User talk:JeffMatthews

The Battle Creek Blaze is a not-for-profit, semi-professional football team that plays traditional American football and is a member of the IFL (Interstate Football League) and a former member of the USFA (United States Football Alliance). They are in their third year of operation, their first within the IFL, and will play all of their home games again this year at Athens High School. The Blaze have an overall record of 9-13 in their first two seasons on the gridiron. The 2010 IFL season runs from June through early September. The Battle Creek Blaze is also a Domestic Nonprofit Corporation with Public Charity Status 170(b)(1)(A)(vi), as well as a 501(c)(3) Federal tax-exempt organization that raises funds and community awareness in the fight against cancer. The Blaze use amateur football as a vehicle for fighting cancer and promoting cancer awareness. As an organization they have also helped to inspire a sense of community spirit throughout the greater Battle Creek area, and have provided the community positive role modeling based on honesty, character and integrity through over 600 volunteer hours. Blaze players and staff have acted as a catalyst in the battle of childhood obesity issues in Battle Creek and surrounding communities by offering athletic enrichment for the area’s youth in the form of sport-specific camps, performance training workshops, physical fitness clinics, and health & wellness seminars.

Turning Tragedy to Hope In January of 2007, less than a month after his 30th birthday, team co-founder, Jason Doubleday lost his best friend and teammate, David Cox to a battle with cancer. Doubleday, a former Battle Creek Central standout and Western Michigan University walk-on, met David Cox when he transferred to Grand Valley State University. Dave, Jason, and former Blaze player and current Blaze Assistant Coach, Randy Tessin, were roomates at 1935 Parkcrest. To mock a local street gang, they started calling themselves "the 1935 boyz", they had t-shirts made up and even wore them under their Grand Rapids Thunder uniforms during the 2004 season. Cox and Doubleday both had the same classes and major. Jason got him into semi-pro with the Rivertown Rams, and they we moved in together and Cox followed Doubleday to play with the Grand Rapids Thunder, and Southwest Michigan Punishers. David was a stalwart at linebacker over the course of his minor league career. As a rookie (2003) with the NAFL’s Rivertown Rams, David made an immediate impact as a starting Defensive End, before eventually finding a home at Linebacker.The following season, he captained a very young defensive corps (for the first-year Grand Rapids Thunder) to within a very controversial call of the MLFA’s Eastern Conference Championship. Even though the 2004 season stretched deep into a Playoff run, the defining moment of David’s selflessness “WE not ME” attitude was exhibited in a pre-season contest with cross-town rival Rivertown. In a 7-7 tie at Grand Rapids Northview, an under-manned Thunder team asked David to play Offensive Center (a position he’d not practiced in over 9 years). Without hesitation, David played both ways, leaving everything he had on the field. His courage and character have never been questions, but on that day, they had never been more evident. For his efforts at Middle Linebacker, David was named a starter in the MLFA All-Star game, helping the East claim a victory in St.Louis, MO. It was during the Thunder's sophomore pre-season camp that David was diagnosed with melanoma. A biopsy (and subsequent skin graph) forced an end to his 2005 season, but determined to return to the gridiron; David overcame a grueling rehabilitation regimen to earn a roster spot with the 2006 Southwest Michigan Punishers. Again, David was asked to play out-of-position, and this time saw significant action as a Tight End. A prep-school offensive linemen, David had never “touched the ball in a game” until his first two pass receptions came in Detroit, against the Metro Detroit Saints. Perhaps the greatest testament to his valor is the fact that David lost his battle with cancer a mere five-and-a-half months after playing in his final game, ironically, against the team he helped establish, the Grand Rapids Thunder. Following the passing for David Cox, co-founders, Jason Doubleday and Brooks Pritchett decided to turn the Battle Creek Blaze into a charity. However, the process of becoming a recognized tax-exempt entity, 501(c) (3), was quite a task. After drafting their Bylaws, and applying for an EIN and filing their Articles of Incorporation in August of 2007 with the State of Michigan, they filed the application for IRS charity designation. The road to becoming a non-profit, tax exempt entity was not for the faint of heart considering the fact that Jason and Brooks went through three application submissions in February, August, and September of 2008, had to amend some of their Bylaws and Articles, and re-file with the State of Michigan. But, much like the cause they play for, the process was worth it, and in September 2008 the Battle Creek Blaze was confirmed and given non-profit recognition following their first season of play.

2008 Season: Foundation for Success The Blaze started recruiting its 2008 team at a kick-off meeting in Augusta at the Brooks Lodge, in late October 2007. Unfortunately, less than 20 people attended. Undeterred Jason began offering OTA’s at Pennfield Middle School and High School in November. They had their first try-out in late January 2008. After a several months of recruiting, OTA’s, and meetings, the Blaze had roster, schedule, league, and field. The Blaze roster was full of talent and included eight players who played college football and seven with previous minor league football experience. The team was chalk full of local talent including Running Back, Robbie Crockett, who attended Battle Creek Central High School, and played four years of college football at the University of Iowa. Running the show from behind the center was Quarterback, Dusty Ploehn, who played collegiately at Defiance College. Two of the most important pickups the first season were Defensive Linemen, Rich Price and Marty Birchmeirer. Price, a dominating presence on the field standing 6’4, 260, played college football at Northern Michigan University and the University of Minnesota. Birchmeirer came into the 2008 season with seven years of minor league football experience with the Jackson Bombers and the Albion Chargers. Two other notable players with minor league experience was Randy Tessin and Steve Van Dam, who each played wide reciever for the Blaze. The played their first ever game on May 31st, 2008 against the Michigan Admirals of the United States Football Alliance, at Atwood Stadium in Flint, Michigan. In the first quarter of the game, the Blaze scored their first TD on a run by Robbie Crockett. Crockett finished with nearly 200 yards rushings on 22 carries, and reached the endzone twice in his first ever minor league football game. In the second quarter of the game, 2nd-string Quarterback, Brandon Anderson connected with former Rockford College product, Shawn Wells on a 64-yard touchdown pass, the first touchdown through the air for the Blaze. In the 4th quarter, Marty Birchmeirer sacked Admirals QB, Dave Younkin in the endzone, to record the teams first ever safety. Unfortunately, the Blaze would suffer there first loss 48-22. Following a Week 1 loss to the Michigan Admirals, the Blaze got ready for their first ever home game. The Blaze played all of their home games during the 2008 regular season at Bellevue Community Schools Football Field. They also had their first charity event, which they called: Kickoff for Kaylea. The Blaze hosted the Ada (OH) Dark Knights on June 7th, 2008 and raised approxiamately $1,000 for seven-year old Kaylea Hatten, who was diagnosed with Diffuse Pontine Glioma, a Brian tumor that is on the pons area of the Brain Stem and runs the whole central nervous system. The Blaze won the game in a lightning-shorted, shutout fashion, by the final score of 45-0. Robbie Crockett rushed for two touchdowns in the game, and starting QB, Dusty Ploehn hit Blaze co-founder, Jason Doubleday in the endzone for Jason’s first touchdown reception as a member of the Blaze. The Blaze totaled a season high, four rushing touchdowns in the game. The Blaze had a rough patch in the middle season with four streak losses from Week 3 to Week 7, but they finished their season winning four of their last five games including three straight shutouts to end the year. In the USFA regular season finale on the road against the Ada (OH) Dark Knights, Blaze defensive back, Devin Whitney set the Minor League Football Record for 4 Interceptions in the Game, three of which he returned touchdowns. On August 23rd, the Blaze played their first ever game at Athens High School (which would become their 2009 and current home) beating the Michigan Renegades, 30-0. Blaze Running Back, Robbie Crockett was named the team’s Offensive MVP, rushing for 1,033 yards and 12 touchdowns. Blaze Defensive Back, Devin Whitney was named Defensive MVP, with 10 Interception, four of which he returned for touchdowns. Quentin Kizer lead the team in tackles with 61, and Rich Price and Marty Birchmeirer combined for nine sacks and 31 tackles for loss. 2008 Record: 5-6 31 May	       Michigan Admirals	22 - 48 (L) 7 June 		Ada (OH) Dark Knights	45 - 0 (W) 14 June 	West Michigan Force	14 - 46 (L) 21 June 	Michigan Gators		12 - 35 (L) '''28 June 	Grand Rapids Thunder	0 - 14 (L) 12 July 	Michigan Admirals	28 - 30 (L) 19 July 	Motor City Soldiers	32 - 26 (W)''' 2 August       Wayne County Wolverines	6 - 40 (L) 9 August 	Ada Dark Knights	47 - 0 (W) 23 August 	Michigan Renegades	30 - 0 (W) 13 September Genesee County Patriots	28 - 0 (W)

Home Game are in Bold

2009 Season: Victory Through Community

Following a great finish to the 2008 season, the Blaze faced the toughest schedule in the USFA, having to play the defending Conference Champion, Lima Warriors, twice, as well as having to play the West Michigan Force and Michigan Gators. The Blaze welcomed some great new recruits including, OL Archie Wickham III who played college ball at NAIA, Olivet Nazarene, KR/DB Jamaal Williams who played at Battle Creek Central and went on to play college football at Division III, University of Dubuque, IA, former BCC grad and new Center, Greg Gwilliam, former BCC grad and big OT, Marco Adams, former KCC soccer player and new PK, Jon Bartman, and several other great athletes. The Blaze opened up the 2009 at home against the Lima Warriors on May 30. The Blaze were also playing for eight-year old, Dalton Otis, a Union City boy with cancer. They called the event, D.O. It for Dalton. The Blaze got down early, and eventually lost the game 28-14 in front of a near capacity crowd at Athens High School Football Field. The highlight of the game for the Blaze was Jamaal William’s 85-yard Kickoff Return for a touchdown, the first score of the year for the Blaze. Robbie Crockett also rushed 120 yards on 15 carries. The Blaze started the season with three consecutive losses, and would not win until Week 4, when they had their first ever, Pink Flame Game. The Pink Flame Game raised nearly $4,000 dollars for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Awareness Foundation. The jerseys were pre-sold, and a near capacity crowd watched as the Blaze beat the Lapeer County Lions, 20-7. Blaze, QB, Dusty Ploehn, was named game MVP with his performance in the game. He went 15-30 for 182 and a touchdown pass to Randy Tessin. They would win in Week 5 as well, with a 23-0 victory over the Northwest Ohio Raiders. Placekicker, Jon Bartman was named Game MVP for making the first field goal in Blaze history from 24 yards out. Dusty Ploehn threw two TD passes and rushed for a TD in the win. The Blaze would lose two in row to the Lima Warriors and Ohio Outlaws before they beat the Northwest Ohio Raiders in Clyde, Ohio on July 25, 2009. Robbie Crockett rushed for a career-high, 232 yards on 24 carries and scored twice. Jamaal Williams also returned his second kickoff for a touchdown in 25-7 win. Robbie Crockett was once against named the Offensive MVP rushing for 844 yards and eight TD’s on 150 carries. Jamaal Williams was named Special Teams MVP with his three Kickoff Returns for TD’s. DL Rich Price was named Defensive MVP with 40 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, a forced fumble, and 3.5 QB sacks. He was also named to the USFA WFC 1st team. PK Jon Bartman was voted most improved player, and holds the record for most field goals in a season, and longest field goal (35). During the 2009 season, the Blaze had benefits for Dalton Otis, Samantha Dean, Richard Gross, and Debbie Bailey, and raised a lot of money to help these families. 2009 Season: 4-8 30 May 	Lima (OH) Warriors 	14 - 28 (L) 6 June	 	West Michigan Force	14 - 41 (L) '''13 June 	Northwest Ohio Knights	12 - 34 (L) 20 June 	Lapeer County Lions	20 - 7 (W) 27 June 	Northwest Ohio Raiders	23 - 0 (W)''' 11 July		Lima Warriors		0 - 50 (L) 18 July 	Ohio Outlawz		6 - 20 (L) 25 July		Northwest Ohio Raiders	25 - 7 (W) 1 August	Michigan Gators		25 - 32 (L) 8 August	Northwest Ohio Knights	7 - 39 (L) 15 August 	Southeast MI Mercenaries 20 - 7 (W) 22 August 	Lakeshore Cougars	0 - 13 (L)

Home Game are in Bold

2010 Season: New Horizons Following the 2009 season, the Battle Creek Blaze decided to leave the United State Football Alliance (USFA) to seek a league that would bring closer competition. The Blaze decided to join the Interstate Football League, and they start play in July 2010. The 2010 offseason has been a good one for the Blaze, and they have attracted a lot of great talent with both college and minor league football experience. You can check out the roster and all things Blaze related at: www.battlecreekblaze.org. 2010 Schedule: 26 June		Traverse City Wolves 10 July 	St. Joseph County Panthers '''17 July		Noble County Wolfpack 24 July		Kosciusko County Mustangs''' 31 July 	Elkhart Shamrock 7 August	Wanee Hurricanes 14 August 	Indiana Hitmen 21 August 	Indiana Cutters 28 August 	Midwest Force 11 September 	IFL Playoffs 18 September 	IFL Divisional Championship 25 September 	IFL Championship Home Game are in Bold

Charity Work and Community Service

The Battle Creek Blaze have raised money for the following causes: Donations (both monetary and in-kind) to the following beneficiaries: - Lance Armstrong Foundation (LIVESTRONG Grassroots Fund raising) - Susan G Koman Foundation - Local Families dealing with cancer - The Salvation Army - 21st Century Community Learning Center (Northwestern Middle School) - Bellevue Community Schools - Athens Area Schools

Speedy deletion nomination of Battle Creek Blaze
A tag has been placed on Battle Creek Blaze requesting that it be speedily deleted from Wikipedia. This has been done under section A7 of the criteria for speedy deletion, because the article appears to be about an organization or company, but it does not indicate how or why the subject is important or significant: that is, why an article about that subject should be included in an encyclopedia. Under the criteria for speedy deletion, such articles may be deleted at any time. Please see the guidelines for what is generally accepted as notable, as well as our subject-specific notability guideline for organizations and companies. You may also wish to consider using a Wizard to help you create articles - see the Article Wizard.

If you think that this notice was placed here in error, you may contest the deletion by adding  to the top of the page that has been nominated for deletion (just below the existing speedy deletion or "db" tag), coupled with adding a note on the talk page explaining your position, but be aware that once tagged for speedy deletion, if the page meets the criterion, it may be deleted without delay. Please do not remove the speedy deletion tag yourself, but don't hesitate to add information to the page that would render it more in conformance with Wikipedia's policies and guidelines. Lastly, please note that if the page does get deleted, you can contact one of these admins to request that they userfy the page or have a copy emailed to you. &amp;dorno rocks. (talk) 21:20, 14 April 2010 (UTC)

Battle Creek Blaze
They Battle Creek Blaze are a third year organization, and they do a lot of good in the Battle Creek, Michigan community. They are every bit as relevant as any other sports team in Battle Creek, Michgan.