The Ozarks Lunkers are a professional indoor football team based in Springfield, Missouri. They are currently members of The Arena League (TAL). They will play their home games at Wilson Logistics Arena, a multipurpose arena built next to the Ozark Empire Fairgrounds.
History
On March 9, 2023, League Commissioner Tim Brown announced Springfield, Missouri as one of four cities that would be receiving an Arena League team.[2] The Lunkers are the second Arena Football team in Springfield, Missouri, after the short-lived Springfield WolfPack of the APFL.
On October 20, 2023 CoxHealth signed into a partnership with the Lunkers as the team's health care provider.[3][4]
Team name and logo
After receiving nearly five thousand entries for the name-the-team contest, Ozarks Lunkers was selected; submitted by Nixa resident, Diane Buatte. Lunker is an exceptionally large specimen, particularly a fish. The team's primary logo depicts a leaping largemouth bass wearing a red football helmet. The logos were designed by Ryan Foose.
Many submissions were related to fishing, Route 66, soda jerks, or the Great Cobra Scare of 1953.
Roster
The first of two open tryouts for the Lunkers was held on October 21, 2023.[5] The Lunkers held a closed scrimmage of 19 players on November 19, 2023.[6] The second open tryout was held on December 9, 2023.[7]
On December 5, 2023, the Lunkers signed Matt Rush, the first player to sign with a TAL team.[8] Rush went to Springfield's Hillcrest High School and played defensive back at Missouri State.
| Ozarks Lunkers roster | ||||||
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Players
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Reserve lists
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Staff
Front office
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Head coaches
Offensive coaches
Defensive coaches
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Management
On June 14, 2023, the league announced Mark A. Burgess, a local airline owner, would be the principal owner of the team and that the team would be called the Ozarks Lunkers for their inaugural season. [9]
On October 4, 2023 the team announced Cam Bruffett as the head coach.[10]
References
- ^ "Ozarks Lunkers Hire Caleb Scott as General Manager". Ozarks Sports Zone. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
- ^ Schmidt, John (9 March 2023). "Springfield to get arena football team". KOLR. Retrieved 15 June 2023.
- ^ Pickle, Geoff (20 October 2023). "CoxHealth to provide care for Ozarks Lunkers". Springfield Business Journal. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
- ^ "The Ozarks Lunkers partner with CoxHealth for inaugural season". CoxHealth. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
- ^ "Ozarks Lunkers hold open tryouts". Ozarks First. 21 October 2023. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
- ^ "Ozark Lunkers hold closed scrimmage for second team tryout". No. 19 November 2023. Ozarks First. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
- ^ "Tryouts". Ozarks Lunkers. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
- ^ Pinson, Chris (5 December 2023). "Lunkers reel in Springfield native Rush". Ozarks First. Retrieved 7 December 2023.
- ^ "Owner reveals name for Springfield's new Arena League football team". KY3. 14 June 2023. Retrieved 15 June 2023.
- ^ "Ozarks Lunkers Hire Cam Bruffett as Inaugural Head Coach". Ozarks Sports Zone. 4 October 2023. Retrieved 23 October 2023.