The 2011 Continental Indoor Football League season was the league's sixth overall season. The regular season started on Saturday, February 26, with the expansion Port Huron Predators defeating the expansion Indianapolis Enforcers 69-12, and ended with the 2011 CIFL Championship Game on June 11, 2011, at the Cincinnati Gardens in Cincinnati, Ohio, where the Cincinnati Commandos defeated the Marion Blue Racers 44-29 to clinch their second consecutive CIFL Championship.
In 2011, the league saw its size stay the same for the first time. There were changes to the teams that made up the 6 teams, as Fort Wayne FireHawks, Marion Mayhem and the Wisconsin Wolfpack folded following the 2010 season, and the Chicago Cardinals changed their name to the Chicago Knights, and the Miami Valley Silverbacks established a home arena in Dayton, Ohio and changed their names to the Dayton Silverbacks. The CIFL awarded the Indianapolis Enforcers, the Marion Blue Racers and the Port Huron Predators expansion franchises.
On April 29, 2011 it was announced that the Port Huron Predators would ceased operations immediately. This made the league finish with 5 teams for a second consecutive season.
Schedule Since the league remained at 6 teams, they stuck to their ten-game schedule for each team. Every team was scheduled to play a home and away game with every team except Indianapolis, as they were competing as a travel team.
Scheduling changes On April 29, 2011 it was announced that the Port Huron Predators would ceased operations immediately As a result of Port Huron folding Chicago, Cincinnati, Dayton, and Indianapolis were awarded wins for their remaining games against Port Huron.
Regular season standings
y - clinched regular-season title
x - clinched playoff spot
Week 1 Indianapolis at Port Huron
Week 2 Chicago at Cincinnati
Port Huron at Marion
Indianapolis at Dayton
Week 3 Cincinnati at Marion
Week 4 Indianapolis at Cincinnati
Dayton at Port Huron
Week 5 Dayton at Marion
Week 6 Cincinnati at Dayton
Chicago at Port Huron
Indianapolis at Marion
Week 7 Port Huron at Cincinnati
Marion at Dayton
Chicago at Indianapolis
Week 8 Indianapolis at Chicago
Marion at Port Huron
Week 9 Dayton at Chicago
Week 10 Cincinnati at Dayton
Chicago at Marion
Indianapolis at Port Huron
Week 11 Indianapolis at Dayton
Cincinnati at Chicago
Week 12 Chicago at Dayton
Indianapolis at Marion
Cincinnati at Port Huron
Week 13 Indianapolis at Cincinnati
Marion at Chicago
Week 14 Marion at Cincinnati
Port Huron at Dayton
Week 15 Port Huron at Chicago
Playoffs
1 vs 4 Semifinal Game: Cincinnati Commandos at Chicago Knights
2 vs 3 Semifinal Game: vs Dayton Silverbacks at Marion Blue Racers
2011 CIFL Championship Game: Cincinnati Commandos vs. Marion Blue Racers
Media The league launched the Gameday Center on its website that would allow followers to enjoy live stats for each game. Teams were also allowed to use local media to broadcast the teams under their own terms.
Coaching changes Pre-season Team 2011 Coach 2010 Coach(es) Reason for leaving Story/accomplishments Dayton Silverbacks Derrick Shepard Brian Wells Took a job with the Cincinnati Commandos Wells left to become the special teams coordinator for the Cincinnati Commandos after the 2010 season after compiling a 4–6 (.400) record in 1 year as the head coach.
Shepard, who was the Dayton Silverbacks' head coach in 2009 before he was replaced prior to the 2010 regular season, after posting a 0-10 record. In 2010, he served as the line coach for the Silverbacks under Wells.
In-season Team 2011 Coach Interim Reason for leaving Story/Accomplishments Port Huron Predators Doug Warren[Jason Lovelock,John Forti Fired Warren was fired before the season started for the Predators and Offensive Coordinator Jason Lovelock took over. On March 28, the Predators fired their second coach of the season as well as their director of operations. Head Coach Jason Lovelock was let go after Brusate said, "The players wanted something different." Brusate appointed offensive coordinator, John Forti, as the interim head coach. Marion Blue Racers Demetrius Ross Ryan Terry Personal reasons After the Blue Racers got off to a 3-1 start, Demetrius Ross stepped down from his head coaching position, citing personal reasons. His defensive coordinator, Ryan Terry, took over as head coach, just 2 days before the Blue Racers played their first road game at the Dayton Silverbacks.
Awards Regular season awards CIFL Most Valuable Player - Tyler Sheehan QB, Cincinnati Commandos Offensive Player of the Year - Tyler Sheehan QB, Cincinnati Commandos Defensive Player of the Year - Chris Respress DB, Dayton Silverbacks Special Teams Player of the Year - Mike Tatum WR, Marion Blue Racers Coach of the Year - Ryan Terry, Marion Blue Racers
Players of the week WeekOffenseDefenseSpecial TeamsWeek 1 Robert Height/Levi Raines (PH)Ernie Smith/Ruben Gay (PH)Rasko Apostolovski (PH)Week 2Josh Harris (MAR)Torry Cornett (CIN)Tyler Lorenz (MAR)Week 3George Murray (CIN)Marcus Allen (MAR)Mike Tatum (MAR)Week 4Tyler Sheehan (CIN)Roger Sippio (PH)Fred Cromartie (DAY)Week 5Josh Harris (MAR)Bryan Williams (MAR)Tyler Lorenz (MAR)Week 6Christen Haywood (MAR)Ray Saunders (MAR)Brandon Wogoman (CHI)Week 7Josh Harris (MAR)James Spikes (DAY)Fred Cromartie (DAY)Week 8Josh Harris (MAR)Kurt James (CHI)Mike Tatum (MAR)Week 9Jeremy Greenleaf (DAY)Viterio Jones (DAY)Julie Harshbarger (CHI)Week 10Tyler Sheehan(CIN)James Cichon (CHI)Fred Cromartie (DAY)Week 11George Murray(CIN)Viterio Jones (DAY)Brandon Yingling (CIN)Week 12Josh Harris (MAR)Viterio Jones (DAY)JaMarcus Walters (IND)Week 13George Murray (CIN)Pernell Phillips/Wendell Brown (CIN)JaMarcus Walters (IND)Week 14Tyler Sheehan (CIN)Pernell Phillips (CIN)Brandon Yingling (CIN)
2011 Continental Indoor Football League seasons Chicago Cincinnati Dayton Indianapolis Marion Port Huron
References