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New Era of Professional Indoor Football in Oklahoma City Set to Begin

November 4, 2010 - Indoor Football League (IFL)
Bricktown Brawlers News Release


OKLAHOMA CITY, OK. : A new era of indoor professional football has been established in Oklahoma City as the ownership group of Oklahoma City's newest professional sports franchise was formally introduced during a press conference held on Thursday, November 4 from the Cox Convention Center. The new Oklahoma City indoor football organization will be making a successful transition into the Indoor Football League for 2011, and continuing to provide professional football to the community. Team Owner Dale Morris, who also owns and operates the West Texas Roughnecks (IFL) along with grandfather Jay Morris, will lead as President.

"We are absolutely excited to be the new owners of the Oklahoma City professional indoor football organization. We believe that this will be an important and successful transition in terms of indoor football for the Oklahoma City community. Oklahoma City has shown great support toward indoor football for several years, and we believe that we can continue that tradition by providing a great form of entertainment and professionalism on and off the field." stated Team Owner & President Dale Morris.

Morris was born in Oklahoma City but was raised in Texas, and began his own business and family in 1996. Along with his work in indoor professional football, Morris also owns and operates DPC Customs, Inc. in Midland, TX.

The new ownership group has also announced that the Oklahoma City IFL organization will be involving the community with a special "Name the Team" contest. Fans will have the opportunity to vote online at www.okcifl.com or through the Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz prior website at www.okcyarddawgz.com and select the name of the team. Options for the "Name the Team" contest will be the Oklahoma City Outlawz, Oklahoma Banditz, and the Bricktown Brawlerz.

"We want to be involved with the community on a consistent basis and our naming of the team contest is a perfect fit for sparking the new era of professional indoor football in Oklahoma City. We hope to get plenty of feedback from the fans and we are looking forward to their decision." stated Morris.

NEW OKLAHOMA CITY IFL TEAM NAMES STEVE PERDUE AS HEAD COACH / ORGANIZATION ADDITIONALLY ADDS WILLIAM McCARTHY AS ASSISTANT COACH -

The newly established Oklahoma City IFL organization additionally announced on Thursday, November 4 that Steve Perdue has been named Head Coach for the 2011 season. Prior to his time in Oklahoma City, Perdue was the Defensive Coordinator for the West Texas Roughnecks during the 2010 IFL season. Perdue helped the Roughnecks reach the post-season in 2010, and coordinated a defensive unit that allowed 39.9 points a game in 2010. The Roughnecks defense averaged close to six stops per game under Perdue, and finished in the top ten in both defensive points scored and passing yards allowed per game (147.2).

"I am overwhelmed and excited about becoming Head Coach for the Oklahoma City ball club. This is a city that has incredible support for indoor football and we are looking to compile a team that has great talent and will compete for a championship in 2011. We have big plans in store for this season and hopefully we can quickly establish a winning tradition in Oklahoma City." stated Head Coach Steve Perdue.

Perdue has been involved with indoor football for a decade as both a player and coach. In 2004, Perdue led the Amarillo Dusters to the Intense Football League Championship with a defense that set indoor football records with 53 quarterback sacks and 29 interceptions. Perdue took over as Head Coach of the Dusters in 2005 when the team made the move to the AF2. Perdue made history in 2005 as he led the Dusters to the playoffs, becoming the first expansion team ever to accomplish that feat. In his four years of coaching with Amarillo, Perdue had 29 players earn All-League honors, including 11 players that moved up the latter to the NFL, CFL, and AFL levels.

"Steve Perdue is an experienced indoor football coach and he understands what it takes to be successful on the field as well as in the front office. He helped our club by establishing an aggressive and active defense that helped us reach the playoffs. He will recruit players that have talent and character, and most importantly he will work diligently to bring success to an organization both on and off the field." stated West Texas Roughnecks Head Coach Chris Williams.

Perdue was a standout defensive back with the Oklahoma Crude of the NIFL prior to entering the coaching ranks with Amarillo in 2004. The Amarillo, TX native started at defensive back and safety while with the Crude in 2002. In '02 he led the team in special teams tackles and finished second on the team in total tackles and pass breakups.

Joining Perdue on the coaching staff in 2011 is William McCarthy who enters as the Assistant Coach. McCarthy was Head Coach of the Kent Predators (IFL) in 2010 and helped develop the expansion team into a strong contender in the Intense Conference. Prior to his time in Kent, McCarthy was the Recruiting, Offensive Line, Defensive Line, and Special Teams Coordinator for the El Paso Generals, formerly of the Indoor Football League in 2009. McCarthy helped the Generals achieve a Lone Star Division Championship as well as making an appearance in the Intense Conference Championship. McCarthy had one offensive and defensive lineman that earned All-IFL honors in 2009, including one offensive lineman that was signed to the Buffalo Bills.

Before his time in El Paso, McCarthy was the Defensive Line, Offensive Line, and Special Teams Coordinator for the Mississippi Mudcats of the AIFA in 2008. McCarthy was promoted to Interim Head Coach following the first 12 games of the season, and led the team to a 3-1 record with an appearance in the Conference Championship.

OKLAHOMA CITY ANNOUNCES 2011 IFL REGULAR SEASON SCHEDULE / OK CITY OPENS ON THE ROAD AT WEST TEXAS ON FEBRUARY 21 IN IFL KICKOFF CLASSIC -

In addition to the organization's formal introduction and the announcing of the team's Head Coach, the Oklahoma City IFL team further announced the team's 2011 regular season schedule. Oklahoma City will play a 14-game regular season schedule with seven home and away games. Oklahoma City will be part of the Lone Star Division in 2011 which also includes the West Texas Roughnecks, Amarillo Venom, and the Allen Wranglers within the Intense Conference.

Oklahoma City opens the 2011 regular season on the road against the West Texas Roughnecks on Monday, February 21 as part of the IFL Kickoff Classic weekend. The team's 2011 home-opener will be on Sunday, March 6 versus the Allen Wranglers. Oklahoma City will play all their home games from the Cox Convention Center; the Oklahoma City 2011 IFL regular season schedule is as follows.

*All home games highlighted in bold / *All home games to be played at the Cox Convention Center

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2011 AT WEST TEXAS ROUGHNECKS

SUNDAY, MARCH 6, 2011 VS. ALLEN WRANGLERS

SUNDAY, MARCH 13, 2011 VS. AMARILLO VENOM

SUNDAY, MARCH 20, 2011 VS. WEST TEXAS ROUGHNECKS

FRIDAY, MARCH 25, 2011 AT ALLEN WRANGLERS

SUNDAY, APRIL 3, 2011 VS. COLORADO ICE

SATURDAY, APRIL 9, 2011 AT AMARILLO VENOM

SUNDAY, APRIL 17, 2011 AT COLORADO ICE

SATURDAY, APRIL 23, 2011 VS. NEBRASKA DANGER

SATURDAY, MAY 7, 2011 VS. WICHITA WILD

SATURDAY, MAY 21, 2011 AT ARIZONA ADRENALINE

SATURDAY, MAY 28, 2011 VS. WEST TEXAS ROUGHNECKS

MONDAY, JUNE 6, 2011 AT AMARILLO VENOM

SATURDAY, JUNE 11, 2011 AT ALLEN WRANGLERS

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