2013 Chicago Rush season

The 2013 Chicago Rush season was the 12th season for the franchise in the Arena Football League. The team was coached by Bob McMillen and played their last few home games at BMO Harris Bank Center. The team's first five home games were played at Allstate Arena. The Rush won their division with a 10–8 record, but fell in the conference semifinals by a 69–47 score to the Spokane Shock.

2013 Chicago Rush season
OwnerDavid Staral Jr. (until May 7th)
Arena Football League (interim)
Head coachBob McMillen
Home fieldAllstate Arena &
BMO Harris Bank Center
Results
Record10–8
Division place1st NC Central
Playoff finishLost Conference Semifinals (Shock) 47–69

Ownership

On November 12, 2012, the Chicago Rush were purchased by a group, headed by Julee White of Testarossa Entertainment,[1] but the purchase was terminated by the AFL three months later due to the ownership's failure to meet league obligations.[2]

On February 7, 2013, the Rush were purchased by Star Rush Football, LLC, an ownership led by private-equity firm manager David Staral Jr.[3] Weeks later, they finalized a deal with Allstate Arena in Rosemont to play all but two home games.[4] The other two home games (June 8 against the Utah Blaze and June 15 versus the San Antonio Talons) will be played at the BMO Harris Bank Center in Rockford, Illinois, which hosted the first "test game" for the AFL in 1986.[5] One week before the season opener, the new ownership group introduced the team's new logo and uniforms, which removed the gray from the logo and replaced it with red.[6] It was reported on May 7, 2013 that Staral Jr. had been ordered by the league to leave the team for not paying league dues, causing the league to take ownership of the Rush yet again.[7]

It was announced on May 24 that the Rush would not play either of its final two home games at Allstate Arena.[8] The league announced on May 30 that the game scheduled for July 13 against the Cleveland Gladiators would be played at BMO Harris Bank Center, while the team's final regular season game against the San Jose SaberCats was changed to a road game to be played at HP Pavilion at San Jose, the home of the SaberCats.[9]

Standings
Central Division
Team W L PCT PF PA DIV CON Home Away
y-Chicago Rush 10 8 .556 973 947 2–2 5–5 3–5 7–3
San Antonio Talons 10 8 .556 782 884 2–2 3–8 4–5 6–3
Iowa Barnstormers 6 12 .333 827 913 2–2 3–7 2–7 4–5

y - Clinched division

Regular season schedule

The Rush began the season by hosting the Iowa Barnstormers on March 23. They closed the regular season against the San Jose SaberCats on the road on July 27.[9][10][11]

Week Day Date Kickoff Opponent Results Location Report
Score Record
1 Saturday March 23 7:00 p.m. CDT Iowa Barnstormers L 41–63 0–1 Allstate Arena [12]
2 Sunday March 31 3:00 p.m. CDT Spokane Shock L 61–76 0–2 Allstate Arena [13]
3 Friday April 5 7:30 p.m. CDT at San Antonio Talons W 48–41 1–2 Alamodome [14]
4 Sunday April 14 3:00 p.m. CDT Pittsburgh Power W 45–14 2–2 Allstate Arena [15]
5 Saturday April 20 9:00 p.m. CDT at Utah Blaze W 59–56 3–2 EnergySolutions Arena [16]
6 Friday April 26 7:05 p.m. CDT at Iowa Barnstormers W 64–63 (OT) 4–2 Wells Fargo Arena [17]
7 Saturday May 4 7:00 p.m. CDT Philadelphia Soul L 41–72 4–3 Allstate Arena [18]
8 Saturday May 11 6:00 p.m. CDT at Cleveland Gladiators L 50–53 4–4 Quicken Loans Arena [19]
9 Sunday May 19 3:00 p.m. CDT Arizona Rattlers L 49–56 4–5 Allstate Arena [20]
10 Saturday May 25 8:00 p.m. CDT at New Orleans VooDoo W 84–48 5–5 New Orleans Arena [21]
11 Saturday June 1 6:00 p.m. CDT at Orlando Predators W 63–55 6–5 Amway Center [22]
12 Saturday June 8 7:00 p.m. CDT Utah Blaze W 67–43 7–5 BMO Harris Bank Center [23]
13 Saturday June 15 7:00 p.m. CDT San Antonio Talons L 54–61 7–6 BMO Harris Bank Center [24]
14 Saturday June 22 6:30 p.m. CDT at Tampa Bay Storm W 50–49 8–6 Tampa Bay Times Forum [25]
15 Bye
16 Saturday July 6 6:05 p.m. CDT at Philadelphia Soul L 26–58 8–7 Wells Fargo Center [26]
17 Saturday July 13 7:00 p.m. CDT Cleveland Gladiators W 68–32 9–7 BMO Harris Bank Center [27]
18 Saturday July 20 8:00 p.m. CDT at Arizona Rattlers W 63–42 10–7 US Airways Center
19 Saturday July 27 9:30 p.m. CDT at San Jose SaberCats L 40–65 10–8 HP Pavilion at San Jose [28]

Playoffs
Round Day Date Kickoff Opponent Results Location Report
NC Semifinals Thursday August 1 9:00 p.m. CDT at Spokane Shock L 47–69 Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena [29]

Final roster
2013 Chicago Rush roster
Quarterbacks

Fullbacks

  • 34 J. J. Payne

Wide receivers

 Offensive linemen
  • 63 Zack McKnight

Defensive linemen

  • 12 Anthony Hoke
Linebackers

Defensive backs

  •  9 Camerron Cheatham
  • -- Derek Dreher
  • 21 Semaj Moody
  • 13 Jerrell Norton
  •  5 Josh Pleasant

Kickers

 Injured Reserve

Refuse to report

  • 15 Trevor Coston DB

League suspension

  • 55 Brian McNally DL
  • 33 Martin Parker DL
  • 73 Ken Plue OL

Inactive Reserve

  • Currently vacant

Recallable reassignment

  • Currently vacant

Other league exempt

  •  5 Nekos Brown LB

Emergency hold

  •  6 Jose Martinez K

Rookies in italics
Roster updated August 2, 2013
24 Active, 14 Inactive

Staff
2013 Chicago Rush staff
Front Office
  • Owner – David Staral, Jr.
  • Executive Vice President – Ryan Simmons
  • Director of Football Operations – Jon Redmond
  • Director of Game & Ticket Operations – Craig Bornemeier
  • Director of Marketing & Public Relations – Mike McLaughlin
  • Equipment Manager – Jeff Henderson
  

Head Coach

Offensive Coaches

Defensive Coaches

Special Teams Coaches

  • Special Teams Coordinator / Director of Player Personnel – Scott Bailey

References
  1. "New ownership group takes over Chicago Rush". Daily Herald. November 21, 2012. Retrieved November 26, 2012.
  2. Danny Ecker (January 31, 2013). "Chicago Rush owner out after less than three months". www.chicagobusiness.com. Crain Communications, Inc. Retrieved January 31, 2013.
  3. AFL approves new owner for Chicago Rush, The Daily Herald, February 8, 2013
  4. Chicago Rush to play at Allstate Arena this season, Danny Ecker, ChicagoBusiness.com, February 27, 2013
  5. Chicago Rush to play 2 Arena League football games in Rockford, Matt Trowbridge, Rockford Register Star, March 1, 2013
  6. Danny Ecker (March 18, 2013). "Chicago Rush unveil new jerseys, colors". www.chicagobusiness.com. Crain Communications, Inc. Retrieved March 13, 2013.
  7. Danny Ecker (May 7, 2013). "Rush owner Staral: I'm out". www.chicagobusiness.com. Crain Communications, Inc. Retrieved May 30, 2013.
  8. Danny Ecker (May 24, 2013). "Chicago Rush won't play final games at Allstate Arena". www.chicagobusiness.com. Crain Communications, Inc. Retrieved May 30, 2013.
  9. "Rush to Play Third Home Game in Rockford". Arena Football League. May 30, 2013. Retrieved May 30, 2013.
  10. "AFL Announces 2013 Schedule". Arena Football League. November 13, 2012. Archived from the original on February 16, 2013. Retrieved February 17, 2013.
  11. "2013 Arena Football League Schedule". Arenafan.com. Retrieved February 17, 2013.
  12. Fred Mitchell (March 23, 2013). "Barnstormers spoil Rush opener". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved March 24, 2013.
  13. "Rush drop second game of season to Spokane". Chicago Rush. Arenafan.com. March 31, 2013. Retrieved March 31, 2013.
  14. "Rush earn win in San Antonio 48–41". Chicago Rush. Arenafan.com. April 6, 2013. Retrieved April 6, 2013.
  15. "Rush defeat Power 45–14 behind stout defensive effort". Chicago Rush. Arenafan.com. April 14, 2013. Retrieved April 15, 2013.
  16. "Rush defeat Utah Blaze in last second to improve to 3–2". Chicago Rush. Arenafan.com. April 21, 2013. Retrieved April 21, 2013.
  17. "Chicago defeats Iowa in overtime thriller 64–63". Chicago Rush. Arenafan.com. April 26, 2013. Retrieved April 26, 2013.
  18. "Rush drop third game of season 72–41 to Philadelphia Soul". Chicago Rush. Arenafan.com. May 4, 2013. Retrieved May 8, 2013.
  19. "Rush drop heartbreaker to Cleveland 53–50". Chicago Rush. Arenafan.com. May 12, 2013. Retrieved May 13, 2013.
  20. "Rattlers escape Chicago with 56–49 victory". Chicago Rush. Arenafan.com. May 19, 2013. Retrieved May 19, 2013.
  21. "Chicago runs over VooDoo". New Orleans VooDoo. Arenafan.com. May 26, 2013. Retrieved May 26, 2013.
  22. "Chicago Rush Escape Jungle with 63–55 Victory over the Orlando Predators". Chicago Rush. Arenafan.com. June 2, 2013. Retrieved June 2, 2013.
  23. "Rush Crush Blaze, 67–43, Behind 26 Straight Points and Stout Defense". Chicago Rush. Arenafan.com. June 9, 2013. Retrieved June 9, 2013.
  24. Jeff Sims (June 16, 2012). "Bad Decisions in Final Minute Cost Rush Against Talons". Arenafan.com. Retrieved June 17, 2013.
  25. "Reggie Gray's two-point dive caps thrilling Rush victory over Storm". Chicago Rush. Arenafan.com. June 23, 2013. Retrieved June 23, 2013.
  26. "Rush Knocked Out by 51–6 Soul Run, Fall to 6–2 on the Road". Chicago Rush. Arenafan.com. July 6, 2013. Retrieved July 7, 2013.
  27. "Gladiators eliminated from playoff contention with loss to Chicago". Cleveland Gladiators. Arenafan.com. July 14, 2013. Retrieved July 15, 2013.
  28. "SaberCats Conclude Regular Season With Win, 65–40 Over the Chicago Rush". San Jose SaberCats. Arenafan.com. July 28, 2013. Retrieved July 31, 2013.
  29. "Shock hold off the Rush in 69-47 win". Spokane Shock. Arenafan.com. August 2, 2013. Retrieved August 5, 2013.
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