Semipro football is returning to Butler County.

The Butler County Bulls, co-owned by Kirk Bergbigler of Butler and Tony Drescher of Cranberry Township, have signed a two-year agreement to play in the Gridiron Football Alliance this summer.

The eight-team league will play a 10-game schedule on Saturdays, with the first game slated for May 29, the last on Aug. 7. No games will be played the weekend of July 4.

"We feel like our community can benefit from having a semipro team," said Birgbigler, who will serve as the team's head coach. "A lot of guys want to play and it's a relatively inexpensive form of entertainment on a Saturday night."

Bergbigler, a 1993 Butler High graduate, was coach of the Western PA Warhawks, a semipro team that played at Seneca Valley High School's NexTier Stadium. The Warhawks relocated to Moon Township and the Robert Morris University field last season.

The New Castle Thunder were a semipro team that played at Slippery Rock University's N. Kerr Thompson Stadium before folding last year.

"The Thunder had a good following and were good for the area, then they disappeared," Drescher said. "They had some good players that we're trying to get.

"We just want to fill a football void in Butler County, that's all."

Other teams in the GFA include the Iron City Bulldogs and Blue Devils of Pittsburgh, Youngstown Steelers, Canton Hurricanes, Steel Valley Steamboats of Weirton, W.Va., Indiana Panthers of Portsmouth, Ind., and the Rochester (N.Y.) Renegades.

Players won't be paid and must pay a $300 fee for equipment and other expenses.

Players who bring in sponsorship dollars from businesses will have half of that money put toward their individual player fee.

General fundraising projects already are under way. Drescher, the Bulls' general manager, estimates between $25,000 and $30,000 will be needed to operate the franchise.

"We're committed to doing this by signing that two-year deal," Drescher said. "We'll still owe the league so much money if we don't play. We're not backing out of this."

The Bulls are looking for a home field, however. They hold out hope of playing at Butler High's Art Bernardi Stadium, though their bid for use of that stadium was denied Wednesday.

"Butler would be perfect because of its central location," Bergbigler said. "We're drawing players from Etna, Harrisville, Slippery Rock, Karns City, Moniteau, Butler — all over.

"Seneca Valley and Slippery Rock (University) have hosted semipro teams before. Mars is also a possibility. But our first choice is Butler."

GFA teams are permitted to dress 53 players per game, though more can be on the roster. Along with his GM duties, Drescher will be a center on the Bulls' roster

The Bulls have 33 players signed so far and have been working out since the second week of January. They currently hold conditioning drills from 9 to 11 p.m. each Thursday at Family Sports Center in Butler.

Former prominent high school players on the roster include 2001 Butler Eagle Scoring Trophy winner Billy Graham, a running back from Karns City, along with Karns City graduate Jarrod Schrecengost and Slippery Rock High graduate T.J. Sommers, both linemen.

The Bulls begin outdoor practices at the end of March. Those sessions will run from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, and from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays at a site to be determined.

Players must be at least 18 to participate. Bergbigler will not be a player-coach, as multiple concussions in high school ended his playing career.

"I've always loved football and I want to be around it," Bergbigler said. "I'm a quick learner and I want to stay in coaching. Doing this may be a resume builder for the future."

Game tickets will cost $5, with children 12 and under admitted free. The Bulls plan to play some home games in the afternoon, some in the evening.

Those interested in playing for the Bulls or assisting the team in any way can call Bergbigler at 724-991-1861 or e-mail coach@butlercountybulls.com.