Orlando Predators

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For current information on this topic, see 2008 Orlando Predators season

The Orlando Predators are an Arena Football League team based in Orlando, Florida that was founded in 1991.

[edit] History

The Orlando Predators franchise was awarded by the AFL to Davey Johnson, Tracy Allen and Mike McBath on February 28, 1991, and began play that same year, the only year so far that they missed the playoffs. Annually among the league-leaders in attendance, they have qualified for the playoffs 16 consecutive years and they even posted 15 consecutive winning seasons from 1992-2006, the longest active streak in the AFL. They are currently coached by Jay Gruden, younger brother of prominent National Football League coach Jon Gruden. Jay Gruden was formerly an outstanding Arena Football quarterback, leading the Tampa Bay Storm to four ArenaBowl championships, and then served one year as offensive coordinator for the Nashville Kats prior to becoming head coach of the Predators. Jay was the first quarterback in the AFL Hall of Fame. Orlando won the ArenaBowl in 1998 and 2000 under Gruden's coaching. He then attempted a comeback as a player, but subsequently returned to coaching following the death of his head coach replacement, Fran Papasedero, in a car accident.

The Predators are undoubtedly one of the premier franchises in the history of the Arena Football League, and have a legendary rivalry with Tampa Bay, who moved to St. Petersburg the same year the Predators formed. They have met twice in the ArenaBowl, with Tampa Bay winning in 1995 and Orlando winning in 1998. The rivalry, nicknamed the "War On I-4" after the interstate that connects the two cities, intensified when Jay Gruden, a legend in Tampa Bay's history as their quarterback, became Orlando's head coach. Orlando is tied with Tampa Bay for the longest tenure in a market by a team, and are unique in that they are now (2006) in their sixteenth season of playing in the same venue, Hummer Field at Amway Arena (formerly T.D. Waterhouse Centre), or, as it's called on game days, The Jungle due to the hostile environment from the fans, harsh smoke that fills the arena during the players intro, and a Guns N' Roses song which "welcomes" other teams followed by their impending death. They share Amway Arena with the Orlando Magic of the NBA. The Predators have played in the ArenaBowl a total of seven times, more than any other current team. If you include the Pittsburgh Gladiators' two ArenaBowl games before they moved to Tampa Bay, the Storm is the only team that has more (eight; six as the Storm). The Predators currently compete in the Southern Division of the National Conference.

The team's current mascot is a monster-like human named Klaw whom looks much like the alien (Predator) from the Predator films, with only different coloring.

The Predators will move to the new Orlando Events Center beginning in the 2011 AFL season.

[edit] Predatorial Highlights

The Predators made Arena Football League history in consecutive weeks during the 1992 season:

• On June 13, 1992, the team defeated the San Antonio Force 50-0. San Antonio kicker Matt Frantz missed six field goals. This is the first game shutout in the history of indoor football. Although there have been shutouts in af2 and other indoor football leagues, it is still the only shutout in Arena League history to date.
• On Friday, June 19, 1992, in a Week 4 road game against the Detroit Drive, QB Ben Bennett and the Predators trailed 42-32 with only 49 seconds left. In a miraculous feat of strength, WR/DB Barry Wagner would catch two touchdown passes, get two two-point conversions, recover an onside kick, and even make the game-winning tackle. Orlando would win 50-49. Orlando's most amazing comeback would forever be known as The Miracle Minute. On the AFL's 20 Greatest Highlights Countdown, this is at #1.[1]

[edit] Roster by number

(Current as of 2008-05-30)

[edit] Notable players

• Earnest Allen - OL/DL
• David Cool - K
• Bret Cooper - WR/DB
• Reggie Doster - DS
• Jay Gruden - QB
• Joe Hamilton - QB
• Reggie Lee - OL/DL
• Connell Maynor - QB
• Duke Pettijohn - FB/LB
• Jim Sodano - OL
• Shane Stafford - QB
• Jay Taylor - K
• Barry Wagner -WR/DB
• Chris Wallace - QB
• Herkie Walls - WR
• Kenny McEntyre - DS

[edit] AFL Hall of Famers

• Ben Bennett

• Jay Gruden

• Durwood Roquemore

• Perry Moss

• Carl Aikens

• Reggie Smith

• Herkie Walls

[edit] Season-by-season

Note: W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties

* = Current Standing

[edit] Head Coaches

• 1991-1997: Perry Moss, 59-25 (8-6)
• 1998-2001, 2004-current: Jay Gruden, 65-40 (11-5)
• 2002-2003: Fran Papasedero, 19-11 (3-2)

[edit] External links

• Orlando Predators Official Website
• Orlando Predators at ArenaFan.com

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