The Chicago Rush season was the 12th season for the franchise in the Arena Football League. The team was coached by Bob McMillen and played their last few home games at BMO Harris Bank Center. The team's first five home games were played at Allstate Arena. The Rush won their division with a 10–8 record, but fell in the conference semifinals by a 69–47 score to the Spokane Shock.
Ownership On November 12, 2012, the Chicago Rush were purchased by a group, headed by Julee White of Testarossa Entertainment, but the purchase was terminated by the AFL three months later due to the ownership's failure to meet league obligations.
On February 7, 2013, the Rush were purchased by Star Rush Football, LLC, an ownership led by private-equity firm manager David Staral Jr.AFL approves new owner for Chicago Rush, The Daily Herald, February 8, 2013 Weeks later, they finalized a deal with Allstate Arena in Rosemont to play all but two home games.Chicago Rush to play at Allstate Arena this season, Danny Ecker, ChicagoBusiness.com, February 27, 2013 The other two home games (June 8 against the Utah Blaze and June 15 versus the San Antonio Talons) will be played at the BMO Harris Bank Center in Rockford, Illinois, which hosted the first "test game" for the AFL in 1986., Matt Trowbridge, Rockford Register Star, March 1, 2013 One week before the season opener, the new ownership group introduced the team's new logo and uniforms, which removed the gray from the logo and replaced it with red. It was reported on May 7, 2013 that Staral Jr. had been ordered by the league to leave the team for not paying league dues, causing the league to take ownership of the Rush yet again.
It was announced on May 24 that the Rush would not play either of its final two home games at Allstate Arena. The league announced on May 30 that the game scheduled for July 13 against the Cleveland Gladiators would be played at BMO Harris Bank Center, while the team's final regular season game against the San Jose SaberCats was changed to a road game to be played at HP Pavilion at San Jose, the home of the SaberCats.
Standings
Regular season schedule The Rush began the season by hosting the Iowa Barnstormers on March 23. They closed the regular season against the San Jose SaberCats on the road on July 27.
Week Day Date Kickoff Opponent Results Location Report Score Record 1 Saturday March 23 7:00 p.m. CDT Iowa Barnstormers L 41–63 0–1 Allstate Arena 2 Sunday March 31 3:00 p.m. CDT Spokane Shock L 61–76 0–2 Allstate Arena 3 Friday April 5 7:30 p.m. CDT at San Antonio Talons W 48–41 1–2 Alamodome 4 Sunday April 14 3:00 p.m. CDT Pittsburgh Power W 45–14 2–2 Allstate Arena 5 Saturday April 20 9:00 p.m. CDT at Utah Blaze W 59–56 3–2 EnergySolutions Arena 6 Friday April 26 7:05 p.m. CDT at Iowa Barnstormers W 64–63 4–2 Wells Fargo Arena 7 Saturday May 4 7:00 p.m. CDT Philadelphia Soul L 41–72 4–3 Allstate Arena 8 Saturday May 11 6:00 p.m. CDT at Cleveland Gladiators L 50–53 4–4 Quicken Loans Arena 9 Sunday May 19 3:00 p.m. CDT Arizona Rattlers L 49–56 4–5 Allstate Arena 10 Saturday May 25 8:00 p.m. CDT at New Orleans VooDoo W 84–48 5–5 New Orleans Arena 11 Saturday June 1 6:00 p.m. CDT at Orlando Predators W 63–55 6–5 Amway Center 12 Saturday June 8 7:00 p.m. CDT Utah Blaze W 67–43 7–5 BMO Harris Bank Center 13 Saturday June 15 7:00 p.m. CDT San Antonio Talons L 54–61 7–6 BMO Harris Bank Center 14 Saturday June 22 6:30 p.m. CDT at Tampa Bay Storm W 50–49 8–6 Tampa Bay Times Forum 15 Bye 16 Saturday July 6 6:05 p.m. CDT at Philadelphia Soul L 26–58 8–7 Wells Fargo Center 17 Saturday July 13 7:00 p.m. CDT Cleveland Gladiators W 68–32 9–7 BMO Harris Bank Center 18 Saturday July 20 8:00 p.m. CDT at Arizona Rattlers W 63–42 10–7 US Airways Center 19 Saturday July 27 9:30 p.m. CDT at San Jose SaberCats L 40–65 10–8 HP Pavilion at San Jose
Playoffs Round Day Date Kickoff Opponent Results Location Report NC Semifinals Thursday August 1 9:00 p.m. CDT at Spokane Shock L 47–69 Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena
Final roster 2013 Chicago Rush roster Quarterbacks
Fullbacks
Wide receivers Offensive linemen
Defensive linemen Linebackers
Defensive backs
Kickers Injured Reserve
Refuse to report
League suspension
Inactive Reserve currently vacant
Recallable reassignment currently vacant
Other league exempt
Emergency hold
rookies in italics Roster updated August 2, 2013 24 Active, 14 Inactive
Staff 2013 Chicago Rush staff Front office Owner – David Staral, Jr. Executive vice president – Ryan Simmons Director of football operations – Jon Redmond Director of Game & Ticket Operations – Craig Bornemeier Director of Marketing & Public Relations – Mike McLaughlin Equipment manager – Jeff Henderson Head coach Head coach – Bob McMillen
Offensive coaches Offensive coordinator – Siaha Burley
Defensive coaches Assistant head coach / defensive coordinator – Walter Housman
Special teams coaches Special teams coordinator / director of player personnel – Scott Bailey
References