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HISTORY
OF THE MCADOO FOOTBALL LEAGUE
By:
Michael Bielen
MFL
is a Touch Football League established in 1988 in the
small town of McAdoo, PA. MFL has evolved into one of the
most highly competitive and elite football organizations
in Schuylkill County. The desire and dedication to win
is a necessity weekend after weekend. It is all about
two things pride and respect, which is usually lost or
established on the field. Over the past 6 years MFL has
grown a large cult following around the area and
continues to be the standard for all football
organizations.
The MFL is now established for wanting to make an effort
to present people who no longer have college or high
school eligibility, the opportunity to continue to play
the game we all love, football. In accordance with this
mutual goal, the MFL established a set of guidelines.
These guidelines are reviewed and amended yearly and
have raised the level of play in the league. The MFL
plays under slightly modified restrictions, such as the
field length, 5 down possessions, two point conversions,
and points in order to win a ballgame. For the 2001
season, MFL plans to raise the level of performance even
more. The season is slated to begin play Memorial weekend
in May.
MFL began in 1988 when the first game was played in St.
Patrick's Field. Here is where the MFL made a name for
itself with the many hard fought games and battles by
the innovators of the league. They had a vision of what
MFL can stand for and become. Soon MFL adopted a second
field called Father Martin's Field, here is were MFL
experienced alot of first. One being the first night
game in MFL history and the first game of what is now
called the "Thanksgiving Classic", which has
become an annual event on Thanksgiving Weekend. At this
point MFL had established itself as the measuring stick
for all hardcore football leagues through out the
Northeast Pennsylvania area. After these 2 classic
Fields became obsolete, MFL packed its bags and began
playing their games at the now famous MFL Veterans
Memorial Field. For over 7 years this has been the site
of almost all MFL games, occasionally MFL played games
at near by Alternative Field in Kelyares until the 1999
Season, when it was retired.
For
the first time, 3 years ago, MFL extended its membership
outside the borders of McAdoo. These people would become
known has the "Outsiders", who attempted a
hostile takeover of the league. The defining moment in
MFL history occurred in near by Morea, Pennsylvania,
when MFL successfully defended its honor by defeating
the original "Outsiders" 100-93. The Mike
Bielen's catch on a 2 point
conversion sealed the victory for Team MFL. This team
consisted of Mike Bielen, Nick Perhonitch, Chris
Perhonitch, and Mario Dercole. MFL had enormous momentum
through out the summer of 1996. However, it suffered a set back
later in the summer in that same year by losing to the
"Outsiders" at Alternative Field.
MFL has since moved on and has also expanded its
membership further by recruiting further outside talent.
To this day the MFL Revolution has continued and is
getting ready to set even higher standards in football
action. MFL plans to become more aggressive and compete
more often and set Northeast Pennsylvania on fire. MFL
celebrated its 10th year anniversary during the
summer of 1998 down in Ocean City, MD. There has been many feuds within the MFL over
the past 12 years and have helped to fuel the
competitive fire within each MFL player. In the summer
of 1999 another first occurred with the official
recognition of Steve Gelatko and Tim Matula as team MFL
members. There have been many Outsiders who played in
the MFL, but these two were the first Outsiders to
become members of the MFL. 1999 Season saw the number of
MFL players grow and the number of games played. If 1999
was any indication of what MFL stands for, the upcoming
years look to be just as successful.
Fueled by Hatred for Tradition, the Revolution Grows
Stronger!!!
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