Huntsville home for Alabama Beavers, member of new U.S., Mexico football league

HUNTSVILLE – When encountering a beaver in the wild reared on its hind legs standing ground, hissing and growling, just back off. Don’t approach or try to corner the creature.

Let ’em alone and walk away before the rodent can lunge and deliver damaging bites.

If it’s a member of the Alabama Beavers, however, roll out the welcome mat and embrace Huntsville and Madison County’s latest furry animal representing a professional sports team.

The Beavers, playing the American brand of football, are headed to the Rocket City and will call Wicks Family Field at Joe Davis Stadium home.

The team is a member of the upstart International Football Alliance, which is set to play its inaugural season from June-August 2025 featuring teams from the U.S. and Mexico.

The Beavers join a current roster of local professional team nicknames and mascots featuring furry creatures. The baseball team Rocket City Trash Pandas have a raccoon mascot named Sprocket, and hockey’s Huntsville Havoc have wolf brothers Chaos and Rukus.

According to league website https://www.ifa.football/, the Alabama Beavers are “led by Drinkard Sports management.”

A source confirmed to 256 Today that the team is scheduled to play in Huntsville at “The Joe” for the IFA’s first season, but there’s little information on Facebook pages for Drinkard Sports or the Alabama Beavers.

256 Today has reached out through emails to the team and league for more information. 

Current IFA teams:

• Alabama Beavers (Huntsville)
• Tampa Tornadoes
• Las Vegas Kings
• Dallas Pioneros
• Chihuahua Rebelion
• Tequileros de Jalisco (Guadalajara)
• Cancun Sharks

Anyone interested in playing for the Alabama Beavers or any of the league teams can go to https://www.ifa.football/, select “more” and fill out the player submission form.

The Alabama Beavers’ Facebook page promotes three players with photos – presumably forming the start of a roster, though this is not confirmed. They are Todd Simmons Jr. (wide receiver, Dubuque/Wagner, Chicago Bears 2023 rookie camp invitee), B.J. Smith (running back, Troy, Northern Arizona Wranglers) and former Bob Jones Patriot Rashad Nelson (wide receiver, UNA/Miles College).