Indianapolis Capitols

The team was considered "an outgrowth" of the Indianapolis Warriors, which played in the United Football League from 1961 to 1964, moved to Fort Wayne, Indiana, to become the Fort Wayne Warriors in 1965 with the Continental Football League (CFL), and then moved again to Montreal to become the Montreal Beavers with the CFL from 1966 to 1967.{{cite news |title=Caps To Open MFL Title Defense At Detroit July 13 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75686312/the-indianapolis-star/ |newspaper=The Indianapolis Star |via=Newspapers.com |date=May 31, 1974 |access-date=April 13, 2021}}

The Capitols started play in 1968 as members of the CFL and played their home games at Bush Stadium. The team won the COFL championship in 1969, the final season of the league. On April 4, 1970, with the future of the COFL uncertain, the Capitols moved to the rival Atlantic Coast Football League.{{cite news |title=Capitols Join Atlantic Loop |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75619139/the-indianapolis-star/ |newspaper=The Indianapolis Star |via=Newspapers.com |date=April 5, 1970 |access-date=April 12, 2021}} The Capitols went 6–6 in 1970.{{cite news |author=Miller, Robin |title=Caps Manhandle Bulls |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75619291/the-indianapolis-star/ |newspaper=The Indianapolis Star |via=Newspapers.com |date=December 6, 1970 |access-date=April 12, 2021}} After one season in the ACFL, Indianapolis announced that it was ceasing operations due to a lack of fan support and adequate playing facilities.{{cite news|title=Money Problems Stop Indianapolis Capitols|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75619422/the-herald/|work=The Daily Herald|agency=UPI|date=April 7, 1971|access-date=April 12, 2021}}

A reconstituted version of the Indianapolis Capitols started play in the Midwest Football League in 1972 as the Indiana Caps.{{cite news |author=Stultz, Max |title=Caps Start Anew; New League, Town |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75617802/the-indianapolis-star/ |newspaper=The Indianapolis Star |via=Newspapers.com |date=July 7, 1972 |access-date=April 12, 2021}} The Caps won the MWL championship in 1972 after posting an 8–2 regular season record.{{cite news |title=Caps Win MFL Title |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75628828/the-indianapolis-star/ |newspaper=The Indianapolis Star |via=Newspapers.com |date=October 15, 1972 |access-date=April 12, 2021}} The team changed its name to the Hoosier Caps in April 1973,{{cite news |title=Grid Caps Back In Business Again |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75638159/the-indianapolis-news/ |newspaper=The Indianapolis News |via=Newspapers.com |date=April 23, 1973 |access-date=April 12, 2021}} then again in June to the Indy Caps.{{cite news |author=Angelopoulos, Jimmie |title=Caps Play For The Love Of It |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75642389/the-indianapolis-news/ |newspaper=The Indianapolis News |via=Newspapers.com |date=July 11, 1973 |access-date=April 12, 2021}} They had a farm team agreement with the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL) for the 1973 season.{{cite news |title=Ed Dubaj Fills Role of Grid Coach With 2 Teams |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75638998/lansing-state-journal/ |newspaper=Lansing State Journal |via=Newspapers.com |date=May 20, 1973 |access-date=April 12, 2021}} They went 8–2 in 1973,{{cite book |last1=Gill |first1=Bob |last2=Maher |first2=Tod |last3=Brainerd |first3=Steve |title=Outsiders II: Minor League and Independent Football 1951–1985 |publisher=St. Johann Press |year=2010 |pages=113–116 |isbn=9781878282651}} and were named league champions after a coin toss to break a tie.{{cite news |author=Fortner, Larry |title=Caps Say 'We're For Real' |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75685263/the-indianapolis-news/ |newspaper=The Indianapolis News |via=Newspapers.com |date=May 31, 1974 |access-date=April 13, 2021}} Indy won the Capitol Division in 1974 with a record of 9–1,{{cite news |title=Midwest Football League (Final Standings) |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75739399/lansing-state-journal/ |newspaper=Lansing State Journal |via=Newspapers.com |date=September 18, 1974 |access-date=April 14, 2021}} and lost in the championship game against the Flint Sabres, 15–2.{{cite news |title=Caps Drop 15–2 Playoff Battle |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75739731/the-indianapolis-star/ |newspaper=The Indianapolis Star |via=Newspapers.com |date=September 29, 1974 |access-date=April 14, 2021}} The team withdrew from the MFL before the 1975 season.{{cite news |author=Myers, Mike |title='Sleeping' Caps Eye '76 Awakening |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75742193/the-indianapolis-news/ |newspaper=The Indianapolis News |via=Newspapers.com |date=July 23, 1975 |access-date=April 14, 2021}}

Indianapolis returned to the MFL in 1977 as the Indy Superstars,{{cite news |title='Superstars' Eye MPFL Battle |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75754711/the-indianapolis-star/ |newspaper=The Indianapolis Star |via=Newspapers.com |date=August 24, 1977 |access-date=April 14, 2021}} coached by Percy Griffin.{{cite news |title=Indy Superstars Face Michigan |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75755741/the-indianapolis-news/ |newspaper=The Indianapolis News |via=Newspapers.com |date=August 25, 1977 |access-date=April 14, 2021}} The team went 2–4 and finished in third place for the season.{{cite news |title=Midwest Football League standings |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75755090/lansing-state-journal/ |newspaper=Lansing State Journal |via=Newspapers.com |date=October 16, 1977 |access-date=April 14, 2021}} They changed their team name in 1978 to the Indy Kaps.{{cite news |title=Kaps Host Kalamazoo |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75757820/the-indianapolis-news/ |newspaper=The Indianapolis News |via=Newspapers.com |date=July 14, 1978 |access-date=April 14, 2021}} They placed third in their division with a 6–4 record,{{cite news |title=MFL playoffs begin |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75758476/lansing-state-journal/ |newspaper=Lansing State Journal |via=Newspapers.com |date=September 13, 1978 |access-date=April 14, 2021}} and lost in the first round of the playoffs to the Kalamazoo All-Stars.{{cite news |title=Caps crushed by Columbus |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75758349/lansing-state-journal/ |newspaper=Lansing State Journal |via=Newspapers.com |date=September 19, 1978 |access-date=April 14, 2021}}

In 1979, the team joined the Northern States Football League.{{cite news |author=Hurt, Murray |title=Black Hawks to tour Europe |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75759748/the-rock-island-argus/ |newspaper=The Rock Island Argus |via=Newspapers.com |date=May 17, 1979 |access-date=April 14, 2021}}{{cite news |title=Caps |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75760369/the-indianapolis-star/ |newspaper=The Indianapolis Star |via=Newspapers.com |date=July 28, 1980 |access-date=April 14, 2021}}

{{Reflist}}

Category:Continental Football League teams

Category:Atlantic Coast Football League teams

Category:Midwest Football League (1962–1978) teams

Category:Defunct American football teams in Indiana

Category:Sports clubs and teams in Indianapolis

Category:American football teams established in 1968

Category:Sports clubs and teams disestablished in 1969

Category:1968 establishments in Indiana

Category:1979 disestablishments in Indiana