Columbus Lions
Encyclopedia
The Columbus Lions are an indoor football team of the Professional Indoor Football League
. Based in Columbus, Georgia
, the Lions play their home games at the Columbus Civic Center
. Before joining the PIFL, the Lions were members of the World Indoor Football League
(2007), the American Indoor Football Association (2008-09), and the Southern Indoor Football League
(2010-11).
The Lions are the third indoor/arena team to be based in Columbus, after the Columbus Wardogs af2
team which played from 2001
until 2004
and the Chattahoochee Valley Vipers
American Indoor Football League
team which only played the 2006 season
before folding.
For the Lions' impressive inaugural season, Head Coach Jason Gibson won the league's inaugural Coach of the Year Award.http://www.wifl.us/recent-news/533/gibson_named_wifl_coach_of_the_year
The Columbus Lions also have a dance team, the Lady Lions. This group is made up of seven to fifteen young women who perform jazz, hip hop, and sideline cheering during all home games.
| colspan="6" align="center" | Columbus Lions (WIFL)
|-
|2007 || 10 || 4 || 0 || 1st League || Lost World Indoor Bowl I (Augusta)
|-
| colspan="6" align="center" | Columbus Lions (AIFA)
|-
|2008 || 10 || 4 || 0 || 2nd WC Southern || Lost WCS Round 1 (Mississippi
)
|-
|2009 || 11 || 3 || 0 || 1st Southern || Won Divisional (Fayetteville
)
Lost Semifinal (Reading
)
|-
| colspan="6" align="center" | Columbus Lions (SIFL)
|-
|2010 || 8 || 3 || 0 || 2nd League || Won Semifinal (Lafayette)
Won SIFL Championship (Louisiana
)
|-
|2011 || 11 || 1 || 0 || 1st EC South || Won EC Round 1 (Trenton
)
Lost EC Championship (Albany
)
|-
| colspan="6" align="center" | Columbus Lions (PIFL)
|-
|2012 || -- || -- || -- || -- || --
|-
!Totals || 54 || 19 || 0
|colspan="2"| (including playoffs)
Professional Indoor Football League (2012)
The Professional Indoor Football League is a regional professional indoor football league set to begin its inaugural season in 2012. Like the Lone Star Football League, the PIFL is mainly composed of teams formerly from Southern Indoor Football League .Despite the name, this PIFL has no...
. Based in Columbus, Georgia
Columbus, Georgia
Columbus is a city in and the county seat of Muscogee County, Georgia, United States, with which it is consolidated. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 189,885. It is the principal city of the Columbus, Georgia metropolitan area, which, in 2009, had an estimated population of 292,795...
, the Lions play their home games at the Columbus Civic Center
Columbus Civic Center
Columbus Civic Center is a 10,000-seat multi-purpose arena in Columbus, Georgia, built in 1996.-History:The arena was built in 1996, along with a Softball Complex, to fully complete South Commons...
. Before joining the PIFL, the Lions were members of the World Indoor Football League
World Indoor Football League (2007)
The World Indoor Football League was an indoor football league founded by Harry Pierce, owner of the Rome Renegades and Raleigh Rebels of the American Indoor Football League...
(2007), the American Indoor Football Association (2008-09), and the Southern Indoor Football League
Southern Indoor Football League
The Southern Indoor Football League was an indoor football league based in the Southern and Eastern United States. The most recent incarnation of the league was a consolidation of an earlier league of the same name that was formed by Thom Hager along with Dan Blum, Robert Winfrey and Dan Ryan in...
(2010-11).
The Lions are the third indoor/arena team to be based in Columbus, after the Columbus Wardogs af2
Af2
AF2 was the name of the Arena Football League's developmental league; it was founded in 1999 and played its first season in 2000. Like parent AFL, the AF2 played using the same arena football rules and style of play. League seasons ran from April through July with the postseason and ArenaCup...
team which played from 2001
2001 af2 season
The 2001 AF2 season was the second season of the AF2. The league champions were the Quad City Steamwheelers, who defended their title with a victory over the Richmond Speed in ArenaCup II...
until 2004
2004 af2 season
The 2004 AF2 season was the fifth season the AF2. The league champions were the Florida Firecats, who defeated the Peoria Pirates in Arena Cup V.-Standings:* Green indicates clinched playoff berth* Purple indicates division champion...
and the Chattahoochee Valley Vipers
Chattahoochee Valley Vipers
There are two teams that go by the Chattahoochee Valley Vipers. The current team is an expansion semi-professional football team based in Phenix City, Alabama and are a member of the United South Football League. The "new" Vipers were created in January 2010...
American Indoor Football League
American Indoor Football League
American Indoor Football is a professional indoor football league that has gone through various incarnations since 2005.The AIFL began as a regional league with six franchises on the East Coast of the United States in 2005; after a rapid, and largely failed, expansion effort in 2006, most of the...
team which only played the 2006 season
2006 American Indoor Football League season
The 2006 American Indoor Football League was the league's 2nd overall season. The league champions were the Canton Legends, who defeated the Rome Renegades in American Bowl II.-Standings:* Green indicates clinched playoff berth...
before folding.
History
The Lions' inaugural game on February 26, 2007 was marred by tragedy when opposing defensive back Javon Camon of the Daytona Beach Thunder was killed after a hard but clean hit by Columbus fullback Cedric Ware during the fourth quarter.For the Lions' impressive inaugural season, Head Coach Jason Gibson won the league's inaugural Coach of the Year Award.http://www.wifl.us/recent-news/533/gibson_named_wifl_coach_of_the_year
The Columbus Lions also have a dance team, the Lady Lions. This group is made up of seven to fifteen young women who perform jazz, hip hop, and sideline cheering during all home games.
Season-by-season
|-| colspan="6" align="center" | Columbus Lions (WIFL)
|-
|2007 || 10 || 4 || 0 || 1st League || Lost World Indoor Bowl I (Augusta)
|-
| colspan="6" align="center" | Columbus Lions (AIFA)
|-
|2008 || 10 || 4 || 0 || 2nd WC Southern || Lost WCS Round 1 (Mississippi
Mississippi Mudcats
The Mississippi MudCats are a team of the American Indoor Football Association. They play their home games at BancorpSouth Arena in Tupelo, Mississippi.-History:...
)
|-
|2009 || 11 || 3 || 0 || 1st Southern || Won Divisional (Fayetteville
Fayetteville Guard
The Fayetteville Force is the former name of a professional indoor football team in the Southern Indoor Football League. They debuted the SIFL following the SIFL/AIFA merger and play home games at the Cumberland County Crown Coliseum....
)
Lost Semifinal (Reading
Reading Express
The Reading Express are a professional indoor football team based out of Reading, Pennsylvania. They are a member of the Indoor Football League, having begun play as a member of the American Indoor Football League 2006...
)
|-
| colspan="6" align="center" | Columbus Lions (SIFL)
|-
|2010 || 8 || 3 || 0 || 2nd League || Won Semifinal (Lafayette)
Won SIFL Championship (Louisiana
Louisiana Swashbucklers
The Louisiana Swashbucklers is a professional indoor football team formed in 2005 as an expansion member of the National Indoor Football League as the Southwest Louisiana Swashbucklers. In 2006, they moved to the Intense Football League and shortened their name to Louisiana Swashbucklers...
)
|-
|2011 || 11 || 1 || 0 || 1st EC South || Won EC Round 1 (Trenton
Trenton Steel
The Trenton Steel is a professional indoor football team that began play in the Southern Indoor Football League in the 2011 season. The Steel are based in Trenton, New Jersey, with home games played at the Sun National Bank Center. The team made its home debut March 26, 2011, losing 76-73 to the...
)
Lost EC Championship (Albany
Albany Panthers
The Albany Panthers are an indoor football team in the Professional Indoor Football League. Based in Albany, Georgia, their home games are played at the Gray Civic Center....
)
|-
| colspan="6" align="center" | Columbus Lions (PIFL)
|-
|2012 || -- || -- || -- || -- || --
|-
!Totals || 54 || 19 || 0
|colspan="2"| (including playoffs)
2008 season schedule
| Date | Opponent | Home Home team In team sports, the term home advantage describes the advantage–usually a psychological advantage–that the home team is said to have over the visiting team as a result of playing in familiar facilities and in front of supportive fans... /Away Home team In team sports, the term home advantage describes the advantage–usually a psychological advantage–that the home team is said to have over the visiting team as a result of playing in familiar facilities and in front of supportive fans... |
Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 13 | Augusta Colts | Away | Won 54-44 |
| March 22 | Erie RiverRats | Home | Lost 48-54 |
| March 28 | Baltimore Mariners Baltimore Mariners The Baltimore Mariners were an indoor football team based in Baltimore, Maryland. The team was founded when the American Indoor Football Association expelled the Baltimore Blackbirds for negotiating with another league. The AIFA maintained the lease rights to 1st Mariner Arena, so the Mariners were... |
Away | Won 67-39 |
| April 5 | Carolina Speed | Away | Lost 44-59 |
| April 12 | Reading Express Reading Express The Reading Express are a professional indoor football team based out of Reading, Pennsylvania. They are a member of the Indoor Football League, having begun play as a member of the American Indoor Football League 2006... |
Home | Won 50-25 |
| April 19 | Fayetteville Guard Fayetteville Guard The Fayetteville Force is the former name of a professional indoor football team in the Southern Indoor Football League. They debuted the SIFL following the SIFL/AIFA merger and play home games at the Cumberland County Crown Coliseum.... |
Home | Won 75-16 |
| April 26 | Florida Stingrays Florida Stingrays The Florida Stingrays was a 2008 expansion team of the American Indoor Football Association. They played their home games at the Lee County Civic Center... |
Away | Won 56-25 |
| May 3 | Augusta Colts | Home | Won 51-48 |
| May 10 | Mississippi Mudcats Mississippi Mudcats The Mississippi MudCats are a team of the American Indoor Football Association. They play their home games at BancorpSouth Arena in Tupelo, Mississippi.-History:... |
Home | Lost 61-70 |
| May 17 | Mississippi Mudcats Mississippi Mudcats The Mississippi MudCats are a team of the American Indoor Football Association. They play their home games at BancorpSouth Arena in Tupelo, Mississippi.-History:... |
Away | Won 53-48 |
| May 24 | Florida Stingrays Florida Stingrays The Florida Stingrays was a 2008 expansion team of the American Indoor Football Association. They played their home games at the Lee County Civic Center... |
Away | Won 52-45 |
| June 6 | Florence Phantoms Florence Phantoms The Florence Phantoms was a professional arena football team based out of Florence, South Carolina, in the United States. They are a 2006 expansion member of the American Indoor Football Association, and the current AIFA Champions as of the 2008 season's end... |
Home | Lost 35-40 |
| June 15 | Huntington Heroes Huntington Heroes The Huntington Heroes were a professional indoor football franchise and member of the American Indoor Football Association. The Heroes played their home games during their inaugural 2006 season at the Veterans Memorial Fieldhouse in Huntington, West Virginia before moving to the larger Big Sandy... |
Home | Won 57-54 |
| June 21 | Fayetteville Guard Fayetteville Guard The Fayetteville Force is the former name of a professional indoor football team in the Southern Indoor Football League. They debuted the SIFL following the SIFL/AIFA merger and play home games at the Cumberland County Crown Coliseum.... |
Away | Won 59-58 |