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 History |
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THE HISTORY OF THE ASHEVILLE GRIZZLIES
In 1973 Western North Carolina was a hot bed for High School and College
football. The fans were rabid and plentiful at all levels of the game. With this
atmosphere, the Asheville Bears Semi-Pro football team was formed and was granted membership into the Dixie Football League. The Asheville Bears participated in the Dixie Football League until 1979 and at that time they ceased operations.
In 1981 semi-pro football was revived in the Asheville area when the Asheville Chiefs were formed and was granted membership into the Georgia Football League. The Asheville Chiefs were operated in the Asheville area and participated in the Georgia Football League and the Internatioanl Football League from 1981 until 1985.
In 1984 there was wide spread opinion that the mountain area could support two semi-pro teams and the Carolina Bandits were established in the McDowell County area and participated in the Carolina Football League until 1988. In 1988 the Bandits ceased operations and semi-pro football in the Asheville area was dormant until 1998.
In 1998 the Asheville Bears were revived and once again established semi-pro football in the Asheville area. In 1998 the Asheville Bears participated in the Southern Football League and finished with a record of 7 and 3. In 1999 the Asheville Bears joined the North South Football League and accomplished a first for semi-pro football in Western North Carolina. They finished the season and post season with a perfect record - UNBEATEN AND UNTIED 11 AND 0!
With wide spread recognition of the Asheville Bears 1999 season, State and National attention of semi-pro football turned towards the Western North Carolina area. In an effort to control their own destiny and to upgrade the level of competition, the players of the Asheville Bears decided to form their own team with the concept of growth and expansion. This led to the establishment of the - ASHEVILLE GRIZZLIES and their association with the Millennium Football League. The Millennium Football League was a major stepping stone for the Asheville Grizzlies. It established greater competition outside the state of North Carolina. With teams established in TN, SC and GA, the Grizzlies had a chance to prove themselves on a National Level. The Grizzlies completed the 2000 season again 11 - 0 in league play and won the Millennium Football League Championship. They also received for the first time in Western North Carolina an invitation to play for the United States Football Association (USFA) National Championship playoff series where they lost in the semi-final round.
The 2001 season proved to be just as successful. The Grizzlies again completed a winning season in the Millennium Football League with a record of 10 - 1. They also received another invitation to the USFA National Champion playoff series where they again made it to the semi-final round.
With growth and expansion on their mind the Grizzlies had their toughest road ahead in the 2002 season. With an invitation to join the highest level of competition and move from Semi-pro to Professional Minor League Football the Grizzlies joined the North American Football League (NAFL). The NAFL which houses 144 Minor League teams from Coast to Coast and has produced players to play at the Professional level (ie AFL 2, AFL, NFL Europe, and the NFL). The Grizzlies first year in the NAFL proved to be tough but successfull, completed the regular season in the Southeastern Division with a 9 - 2 record. Though the Grizzlies did not win the Southeastern Division Title, they received a Wild Card Bid to compete in the NAFL playoff series and again they won the Southern Regional Championship and competed in the semi-final round of the NAFL Championship series finishing the season at 12 - 2.
During the 2003 season, the Grizzlies won the Southeast Division with a 10 - 2 record. The Grizzlies made it to the third round of the playoffs where the they relingquished their three year hold on the Southeastern regional championship and finished their season with a 12 - 3 record.
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