Port Huron Patriots

Port Huron Patriots

Founded	2011
Folded	2014
League	CIFL
Division	North
Based in	Port Huron, Michigan
Arena	McMorran Arena
Colors	Red, White, Navy Blue
Owner(s)	Jude Carter Lonnie Nichols Lance Nichols David Nichols Larry Page Matt Wuchte Nick Kennedy-Saura
Head coach	Vacant
General Manager	Jude Carter
Championships	0
Broadcasters	Donald Mathews Ray Clark
Local media	Michigan Region Sports Network
Website	porthuronpatriots.com

The Port Huron Patriots were a professional indoor football team based in Port Huron, Michigan. The team was a member of the North Division of the Continental Indoor Football League (CIFL).^[1] The Patriots joined the CIFL in 2012 as an expansion team. The Patriots were the third indoor football team to be based in Port Huron, the first being CIFL charter members and inaugural champions the Port Huron Pirates (2006–2007), and the other being the CIFL based Port Huron Predators. The Owners of the Patriots were Jude Carter, Lonnie Nichols, Lance Nichols, David Nichols, Larry Page, Matt Wuchte and Nick Kennedy-Saura. The Patriots played their home games at the McMorran Arena.

Franchise history

Play begins: 2012

After the disappointing end to the Port Huron Predators season in 2011, Dave and Cyndi Kinsman wanted to bring back a team to Port Huron in 2012 and the future. Kinsman stated, "We are aware of the history of teams in this city and the bottom line is that you have to win on and off the field to make this succeed. Other teams could win on the field, but couldn't win off the field meaning they didn't have the front office and leadership it takes to succeed. We are confident in the direction this franchise will head and we are thrilled to be in Port Huron." The team also announced that they would be playing at McMorran Arena during Kinsman's press conference. In early September 2011, the Patriots signed former Predators head coach John Forti, as well as re-signed local players who had played for the Predators.^[2] On December 24, 2011 the team announced its training camp roster.^[3]

On February 11, 2012, the team played its first preseason game. They defeated the outdoor semi-professional Southern Michigan Timberwolves 35-21. This first unofficial win came in the wake of the tragic loss of Offensive Lineman Ken Hamilton, who was killed in a shooting outside of a Detroit nightclub. Teammate Antonio Martin was also injured in the shooting.^[4][5] On March 10, 2012, the Patriots earned their first victory in franchise history with a 52-49 victory over the Chicago Vipers.

On March 29, 2012 Kinsman fired Head Coach John Forti, and the rest of his staff. Kinsman cited Forti's decision to hire his friends as assistant coaches and not make the best choices for the team as their reason for Forti's termination.^[6]

Kinsman went on to lead the Patriots to a 3-4 record, making them 4-6 overall, clinching the 4th seed in the CIFL playoffs, but despite this factor, the league decided to shorten the playoffs. This left the Patriots and the Evansville Rage both out of the playoffs.^[7]

2013

The Patriots will return to the CIFL in 2013. On February 21, just two games into the season, the Kinsman's sold the team, as David was scheduled to deploy to Afghanistan.^[8] The team was sold locally to Jude Carter, Lonnie Nichols, Lance Nichols, David Nichols, Larry Page, Matt Wuchte and Nick Kennedy-Saura, with Carter also serving as the team's general manager.^[8] The also announced that the team's new head coach would be Demar Cranford.^[8]

2014

In June 2013, the Patriots agreed to terms with the CIFL to return for the 2014 season.^[9] Coach Demar Cranford left the team as did several players just prior to their April 13, 2014, game against the Erie Explosion. He says he resigned, but team co-owner Jude Carter said he was fired due to "lack of leadership and the team’s lack of performance". The team (using replacement players from the Erie Express, a semi-pro team from the Explosion's hometown of Erie) would lose to the Explosion 114-0, leaving their future in serious doubt,^[10] but Carter has stated otherwise.^[11] After the season, the CIFL disbanded and its remaining active teams joined other leagues; by this time, the Patriots' owner could no longer be reached.^[12]

Logos and uniforms

The team announced that its logo would be a bald eagle's head with a flag in the background, and the colors would be red, white and blue, during a September 24, 2011 press conference at the McMorran^[13][14]

• 
  Port Huron Patriots Uniform

All-League players

The following Patriots players have been named to All-League Teams:

• RB A. J. Jimmerson (1)

Coaches of notes

Head Coaches

Note: Statistics are correct through Week 13 of the 2014 CIFL season.

Name	Term	Regular Season				Playoffs		Awards
		W	L	T	Win%	W	L
John Forti	2012	1	2	0	.333	0	0
Dave Kinsman	2012-2013	4	5	0	.444	0	0
Demar Cranford	2013-2014	4	11	0	.267	0	0
Terry Foster	2014	0	1	0	.000	0	0

Coaching staff

Port Huron Patriots staff
	Front Office Co-Owner/General Manager – Jude Carter Co-Owner - Lonnie Nichols Co-Owner - Lance Nichols Co-Owner - David Nichols Co-Owner - Larry Page Co-Owner - Matt Wuchte Co-Owner - Nick Kennedy-Saura Game Day Coordinator - Lori Jones Head Coach Head Coach – Vacant Offensive Coaches Offensive Line/Offensive Coordinator – Darrel Rich			Defensive Coaches Defensive Coordinator – Larry Page Defensive Line/Asst. Defensive Coordinator – Darrel Rich Special Teams Coaches Special Teams Coordinator -

Statistics and records

Season-by-season results

Note: The Finish, Wins, Losses, and Ties columns list regular season results and exclude any postseason play.

League Champions

Conference Champions

Division Champions

Wild Card Berth

League Leader

Season	Team	League	Conference	Division	Regular season				Postseason Results
					Finish	Wins	Losses	Ties
2012	2012	CIFL			4th	4	6	0
2013	2013	CIFL			6th	4	6	0
2014*	2014	CIFL		North	4th	1	8	0
Totals						9	20	0	All-time regular season record (2012-2014)
						0	0	-	All-time postseason record (2012-2014)
						9	20	0	All-time regular season and postseason record (2012-2014)

* Season currently in progress

References

1. "Ask the GM volume 2". Retrieved 2011-10-17.
2. James Kelley (September 30, 2011). "Indoor football coming back to Port Huron". The Voice. Retrieved January 23, 2012.
3. Joseph Hayes (December 24, 2011). "Football: Port Huron Patriots declare their roster, initial schedule". The Times Herald. Retrieved January 23, 2012.
4. Joseph Hayes (February 12, 2012). "Patriots win inaugural game against Timberwolves, 35-21". Times Herald. Retrieved February 12, 2012.
5. Joseph Hayes (February 13, 2012). "Football:Death stings Port Huron Patriots". The Time Herald. Retrieved February 14, 2012.
6. Joseph Hayes (March 30, 2012). "Football: Port Huron Patriots make big change". The Times Herald. Retrieved April 2, 2012.
7. Kyle Austin (May 11, 2012). "CIFL shortens playoff format, puts Saginaw Sting in league title game". www.mlive.com. M Live. Retrieved August 8, 2012.
8. Joseph Hayes (February 22, 2013). "Dave Kinsman sell Port Huron Patriots locally". The Time Herald. Retrieved February 22, 2013.
9. Cory Butzin (June 10, 2013). "Continental Indoor Football League agree to terms with five teams for next season". www.mlive.com. MLive Media Group. Retrieved June 11, 2013.
10. Joseph Hayes (April 13, 2014). "Port Huron Patriots lose, 114-0, without coach and regulars". www.thetimesherald.com. The Times Herald. Retrieved April 14, 2014.
11. Joseph Hayes (April 14, 2014). "Football: Patriots reach new low". www.thetimesherald.com. The Times Herald. Retrieved April 15, 2014.
12. Joseph Hayes (November 25, 2014). "CIFL folds, Patriots future uncertain". www.thetimesherald.com. The Time Herald. Retrieved November 26, 2014.
13. Hayes, Joseph (September 25, 2011). "Football: Port Huron Patriots introduce themselves to the community". thetimesherald.com. Retrieved 2011-10-17.
14. Kelley, James (October 2, 2011). "Indoor football coming back to Port Huron". voicenews.com. Retrieved 2011-10-17.