Racine Raiders

Racine Raiders
Founded	1953
League	CSFL (1953, 1962-1975) BSFL (1954-1959) TSFL (1960-1961) NSFL (1978-1981, 1983-1985) AFA (1982) MWFL (1986-1990, 1992-1994) Independent (1991) MCFL (1995-2002) NAFL (2003-2009) MSFL (2010, 2012) Elite MCFL (2011)
Team history	Racine Raiders (1953-1975) North Shore Gladiators (1978) Racine Gladiators (1979-1985) Racine Raiders (1986-present)
Stadium	Horlick Field
Based in	Racine, Wisconsin
Team colors	Black, Silver, Original Cardinal Red
President	Matt Snyder
Head coach	Gino Perfetto
Championships	7 (1981, 1983, 1988, 1989, 1992, 1995, 2001)
Dancers	Raiders Dance Team
Mascot	R.J. Raider

The Racine Raiders American football club is a Mid-States Football League team based in Racine, Wisconsin. Founded in 1953, they are the oldest Minor League Football team in Wisconsin (United States) that is still in existence. After one season in the Mid-States Football League, the team announced a move to the Elite MCFL in 2011. The team will return to the Mid-States Football League for the 2012 season. The Raiders were the first minor league football team to gain 501(c)(3) Not-For-Profit status from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The Organization is composed entirely of Volunteers.

Helmet Design: Black background with a cowboy bandit in black with a half and half bandanna of cardinal and black on a white circular background in a triple circular outline of silver, cardinal and black.

President: Matt Snyder

VP - GM: Bob Marcado

Head Coach: Gino Perfetto

Franchise history

Summary

Wigs Konicek, a local restaurateur at the time, started the Racine Raiders in 1953. The team began in the Bi-States Football League (BSFL) and won their first league championship in 1954.

The team was able to sustain itself until 1975 when it disbanded. Although they did not field a team for the 1976 and 1977 season, they remained organized for those seasons. New owners started the Racine Gladiators in 1978. They paid players and were successful on the field, winning three National Championships. Unfortunately, the team fell on hard times and disbanded in 1985.

In 1986, Bob Milkie, a retired bearing company executive, Joe Mooney, a police sergeant, Jess Levin, a local banker, and others rebuilt the team, this time as community-owned, non-profit organization.

Perhaps the biggest moment in the team's history, as well as that of minor league football, came in 1989 when the team traveled to Ottawa, Canada, to play in a World Championship game. While the team won the game in five degree weather and a blizzard, just playing the game was the important element. The team was now able to apply for, and received, 501(c)3 Not-For-Profit status from the Internal Revenue Service, setting the tone for dozens of minor league football teams since to be able to do the same.

The Raiders have won seven National Championships and have had nearly a dozen players with National Football League (NFL) experience. They also have 26 players, coaches or staff in the American Football Association (AFA) Semi Pro Hall of Fame, more than any other team.

2011 Season Schedule

American Football Association (AFA) Minor League Football Hall of Fame

Minor League Football News Hall of Fame

Retired numbers

Players that played in the NFL

Head coaches

Current coaching staff

Head Coach

• Gino Perfetto - Head Coach

Offensive Coaches

• Matt Nelson - Offensive Coordinator
• Greg Fictum - Offensive Line
• Gregg Brenner - Quarterbacks
• John Mamerow - Running Backs
• Anthony Wooden - Wide Receivers

Defensive Coaches

• TBD - Defensive Coordinator
• Wilbert Kennedy - Defensive Line
• John Pintar - Linebackers
• Pedro Trevino -Defensive Backs

Special Teams Coaches

• Anthony Wooden - Special Teams Coordinator

References

• The Milwaukee Sentinel - Google News Archive Search
• JSOnline.com News Archives (Subscription required)
• Men young and old chase football dreams at Racine Raiders tryout
• Raiders leave NAFL for MidStates Football League
• Racine Raiders don't find the answer

External links

• Racine Raiders Official Website
• Play for the Raiders - Racine Raiders Official Recruiting Website
• WRJN 1400 AM
• Racine Journal Times

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