Tri-City Apollos

The Tri-City Apollos were a professional American football team based in Midland, Michigan.

Tri-City Apollos
Founded1962
Folded1970
LeagueMidwest Football League, Continental Football League
Based inMidland, Michigan; Detroit
ArenaMidland Stadium; University of Detroit Stadium
Championships4 (1962, 1965, 1966, 1967)
Division titles0

Early years

The team began as the Macomb Arrows in 1962, playing in Pontiac, Michigan in the semi-pro Midwest Football League.[1] After winning four MFL championships, the club changed their name to the Pontiac Arrows; in 1968, the team went fully professional by becoming the Michigan Arrows, moving their home games to Detroit, and joining the Continental Football League.

Continental Football League
Detroit Free Press ad

Unfortunately, the Arrows did not have the organization nor the personnel to compete in the market of the NFL's Detroit Lions. The quarterback position was rotated among several players, including local product Ron Bishop, who played at U-D in the early sixties before the school dropped football. (The Arrows did have one player of note: ex-Lions kicker Garo Yepremian, who kicked six of ten field goal attempts.)[2]

Only 3,415 fans showed up for the Arrows' first game on September 7, 1968, at University of Detroit Stadium, an overtime loss to Omaha; the day would turn tragic when Mustangs' linebacker Glenn Hepburn was knocked unconscious and suffered a ruptured blood vessel in his brain. Hepburn, 30, would pass away four days later at Martin Place Hospital in Madison Heights, Michigan, the only fatality in CoFL history. On the field, Michigan would wind up losing all five of their home games, drawing just 4,554 per contest. The final home game of the season was shifted to Midland: a 62-6 pounding at the hands of Ohio Valley in front of 3,450, dropping Michigan's final record to 1-11.

In January 1969, the Arrows announced a permanent move to Midland,[3] as well as a name change to the Tri-City Apollos.[4] Things did not improve much on the field nor at the gate, however. Led by former Chicago Bears backup QB Larry Rakestraw, the Apollos lost their first eight games en route to a 2-10 record in front of tiny crowds: twice, Tri-City drew less than 1,000 for games at the Midland High School stadium. When the CoFL ceased operations in 1970, so did the Apollos.[5]

Season-by-season
YearLeagueWLTFinishCoach
Michigan Arrows 1968Continental Football League11106th, Atlantic DivisionLisle Wells
Tri-City Apollos 1969Continental Football League21005th, Atlantic DivisionChuck Cherundolo
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References
  1. "Arrows Start Grid Practice". Detroit Free Press. 27 June 1967.
  2. http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/nfl/miami-dolphins/article21153423.html
  3. "Arrows Shift Site". The Holland Evening Sentinel. UPI. 15 January 1969.
  4. "Arrows' New Name: Apollos". Detroit Free Press. Associated Press. 26 January 1969.
  5. "Birds Draft 13; Complete Trade". The Pottstown Mercury. May 4, 1970. p. 15.
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