Semi-pro football team forms

A semi-pro football team has been organized in Mountain Home, and although it could still use some more players, the team -- the Mountain Home Marauders -- will play its first home game on Oct. 4 at Eastside Park.

The team's first game will be Sept. 27 against a Salt Lake City semi-pro team.

The games are part of the team's efforts to join the AAA Rocky Mountain Football League, according to Kenon Coats, the owner/general manager and organizer of the Mauraders. The team must prove itself capable of fielding a competitive team and play several games before the Jan. 2 meeting of the league.

If accepted, which Coats expects, the team would enter the league during next year's pre-season in February and March, with the regular season beginning in April. The team would play eight regular-season games, plus possible playoffs. Currently, the league fields teams in Idaho Falls, Boise, Pocatello, Rexburg, Great Falls and Helena, Mont., and Salt Lake City.

Coats played football in high school in Florida and at S. Florida College before joining the military (he currently is stationed at Mountain Home AFB).

He played with the Boise Rough Riders and the Treasure Valley Panthers in the RMFL last year (Boise will sport only one team this year), but decided at the end of the season to form his own team.

He began the work in May.

"It's a lot of work," he said, from obtaining players to coaches to financial managers. Team insurance is provided through an agreement with the Boise Extreme, a women's semi-pro team.

Almost all of the team members come from the airbase. "We have 28 committed players right now," he said, but the team really needs 40 to be fully effective.

The team also is looking for sponsors and is planning a series of fundraisers in the future to help pay for uniforms, equipment and travel expenses.

Despite its "semi-pro" appellation, players aren't paid. "Endorsements, sponsorships, those are available for the players," Coats said.

There is no entrance fee to attend the team's home games, which currently are set for Eastside Park, but next year Coats hopes to be able to play in Tiger Stadium.

The team practices at Eastside Park on Thursdays at 6 p.m. and Saturdays at 10 a.m.

The team logo features a scull and crossbones on a black flag. The team colors are Maroon with black stripes, "but we won't put those on until next season," Coats said. In the meantime, the team will play with maroon jerseys, black pants and black helmets.

For more information about the team, contact Coats by e-mail at kenon.coats@mountainhome.af.mil., or go to the team website at www.eteamz.com/mhmarauders/.