8.15.2008 9.33 AM
The Indiana Mustangs, our most successful semi-pro football team
written by Neal Taflinger
Summer nights in Indiana are usually marked by oppressive humidity and swarms of insects. Why, then, would young men pay for the privilege of putting on heavy equipment and sweating their asses off on Wednesday nights?
"You gotta love football," said Indiana Mustangs quarterback Eric Hooks.
Founded in 1991, the Indiana Mustangs are the oldest and most successful semi-pro football team in the state. The team recently relocated from Kokomo to Noblesville and is supported by player fees, business sponsorships and donations. Because the players have day jobs and family obligations, it can be a struggle to organize Wednesday night practices or field a full roster on game days, but the team presses on.
This week, B-Team profiles four players from this diverse cast of characters:
Brandon Williams, 21, wide receiver
Just a few years removed from Howe High School, Williams is trying to resuscitate a football career that stalled after two years at small private colleges. Williams played one year for Franklin College after leaving Olivet Nazarene College when a promised scholarship didn't materialize. "Right now I'm just having fun, but if opportunity knocks for me to go to the next level, I will," Williams said.
Day job: Maintenance and security at Kingston Square Homes apartment complex.
Steve Cassidy, 46, center
The leader of the Mustangs' o-line has been playing semi-pro football longer than some of his teammates have been alive. Cassidy said he tried out for the Cleveland Lions "when it was evident I wasn't going to play college ball." Twenty-six years later this "happily divorced" father of two hasn't lost his drive to play: "It's a reason to stay in shape."
Day job: Job setter/team leader at an automotive plant.
Eric Hooks, 25, quarterback
After graduating from North Central High School, Hooks played two years for Ball State before transferring to the University of St. Francis. He just finished his first season of professional ball with the Fort Wayne Freedom of the Continental Indoor Football League. Mustangs owner/coach James Stamper reached out to Hooks at the end of his college career. The QB enjoys the off-season work. "It keeps me sharp in case I get a call from an indoor league or another pro league."
Day job: Two Men and a Truck moving company.
Patrick Copeland, 27, offensive guard
Copeland only started playing football his junior year of high school, but still managed to secure a full-ride to play for Western Kentucky University.
"Bein' from Kentucky, I didn't know a soul when I moved here" for work, Copeland said, so when a customer told him about the Mustangs, he jumped at the chance to join. Copeland has a lot of friends now, but one stands out from the crowd: former NBA All-Star Larry Johnson. Copeland owns the world's largest collection of Larry Johnson memorabilia and played golf with "Grandmama" at a charity tournament this summer.
Day job: Quality engineer for Gibbs Die Casting.
http://www.indy.com/posts/10692
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1.16.2007 11.48 PM
Mustangs move to Noblesville
written by mustang12
The move to Noblesville is indeed a big one but I think that it is a very smart move in the long run. Noblesville is one of Indiana's fastest growing cities with a population around 42,000 and it resides in one of the richest counties in the nation - Hamilton. From 2000 to 2005 Noblesville grew 36% and those numbers don't seem to be slowing down. The city has an average household income of around $65,000. All of these factors add up to be a promising road ahead for the Mustangs as far as gaining new sponsorships and settling down in a community that can support a minor league football team.
The biggest challenge the Mustangs will face is gaining respect and publicity in a new city after having its roots in Kokomo for 15 years.
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1.15.2007 10.32 AM
Mustangs launch new website
written by mustang12
I hope you enjoy the new Indiana Mustangs website. It has been my pleasure, as founder of Lynora Software, to design this site free of charge for the Mustangs. If you have any suggestions, compliments, or complaints about the site, please feel free to e-mail me: dan@indiana-mustangs.com
I hope that this site will be a professional tool that can be used in both recruitment and landing new sponsors for the 2007 season.
Thank you
Dan Zoeller
Go Mustangs!
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