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For current information on this topic, see 2008 Cleveland Gladiators season |
| Cleveland Gladiators | ||
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| Conference | National | |
| Division | Eastern | |
| Year founded | 1997 | |
| Home arena | Quicken Loans Arena | |
| City, State | Cleveland, Ohio | |
| Head Coach | Mike Wilpolt | |
| ArenaBowl championships | none | |
| Conference titles | none | |
| Division titles | 1: 2002 |
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| Wild Card berths | 3: 1997, 1998, 2003 |
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The Cleveland Gladiators are an Arena Football League franchise based in Cleveland, Ohio. The 2008 Cleveland Gladiators season is the 12th season for the franchise their first season in Cleveland The Eastern Division is one of the four divisions of the American Arena Football League. Year 1997 ( MCMXCVII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1997 Gregorian calendar Quicken Loans Arena (also referred to as "The Q") is a multipurpose Arena in downtown Cleveland Ohio, USA Cleveland is a City in the US state of Ohio and the County seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state The ArenaBowl is the Arena Football League 's championship game The 2002 Arena Football League season was the 16th season of the Arena Football League. The 1997 Arena Football League season was the 11th season of the Arena Football League. The 1998 Arena Football League season was the 12th season of the Arena Football League. The 2003 Arena Football League season was the 17th season of the Arena Football League. The Arena Football League (AFL was founded in 1987 as an American football indoor league. Cleveland is a City in the US state of Ohio and the County seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state The franchise was previously based in East Rutherford, New Jersey and later in Las Vegas, Nevada. East Rutherford is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. Las Vegas ( Spanish: "The Meadows" is the most populous City in the state of Nevada, the seat of Clark County, and an internationally
Contents |
History
New Jersey Red Dogs (1997-2000)
The New Jersey Red Dogs entered the Arena Football League in 1997, along with the Nashville Kats and the New York CityHawks. The Arena Football League (AFL was founded in 1987 as an American football indoor league. Artistic gymnastics World Artistic Gymnastics Championships: Men's all-around champion Ivan Ivankov, Belarus The Georgia Force is in no way related to the San Antonio Force, which was an Arena Football League team that played only in the 1992 season before disbanding The Toronto Phantoms was the final name of a team in the Arena Football League, that also operated in New York City and New England Their ownership group, which was led by New Jersey radio entrepreneur E. New Jersey ( is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States. Radio is the transmission of signals by Modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible Light. Burke Ross, also included several ex-NFL players, such as Joe Morris, Carl Banks, and Harry Carson. The National Football League ( NFL) is the largest professional American football league. Carl E Banks (born August 29, 1962 in Flint, Michigan) is a former American football Linebacker who played for three teams Harold Donald Carson (born November 26, 1953 in Florence South Carolina) is a former American football inside linebacker who played The Red Dogs played at Continental Airlines Arena in the East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Izod Center (formerly Brendan Byrne Arena, and later Continental Airlines Arena) is a multi-purpose indoor arena in the East Rutherford is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States.
The AFL's intention was to add only New Jersey and Nashville for 1997. However, well after the awarding of the Red Dogs and Kats franchises, the owners of Madison Square Garden in New York City requested a franchise of their own, and the league granted this request. Madison Square Garden, often abbreviated as MSG, and known colloquially as The Garden, has been the name of four Arenas in New York City. The City of New York And so the CityHawks also began play in 1997. This had an impact on the Red Dogs, in that the league then prevented the Red Dogs from advertising in New York. While North Jersey itself is very populous in its own right, the Red Dogs had hoped to be the team for the entire New York metropolitan area. North Jersey is a name for the northern part of the US State of New Jersey, which is sandwiched between two important cities New York City (which North The New York metropolitan area, often referred to as the Tri-State Area, is the most populous Metropolitan area in the United States and is also one
Despite this setback, the Red Dogs management built a good team, which opened its history in memorable fashion. The team won 8 of its first 9 games, including a victory in their inaugural game on a last-second game-winning field goal, a thrilling overtime victory against the Albany Firebirds, a thorough thrashing of the Iowa Barnstormers (runners-up in the previous year's ArenaBowl X), and also one game in which they scored a then-record 91 points against the Texas Terror. A field goal (formerly "goal from the field" in US football and Canadian football is a goal that may be scored during general play ("from The Indiana Firebirds were a team in the Arena Football League. The New York Dragons are an Arena Football League team who were formed in 1995 as the Iowa Barnstormers. Arena Bowl X was the Arena Football League 's tenth Arena Bowl The Houston ThunderBears were a team in the Arena Football League that operated from 1996-2001 (This record has since been surpassed by the New York Dragons, who scored 99 in a game against the Carolina Cobras in 2001. The New York Dragons are an Arena Football League team who were formed in 1995 as the Iowa Barnstormers. Not to be confused with the Los Angeles Cobras, who played in the 1988 AFL season Artistic gymnastics World Artistic Gymnastics Championships: Men's all-around champion Feng Jing, China )
The Red Dogs were led by head coach John Hufnagel, who had been a quarterback and offensive coordinator for the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League, and who has since gone on to be an offensive coach for several National Football League teams, including the New England Patriots and the New York Giants. The Calgary Stampeders are a Canadian Football League team based in Calgary Alberta. The Canadian Football League (CFL ( Ligue canadienne de football (LCF in The National Football League ( NFL) is the largest professional American football league. The New England Patriots, commonly called the " Pats " by sports writers and fans are a professional American football team based in the Greater Boston The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in the New York City suburb of East Rutherford New Jersey.
Hufnagel brought in several players with CFL experience to the Red Dogs, including QB Rickey Foggie and offensive specialist Larry Ray Willis. Larry Ray Willis (born 1963-07-13) is a former Arena Football League Offensive specialist who played for the Connecticut Coyotes in 1996 the The team's other main receiver was Alvin Ashley, a player whose small size (150 lb. ) made him unlikely to play in the NFL but suited the more compact Arena game.
The Red Dogs slumped late in their first season, losing 4 of their final 5 games to finish 9-5, then losing to the Orlando Predators in the first round of the playoffs. The Orlando Predators are an Arena Football League team based in Orlando Florida that was founded in 1991
The Red Dogs finished 8-6 in 1998, their second season, and won their first playoff game in Albany against the Firebirds. Athletics For an extensive coverage see 1998 in athletics (track and field Decathlon
Hufnagel left the Red Dogs after the 1998 season for a job with the NFL's Cleveland Browns, and he was replaced by Frank Mattiace, a former defensive lineman for the New Jersey Generals of the USFL. The Cleveland Browns are a professional American football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. The New Jersey Generals were a franchise of the United States Football League (USFL established in 1982 to begin play in the spring For the proposed "New USFL" see United States Football League (2010. Star Larry Ray Willis was traded to the Milwaukee Mustangs
Following those losses, the Red Dogs slumped in 1999 to their first losing season, going 6-8, despite winning 3 of their first 4. History The Milwaukee Mustangs were an Arena Football League team
The Red Dogs made a significant trade following the 1999 season, a trade they never got to benefit from. New Jersey sent Alvin Ashley to the Orlando Predators for wide receiver/defensive back Barry Wagner, widely regarded as the greatest player in the league's history. Barry Wagner (born November 11, 1967) is a retired American football player in the Arena Football League for the Orlando Predators However, soon after the trade, the league and its players agreed to a new collective bargaining agreement that resulted in several veteran players -- including Wagner -- gaining free agency. Collective bargaining is the process whereby workers organize together to meet converse and compromise upon the work environment with their employers Wagner then signed with the San Jose SaberCats. The San Jose SaberCats are an Arena Football League team that began play as a 1995 expansion team
In 2000, the Red Dogs, without Wagner, Ashley, and offensive mainstay Chad Lindsey, fell to 4-10. Athletics For an extensive coverage see 2000 in athletics (track and field Marathon International Foggie lost his job as starting QB, replaced by Tommy Maddox, at the time a failed NFL quarterback. Thomas "Tommy" Alfred Maddox (born September 2, 1971 in Shreveport Louisiana) is a former football Quarterback in the Head coach Frank Mattiace left the team in mid-season and was replaced on an interim basis by Kevin Guy, a former defensive back/wide receiver who had played two full seasons with the Red Dogs.
New Jersey Gladiators (2001-2002)
Before the 2001 season, the New Jersey team was sold to Jim Ferraro, a lawyer from Miami, Florida. Ferraro changed the team name to the New Jersey Gladiators. The new ownership appointed as head coach the ex-CityHawk boss Lary Kuharich, who had won ArenaBowl VII in 1993 with the Tampa Bay Storm, and acquired Connell Maynor from Orlando to be the starting QB. Joseph Lawrence (Lary Kuharich Jr (born December 20, 1945) is an American football coach currently serving as the Offensive Coordinator The ArenaBowl is the Arena Football League 's championship game Athletics For an extensive coverage see 1993 in athletics (track and field Marathon
Maynor had led the Predators to victory in ArenaBowl XIV the previous season, and was named the game's MVP. An all-around threat, Maynor had played with the CityHawks under Kuharich in 1997, but took only one snap all season as the backup to Mike Perez. A snap (colloquially called a "hike" "snapback" or "pass from center" starts each American football and Canadian football Michael Perez (born October 19, 1964 in Yauco Puerto Rico) is a retired professional baseball player who pitched in the Major Leagues from 1990-1997 Instead, the CityHawks used Maynor as a wide receiver/linebacker, and one week he even won the award for the league's best "ironman" (player who plays both on offense and defense, as 6 of 8 players use to play both sides of the ball in Arena Football). In sports offense or offence (see American and British English spelling differences; pronounced with first-syllable stress also known as attack, is the In many team Sports defense or defence (see spelling differences) is the action of preventing an opponent from scoring
The Gladiators reached the lowest ebb in the history of the franchise in 2001, winning only 2 out of 14 games that season. The club's top receivers attained roughly half the amount of yards that Larry Ray Willis had done in each of the franchise's first two seasons, and the rushing leader was QB Maynor himself.
In 2002, the club had another new coach, Frank Haege, who had been a Red Dog assistant under John Hufnagel. Athletics For an extensive coverage see 2002 in athletics (track and field Marathon International Frank Haege (born 1968-10-11) is the current head football coach at Augsburg College. After leaving the Red Dogs, Haege went on to coach the Quad City Steamwheelers of the AFL's minor-league circuit af2. The Quad City Steamwheelers are a professional Arena football team af2 (short for arenafootball2) is the name of the Arena Football League 's Minor league, which started play in 2000. Haege's Quad City team dominated the af2 for two seasons, winning 31 of 32 regular-season games -- including one win by a score of 103-3 -- and two championships. (Haege was later charged by the AFL with violating the af2 salary cap rules at Quad City, and was fined heavily by the league. Also, the Quad City team was banned from the af2 playoffs in 2002. )
The Gladiators' new QB for 2002 was Jay McDonalds, who had played under Haege. Former Red Dog Alvin Ashley was back with the club, seeing limited duty; however, this time around the main New Jersey receiver was Mike Horacek, who had starred for the Iowa Barnstormers, and has since returned to that franchise to play for the Dragons. The Gladiators' fortunes turned around, and they had their first winning season since 1998, going 9-5 and hosting a playoff game for the first time (a loss to Orlando).
The New Jersey Gladiators looked all set to go for the 2003 season. Artistic gymnastics World Artistic Gymnastics Championships: Men's all-around champions Paul Hamm, USA, The 2003 season would be the first one to begin in February instead of April, and it would be the first one in which the league's games would be televised weekly by NBC. The National Broadcasting Company ( NBC) is an American Television network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's
However, with only weeks to go before the start of the season, owner Ferraro moved the team to Las Vegas. The move came as a shock to the team's fans, as the Gladiators were sending out ticket package offers even through their last week in New Jersey.
The AFL schedules for the 2003 season had already been devised, so the Las Vegas Gladiators would play that season in the Eastern Division of the National Conference, before shifting in 2004 to the American Conference's Western Division. Events On January 28, International Olympic Committee Vice-President Kim Un-yong is arrested on charges of corruption in Seoul
Las Vegas Gladiators (2003-2007)
The Gladiators relocated to Las Vegas, Nevada for the 2003 season and played their home games at the Thomas & Mack Center on the campus of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Las Vegas ( Spanish: "The Meadows" is the most populous City in the state of Nevada, the seat of Clark County, and an internationally Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. The Thomas & Mack Center is an arena on the campus of the University of Nevada Las Vegas in Las Vegas Nevada, USA. This arena was also the home of a previous Arena team, the Las Vegas Sting, in 1994 and 1995. History Las Vegas Sting (1994-1995 The Las Vegas Sting was a team which competed in the Arena Football League during Year 1994 ( MCMXCIV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full 1994 Gregorian calendar) Year 1995 ( MCMXCV) was a Common year starting on Sunday. Events of 1995 In 2007, in an effort to increase attendance, the Gladiators moved to the Orleans Arena, which has a smaller capacity than the T & M Center. The Orleans Arena is a 9500 seat multi-purpose Arena in Paradise Nevada. The move, however, did not increase the number of fans from last season. The Gladiators averaged 5,383 fans in 2007, down from a 10,115 average in 2006.
The Gladiators competed in the Western Division of the AFL's American Conference. The Arena Football League (AFL was founded in 1987 as an American football indoor league. The team went 31-50 in five years in Las Vegas, making the playoffs once.
Cleveland Gladiators (2008-Present)
On October 16, 2007, it was announced in a press conference that the Gladiators would be relocating to Cleveland, Ohio. Cleveland is a City in the US state of Ohio and the County seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state Former Cleveland Browns quarterback Bernie Kosar was announced as the public face of the team as well as the President of Football Operations. The Cleveland Browns are a professional American football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. Bernard Joseph Kosar Jr (born November 25, 1963 in Youngstown Ohio) is a former American football Quarterback in the The team will play its home games in the Quicken Loans Arena, which also the home of the NBA's Cleveland Cavaliers and the AHL's Lake Erie Monsters. Quicken Loans Arena (also referred to as "The Q") is a multipurpose Arena in downtown Cleveland Ohio, USA The Cleveland Cavaliers (also known as the Cavs) are a professional Basketball team based in Cleveland Ohio. The Lake Erie Monsters are an Ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. [1]
The team has also moved to the Eastern Division of the National Conference. It will still be known as the Gladiators [2] and retain the team colors of red, silver, and black. The team's games can be heard on WKNR (ESPN 850) and WWGK (AM 1540 KNR2) with play by play man Mike Case and analysis by Hanford Dixon. WKNR is an AM all-sports station in Cleveland Ohio, broadcasting at 850 kHz with its transmitter in North Royalton Ohio and WWGK is an AM radio station in Cleveland Ohio operating only during the daytime hours on 1540 kHz. Play-by-play, in Broadcasting, is a North American term and means the reporting of a Sporting event with a Voiceover describing the details of the action Analysis (from Greek ἀνάλυσις, "a breaking up" is the process of breaking a complex topic or substance into smaller parts to gain a Hanford Dixon (born December 25, 1958 in Mobile Alabama) is a former professional American football Cornerback who played his
The team will have 6 games televised on FSN Ohio. Fox Sports Ohio (stylized as FSOHIO) formerly FSN Ohio and SportsChannel Ohio, is a cable channel in Ohio
Select games can be heard on WJMO (Praise 1300) when there are scheduling conflicts on 850 and/or 1540. WJMO is an AM radio station licensed to Cleveland Ohio operating on 1300 kHz, with studios at 2510 St
This is the Cleveland area's second AFL team. The Cleveland Thunderbolts played at the Richfield Coliseum in Richfield, Ohio for 3 seasons from 1992 to 1994. The Cleveland Thunderbolts were a professional American football team in the Arena Football League. } The Coliseum at Richfield (also known as Richfield Coliseum) was an Arena located in Richfield Township in Summit County, Ohio Richfield is a village in Summit County, Ohio, United States.
On March 3, the Gladiators played their inaugural game in Quicken Loans Arena, a 61-49 win over the New York Dragons. Events 1284 - Statute of Rhuddlan incorporated the Principality of Wales into England 1575 - Indian Quicken Loans Arena (also referred to as "The Q") is a multipurpose Arena in downtown Cleveland Ohio, USA The New York Dragons are an Arena Football League team who were formed in 1995 as the Iowa Barnstormers. Raymond Philyaw was named the offensive player of the game after throwing for 5 TDs. Raymond Philyaw (born July 30, 1974 in Shreveport Louisiana) is an Arena football Quarterback who currently plays for the Cleveland
Head Coaches
- John Hufnagel -- 1997-1998
- Frank Mattiace -- 1999-2000
- Kevin Guy -- 2000
- Lary Kuharich -- 2001
- Frank Haege -- 2002-2004
- Ron James -- 2005-2006
- Danton Barto -- 2007
- Mike Wilpolt - 2008
Notable players
- Mike Beckwith - QB/K
- Alvin Ashley - WR/DB
- Wilky Bazile - OL/DL
- Coco Blalock - OS
- Thabiti Davis - WR
- Silas DeMary - DL
- Clint Dolezel - QB
- Joe Douglass - WR/LB
- Rickey Foggie - QB
- Mike Horacek - OS
- Eric Houle - K
- Shaun King - QB
- Matt Kinsinger - FB/LB
- Steve Konopka - OL/DL
- Mark Lewis - K
- Chad Lindsey - WR/LB
- Junior Lord - WR/DB
- Tommy Maddox - QB
- Tango McCauley - OL
- Jay McDonagh - QB
- Marcus Nash - OS
- Raymond Philyaw - QB
- Dameon Porter - WR/DB
- Alonzo Spellman - DL
- Steve Videtich - K
- Larry Ray Willis - OS
Season-by-season
Note: W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties
| Season | W | L | T | Finish | Playoff results |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Jersey Red Dogs | |||||
| 1997 | 9 | 5 | 0 | 2nd NC Eastern | Lost Quarterfinals (Orlando) |
| 1998 | 8 | 6 | 0 | 2nd NC Eastern | Won Quarterfinals (Albany) Lost Semifinals (Tampa Bay) |
| 1999 | 6 | 8 | 0 | 2nd NC Eastern | -- |
| 2000 | 4 | 10 | 0 | 4th NC Eastern | -- |
| New Jersey Gladiators | |||||
| 2001 | 2 | 12 | 0 | 4th NC Eastern | -- |
| 2002 | 9 | 5 | 0 | 1st NC Eastern | Lost Quartfinals (Orlando) |
| Las Vegas Gladiators | |||||
| 2003 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 3rd NC Eastern | Lost Week 1 (Arizona) |
| 2004 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 4th AC Western | -- |
| 2005 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 3rd AC Western | -- |
| 2006 | 5 | 11 | 0 | 4th AC Western | -- |
| 2007 | 2 | 14 | 0 | 5th AC Western | -- |
| Cleveland Gladiators | |||||
| *2008 | 7 | 6 | 0 | 3rd NC Eastern | -- |
| Totals | 74 | 105 | 0 | (including playoffs) | |
* = Current Standing
External links
- Cleveland Gladiators website
- gladiatorSidelines - Cleveland Gladiators Fan Site
- New Jersey Red Dogs at ArenaFan.com
- New Jersey Gladiators at ArenaFan.com
- Las Vegas Gladiators at ArenaFan.com
- Cleveland Gladiators at ArenaFan.com
- "New Jersey Red Dogs acquire Barry Wagner from Orlando", AP via SLAM! Sports, September 23, 1999
- "Red Dogs sold, name changed to Gladiators", AP via CNNSI.com, February 12, 2001
- "Gladiators roll the dice toward Vegas" by Marc Viquez, ArenaFan Online, December 27, 2002
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NJ Red Dogs,NJ/Las Vegas/Cleveland Gladiators seasons
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| 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 |
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