Misplaced Pages

The Dayton Colts were a semi-professional American football team that played from 1946 to 1949 and 1953 to 1975. The team was based in Ohio. It competed in the Inter-State Semipro Football League in 1947 as the Dayton Rockets; Tristate Semipro Football League in 1953 and American Football Conference from 1959 to 1961 as the Dayton Triangles; Midwest Football League from 1963 to 1969, 1971 to 1973, and 1975 as the Cedarville Spartans, Dayton Colts, Columbus Bucks, and Columbus Barons; and Ohio–Pennsylvania Football League in 1974 as the Bellbrook Colts. It was also known as the John Stanko Barons and Wiedemann Buds in 1948 and 1949.

History

Alex Rado iteration (1946–1949)

The Dayton Rockets fielded a team in 1946, coached by Alex Rado. They won the Dayton semi-pro city championship over the Dayton Bombers, 12–7. The team joined the Inter-State Semipro Football League in 1947. They won the city championship over the Bombers again by a score of 32–0. They were also known as Mickey's Rockets for the 1946 and 1947 seasons, due to a sponsorship with a local restaurant.

The team became the John Stanko Barons for the 1948 season, and played an independent schedule. Tony Furst joined the coaching staff as the line coach during the season. They went 7–1–1 in 1948 before playing in the city championship again opposite the Bombers, which they won for the third year in a row with a score of 30–6. Renamed the Wiedemann Buds, they played for the city championship against the Dayton Bombers again in 1949 and won their fourth title, 25–6.

Dayton Triangles (1953–1961)

The Dayton Rockets fielded a new team for the 1953 season under head coach Bob Puckett. The Rockets became the Dayton Triangle Rockets in October 1953 through an arrangement with a town bar called the Triangle Bar. The Triangles played in the Tristate Semipro Football League in 1953.

In 1954, the Dayton Triangles were coached by Bill Snyder, with Jack Lininger as an assistant coach. The team went 5–2 in 1955. John Pierce became head coach by 1956, and the team went 8–1 on the season.

The Triangles entered the Ohio Semi-Pro Football League for the 1957 season. Dayton was named league champion and the "mythical" Ohio semi-professional football champion in 1957 after defeating the Toledo All-Stars, 26–12. They also earned the mythical Midwest semi-professional football title after beating the St. Louis Raiders. They finished the season 12–0–1. Bill Lange was named line coach of the team in 1958, and they went 8–4 on the season.

Lange became head coach of the Triangles in June 1959. The Dayton Triangles played in the American Football Conference from 1959 to 1961. They joined the league in July 1959. The Triangles finished the season 3–5, placing third in the league standings. Don "Butch" Zimmerman became the head coach in August 1960, and they finished the season with an overall 7–7 record and 4–6 league record. Zimmerman was re-signed for the 1961 season, and the team finished last in the standings with a 3–7 record. The AFC dissolved before the 1962 season, and the Triangles played an independent schedule for the season. Ed McCracken became the head coach, with Zimmerman resigning to become the team's starting quarterback. They went 4–2–1 on the season.

Midwest Football League (1962–1975)

An application for a franchise from Dayton, Ohio, in the Midwest Football League was approved on March 11, 1962. The Spartan Athletic Club received approval to join the league in April 1963, and they initially chose a team name of Dayton Spartans. They were later called the Cedarville Spartans. The Spartans finished the 1963 season in second place with a 6–3–1 record, and they won the Dayton city semi-professional football championship in a win over Hudson Bar, 7–6.

McCracken was elected league commissioner in March 1964. The Spartans became the Dayton Colts in 1964, and they had a $7,000 budget for the season. The team finished third in the league in 1964 with a 6–4–0 record. They defeated Hudson Bar after the season, 32–6, to win the Dayton semi-professional football championship for a second consecutive year.

Dayton was purchased by a new ownership group in 1965. The Colts had to cancel and forfeit a game against the Milan Vikings due to bad weather. Dayton scheduled the game to be played at a local high school football field, but the school would not allow the game to be played, citing a long-standing policy about wet fields. Dayton was placed a one-year probation by the league as punishment. Dayton went 5–2–1 in 1965, good for second in the league.

John Abel from Pontiac was named commissioner of the league in January 1966, replacing McCracken, who resigned to be the head coach for the Dayton Colts. The Dayton Colts played an exhibition game of basketball with the National Football League's Cleveland Browns in March 1966 as a fundraiser. Dayton went 6–4 in 1966 and placed third in the league.

In 1967, Dayton went 7–5 and placed fourth in the league.

The Dayton Colts were sold to Recreation Projects, Inc. in April 1968. The team went 12–0 during the season and were named league champions. McCracken resigned as head coach before the last game of the season, with defensive coach Danny Bilovecky taking over for the final game. In the all-star game on November 16, 1968, the Colts beat the team of league all-stars, 43–0. They were the first team in league history to go undefeated in a season after posting a 12–0 record.

Dayton went 10–4 in 1969, finishing second in the Lakes division.

The Dayton Colts were suspended for the season due to financial conditions, but fielded an independent team and played games against members of the league.

The Dayton Colts returned to the league in 1971, moved to Columbus, Ohio, in April, and became the Columbus Bucks. The league prevented players being paid salaries for 1971 after financial struggles the previous season. Bill Byrne, president of the Bucks, was elected vice president of the league in September 1971. The team was coached by Bobby Benjamin. The Bucks went 13–0–1 in the 1971 season and won the Lakes division. The Bucks were scheduled to play the second-place team in the Central Division, the Flint Wildcats, in the first round of the playoffs, but the opponent was replaced by the Michigan Barons due to eligibility concerns with Flint's roster. The Barons were made up of players from the Flint and Pontiac Firebirds rosters. In the divisional round of the playoffs, Columbus beat the Barons, 34–0, on November 6, 1971. On November 13, 1971, Columbus won the league championship with a win over Lansing, by a score of 20–17. After the championship game, Columbus played against the Pennsylvania Bruins of the Interstate League. The game was called the "Ohio Mini Super Bowl", with Columbus winning 44–13 in the November 20 game.

Benjamin returned as head coach in 1972, and the Bucks went 7–3 in 1972, finishing third in the league.

The Columbus Bucks became the Columbus Brewers before the 1973 season, and then later the Columbus Barons. Columbus had an agreement with the Cincinnati Bengals of the NFL to act as a farm team in 1973. By August 1973, the NFL had sent $11,000 to MFL teams during the season in exchange for being able to sign 11 of their players, including four from Columbus. Benjamin was coach again for 1973. The Barons went 3–7 in 1973, placing fourth. The team left the league before the start of the 1974 regular season, becoming the Bellbrook Colts and joining the Ohio–Pennsylvania Football League for 1974. They won the league championship after going 10–1 for the season.

The Dayton Colts were brought back to the league for the 1975 season. Dayton went 5–5 in 1975. The team folded before the 1976 season. Alumni of the Dayton Triangles and Colts held multiple reunions in the 1990s and 2000s.

Season-by-season

Notes

1. The Dayton Daily News reported the Cedarville Spartans' record for 1963 as 6–3–1, while Outsiders II stated they had a 5–2–2 record with a note about missing information.
2. The Lansing State Journal reported the Dayton Colts' final record as 5–4–1, which would be the third tie in the standings. It is impossible for an odd-number of total ties to have occurred, and Outsiders II shows the Colts' record for 1966 as 6–4–0.

References

1. "Galion Vet-Cubs Ready For Dayton Rockets Sunday Aft". Telegraph-Forum. October 12, 1946. Retrieved April 19, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
2. ^ "Barons, Bombers Play For Semipro Grid Title". Dayton Daily News. November 28, 1948. Retrieved April 19, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
3. "Grid Angels To Play Mendon Tomorrow". The Marion Star. September 26, 1947. Retrieved April 19, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
4. "Sheridan Gridders Win 14th Straight". The Indianapolis News. October 13, 1947. Retrieved April 19, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
5. "Danny Ryan, Quite a Guy, To Become Californian". The Dayton Herald. August 13, 1947. Retrieved May 5, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
6. "Title At Stake In Bombers, Barons Fray". The Journal Herald. November 27, 1948. Retrieved April 19, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
7. "Rockets Play At Middletown". Dayton Daily News. October 3, 1948. Retrieved April 19, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
8. "Furst To Coach Dayton Rockets". The Dayton Herald. October 14, 1948. Retrieved April 19, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
9. "Rado Carries Baron Eleven To Third Straight Title". The Dayton Herald. December 6, 1948. Retrieved April 19, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
10. "Buds Battle Columbus "11" Here Today". Dayton Daily News. October 16, 1949. Retrieved April 19, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
11. "Radomen, Bombers In Title Grid Tilt Today". Dayton Daily News. November 13, 1949. Retrieved April 19, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
12. "Buds-'Rocks Tilt Is Hinted". Dayton Daily News. November 20, 1949. Retrieved April 19, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
13. "Dayton Semipro Grid Squad At Hamilton Today". Dayton Daily News. October 4, 1953. Retrieved April 19, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
14. McFadden, Lefty (October 13, 1953). "Dressing Room Signs Didn't Help Hamilton". Dayton Daily News. Retrieved April 18, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
15. "Trolley Rolls To 38–0 Win; Penridge Edges Heidel Hall". The Cincinnati Enquirer. November 30, 1953. Retrieved April 19, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
16. "Semi-Pro Grid Team Drilling". The Journal Herald. September 13, 1954. Retrieved April 19, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
17. "Semi-Pro Triangles Open Season Today". Dayton Daily News. September 26, 1954. Retrieved April 19, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
18. "Triangle '11' Opens On Chicago Gridiron". Dayton Daily News. September 15, 1956. Retrieved April 20, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
19. O'Neil, Ed (November 25, 1956). "Triangles Coast Behind Defense". Dayton Daily News. Retrieved April 20, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
20. "Triangles Top Detroit, 18–0". The Journal Herald. December 3, 1956. Retrieved April 20, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
21. "Triangles In New League". Dayton Daily News. September 10, 1957. Retrieved April 20, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
22. "Unbeaten Semi-Pro Dayton Team to Play Here Sunday". The Newark Advocate. November 23, 1957. Retrieved April 20, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
23. ^ "Triangles Bid For Unbeaten Year, Title". The Journal Herald. November 30, 1957. Retrieved April 20, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
24. ^ "Triangles Finish Season Undefeated". Dayton Daily News. December 9, 1957. Retrieved April 20, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
25. "Bill Lange, President of Triangles". Dayton Daily News. March 9, 1958. Retrieved April 20, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
26. "McCracken Plays Triangle Finale". Dayton Daily News. November 21, 1958. Retrieved April 20, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
27. Nichols, Jim (June 9, 1959). "Daytonian Aids College Net Win". Dayton Daily News. Retrieved April 22, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
28. Clark, Jan (November 15, 1967). "Minor League Pro Grid Game To Be Played Here Nov. 25". Palladium-Item. Retrieved April 18, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
29. "Triangles Join New Grid Conference, Open Aug. 29". Dayton Daily News. July 28, 1959. Retrieved April 22, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
30. "Semi-Pro Loop May Expand Grid Ranks". The Journal Herald. November 26, 1959. Retrieved April 22, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
31. "Don Zimmerman Triangles Coach". Dayton Daily News. August 7, 1960. Retrieved May 3, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
32. ^ "Triangles Sign Coach". Dayton Daily News. June 15, 1961. Retrieved May 3, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
33. "Triangles On Winter Hunt For Dollars". Dayton Daily News. November 13, 1961. Retrieved May 3, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
34. "Triangles Try All Over Again". Dayton Daily News. August 15, 1962. Retrieved May 3, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
35. "Triangles' Coach Returns To Quarterbacking Duty". The Journal Herald. August 17, 1962. Retrieved May 3, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
36. "Butch Hurls, Triangles Win". Dayton Daily News. October 28, 1962. Retrieved May 3, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
37. "Lansing All-Stars Plan 'Home' Football Sked". Lansing State Journal. March 12, 1962. Retrieved April 18, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
38. "Spartans the Name". Dayton Daily News. April 3, 1963. Retrieved April 18, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
39. Olesky, John (April 28, 1963). "Dolphins Double In Coaching Brass". Dayton Daily News. Retrieved April 18, 2021.
40. "Cedarville Home Tonight". Dayton Daily News. October 5, 1963. Retrieved April 18, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
41. "Hudson, Spartans In Semi-Pro Bowl". Dayton Daily News. December 5, 1963. Retrieved April 2, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
42. ^ Gill, Maher & Brainerd 2010, pp. 113–116.
43. "Will Hudson Bar Colts' 'Title' Bid?". Dayton Daily News. November 21, 1964. Retrieved May 8, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
44. "McCracken Heads Loop". Dayton Daily News. March 18, 1964. Retrieved April 18, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
45. "Dayton To Field Team In Midwest Grid Loop". The Journal Herald. August 15, 1964. Retrieved April 18, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
46. Bleck, Tim (October 6, 1964). "Dayton's Unknown Pro Gridders Keep Trying". The Journal Herald. Retrieved May 8, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
47. "Colts Roll To Victory". Dayton Daily News. November 22, 1964. Retrieved May 8, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
48. "Colts Keep Title Against Hudson". The Journal Herald. November 23, 1964. Retrieved May 8, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
49. Wohlfarth, Dave (October 6, 1965). "Ambitious Colts Seeking Loftier Status In 1966". The Journal Herald. Retrieved April 3, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
50. ^ Carroll, Tom (September 12, 1965). "No Playing Field Available; Colts May Lose Franchise". Dayton Daily News. Retrieved April 3, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
51. "Midwest League Places Colts On Probation". The Journal Herald. September 13, 1965. Retrieved April 3, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
52. "7 Lansing Gridders in All-Star Tilt". Lansing State Journal. November 11, 1965. Retrieved April 3, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
53. "Abel Named MFL Commissioner". Petosky News-Review. January 6, 1966. Retrieved April 3, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
54. Carroll, Tom (January 9, 1966). "McCracken Quits As Commissioner". Dayton Daily News. Retrieved April 3, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
55. "Colts To Play Browns "5"". The Journal Herald. March 7, 1966. Retrieved April 3, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
56. "4 All-Stars Place High In Stats". Lansing State Journal. November 12, 1966. Retrieved April 3, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
57. "Colts Finish 7–5". The Journal Herald. November 27, 1967. Retrieved April 4, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
58. "Colts Facing Better Test In Ypsilanti on Saturday". Dayton Daily News. August 8, 1968. Retrieved April 4, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
59. "Dayton Football Franchise Is Sold". The Cincinnati Enquirer. April 10, 1968. Retrieved April 4, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
60. ^ Carroll, Tom (November 10, 1968). "McElligott MVP As 5 Colts Make Midwest All-Star Team". Dayton Daily News. Retrieved April 4, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
61. Carroll, Tom (October 31, 1968). "McCracken Calls It Quits". Dayton Daily News. Retrieved May 5, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
62. "Colts Make Big Point, Rip Stars". Dayton Daily News. November 17, 1968. Retrieved April 4, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
63. "Lansing 'Stars Face Lackawanna in Playoff". Lansing State Journal. November 3, 1969. Retrieved April 5, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
64. "Tri-City Apollos Join Midwest Football League". Lansing State Journal. April 9, 1970. Retrieved April 6, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
65. "Coach to Present Independent Colts". Dayton Daily News. July 5, 1970. Retrieved April 6, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
66. "1970 Dayton Colts". ProFootballArchives.com. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
67. "League adds two teams". The South Bend Tribune. April 5, 1971. Retrieved April 10, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
68. "Walet Foresakes Pro Grid". The Town Talk. June 30, 1971. Retrieved April 10, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
69. "Columbus Bucks Open On Sunday". Dayton Daily News. June 28, 1972. Retrieved April 12, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
70. ^ Long, Dave (August 25, 1974). "Pro Football Back in Town". Dayton Daily News. Retrieved April 12, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
71. Senyczko, Ed (July 29, 1971). "All Stars Question Pay Rule". Lansing State Journal. Retrieved April 10, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
72. "Byrne Elected Midwest Football Vice President". The Circleville Herald. September 10, 1971. Retrieved April 10, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
73. "Miss Diller fails to show as Bucks win mini-bowl". Chillicothe Gazette. November 22, 1971. Retrieved May 5, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
74. "Midwest Football League (Final Standings)". Lansing State Journal. November 4, 1971. Retrieved April 10, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
75. Senyczko, Ed (November 6, 1971). "Stars Host Niagara". Lansing State Journal. Retrieved April 10, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
76. Senyczko, Ed (November 11, 1971). "All Stars Bid for Third MFL Title". Lansing State Journal. Retrieved April 10, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
77. "It's Stars, Columbus In Finals". Lansing State Journal. November 7, 1971. Retrieved April 10, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
78. "Columbus Unseats All Stars". Lansing State Journal. November 14, 1971. Retrieved April 10, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
79. "Lansing All Stars Not Through Yet". Lansing State Journal. November 18, 1971. Retrieved April 10, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
80. "Penna. Bruins Play Saturday At Columbus". Lebanon Daily News. November 19, 1971. Retrieved April 10, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
81. "Columbus Team Easily Defeats Penna. Bruins". Lebanon Daily News. November 22, 1971. Retrieved April 10, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
82. "Columbus Bucks Open On Sunday". Dayton Daily News. June 28, 1972. Retrieved May 5, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
83. "Grid Caps Back In Business Again". The Indianapolis News. April 23, 1973. Retrieved April 12, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
84. Long, Dave (September 2, 1973). "Barons Still Feature Dayton Area Gridders". Dayton Daily News. Retrieved April 12, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
85. "Ed Dubaj Fills Role of Grid Coach With 2 Teams". Lansing State Journal. May 20, 1973. Retrieved April 12, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
86. "Hawks Seeking Field, Gate Wins". The News-Palladium. August 24, 1973. Retrieved April 13, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
87. Coccagna, Tom (July 20, 1973). "Columbus Has Strong Club For Cardinals". Public Opinion. Retrieved May 5, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
88. "Sub Passer Stalls Pontiac". The Indianapolis News. July 29, 1974. Retrieved April 13, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
89. "Work's Cut Out for Capitals". Lansing State Journal. July 24, 1975. Retrieved May 5, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
90. "Dayton Colts Return". Dayton Daily News. June 6, 1975. Retrieved April 14, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
91. "It's a labor of love". The Journal Herald. July 9, 1976. Retrieved May 3, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
92. Katz, Marc (June 8, 1994). "Old Dayton Colts recall the glory days of semi-pro football". Dayton Daily News. Retrieved May 4, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
93. Nagel, Kyle (July 15, 2000). "Triangles-Colts hold reunion". Dayton Daily News. Retrieved May 4, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.

Bibliography

• Gill, Bob; Maher, Tod; Brainerd, Steve (2010). Outsiders II: Minor League and Independent Football 1951–1985. St. Johann Press. ISBN 9781878282651.

Further reading

• "They won crown at Hicksville". The Journal Herald. July 31, 1975. Retrieved April 18, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.

• Defunct American football teams in Ohio
• Sports clubs and teams in Dayton, Ohio
• Sports clubs and teams in Columbus, Ohio
• American football teams established in 1946
• American football teams disestablished in 1975
• 1946 establishments in Ohio
• 1975 disestablishments in Ohio
• Semi-professional American football
• Midwest Football League (1962–1978) teams