Franchise ResourcesKeeping the tradition alive
July 30, 2006
BZ Rice grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and ever since he could remember he loved the game of Football. As a kid he can remember watching football on Sundays with his dad and after the game playing football with his brothers. He attended high school at Milwaukee South Division where he excelled at both offensive center and defensive tackle.
He earned first all-conference honors at the defensive tackle position his junior year. After his senior year, he again earned all-conference honors, but this time it was at the center position. After high school, Rice wanted to keep playing full contact football and enrolled at UW Oshkosh to continue his playing career. But after a semester of college, Rice returned home and quickly found a job.
He soon missed playing football and the competition that only football provided, so he decided to join a flag football league. It wasn’t like full contact, but it was football nonetheless. That’s where he met fellow teammate Tim Beuth who mentioned to Rice that he plays full contact football in the Ironman Football League. Beuth then invited Rice to play on his team which was called the Milwaukee Panthers. Rice jumped at the chance to play again and gladly accepted.
Rice joined the team in 2000 where he became an immediate impact on defense, stuffing the opponent’s running game and harassing quarterbacks on third and fourth down. In Rice’s rookie year, the Panthers met the heavily favored Milwaukee Raiders in their first Ironbowl appearance and shocked the IFL by beating them to win their first championship.
“The Panther championship team in 2000 was made up of a group of very special guys. We were a family first and foremost. We partied together, hung out together, and we watched each others backs on and off the field,” Rice says. “Few people remember that our team started with a 1-2 record that year, but we never gave up on each other or did any finger pointing. We were a true team and we persevered.”
In 2002 the Milwaukee Panthers folded, but Rice was invited by some friends to play for other teams outside the Ironman Football League. He played for the now defunct Milwaukee Invaders for two years and then for the Milwaukee Fury, whose team only lasted for one season. That’s when Rice applied for a franchise in the Ironman Football League.
“I wanted to come back to the IFL because of the growth and the level of competition. When I played for other leagues, the competition and quality just wasn’t there,” Rice says.
In 2005, Rice was granted a franchise and named the new team the Milwaukee Panthers. “I wanted to bring back the rich tradition that we once had. The main goal is to create a family-oriented atmosphere; that same family atmosphere that won us a championship back in 2000,” says Rice.
The Panthers are a young, talented team and in time will get better. In the Panthers first season back they had a 4-5 record and barely missed qualifying for the post season. This season has been a disappointing year them. Their record to date is 1-6 and the team has failed to come together.
“I think the problem with this year’s team is that we kind of got away from the family-oriented atmosphere,” Rice said. This is something he vows to change. “I’m as committed as ever to find players who will be committed to a team-first mentality.”
“I plan to weed out anybody who is a “me” player. I think we came a long way, but we still have a long way to go. There is still a lot of room for improvement,” Rice said.
Rice has run a great organization since he became the owner of the team in 2005. The team is experiencing some growing pains now but still has a bright future ahead.
Rice added, “I’ve learned a lot since becoming this team’s owner; it’s a lot of responsibility and hard work. I hope I can still be a part of it way down the road. I truly believe this league is headed in the right direction and I’m proud to be a member of this great organization.
