Canton Cougars Explained

Canton Cougars
Helmet:Canton Cougars Helmet Logo.png
Founded:2010
Folded:2012
City:Canton, Ohio
at the Canton Memorial Civic Center
Colors:Black, Gold, Red
Coach:Paul Farrah
Owners:Tim Clark
General Manager:Robb Bickis
Mascot:Cujo Da Cougar
Cheerleaders:Cougar Kittens
League:Ultimate Indoor Football League (2011)
Team History:
  • Canton Cougars (2011)
No League Champs:0
No Conf Champs:0
No Div Champs:0
No Playoff Appearances:0
Arena Years:

The Canton Cougars were a professional indoor football team based in Canton, Ohio. The team began play in 2011 as a charter member of the Ultimate Indoor Football League (UIFL) for its inaugural 2011 season. The Cougars played their home games at the Canton Memorial Civic Center. The Cougars were Canton's second indoor football team; their first since the American Indoor Football Association's Canton Legends, which played from 2005 until 2008 (winning the AIFL championship in 2006).

History

2011

See main article: 2011 Canton Cougars season. The Cougars were formed by the head of the Ultimate Indoor Football League, Andrew Haines.[1] Haines made the hire of Rashan Hall to become the Cougars first ever head coach.[2] The Cougars played their first ever game on February 20, 2011 against the Huntington Hammer, a game in which the Cougars lost 41-26.[3] With the team getting off to a rough 0-3 start, Haines issued a guarantee to the people of Canton, saying that the revamped Cougars roster would defeat the Saginaw Sting during their week 4 meeting.[4] The Cougars didn't make their owner a liar, defeating the Sting 53-52.[5] Their victory over the Sting proved to be the lone bright spot for the Cougars, who would lose 9 straight before firing their Hall, and replacing him with Paul Farrah.[6] Farrah would lose the game, with less than a week to prepare. The Cougars finished with a 1-13 record, and finished last in the UIFL.

2012

On June 16, 2011, it was announced that Michael Taylor and Andrew Hines had sold their controlling state in the Cougars to Tim Clark.[7] Clark was the former owner of the Johnstown Generals, but the commute was becoming a hassle. Once he gained ownership, he made several personnel changes including, naming Paul Farrah as its new head coach. Farrah was recently hired as the director of football operations. He also hired Canton South High School head coach Mo Daniska as the new defensive coordinator, while Louisville High School defensive coordinator Troy Davis will serve as the director of community relations, focusing on developing youth football camps and clinics. Former head coach Rashaun Hall has been retained as an assistant coach and will also serve as director of player personnel.[8] They also announced and hired seasoned operations executive David Lopez as the new director of sales and marketing. The new group made plenty of signings for the 2012 season, and lasted until January when the franchise suspended operations.[9]

Notable players

All-League selections

Head coaches

NameTermRegular seasonPlayoffsAwards
WLTWin%WL
Rashal Hall2011112000
Paul Farrah201101000

Season-by-season results

League ChampionsConference ChampionsDivision ChampionsWild Card BerthLeague Leader
SeasonTeamLeagueConferenceDivisionRegular seasonPostseason results
FinishWinsLossesTies
20112011UIFL6th1130
Totals1130All-time regular season record (2011)
00-All-time postseason record (2011)
1130All-time regular season and postseason record (2011)

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Baseball league has big plans for Munson stadium . January 18, 2011 . Ed Balint . GateHouse Media, Inc. . www.cantonrep.com . July 29, 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110129074500/http://www.cantonrep.com/sports/x684392438/Baseball-league-has-big-plans-for-Munson-stadium . January 29, 2011 .
  2. Web site: Rashan Hall to coach Canton Cougars indoor football team . https://archive.today/20130729213821/http://www.cantonrep.com/archive/x1849235796 . dead . July 29, 2013 . Jim Thomas . July 14, 2010 . GateHouse Media, Inc. . www.cantonrep.com . July 29, 2013 .
  3. Web site: Hammer wins opener, 41-26 . David Walsh . February 20, 2013 . HD Media Company, LLC. . www.herald-dispatch.com . July 29, 2013.
  4. Web site: Canton Owner Issues Guarantee . March 14, 2011 . OurSports Central . www.oursportscentral.com . July 29, 2013.
  5. Web site: Cougars rally, take thriller for first win of season . https://archive.today/20130729213847/http://www.cantonrep.com/sports/x1777825201/Cougars-rally-take-thriller-for-first-win-of-season . dead . July 29, 2013 . March 22, 2011 . Jim Thomas . GateHouse Media, Inc. . www.cantonrep.com . July 29, 2013 .
  6. Web site: Canton Cougars hire ex-Louisville coach Paul Farrah . https://archive.today/20130729213831/http://www.cantonrep.com/sports/x1303843895/Canton-Cougars-hire-ex-Louisville-coach-Paul-Farrah . dead . July 29, 2013 . May 23, 2011 . GateHouse Media, Inc. . www.cantonrep.com . July 29, 2013 .
  7. Web site: Tim Clark takes control of Canton Cougars . https://archive.today/20130729213832/http://www.cantonrep.com/sports/x1162605695/Tim-Clark-takes-control-of-Canton-Cougars . dead . July 29, 2013 . June 14, 2011 . Mike Popovich . GateHouse Media, Inc. . www.cantonrep.com . July 29, 2013 .
  8. Web site: Clark takes over Canton, makes changes . UIFL . www.theuifl.com . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20111210084907/http://theuifl.com/archives/1446 . 2011-12-10 .
  9. Web site: Football: Former Ohio QB switches teams before UIFL season . January 30, 2012 . Michael Stainbrook . The Post . www.thepost.ohiou.edu . July 29, 2013 . https://archive.today/20130729213825/http://thepost.ohiou.edu/content/football-former-ohio-qb-switches-teams-uifl-season . July 29, 2013 . dead .