[5] The LSFL had hoped to find a new ownership group to field a Mesquite franchise for the 2013 season but that search was later abandoned.
In January 2013, former Bandits owner David Hawkins was charged wire fraud and operating a Ponzi scheme by the United States Attorney for the District of Colorado.[6][7] He pleaded guilty to one count of money laundering and one count of wire fraud in March 2013.[8][9]
Schedule
| Week | Day | Date | Opponent[4] | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Saturday | March 31 | Laredo Rattlesnakes | Resistol Arena |
| 2 | Saturday | April 7 | Amarillo Venom | Resistol Arena |
| 3 | Saturday | April 14 | at Houston Stallions | Leonard E. Merrell Center |
| 4 | Saturday | April 21 | Rio Grande Valley Magic | Resistol Arena |
| 5 | Saturday | April 28 | at Abilene Bombers | Taylor County Expo Center |
| 6 | BYE | |||
| 7 | Saturday | May 12 | Corpus Christi Hammerheads | Resistol Arena |
| 8 | Saturday | May 19 | at West Texas Roughnecks | Ector County Coliseum |
| 9 | Sunday | May 27 | at Laredo Rattlesnakes | Laredo Energy Arena |
| 10 | Monday | June 4 | at Rio Grande Valley Magic | State Farm Arena |
| 11 | Monday | June 11 | Abilene Bombers | Resistol Arena |
| 12 | Monday | June 18 | Houston Stallions | Resistol Arena |
| 13 | Monday | June 25 | at Corpus Christi Hammerheads | American Bank Center |
| 14 | BYE | |||
References
- ^ "Mesquite Bandits Become Official Charter Member Of Lone Star Football League". Our Sports Central. November 16, 2011. Retrieved October 13, 2013.
- ^ Mutasa, Tammy (December 6, 2011). "Mesquite Rodeo to Get Arena Football; Mesquite Bandits will call the rodeo home". Dallas, TX: KXAS-TV. Retrieved October 13, 2013.
- ^ a b "Mesquite Bandits Name Louis Fite Head Coach". Our Sports Central. December 5, 2011. Retrieved October 13, 2013.
- ^ a b "LSFL Regular Season Schedule Announced". Our Sports Central. December 15, 2011. Retrieved October 13, 2013.
- ^ "Mesquite Bandits Membership Revoked". Our Sports Central. January 30, 2012. Retrieved October 13, 2013.
- ^ Heilman, Wayne (January 4, 2013). "Former El Paso County deputy charged in alleged Ponzi scheme". The Gazette. Colorado Springs, CO: Clarity Media Group. Retrieved October 13, 2013.
- ^ "Danville indoor-football owner charged in Colorado over Ponzi scheme". The News-Gazette. Champaign, IL: Professional Impressions Media Group. January 5, 2013. Retrieved October 13, 2013.
- ^ Harmon, Kenneth (March 20, 2013). "Former El Paso County Deputy Sheriff Pleads Guilty As Part Of Ponzi Scheme". Denver, CO: The United States Attorney's Office for the District of Colorado. Retrieved October 13, 2013.
- ^ Harrison, Wayne (March 20, 2013). "Former El Paso County deputy pleads guilty in Ponzi scheme". Denver, CO: KMGH-TV. Archived from the original on October 13, 2013. Retrieved October 13, 2013.