My City July 2021

MYSPORTS

“We are going to surprise people with what we do this season and put the Fury back on the map.” CHARLES LAWLER, OWNER/HEAD COACH

The staff began working with about 80 players in January before family and/ or work commitments along with some deciding semipro football was not for them whittled the roster down to 50. They gather for practice for about three hours on Tuesday andThursday evenings at now-shuttered Flint Central. “We rarely cut anybody,”Lawler says.

“Guys tend to weed themselves out. It’s usually not possible for all 50 players to make every game because of other things going on in their lives, but this is one of our better years for depth of talent.” In addition to providing a tackle football outlet for adults and assisting them in improving their lives, a third aspect of the Fury’s mission is giving back to the community. Fury players have spent time visiting the Marion D. Crouse Instructional Center for special needs children in Flushing and the Boys and Girls Clubs of Flint. Some have also read to el ementary school children. Patton and Bransford run the Genesee County Wolfpack, a youth football program.

Lawler did not play football while attending Flint Northern, but joined a flag football team soon after graduating in 1988.That led to him join a semipro team in Lansing before beginning a lengthy stint with the Flint Falcons. He jumped to the Fury after the Falcons folded. Lawler also was part of the Flint Flames and Flint Phantoms indoor football teams which existed briefly dur ing the first decade of the century. The Fury play home games at Hamady High School.They host the Motor City Hawks on July 17 and the Southern Michigan Red Storm July 31. Both games kick off at 7pm. Playoffs begin August 7 should the Fury qualify. “Based on our start, things are looking good to have our first winning season since 2015 and make a playoff push,” Lawler says. “There is a lot of ex citement surrounding the team because new guys have come in eager to start playing and make their mark which has, in turn, fired up the older players.” x For tickets and further info, visit flintfuryfootball.com.

THE TEAM’S COLORS HAVE CHANGED TO RED, BLACK & WHITE.

48

MYCITYMAG.COM