BAMFL enters United Youth Football League with 5 teams this season
The South Butler Hawks, Island Yellow Jackets, Southside Blue Streaks, Center Township Rams, Meridian Purple Raiders, West End Cardinals, South Butler Wildcats, Institute Hill Mustangs, Penn Street Cardinals, East Butler Bulldogs, Lyndora Copperheads and East Side Mustangs once comprised the Butler Area Midget Football League.
But that was years ago.
“Sometimes I wish we had enough kids that we could go back to those neighborhood-type teams,” current BAMFL president Jayson Rees said. “But we’re still doing pretty good.”
The BAMFL is beginning its 75th season later this month. The league now consists of one team in the Mite division (ages 7-8), two each in the junior varsity division (9-10) and varsity (11-12).
The league has 150 football players and 138 cheerleaders. Each team will have its own cheerleading squad this season.
“We used to have to split the cheerleaders up to get some to certain games,” Rees said. “We don’t have to do that anymore.”
When the BAMFL stood alone, it averaged 275 youth football players per season for years.
The BAMFL has been competing in the United Youth Football League, which includes teams from Avonworth, Fox Chapel, Hampton, Mars, North Hills, Pine-Richland, Quaker Valley, Seneca Valley and North Allegheny.
“Our organization won five Super Bowls in eight years,” said Dave Patton, BAMFL athletic director and one of its head coaches. “They changed the rules last year and teams had to have an equal number of 9 and 10-year-olds, 11 and 12-year-olds on their rosters.
“Some organizations with two teams loaded up one team with their best talent. We didn’t do that, which hurt us last year.”
Only one of the BAMFL teams reached the playoffs a year ago.
“I doubt that will be the case this year,” Patton said.
To commemorate its 75th anniversary, the BAMFL got new uniforms for all of its players. The uniforms emphasize Butler’s colors and have the Golden Tornado nickname on the pants.
“There’s so much history in this league and we wanted to honor the 75th anniversary,” Rees said. “We still talk to guys like (former BAMFL president) Bob Zavacky for advice, Ralph Graham still comes down to paint the field ... A lot of people are involved.
"I played for the Southside Blue Streaks back in the day. Harry Leyland coached me and I still remember things he said to me when I was 9 or 10 years old. I’m in my 50s now. Harry coached for more than 35 years. Guys like him, Red Slater, Bob Zavacky, others like them, so giving of their time.“
The BAMFL has one girl among its 150 players this season — 11-year-old wide receiver Promize Russel. Patton coaches her and said she’ll be a starter.
A BAMFL pep rally is planned for 1 p.m. Sunday at Memorial Park. All of the players and cheerleaders will be on hand.
The BAMFL was founded in 1948 by then-Butler High School varsity coach A. Gerald Capezzuti, Roger Patrizio, Earl Whitney and Alf Allam.
“Seventy-five years is a long time for any organization,” Patton said. “We’re proud to be a part of it.”
“We just want to keep it going for the next generation and generations to come,” Rees said.
