Chicago Bruisers
Encyclopedia
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 in the former Rosemont Horizon, now the Allstate Arena
, home of the Chicago Rush
.
, 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 Play By Play Announcer on Radio and TV for all three of their seasons was Les Grobstein and their Color Announcer 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. 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.
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.
|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
|colspan="2"| (including playoffs)
|}
"Keith C Williams, Offensive/Defensive Line 1987-88
1987 Arena Football League season
The 1987 Arena Football League season was the 1st season, also known as the "demonstration season", of the Arena Football League. The league champions were the Denver Dynamite, who defeated the Pittsburgh Gladiators in ArenaBowl I.- Events :...
. They played their home games in the former Rosemont Horizon, now the Allstate Arena
Allstate Arena
Allstate Arena is a multi-purpose arena, in Rosemont, Illinois.It is home to the Chicago Rush, of the Arena Football League, DePaul University's men's basketball team, the Chicago Wolves, of the AHL, and the Chicago Sky, of the WNBA.It is located near the intersection of Mannheim Road and...
, home of the Chicago Rush
Chicago Rush
The Chicago Rush is an arena football team based in Rosemont, Illinois. It is a member of the Central Division of the National Conference of the Arena Football League. The team was founded in 2001 and is co-owned by Mike Ditka, the Hall of Fame player and coach.The Rush have qualified for the...
.
History
The Bruisers were an outgrowth of the Chicago PoliticiansChicago Politicians
The Chicago Politicians was a team formed in 1986 by Arena Football League founder Jim Foster to play an initial "test game" in Rockford, Illinois at the MetroCentre. They were defeated by the Rockford Metros, 30-18...
, 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
Bulldog
Bulldog is the name for a breed of dog commonly referred to as the English Bulldog. Other Bulldog breeds include the American Bulldog, Olde English Bulldogge and the French Bulldog. The Bulldog is a muscular heavy dog with a wrinkled face and a distinctive pushed-in nose...
. One of the founders of the Bruisers was former Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
linebacker and WSCR
WSCR
WSCR is a sports radio station in the Chicago, Illinois radio market. The station is owned by CBS Radio and transmits on 670 kHz on the AM dial. Its transmitter is located just off Army Trail Road in Bloomingdale, which is a western suburb of Chicago. It is known as "The Score," and has been on...
host Doug Buffone
Doug Buffone
Douglas John Buffone is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League. Buffone, the son of a coal miner , attended high school at Shannock Valley High School in Rural Valley, Pennsylvania.-College career:Buffone played...
.
The Bruisers were part of the 1987 "Showcase Game", losing to the Miami Vise
Miami Vise
The Miami Vise were an arena football team formed by Arena Football League founder Jim Foster for the purposes of playing a "test game" on February 26, 1987 at the Rosemont Horizon against the Chicago Bruisers...
by a score of 33-30.
The Bruisers Play By Play Announcer on Radio and TV for all three of their seasons was Les Grobstein and their Color Announcer was Chicago Bears Tight End Emery Moorehead
Emery Moorehead
Emery Matthew Moorehead is a former American football tight end/wide receiver in the National Football League for the New York Giants, Denver Broncos, and the Chicago Bears. He won a Super Bowl ring as the starting tight end and a member of the 1985 Chicago Bears...
.
The Bruisers, like the Pittsburgh Gladiators
Tampa Bay Storm
The Tampa Bay Storm are an Arena Football League team based in the Tampa Bay Area of Florida. They play their home games in the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa....
but unlike the other two charter teams, the Denver Dynamite
Denver Dynamite (arena football)
This article is about the former Arena Football League franchise. For the Professional Arena Soccer League soccer club, see Denver Dynamite ....
and the Washington Commandos
Washington Commandos
The Washington Commandos were an Arena football team that operated from 1987 to 1990.-Inaugural season :The Washington Commandos were a charter member of the Arena Football League, playing in the initial four-team "demonstration season" of 1987....
, returned to play in the 1988
1988 Arena Football League season
The 1988 Arena Football League season was the 2nd season of the Arena Football League. The league champions were the Detroit Drive, who defeated the Chicago Bruisers in ArenaBowl II.-Standings:* Green indicates clinched playoff berth...
season. The team competed in the ArenaBowl
ArenaBowl
The ArenaBowl is the Arena Football League's championship game. From 1987 to 2004, the ArenaBowl was hosted by either the team with the better regular-season record or the higher seeding in the playoffs. From ArenaBowl XIX in 2005 until ArenaBowl XXII in 2008, the game was played at a neutral site...
that year, losing to the Detroit Drive
Massachusetts Marauders
The Massachusetts Marauders was a professional arena football team that played in the Arena Football League in 1994.-Detroit Drive :...
. The Bruisers would be disbanded after competing in the 1989
1989 Arena Football League season
The 1989 Arena Football League season was the 3rd season of the Arena Football League. The league champions were the Detroit Drive, who defeated the Pittsburgh Gladiators in ArenaBowl III.-Standings:* Green indicates clinched playoff berth...
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
Kinjite: Forbidden Subjects
Kinjite: Forbidden Subjects is an action/drama film starring Charles Bronson and directed by J. Lee Thompson. Being Thompson's final film, it was the last project he and Bronson did together.-Premise:...
, directed by J. Lee Thompson
J. Lee Thompson
John Lee Thompson , better known as J. Lee Thompson, was an English film director, active in England and Hollywood.- Early years :...
and starring Charles Bronson
Charles Bronson
Charles Bronson , born Charles Dennis Buchinsky was an American actor, best-known for such films as Once Upon a Time in the West, The Magnificent Seven, The Dirty Dozen, The Great Escape, Rider on the Rain, The Mechanic, and the popular Death Wish series...
. The game shown sees the Bruisers visit the Los Angeles Cobras
Los Angeles Cobras
-History:The Los Angeles Cobras played in the 1988 Arena Football League season only. They played their home games at the Los Angeles Sports Arena, which they shared with the Los Angeles Clippers of the National Basketball Association...
. 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
Chicago Rush
The Chicago Rush is an arena football team based in Rosemont, Illinois. It is a member of the Central Division of the National Conference of the Arena Football League. The team was founded in 2001 and is co-owned by Mike Ditka, the Hall of Fame player and coach.The Rush have qualified for the...
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
In 2011, the Chicago RushChicago Rush
The Chicago Rush is an arena football team based in Rosemont, Illinois. It is a member of the Central Division of the National Conference of the Arena Football League. The team was founded in 2001 and is co-owned by Mike Ditka, the Hall of Fame player and coach.The Rush have qualified for the...
celebrated its 10th season in the Arena Football League
Arena Football League
The Arena Football League is the highest level of professional indoor American football in the United States. It is currently the second longest running professional football league in the United States, after the National Football League. It was founded in 1987 by Jim Foster...
and honored the Chicago Bruisers.
In the Rush home opener on March 18, 2011 against the Philadelphia Soul
Philadelphia Soul
The Philadelphia Soul are an Arena Football League team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They began play in as an expansion team. The team plays in the Eastern Division of the American Conference. They won their first ArenaBowl in 2008, defeating the San Jose SaberCats 59–56 in ArenaBowl XXII...
, 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
Bulldog
Bulldog is the name for a breed of dog commonly referred to as the English Bulldog. Other Bulldog breeds include the American Bulldog, Olde English Bulldogge and the French Bulldog. The Bulldog is a muscular heavy dog with a wrinkled face and a distinctive pushed-in nose...
from a local Chicago pound that can be seen during games around the arena.
Season-by-season
|-|1987 || 2 || 4 || 0 || 3rd || --
|-
|1988 || 10 || 1 || 1 || 1st || Won Semifinals (Los Angeles
Los Angeles Cobras
-History:The Los Angeles Cobras played in the 1988 Arena Football League season only. They played their home games at the Los Angeles Sports Arena, which they shared with the Los Angeles Clippers of the National Basketball Association...
29-16)
Lost ArenaBowl
ArenaBowl
The ArenaBowl is the Arena Football League's championship game. From 1987 to 2004, the ArenaBowl was hosted by either the team with the better regular-season record or the higher seeding in the playoffs. From ArenaBowl XIX in 2005 until ArenaBowl XXII in 2008, the game was played at a neutral site...
II (Detroit
Massachusetts Marauders
The Massachusetts Marauders was a professional arena football team that played in the Arena Football League in 1994.-Detroit Drive :...
23-14)
|-
|1989 || 1 || 3 || 0 || 4th || Lost Week 1 (Detroit
Massachusetts Marauders
The Massachusetts Marauders was a professional arena football team that played in the Arena Football League in 1994.-Detroit Drive :...
43-10)
|-
!Totals || 14 || 9 || 1
|colspan="2"| (including playoffs)
|}
Notable players
- Steve ThonnSteve ThonnSteve Thonn is the head coach for the Cleveland Gladiators of the Arena Football League. Steve is also a former Arena Football League player and the former head coach of the AFL team Grand Rapids Rampage. As a player he played WR/DB for the Chicago Bruisers and the Albany Firebirds...
, Wide Receiver/Defensive Back 1988-89 - Willie TottenWillie TottenWillie "Satellite" Totten is the former head coach of the Mississippi Valley State University Delta Devils football team, a job he held from 2002 to 2009...
, Quarterback (Jerry Rice's college QB at Miss. Valley St.) - Mark RodenhauserMark RodenhauserMark Todd Rodenhauser is a former American football center who played 13 seasons in the National Football League with seven different teams. He played college football at Illinois State University. He was selected by the Carolina Panthers in the 1995 NFL Expansion Draft...
, 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, Quarterback 1987 - Current Coach of the Mahoning Valley ThunderMahoning Valley ThunderThe Mahoning Valley Thunder was a professional af2 arena football team from 2007-2009.Having entered af2 as an expansion team in 2007, the Thunder played its home games at Cortland Banks Field at the Covelli Centre in downtown Youngstown, Ohio....
- Sean PaytonSean PaytonPatrick Sean Payton is the current head coach of the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League. Payton was a quarterback at Naperville Central High School and Eastern Illinois University and played professionally in 1987 and 1988...
, Quarterback 1987 - Current Coach of the New Orleans SaintsNew Orleans SaintsThe New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League .... - 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 Aikens, Wide Receiver/Defensive Back 1987
- Mike Clark, Offensive Line/Defensive Line 1987
- Dane Griffin, Offensive Line/Defensive Line 1987
- Steph 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