| Indiana Firebirds | ||
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| Year founded | 1990 | |
| Year folded | 2004 | |
| Prior names | Albany Firebirds | |
| ArenaBowl championships | 1: 1999 |
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The Indiana Firebirds were a team in the Arena Football League. The ArenaBowl is the Arena Football League 's championship game Arena Bowl XIII was the 1999 edition of the Arena Football League's championship game The Arena Football League (AFL was founded in 1987 as an American football indoor league. The team was based in Indianapolis, Indiana. Home games were played at the Conseco Fieldhouse, also the home of the Indiana Pacers of the National Basketball Association and Indiana Fever of the Women's National Basketball Association. Conseco Fieldhouse is a sports arena in Indianapolis Indiana, United States. The Indiana Fever is a professional women's Basketball team that plays in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA
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History
Albany Firebirds (1990-2000)
The team was originally based in Albany, New York from 1990 to 2000. Albany is the Capital of the State of New York and the County seat of Albany County. At that time, home games were played at the Knickerbocker Arena (now known as the Times Union Center). "Pepsi Arena" redirects here For the arenas in Denver see Pepsi Center; Quebec City see Colisée Pepsi; Indianapolis see Pepsi Coliseum After the move, the Firebirds competed in the Central Division of the AFL's American Conference.
The Firebirds were very successful during their tenure in Albany. They won six division titles, made nine playoff appearances, and won the 1999 ArenaBowl championship. Arena Bowl XIII was the 1999 edition of the Arena Football League's championship game
Indiana Firebirds (2001-2004)
The 2004 Firebirds just missed the playoffs after a disappointing 0-5 start. However, they finished the season winning eight of the their last eleven games and were considered by some a potential contender for the 2005 Arena Bowl championship led by 2004 Rookie of the Year, quarterback Adrian McPherson. The ArenaBowl is the Arena Football League 's championship game Quarterback ( QB) is a position in American and Canadian football. Adrian Jamal McPherson (born May 8, 1983 in) is a Canadian football Quarterback for the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football
However, in early September 2004, Indiana Firebirds owner Dave Lageschulte announced that his company, Lags Football LLC, would cease all business operations for the Firebirds. Lageschulte had been actively, but unsuccessfully, pursuing local investors to purchase the Firebirds since he had assumed ownership in 2002.
On September 20, 2004, the date of the announced sales deadline, the Arena Football League announced the termination of the Firebirds franchise and that the players would be made available to continuing AFL teams in a dispersal draft. Events 451 - The Battle of Chalons takes place in North Eastern France. "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " A dispersal draft is a process in professional sports for assigning players to a new team when their current team goes out of business consolidates with another team or for some other However, within the week the team was purchased by Scott and Todd Hines, who run H3 Sportsgear, a sportsgear company based in Indianapolis. With AFL approval, it was hoped that the Firebirds could remain operational in Indianapolis. However, this bid foundered due to concerns that the low sale price would devalue the worth of the other 18 franchises. The former Firebirds players were made available in the dispersal draft conducted on October 14, 2004, marking the end of one of the AFL's longest-running franchises. Events 1066 - Norman Conquest: Battle of Hastings - In England on Senlac Hill seven miles from Hastings, the forces "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again "
Season-by-season
Note: W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties
| Season | W | L | T | Finish | Playoff results |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albany Firebirds | |||||
| 1990 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 5th | -- |
| 1991 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 4th | Lost Week 1 (Detroit Drive) |
| 1992 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 3rd Northern | Lost Week 1 (Dallas Texans) |
| 1993 | 5 | 7 | 0 | 5th NC | Lost Week 1 (Tampa Bay) |
| 1994 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 1st NC | Lost Week 2 (Arizona) |
| 1995 | 7 | 5 | 0 | 1st NC Eastern | Lost Week 2 (Tampa Bay) |
| 1996 | 10 | 4 | 0 | 1st NC Eastern | Lost Week 2 (Iowa Barnstormers) |
| 1997 | 6 | 8 | 0 | 3rd NC Eastern | -- |
| 1998 | 10 | 4 | 0 | 1st NC Eastern | Lost Week 1 (N.J. Red Dogs) |
| 1999 | 11 | 3 | 0 | 1st NC Eastern | Won ArenaBowl XIII (Orlando) |
| 2000 | 9 | 5 | 0 | 1st NC Eastern | Lost Week 2 (Arizona) |
| Indiana Firebirds | |||||
| 2001 | 9 | 5 | 0 | 2nd AC Central | Lost Week 3 (Grand Rapids) |
| 2002 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 3rd AC Central | Lost Week 1 (Dallas) |
| 2003 | 6 | 10 | 0 | 4th AC Central | -- |
| 2004 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 3rd AC Central | -- |
| Totals | 121 | 91 | 0 | (including playoffs) | |
Notable players
- Eddie Brown, Offensive specialist
- Greg Hopkins, Wide Receiver/Linebacker 1996-2001
- Mike Horacek, Offensive specialist 2004
- Kyle Mackey, Quarterback 1990
- Adrian McPherson, Quarterback 2004
- David Patten, Wide Receiver
- Mike Pawlawski, Quarterback 1996-2000
- Raymond Philyaw, Quarterback 2000-2003
- Reggie Smith, Wide Receiver/Defensive back 1990
- Leroy Thompson, Fullback/Linebacker 1996-2004
AFL Hall of Famers
- Durwood Roquemore
- Reggie Smith
External links
- AFL official website
- Albany Firebirds at ArenaFan.com
- Indiana Firebirds at ArenaFan.com
- Albany Firebirds historical site
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