Football Hall of Fame

Professional indoor football burst onto the Peoria sports scene in 1999, and one year later, the Pirates stormed to the Indoor Football League Gold Cup championship. Drawing nearly 9,000 fans per home game at Carver Arena, the 2000 Pirates went 17-0 and are still the only unbeaten team in the history of pro indoor football at any level.

Coached by Bruce Cowdrey, the Pirates were anchored on the line by Greater Peoria Sports Hall of Famer and former NFL player Tim Simpson. Sedrick Robinson earned IFL Playoff MVP honors by rushing for 103 yards, receiving for 98 more and scoring six touchdowns to lead the Pirates to their 63-42 Gold Cup II victory over the Bismarck Blaze. Ken Bouie was named the league’s Defensive Player of the Year.

Notable moments during the season included a 71-13 victory over LaCrosse, scoring the last 22 points of a game to defeat Duluth-Superior, 58-52, and a 42-yard field goal for a 62-59 overtime win at Madison.