Who Is This Guy?

What do I now about The World of Football? Plenty. I have traveled quite a bit over the years and I've experienced many aspects of the football world first hand. 

I saw my first NFL game in 1975 at the age of 16 when my brother took me to a Detroit Lions game. The Lions defeated the Green Bay Packers that day, 13-10. It was the first season that the Lions played in the Pontiac Silverdome.

I played high school football in 1976 at Maple Valley High School in Vermontville, Michigan. At 115 pounds, I was the third string offensive center for the MV Lions. I was terrible as a player, but I was, and always have been, a huge fan of the game.

In 1983, I attended my first United States Football League (USFL) game, also at the Pontiac Silverdome. The Michigan Panthers defeated the Chicago Blitz 17-12. In 1985 I flew out to Arizona from Michigan to see Doug Flutie and the New Jersey Generals play Doug Williams and the Arizona Outlaws. Arizona won the game, 31-13. (I was young and single at the time and could afford to do crazy stuff like that)

I went to my first Canadian Football League game in Toronto in 1994, again to see Doug Flutie play. This time he was playing for the visiting Calgary Stampeders. Calgary beat the Toronto Argonauts, 52-3 at the SkyDome.

In 2000, I attended my first Arena Football League game. The Grand Rapids Rampage lost to the visiting Tampa Bay Storm 74-54, but I had such a great time that night that I was hooked on the game. I became a Rampage season ticket holder the very next season.

In 2003, I began covering the Rampage for the web site, ArenaFan.com. I also attended my first National Indoor Football League game and my first arenafootball2 game that year. The NIFL game was in Fort Wayne, Indiana between the Fort Wayne Freedom and the visiting Tennessee Riverhawks. The af2 game was in Kentucky between the Louisville Fire and the Quad City Steamwheelers at Freedom Hall.

Also in 2003, I got to see Doug Flutie play in person yet again. This time he was the starting quarterback of the San Diego Chargers in a game at Ford Field against the Detroit Lions. San Diego won the game, 14-7.

In 2005, I added two more indoor leagues to the list of games that I attended, the Atlantic Indoor Football League and United Indoor Football. The Fort Wayne Freedom had jumped to the UIF when I saw them for the second time and I also took in an AIFL game in Ohio between the Canton Legends and the visiting Johnstown Riverhawks.  

In 2006, I covered the Battle Creek Crunch of the Great Lakes Indoor Football League for the web site, OurSportsCentral.com. In 2007 and 2008 I covered the Kalamazoo Xplosion of the Continental Indoor Football League (formerly the GLIFL). I also covered the Fort Wayne Fusion of arenafootball2 in 2007, the Fort Wayne Freedom of the CIFL in 2008 and 2009 and the Fort Wayne Firehawks in 2010.

Along the way I have also attended countless pee-wee, high school, college and even Women's football games.

I have also written articles for AmericanChronicle.com (2006-2011) and Yahoo! Voices (2011-2014). I was a member of the Arena Football League Writer's Association from 2005-2008 and 2010 and have been a member of the Professional Football Researcher's Association since 2010. In order to combine my love of football with my love for the military, I ran Operation Gridiron Airlift from 2008-2010, which accepted donations of new and used footballs and sent them to U.S. troops serving overseas.

Welcome to my world, The World of Football. 

Above Photos    

TOP - Maple Valley High School, Vermontville, Mi, 1976

BOTTOM - Detroit Lions Training Camp, 1999

Military Career

I spent over 21 years in the Michigan Air National Guard, deploying once to Panama in 1985 and three times to Italy between 1994 and 1997 in support of Operation Deny Flight. I was an Aircraft Weapons System Mechanic for 16 years, 10 years on the A-37 Dragonfly and six years on the A-10 Thunderbolt II. After that, I spent three years as a Deployment Specialist and during the last two years of my military career I was a Public Affairs Specialist / Editor of the base newspaper. I retired from the military in 2002 at the rank of Master Sergeant.

In 1992 I designed the squadron emblem (above) for the 110th Aircraft Generation Squadron at the base and had it officially approved by the Air Force Institute of Heraldry. It was made into a subdued-colored patch and worn on the uniforms of everyone in the squadron, including me.

(Left) Post-flight on an A-37, 1985. (Right) Aviano Air Base in Northern Italy with the A-10, December 1994

2009 - 2012

For four years, I was a member of the Stats Crew for the JV and Varsity football teams at Galesburg-Augusta High School in Galesburg, Michigan.

2009 G-A Football Stat Crew - (L-R) Colin, me and Chris

My Football Travels

Pontiac Silverdome (1992)	Pontiac Silverdome (1997)
My room at the Toronto SkyDome for a CFL game (1994)	College Football Hall of Fame in South Bend, IN (1995)
With QB Michael Bishop in Toronto (2005)	AAFL Tryouts at Ford Field with author Ted Kluck (2007)
Head Coach Rick Frazier, af2 Quad City Steamwheelers (2006)	Head Coach "Touchdown" Eddie Brown, af2 Fort Wayne Fusion  (2007)
CFL Hamilton Tiger-Cats game, Ivor Wynne Stadium (2009)	University of Michigan game (2005)
The grave of Knute Rockne, Highlands Cemetery, South Bend, IN (2006)	Meeting Jim Foster, the Founder of Arena Football (2006)
The grave of George Gipp in Calumet, MI (2009)	The grave of Jim Thorpe in Pennsylvania (2010)
Canadian Football Hall of Fame in Hamilton, Ontario (2004)	Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, OH (2005)
Pat Tillman Statue, Freedom Plaza, Glendale, AZ (2010)	Pat Tillman Reflecting Pool, Glendale, AZ (2010)
The Grave of Vince Lombardi, Middletown, NJ (2012)	NFL Films Studios, Mt. Laurel, NJ (2012)
Roger Brown's Restaurant & Sport Bar, Portsmouth, VA (2012)	Last Season for CFL's Ivor Wynne Stadium, Hamilton, ON (2012)
The grave of Walter Camp, New Haven, Connecticut (2013)	The grave of Walter Camp, New Haven, Connecticut (2013)
The grave of Bo Schembechler, Ann Arbor, MI (2014)	The grave of Fielding Yost, Ann Arbor, MI (2014)
1946 Cleveland Browns AAFC Championship Trophy, Berea, OH (2014)	Flying Wedge Statues, NCAA Hall of Champions, Indianapolis (2011)
The Grave of Bronko Nagurski, International Falls, MN (2014)	The Bronko Nagurski Museum, International Falls, MN (2014)
The Grave of John Heisman, Rhinelander, Wisconsin (2014)	The Grave of Bob Ufer, Ann Arbor. MI (2014)
The Grave of Ulysses "Crazy Legs" Curtis, Albion, MI (2014)	ArenaBowl XXVII Media Day in Cleveland (2014)
The Grave of Glen "Pop" Warner, Springville, NY (2015)	The Grave of Charles Follis, Wooster, OH (2015)
NFL Portsmouth Spartan Stadium, Portsmouth, OH (2015)	1970 Marshall Football Team Memorial, Huntington, WV (2015)
City Stadium, Former Home of the Green Bay Packers (2016)	The Grave of Curly Lambeau, Green Bay, WS (2016)
The Grave of Tom Landry, Dallas, TX (2016)	The Grave of Lamar Hunt, Dallas, TX (2016)
Historical Marker, LaRue, Ohio (2017)	Historical Marker, Portsmouth, Ohio (2015)
Grave of Buzz Nutter, La Plata, MD (2017)	Grave of Buzz Nutter, La Plata, MD (2017)
Grave of Walter Lingo, LaRue OH (2017)	First NFL Game Site, Dayton, OH (2018)
Statue of Ralph Wilson, Buffalo Bills Stadium, Buffalo, NY (2018)	Grave of Robert Zuppke, Champagne, IL (2018)
AAF Memphis Express Game (2019)	AAF Memphis Express Game (2019)
Grave of Joe F. Carr, Columbus, OH (2019)	AFL Columbus Destroyers Mascot, Captain Destroyer (2019)
Grave of Paul Brown, Massillon, OH (2019)	Historical Marker, Pro Football Hall of Fame, Canton, OH (2019)
Grave of William Clay Ford, Detroit, MI (2020)	Grave of Ralph Wilson, Jr., Detroit, MI (2020)
Grave of Leon Hart, South Bend, IN (2021)	Grave of Ara Parseghian, South Bend, IN (2021)
Grave of John "Jack" Trice, Hiram, OH (2021)	Historical Marker, Paul Brown Stadium, Massillon, OH (2021)
Grave of Coach Bo McMillin, Bloomington, IN (2021)	College Football Hall of Fame, Atlanta, GA (2021)
Grave of Gus Cifelli, South Bend, IN (2022)	Grave of George Strickler, South Bend, IN (2022)
Grave of George Jewett, Ann Arbor, MI (2022)	Grave of Pete Elliott, Ann Arbor, MI  (2022)
Grave of AFL New York Titans owner Harry Wismer, Port Huron, MI (2022)	USFL Championship Game, Canton, OH (2022)
Grave of Neil Worthington Snow, 1902 Rose Bowl MVP, Detroit, MI (2022)	Grave of Willie Thrower, New Kensington, PA (2022)
Historical Marker for Willie Thrower, New Kensington, PA (2022)	Statue of Willie Thrower, New Kensington, PA (2022)
Mausoleum of George Halas, Niles, IL (2022)	Grave of Mario "Motts" Tonelli, Skokie, IL (2022)
Grave of Sid Luckman, Skokie, IL (2022)	Grave of Brian Piccolo, Evergreen Park, IL (2022)
Grave of Jay Berwanger, Oak Brook, IL (2022)	Grave of Charles Bidwill, Hillside, IL (2022)
Grave of Gus Dorais, South Field, MI (2022)	Grave of Gerald R. Ford, Grand Rapids, MI (2022)
Statue of Gerald R. Ford, Grand Rapids, MI (2022)	Artwork of Gerald R. Ford, Grand Rapids, MI (2022)
Grave of Les Bingaman, McKenzie, TN (2023)	Grave of Jimmy Conzelman, St. Louis, MO (2023)
Grave of Larry Wilson, St. Louis, MO (2023) (Front)	Grave of Larry Wilson, St. Louis, MO (2023) (Back)
Grave of Isaac Seneca, Irving, NY (2023)	XFL St. Louis Battlehawks Game (2023)
USFL Michigan Panthers Game, Ford Field, MI (2023)	Huddle House Restaurant, Scottsville, KY (2023)
Grave of Paul Hornung, Louisville, KY (2023)	Grave of Joe Guyon, Louisville, KY (2023) (Bottom Left Name)
Grave of Ollie Cline, West Liberty, OH (2023)	Grave of Al Babartsky, Dayton, OH (2023)
Chainsaw Carving of QB John Brallier, Latrobe, PA (2023)	The Terrible Fan, Pittsburgh, PA (2023)
NFL Plaque in Latrobe, PA (2023)	NFL Plaque in Latrobe, PA (2023)
Grave of Emil Sitko, Fort Wayne, IN (2023)	Grave of Ed Healy, Niles, MI (2023)
Paul Brown Statue, Norwalk, OH (2023)	Paul Brown Historical Marker, Norwalk, OH (2023)
Barry Sanders Statue, Ford Field, Detroit, MI (2023)	Triangle Park Movie, Canton, OH (2023)
UFL Michigan Panthers Game, Ford Field, Detroit, MI (2024)	NFL Draft in Detroit, MI (2024)
Dedication of Historical Marker for Women's Pro Football, Buffalo NY (2024)	Dedication of Historical Marker for Women's Pro Football, Buffalo NY (2024)
AFL Nashville Kats (Lady Kats) Dance Team (2024)	Detroit Lions Legend Billy Sims (2024)
AFL Minnesota Myth Game (Cancelled) (2024)	NFL Minnesota Vikings Stadium Tour (2024)
Site of First Grey Cup Game, Rosedale Park, Toronto (2024)	Site of First Grey Cup Game, Rosedale Park, Toronto (2024)
CFL Toronto Argonauts-Edmonton Elks Game, BMO Field (2024)	ArenaBowl XXXIII, American Dream Mall, NJ (2024)
Knute Rockne Grave, Cedar Grove Cemetery, Notre Dame, IN (2024)	IFL Fishers Freight Inaugural Game (2025)

NFL teams that I have seen play against the Detroit Lions;

All 32 of them! (1975-2023) As well as defunct teams; Baltimore Colts (1980), Houston Oilers (1992), San Diego Chargers (1999, 2003), Washington Redskins (1999, 2008), St. Louis Rams (2005) 

Major college football teams that I have seen in person (1991-Present);

Michigan State Spartans, Wisconsin Badgers, Western Michigan Broncos, Notre Dame Fighting Irish, Boston College Eagles, Ball State Cardinals, Hawaii Warriors, Michigan Wolverines, Eastern Michigan Eagles, Miami (OH) Redhawks, Central Michigan Chippawas, Akron Zips, Memphis Tigers, Toledo Rockets, Temple Owls, Northern Illinois Huskies, Navy Midshipmen, Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders, Indiana Hoosiers, Purdue Boilermakers, Ohio Bobcats, Illinois Fighting Illini, Army Black Knights, Marshall Thundering Herd, Bowling Green Falcons, Air Force Fighting Falcons, Connecticut Huskies, Utah Utes, U of Massachusetts Minutemen, Kent State Golden Flashes, Buffalo Bulls, Northern Illinois Huskies, Idaho Vandals, Syracuse Orange, San Jose State Spartans, Pittsburgh Panthers

Bowl Games - 2005 Motor City Bowl, 2006 Motor City Bowl, 2007 Motor City Bowl, 2009 Little Caesars Pizza Bowl, 2011 Little Caesars Pizza Bowl, 2017 Cotton Bowl

Football Championship Subdivision (FCS)

Youngstown State Penguins, Central Connecticut State Blue Devils, Hofstra Pride, Campbell Fighting Camels, UNC Charlotte 49ers, Murray State Racers, North Carolina Central Eagles, Wagner Seahawks, Georgia Southern Eagles, Delaware State Hornets, Monmouth Hawks, Illinois State Red Birds, New Hampshire Wildcats, St. Francis (PA) Red Flash, Bethune-Cookman Wildcats (HBCU)

Division II

Grand Valley State Lakers

Division III

Kalamazoo College Hornets, Olivet College Comets

National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA)

Northwestern (Iowa) Red Raiders, Saint Francis (IN) Cougars, Ohio Dominican Panthers

Canadian InterUniversity Sport (CIS) / USports

Toronto Varsity Blues, Windsor Lancers

USFL teams that I have seen in person (1983-1985);

Michigan Panthers, Chicago Blitz, Arizona Wranglers, New Jersey Generals, Arizona Outlaws

USFL teams that I have seen in person (2022-2023);

Birmingham Stallions, Philadelphia Stars (2022), Pittsburgh Maulers, Philadelphia Stars, New Jersey Generals, Michigan Panthers (2023) (Double Header at Ford Field)

2022 USFL Championship Game in Canton, OH

XFL teams that I have seen in person (2023);

St. Louis BattleHawks, Vegas Vipers

Arena Football League teams that I have seen in person (2000-2008, 2010-2019, 2024);

Grand Rapids Rampage, Tampa Bay Storm, Chicago Rush, Orlando Predators, Georgia Force, New York Dragons, Arizona Rattlers, Dallas Desperados, Colorado Crush, Columbus Destroyers, San Jose SaberCats, Utah Blaze, Philadelphia Soul, Kansas City Brigade, Cleveland Gladiators, Houston Thunderbears, Milwaukee Mustangs, Indiana Firebirds, Detroit Fury, Carolina Cobras, Toronto Phantoms, Las Vegas Gladiators, Nashville Kats, Austin Wranglers, Los Angeles Avengers, New Orleans VooDoo, Jacksonville Sharks, San Antonio Talons, Los Angeles KISS, Iowa Barnstormers, Portland Thunder, Baltimore Brigade, Washington Valor, Albany Empire, Atlantic City BlackJacks, Billings Outlaws, Albany Firebirds

ArenaBowl XV (2001), ArenaBowl XXVII (2014), ArenaBowl XXIII (2024)

arenafootball2 (af2) teams that I have seen in person (2003-2009);

Quad City Steamwheelers, Louisville Fire, Green Bay Blizzard, San Diego Riptide, Wikes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers, Fort Wayne Fusion, Mahoning Valley Thunder, Spokane Shock, Albany Conquest, Cincinnati Jungle Kats, Milwaukee Iron, Iowa Barnstormers, Corpus Christi Sharks, Oklahoma City Yard Dawgs, Albany Firebirds

Arena Football 1 teams that I have seen in person (2025-????);

Coming Soon!

Indoor Football teams that I have seen in person (2003-Present); (NIFL, UIF, AIFL, GLIFL, CIFL, IFL, UIFL, AIF)