Cincinnati Crusaders

The Cincinnati Crusaders are a Division III team in Blitz the League I and II. They were one of 15 recurring teams from the original Blitz the League game. The Crusaders were known for being a cell dweller and one of the weakest teams in the League.

History

The Crusaders joined the League in 1978 as an expansion team. The Crusaders nickname was originally intended for the New York franchise, but that city rejected the name in favor of the New York Nightmare, so the Crusaders name was given to the Cincinnati franchise instead. A coin flip determined that the Crusaders would begin in Division II.

The "Ear" Controversy and Fall to Division III

In 2003 controversay arose over an incident between Crusaders TE Xavier Fillmore and Baltimore Bearcats LB Bruno Battaglia. Battaglia plowed Fillmore into a metal bench with an out of bounds hit, severing his ear. When the teams met again in Cincinnati, Battaglia wore an ear on a chain around his neck. While the ear was later proven to be a fake, the fans nearly rioted, and Battaglia earned himself a police escort off the field. By 2004 the Crusaders had fallen down in to Division III, a division created by a merger between The League and Clive Hanson's Scrub League.

Going into Blitz I

The star on their offense was running back Kwazi Mbutabe. The Crusaders are nicknamed the "Altar Boys" due to their constant whining about the lack of respect the team is shown. Most stars who play for the Crusaders are often lured away for more money and out of dissatisfaction with the team's losing ways.

Going into Blitz II

Sometime between the two Blitz games Mbutabe fell out of favor with the Crusaders and he was shipped off to the Baltimore Bearcats. They used the added revenue to get star defensive back Ezekiel Freeman from the now defunct San Diego Cyclones.

Team Info

Team Captain:

HB Kwazi Mbutabe (2001 - 2005)

FS Ezekiel Freeman (2006 - Present)

Stadium

Crusader Stadium (1978 - present)

Cincinnati Crusaders Roster (BTL I)

Quarterbacks

13 Reilly Brennan QB
5 Phillip Armstrong QB
3 Billy Harping QB

Running Backs

30 Kwazi Mbutabe HB
34 Darryl Witman HB
25 Greg Smith RB
46 Joe Broni FB
38 Calvin Neal FB

Wide Receivers

89 Tyrone Amaris WR
82 Cedrick Miles WR
80 Charlie Thomas WR
81 Wayne Rogers WR
85 Nate Jasper WR

Tight Ends

83 Kevin Thomas TE
84 Brian Gage TE
87 Jerome Martin TE

Offensive Line

72 ?. Jackson C

68 ?. Dodge G
71 ?. Colton G

Defensive Line

97 ?. Drones DE
84 ?. West DE
93 ?. Willis DT

Linebackers

55 Trent Goodman LB
50 David Dawson LB
58 Hal Ridge LB
52 Darryl Keena LB

Defensive Backs

22 Vance Simmons CB
31 William Ball CB
29 Ceaser Val S
34 Sedrick Dwight S

Special Teams

12 Avery McKenna K
4 Alan Skakker P

Cincinnati Crusaders Roster (BTL II)