State of semi-pro/minor league football in the great lakes region Part 4

Brien Mitchum

When we last left off, I had gone through the teams in Indiana, and the various leagues in the region. Now I am going to break down the teams in the leagues and give you my rankings for the Indiana teams specifically, will break each team down as well. (Disclaimer-this is my opinion and my opinion alone and does not reflect opinions of any other media outlets.) Now that is out of the way let’s get to it.

We start with the Indiana teams

#1 Fort Wayne Tigers

I am ranking Fort Wayne Tigers as #1 coming into the 2023 season, they have rebranded, but the mindset is still the same and they are bringing that, and a revitalized mind set on a whole new level. They have several returning veteran players returning including 3x team MVP, and UFL linebacker of the year, defensive captain Kavon Anderson who will be playing his 4th year with the organization bringing his massive team presence to the field once again, that and several key players on defense and for the offense QB Joe Steigmeyer who was top 3 for UFL MVP in 22 and led the team in several categories, add several key players from the receiving core will give the opposing defenses problems. Tigers joining the new rebranded MCFL are looking to make a run in what is almost an all-Indiana league, and they are not sparing any time, as Ty Little returning as strength and conditioning coach as well as quarterback coach for the Tigers. The Tigers look to make a statement coming into the league, last year they finished with the best record in Indiana and made it to the UFL conference championship game, expect them to go deep into the playoffs and one of the favorites to make it to the first ever MCFL championship.

#2 Indy Firehawks

The Firehawk’s started the first half of the 2022 season on fire, rolling through whatever the UFL put in front of them, it started in week 1 when they upset the #1 Ranked team coming into a new league, they continued that streak only loosing 2x to the Motor City Outlaws, going into the playoffs with home field advantage hosting the Wolverines now Tigers and losing in the end. They have since been playing fall ball getting some off-season league work in, winning the Blue-Collar Bowl and a few other games. Look for the Firehawk’s to be a top team in the UFL and continue their rivalry with the Motor City Outlaws. I have them finishing 2nd in the state and making it to the UFL conference championship, if not the UFL championship. They continue to add key pieces in the off season.

#3 Indy Bison

The newest team in the city and the biggest expectations, not only from the other teams in the area but from the owner and staff and players. They seem to be doing everything right and continue to make moves that are going to impact the play of the Bison. They have a ton of talent and have hired former Marion County Crusaders coach Terry Moore as head coach, Mario Sifuentes as offensive line coach with many more additions before the MCFL season starts. Depending on what conference they will be in will determine who they might play in the playoffs they will most definitely have a rivalry with the Tigers, and could see them in the playoffs, or the championship game.

#4 Lake County Warriors

Could this be the Warriors year to get back to the conference championship, and get over that hump we don’t know, but what I do know is the rivalry between them and the Tigers will be relit and expect them to be in the same conference again and that will have huge implications on playoff seedings for sure. The Warriors have the pieces to go deep and finish strong it’s a matter of execution at the right time, losing to the Indy Assassins in 2022 in the playoffs look for them to make a statement early on in the season and be a top contender for the MCFL playoffs.

#5 Kentuckiana Calvary

Now the Calvary may be in Kentucky or on the boarder of Kentucky and Indiana but for my sake I am putting them into the Indiana mix, coming off a BGFL Championship in 2022 I think they will continue that run in 2023 with more teams coming in they will have more competition for sure.

#6 Indiana Tornadoes

The Tornadoes have a long history in the city of Indianapolis and have been one of the top ranked semi-pro teams in the county several times, it is no secret that the last few seasons have not been in thier favor, but with a new logo rebrand and a merge with what would have been another new Indy team the Jags might have been the best move by any team, could put them back in contention as a top team, as of now they are still in the Blue Collar Football League, which has lost a few teams to the growing and on the rise PFA.

#7 Indy Assassins

Again, a team that I don’t know a whole lot about other than they made it to the BGFL championship in 2022, and they just beat the Fire hawks in fall ball. Now they seem to be adding some pieces in the off season so time will tell how they do in the MCFL with more teams coming into the league, and they will definitely have rivalry with the Bison.

#8 Michiana Thunderhawks

Like I previously mentioned the Thunderhawk’s are returning after a few year hiatus and joining the UFL for 2023 season and are already adding some of the players that played for them a few years ago, so they look to be competitive but with the layoff I really consider them a new team, did they win back-to-back league championships in 2018 and 2019 so they have the roots of a championship team just have to wait and see what they do in the UFL, they will most likely be in the same conference as the Indy Firehawks and the Motor City Outlaws they better add more key players than they have added already to keep up with both of those teams.

# 9 Southern-Indiana Bobcats

Another new team in southern part of the state, and really the only team now since the Cutters have ceased operation, I am sure they will receive some of the Cutters players and that will definitely help them in the 2023 season, the toughest thing for new teams is to survive and not fold due to lack of roster, I don’t think the Bobcats will have that issue, and could be the sleeper in MCFL in 2023.

So that covers all the teams in Indiana, it is hard to say who will be ranked were with teams spread through different leagues, the idea of an all-Indiana league I get the reasoning behind it, I do but to me that seems boring, if you only want to play teams in your own state, to me that is like playing rec league, again I get the reasoning behind it, less travel equals less cost for the teams and more people will show up theoretically, I am more for better competition that is how you get better but as usual that is my opion and not everyone else’s.

So here are my rankings going into 2020

#1 Fort Wayne Tiger

#2 Indy Firehawks

#3 Indy Bison

#4 LCW

#5 Indiana Tornadoes

#7 Indiana Assasains

#8 Michiana Thunderhawks

#8 Southern Indiana Bobcats

Next, I will breakdown the leagues we will take a look at how many teams the leagues have and how I think they will finish in 2023. Until next time.

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