Racine Raiders

NAFL | name = Racine Raiders

mascot = RacineRaiders2.gif
founded = 1953
city =
colors = Cardinal, Silver and Black
coach = John Mamerow
hist_yr = 1953
hist_misc2 =:* No Team Fielded (1976-1977):* North Shore (IL) Gladiators (1978):* Racine Gladiators (1979-1985)
affiliate_old =Central States Football League (1953, 1962-1975)
Bi-States Football League (1954-1959)
Tri-States Football League (1960-1961)
Northern States Football League (1978-1981, 1983-1985)
American Football Association (1982)
Midwest Football League (1986-1990, 1992-1994)
Independent (1991)
Mid Continental Football League (1995-2002)
NAFL_start_yr = 2003
division_hist =:* Bi-States Football League (BI-SFL) :** North Division (1959):* Tri-States Football League (TRI-SFL):**North Division (1960-1961):*Central States Football Leagues (CSFL):**North Division (1962-1964):**South Division (1965-1972):**East Division (1973-1974):*Northern States Football League (NSFL) :**West Division (1979-1980):*American Football Association (AFA):**North Division (1982):*Midwest Football League (MFL):**North Division (1986-1987, 1989):*Mid-Continental Football League (MCFL):**West Division (1995-1996):**North Division (1997-1998):**West Division (1999-2000):*North American Football League (NAFL) :**Great Lakes Region (2003-Present):***Midwest Division (2003):***Western Lakes Division (2004-2006):***Great Lakes Division (2007-present)
league_champs =
*League Championships (13)
*National Championships (7)
1981, 1983, 1988, 1989, 1992, 1995, 2001
*National Championship Runner-Up (4)
1984, 1993, 1997, 2000
*Other Post-Season Championships (2)
1994, 1999
stadium_years =
*Historic Horlick Field (1953-1975, 1978-Present)Split games between Pershing Park and Historic Horlick Field (1978)

The Racine Raiders American football club is a North American Football League team based in Racine, Wisconsin. Founded in 1953, the team joined the NAFL in 2003 during the league's fourth season. The Raiders were the first minor league football team to gain 501(c)(3) Not-For-Profit status from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Many other teams have since followed in the Raiders footsteps.

:Helmet Design: Silver background with a cowboy bandit in black with a half and half bandanna of cardinal and black on a white circular background in a triple circular outline of silver, cardinal and black:Mascot: R.J. Raider:Radio Stations: WRJN (1400 AM) and [http://www.allinbroadcasting.com All-In Broadcasting] (Streaming Internet):Radio Announcers: Joe Mooney, John Wosyk and Don Wadewitz

Franchise history

ummary

Wigs Konicek, a local restaurateur at the time, started the Racine Raiders in 1953. The team began in the Bi-States Football League (BSFL) and won their first league championship in 1954.

The team was able to sustain itself until 1975 when it disbanded. New owners started the Racine Gladiators in 1978. They paid players and were successful on the field, winning three National Championships. Unfortunately, the team fell on hard times and disbanded in 1985.

In 1986, Bob Milkie, a retired bearing company executive, Joe Mooney, a police sergeant, Jess Levin, a local banker, and others rebuilt the team, this time as community-owned, non-profit organization.

Perhaps the biggest moment in the team's history, as well as that of minor league football, came in 1989 when the team traveled to Ottawa, Canada, to play in a World Championship game. While the team won the game in five degree weather and a blizzard, just playing the game was the important element. The team was now able to apply for, and received, 501(c)3 Not-For-Profit status from the Internal Revenue Service, setting the tone for dozens of minor league football teams since to be able to do the same.

The Raiders have won seven National Championships and have had nearly a dozen players with National Football League (NFL) experience. They also have 26 players, coaches or staff in the American Football Association (AFA) Hall of Fame, more than any other team.

Nickname and uniforms

Coming Soon.

Current season

[http://www.racineraiders.com/schedule.php Racine Raiders 2008 Schedule]

eason-by-season

[http://www.racineraiders.com/yearbyyear.php Racine Raiders Year-by-Year Records]

Players of note

Current players

[http://www.racineraiders.com/roster.php Racine Raiders Roster]

AFA Minor League Football Hall of Fame

Players that played in the NFL

Head coaches

Current coaching staff

Head Coach

* John Mamerow - Head Coach & Offensive Line

Offensive Coaches

* Jack Takerian - Offensive Coordinator & Running Backs
* Matt Nelson - Wide Receivers

Defensive Coaches

* Chris Pivovar - Defensive Coordinator
* Pedro Trevino - Secondary/ Safeties
* Phil Micech - Defensive Line
* Tom Leonard - Linebackers

pecial Teams Coaches

* Ray Parent - Special Teams

External links

* [http://www.racineraiders.com/ Racine Raiders Official Website]
* [http://playfortheraiders.com/ Play for the Raiders - Racine Raiders Official Recruiting Website]
* [http://tradingpost.racineraiders.com/ Trading Post - Racine Raiders Official Online Store]
* [http://blog.racineraiders.com/ RaiderSphere - Official Racine Raiders Blog]
* [http://www.myspace.com/racineraiders Racine Raiders MySpace Website]
* [http://www.horlickfield.com/ Historic Horlick Field Website]
* [http://www.wrjn.com/ WRJN 1400 AM]
* [http://www.journaltimes.com/ Racine Journal Times]
* [http://www.nafl.org/ North American Football League (NAFL)]
* [http://www.minorleaguefootballnews.com/ Minor League Football News (MLFN)]
* [http://www.nationalfootballevents.com/ National Football Events (NFE)]