Mequon - Thiensville Cardinal Youth Football Information

It was June 27, 1977 when representatives from 4 communities met to discuss the formation of a new youth football league. The “Founders” at this meeting included; Don Didier (Saukville Rebels), Larry Huffman, Tom Volke (Thiensville-Mequon Cardinals), Ron Heller (Grafton Gladiators), and Henry “Sam” Sampson (Cedarburg Colts). The name of the new league would be the “All-American Youth Conference” and Tom Volke (1977-1981) was appointed to serve as the league's first “Program Coordinator” (later called Commissioner). Saukville, a well-established program having been formed in 1961, playing as an independent, Thiensville-Mequon, which was established in 1976 as members of the former Vince Lombardi Conference, and Grafton, having been established in late 1976 were the “veterans” of this new league. Cedarburg was a newly established program. Some rules of interest were included 10-minute quarters and no weight limits for any position. The 1977 season began on September 10th with the members playing a round robin schedule at the 8th grade level, and concluded with Thiensville-Mequon being crowned the League’s first Champion. This was the beginning of what would become the largest youth football league in Wisconsin and one of the largest independent league's in the United States.