The
Amarillo Dusters are a professional
indoor footballIndoor football is a variation of American football with rules modified to make it suitable for play within indoor arenas.-Early history:The first documented indoor football games were those played at Madison Square Garden in 1902 and 1903 known as the "World Series of Pro Football." They were the...
team in the
Indoor Football LeagueThe Indoor Football League began in 1999 as an offshoot of the troubled Professional Indoor Football League. Keary Ecklund, the owner of the Green Bay Bombers and Madison Mad Dogs, left the PIFL after its first, financially-troubled, season to start his own league. Unlike the PIFL, the IFL was an...
. The Dusters began play in 2004 as a charter member of the
Intense Football LeagueThe Intense Football League was a professional indoor football league that initially began operations in 2004. Its focus was in Texas, but was notable for being the first professional football league to place a franchise in Alaska.-History:...
, a small indoor football league based in
TexasTexas is the second-largest U.S. state in both area and population, and the largest state in the contiguous United States.The name had wide usage among native Americans, meaning "friends" or "allies"...
. They won the championship in their first and only season with the IFL. The following year, the Dusters became the first team to leave the Intense Football League and join the
af2AF2 was the name of the Arena Football League's developmental league; it was founded in 1999 and played its first season in 2000. Like parent AFL, the AF2 played using the same arena football rules and style of play. League seasons ran from April through July with the postseason and ArenaCup...
, where they played for four seasons until the af2's folding in 2009.
The
Amarillo Dusters are a professional
indoor footballIndoor football is a variation of American football with rules modified to make it suitable for play within indoor arenas.-Early history:The first documented indoor football games were those played at Madison Square Garden in 1902 and 1903 known as the "World Series of Pro Football." They were the...
team in the
Indoor Football LeagueThe Indoor Football League began in 1999 as an offshoot of the troubled Professional Indoor Football League. Keary Ecklund, the owner of the Green Bay Bombers and Madison Mad Dogs, left the PIFL after its first, financially-troubled, season to start his own league. Unlike the PIFL, the IFL was an...
. The Dusters began play in 2004 as a charter member of the
Intense Football LeagueThe Intense Football League was a professional indoor football league that initially began operations in 2004. Its focus was in Texas, but was notable for being the first professional football league to place a franchise in Alaska.-History:...
, a small indoor football league based in
TexasTexas is the second-largest U.S. state in both area and population, and the largest state in the contiguous United States.The name had wide usage among native Americans, meaning "friends" or "allies"...
. They won the championship in their first and only season with the IFL. The following year, the Dusters became the first team to leave the Intense Football League and join the
af2AF2 was the name of the Arena Football League's developmental league; it was founded in 1999 and played its first season in 2000. Like parent AFL, the AF2 played using the same arena football rules and style of play. League seasons ran from April through July with the postseason and ArenaCup...
, where they played for four seasons until the af2's folding in 2009. At that point, the team held a fan vote as to whether to join their af2 brethren in the new
Arena Football 1Arena Football 1 is an arena football league founded in 2009 to replace the indefinitely suspended Arena Football League. The league was formed with 16 teams: existing teams from the AFL and arenafootball2, an existing team from another league, and several new teams or markets...
or enjoy numerous Texas rivalries in the Indoor Football League. On October 9, 2009, it was announced that, because of a 65-35 percent margin in the fan vote, the Dusters would be moving to the Indoor Football League for the 2010 season. The team plays their home games at
Amarillo Civic CenterThe Amarillo Civic Center is a multi-purpose convention center in Amarillo, Texas. Built in 1964, it consists of multiple facilities including:* A 2,848-seat auditorium with 2,324 permanent seats and used for concerts, Broadway shows and other events....
.
The team was featured on an episode of
Only in AmericaOnly in America is a children's television programme that originally aired in 2005 on the CBBC Channel. It is presented by Fearne Cotton and Reggie Yates....
, a show that airs on the
Discovery TimesInvestigation Discovery is a digital cable television channel that is owned by Discovery Communications...
channel.
On December 21, 2008 the Dusters introduced a new color scheme for the team. The new colors were revealed as
CrimsonCrimson is a strong, bright, deep red color combined with some blue, resulting in a tiny degree of purple. It is originally the color of the dye produced from a scale insect, Kermes vermilio, but the name is now also used for slightly bluish-red colors in general that are between red and...
,
GreyGrey or gray describes the tints and shades ranging from black to white. These, including white and black, are known as achromatic colors or neutral colors. In recent years, "neutral colors" had been reclassified...
, and
BlackBlack is the color of objects that do not emit or reflect light in any part of the visible spectrum; they absorb all such frequencies of light...
.
IFL success
The Amarillo Dusters finished their only season in the
Intense Football LeagueThe Intense Football League was a professional indoor football league that initially began operations in 2004. Its focus was in Texas, but was notable for being the first professional football league to place a franchise in Alaska.-History:...
with a 13-3 record en route to a league championship. Coach Don Carthel lead the Dusters to the cup as they defeated the Lubbock LoneStars. The Dusters would abandon their spot in the IFL to play in the
af2AF2 was the name of the Arena Football League's developmental league; it was founded in 1999 and played its first season in 2000. Like parent AFL, the AF2 played using the same arena football rules and style of play. League seasons ran from April through July with the postseason and ArenaCup...
. Carthel would take the head coaching job at West Texas A&M mid-way into the first Dusters af2 season. Steve Perdue took over the Head Coaching job but, never had the success Carthel had.
2005 season
In their first year in the af2, the Amarillo Dusters reached the playoffs with an 8-8 record, which was good enough for a wildcard. The Dusters, lead by Julian Reese, came from 21 points down at the start of the 4th quarter to quiet the
Cox Convention CenterThe Cox Business Services Convention Center is a large multipurpose convention, arena, and meeting complex located in downtown Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
-History:Cox Convention Center's name comes from a naming rights deal with...
crowd to win Round 1 over the
Oklahoma City Yard DawgzThe Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz are a charter member of the Arena Football 1 league which started play as a 2004 expansion team of the Arena Football League's now-defunct minor league af2...
. The Dusters fell in Round 2 to the eventual-af2 champion
Memphis XplorersThe Memphis Xplorers were a professional arena football team. They were a 2001 expansion member of the af2. They played their home games at DeSoto Civic Center in Southaven, Mississippi ....
.
2006 season
The Dusters tried to build off of the moderate success they had in 2005. However, in 2006, the team suffered many injuries and failed to make it to the af2 playoffs. Quarterback Steve Panella was injured early in the season, forcing numerous backups to take the job. The Dusters then lost receivers. They ended the season with a 4–12 record.
2007 season
Looking to rebound after the previous losing season, injuries plagued the Dusters' offense. After a win against the
Lubbock RenegadesThe Lubbock Renegades were an expansion member of the af2. The team played its home games at the City Bank Coliseum, which was the former home of the IFL/NIFL team, the Lubbock Lone Stars/Gunslingers. The team was owned by Doug McGregor, Rick Dykes, and Bart Reagor. It was coached by former Texas...
in Week 2, Steve Panella required hand surgery, putting him out for the season. The Dusters struggled for the remainder of the year but were still able end the
Quincy CarterLavonya Quintelle "Quincy" Carter is a former American football quarterback. He was drafted in the second round of the 2001 NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys...
-led
Bossier-Shreveport Battle WingsThe Bossier Shreveport Battle Wings are an Arena Football 1 team based in Bossier City, Louisiana. They play at the CenturyTel Center in Bossier City and represent both Bossier City and Shreveport...
' perfect season with a 51–49 upset.
Schedule
| Week |
Date |
Opponent |
Home/Away |
Result |
| 1 |
March 29 |
Tulsa Talons The Tulsa Talons are a professional arena football franchise in Tulsa, Oklahoma which plays in the Arena Football 1 league. The Talons began in 2000 as a charter member of the defunct minor league Arena Football 2, also known as af2...
|
Away |
L 13–69 |
| 2 |
April 5 |
Central Valley Coyotes The Central Valley Coyotes are a professional arena football team and a charter member of Arena Football 1. The team began as a 2002 expansion member of the af2, known as the original Bakersfield Blitz until 2004...
|
Home |
W 71–60 |
| 3 |
April 12 |
Austin Wranglers The Austin Wranglers were an American football team from Austin, Texas in the arenafootball2. They began play as a 2004 expansion team in the Arena Football League.-History:...
|
Home |
W 65–40 |
| 4 |
April 19 |
Bossier-Shreveport Battle Wings The Bossier Shreveport Battle Wings are an Arena Football 1 team based in Bossier City, Louisiana. They play at the CenturyTel Center in Bossier City and represent both Bossier City and Shreveport...
|
Away |
W 55–48 |
| 5 |
April 26 |
Arkansas Twisters The Arkansas Twisters are a professional arena football team based in North Little Rock, Arkansas. They are a charter member of Arena Football 1 , and play their home games at Verizon Arena...
|
Away |
L 46–53 |
| 6 |
May 3 |
Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz The Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz are a charter member of the Arena Football 1 league which started play as a 2004 expansion team of the Arena Football League's now-defunct minor league af2...
|
Home |
W 58–21 |
| 7 |
May 10 |
Lubbock Renegades The Lubbock Renegades were an expansion member of the af2. The team played its home games at the City Bank Coliseum, which was the former home of the IFL/NIFL team, the Lubbock Lone Stars/Gunslingers. The team was owned by Doug McGregor, Rick Dykes, and Bart Reagor. It was coached by former Texas...
|
Home |
L 35–69 |
| 8 |
May 17 |
Stockton Lightning The Stockton Lightning are a professional arena football team. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Conferenece of the arenafootball2 .The Lightning joined af2 2006 as an expansion team...
|
Away |
L 31–40 |
| 9 |
May 24 |
BYE |
|
|
| 10 |
June 1 |
Austin Wranglers The Austin Wranglers were an American football team from Austin, Texas in the arenafootball2. They began play as a 2004 expansion team in the Arena Football League.-History:...
|
Away |
L 55–66 |
| 11 |
June 7 |
Arkansas Twisters The Arkansas Twisters are a professional arena football team based in North Little Rock, Arkansas. They are a charter member of Arena Football 1 , and play their home games at Verizon Arena...
|
Home |
L 28–46 |
| 12 |
June 14 |
Rio Grande Valley Dorados The Rio Grande Valley Dorados are a professional arena football team. They began play in 2004 as an expansion member of af2, the minor league to the Arena Football League...
|
Home |
W 49–35 |
| 13 |
June 21 |
Lubbock Renegades The Lubbock Renegades were an expansion member of the af2. The team played its home games at the City Bank Coliseum, which was the former home of the IFL/NIFL team, the Lubbock Lone Stars/Gunslingers. The team was owned by Doug McGregor, Rick Dykes, and Bart Reagor. It was coached by former Texas...
|
Away |
L 49–60 |
| 14 |
June 28 |
Tulsa Talons The Tulsa Talons are a professional arena football franchise in Tulsa, Oklahoma which plays in the Arena Football 1 league. The Talons began in 2000 as a charter member of the defunct minor league Arena Football 2, also known as af2...
|
Home |
W 48–33 |
| 15 |
July 5 |
BYE |
|
|
| 16 |
July 14 |
Tri-Cities FeverThe Tri-Cities Fever are a professional arena football team in the Arena Football 1 league. Their first season was in 2005 as an expansion member of the National Indoor Football League. Though they represent the entire Tri-Cities region, they play their home games exclusively at the Toyota Center...
|
Away |
W 51–31 |
| 17 |
July 21 |
Lubbock Renegades The Lubbock Renegades were an expansion member of the af2. The team played its home games at the City Bank Coliseum, which was the former home of the IFL/NIFL team, the Lubbock Lone Stars/Gunslingers. The team was owned by Doug McGregor, Rick Dykes, and Bart Reagor. It was coached by former Texas...
|
Home |
W 42–35 |
| 18 |
July 26 |
Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz The Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz are a charter member of the Arena Football 1 league which started play as a 2004 expansion team of the Arena Football League's now-defunct minor league af2...
|
Away |
L 51–58 |
| Post Season (Round 1) |
August 2 |
Tulsa Talons The Tulsa Talons are a professional arena football franchise in Tulsa, Oklahoma which plays in the Arena Football 1 league. The Talons began in 2000 as a charter member of the defunct minor league Arena Football 2, also known as af2...
|
Away |
W 68–65 |
| Post Season (Round 2) |
August 9 |
Bossier-Shreveport Battle Wings The Bossier Shreveport Battle Wings are an Arena Football 1 team based in Bossier City, Louisiana. They play at the CenturyTel Center in Bossier City and represent both Bossier City and Shreveport...
|
Away |
W 59-45 |
| Post Season (Round 3) |
August 16 |
Spokane Shock The Spokane Shock are a professional arena football team in the Arena Football 1 from Spokane, Washington, USA. They play their home games at the Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena...
|
Away |
L 49-79 |
Death of Donte Newsome
On July 5, 2008, Dusters
running backA running back is the position of a player on an American or Canadian football team who usually lines up in the offensive backfield...
Donte Newsome was shot to death outside of a nightclub in
Huntington, West VirginiaHuntington is a city in Cabell and Wayne counties in the U.S. state of West Virginia, along the Ohio River. Most of the city is in Cabell County, for which it is the county seat. A small portion of the city, mainly the neighborhood of Westmoreland, is in Wayne County. Its population was estimated...
, home of his alma mater
Marshall UniversityMarshall University is a coeducational public research university in Huntington, West Virginia, founded in 1837 as a private subscription school by several residents of Guyandotte and the surrounding area, on the site once known as Maple Grove .On March 30, 1838, the institution was formally...
.
Future
On October 25, 2007, the Dusters signed a contract to remain at the
Amarillo Civic CenterThe Amarillo Civic Center is a multi-purpose convention center in Amarillo, Texas. Built in 1964, it consists of multiple facilities including:* A 2,848-seat auditorium with 2,324 permanent seats and used for concerts, Broadway shows and other events....
until at least 2011. It was announced that their offices would be moving into the historic Paramount Building in Downtown Amarillo.
Season-by-season record
|-
| colspan="6" align="center" |
Amarillo Dusters (Intense)
|-
|2004 || 13 || 3 || 0 || 1st League || Won Round 1 (
S.A. StampedeThe San Angelo Stampede Express is a professional indoor football team from San Angelo, Texas. They are a member of the Indoor Football League. They play their home games in the San Angelo Coliseum...
)
Won Intense Bowl I (
L. Lone StarsThe Lubbock Gunslingers were a professional indoor football team. They played their home games in Lubbock, Texas at Lubbock Municipal Coliseum....
)
|-
| colspan="6" align="center" |
Amarillo Dusters (af2)
|-
|2005 || 8 || 8 || 0 || 4th NC Midwest || Won NC Round 1 (
Oklahoma CityThe Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz are a charter member of the Arena Football 1 league which started play as a 2004 expansion team of the Arena Football League's now-defunct minor league af2...
)
Lost Semifinals (
MemphisThe Memphis Xplorers were a professional arena football team. They were a 2001 expansion member of the af2. They played their home games at DeSoto Civic Center in Southaven, Mississippi ....
)
|-
|2006 || 4 || 12 || 0 || 5th NC Midwest || --
|-
|2007 || 3 || 13 || 0 || 5th NC Central || --
|-
|2008 || 8 || 8 || 0 || 4th NC Central || Won NC Round 1 (
TulsaThe Tulsa Talons are a professional arena football franchise in Tulsa, Oklahoma which plays in the Arena Football 1 league. The Talons began in 2000 as a charter member of the defunct minor league Arena Football 2, also known as af2...
)
Won NC Semifinals (
Bossier-ShreveportThe Bossier Shreveport Battle Wings are an Arena Football 1 team based in Bossier City, Louisiana. They play at the CenturyTel Center in Bossier City and represent both Bossier City and Shreveport...
)
Lost NC Championship (
SpokaneThe Spokane Shock are a professional arena football team in the Arena Football 1 from Spokane, Washington, USA. They play their home games at the Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena...
)
|-
|2009 || 3 || 13 || 0 || 3rd NC Central || --
|-
| colspan="6" align="center" |
Amarillo Dusters (IFL)
|-
|2010 || -- || -- || -- || -- || --
|-
!Totals || 39 || 57 || 0
|colspan="2"| (including Intense & af2 playoffs)
* = Current Standing
Roster
| Special Teams |
| # |
Player |
Position |
Acquired |
College |
| 18 |
USA |
Jacob Felton |
K |
2005 |
West Texas A&MWest Texas A&M University , TEST part of the Texas A&M University System, is a public university located in Canyon, Texas, a small city south of Amarillo. West Texas A&M opened on September 20, 1910...
|
| Defense |
| # |
Player |
Position |
Acquired |
College |
| 4 |
USA |
Aaron Williams |
DB |
2008 |
Cal PolyCalifornia Polytechnic State University, also officially recognized as Cal Poly, is a public university located in San Luis Obispo, California...
|
| 6 |
USA |
Don Hooks |
DB |
2008 |
West Texas A&MWest Texas A&M University , TEST part of the Texas A&M University System, is a public university located in Canyon, Texas, a small city south of Amarillo. West Texas A&M opened on September 20, 1910...
|
| 21 |
USA |
Jermaine Keyes |
DB |
2008 |
Kentucky State |
| 3 |
USA |
Terick Thomas |
DB |
2008 |
MarshallMarshall University is a coeducational public research university in Huntington, West Virginia, founded in 1837 as a private subscription school by several residents of Guyandotte and the surrounding area, on the site once known as Maple Grove .On March 30, 1838, the institution was formally...
|
| 7 |
USA |
Musa Nash |
LB |
2008 |
Fort Valley State |
| 37 |
USA |
Josh Mayfield |
LB |
2008 |
Cal PolyCalifornia Polytechnic State University, also officially recognized as Cal Poly, is a public university located in San Luis Obispo, California...
|
| 11 |
USA |
Jared Williams |
DE |
2008 |
Texas TechTexas Tech University, often referred to as Texas Tech or TTU, is a public, coeducational, research university in Lubbock, Texas, United States. Established on February 10, 1923, and originally known as Texas Technological College, it is the leading institution of the Texas Tech University System...
|
| 33 |
USA |
Val Stinson |
DE |
2008 |
Texas A&M University-Kingsville |
| Offense |
| # |
Player |
Position |
Acquired |
College |
| 13 |
USA |
Julian Reese |
QB |
2008 |
Indiana State |
| 14 |
USA |
Joel Steele |
QB |
2008 |
Anderson University Anderson University may refer to:*Anderson University in Anderson, Indiana.*Anderson University in Anderson, South Carolina....
|
| 1 |
USA |
Jim Lukowiak |
WR |
2008 |
Southern Connecticut StateSouthern Connecticut State University is one of four state universities in Connecticut, and is located in New Haven, Connecticut...
|
| 8 |
USA |
Craig Fulton |
WR |
2008 |
Northeastern State Northeastern State University is a public university with its main campus located in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, at the foot of the Ozark Mountains. Northeastern's home, Tahlequah, is also the capital of The Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma...
|
| 10 |
USA |
Art Membrilla |
WR |
2008 |
West Texas A&MWest Texas A&M University , TEST part of the Texas A&M University System, is a public university located in Canyon, Texas, a small city south of Amarillo. West Texas A&M opened on September 20, 1910...
|
| 29 |
USA |
Wallace House |
FB |
2008 |
Fordham UniversityFordham University is a private university in the United States, with three campuses located in and around New York City. It was founded by the Roman Catholic Diocese of New York in 1841 as St...
|
| 30 |
USA |
Kalavai Blanchard |
OL |
2008 |
West Texas A&M |
| 72 |
USA |
Josh Kline |
OL |
2008 |
Northern State Northern State may refer to:*Northern State , a female rap group from New York City.*The Northern State Parkway, a limited-access parkway located on Long Island.*Northern, Sudan, one of 26 states in Sudan....
|
| 84 |
USA |
Tavares Dishmon |
OL |
2008 |
Kentucky State |
| 89 |
USA |
Aaron Turner |
OL |
2008 |
East Central University East Central University is a four year public university in Ada, Oklahoma, located in the south central region of the state. Ada is home to the tribal headquarters of the Chickasaw Nation. The president is Dr. John R. Hargrave...
|
| 55 |
USA |
Randy Degg |
C |
2008 |
Northwood UniversityNorthwood University is a private university with multiple locations. The school has four residential campuses: Midland, Michigan , Cedar Hill, Texas , West Palm Beach, Florida and a joint program with Hotel Institute Montreux in Montreux, Switzerland began in 2001...
|
| 69 |
USA |
Jerome Roberts |
NT |
2008 |
Joliet Junior CollegeJoliet Junior College , a community college based in Joliet, Illinois, was the first public community college founded in the United States. JJC offers pre-baccalaureate programs for students planning to transfer to a four-year university, as well as occupational education leading directly to...
|
Past
- Donte Newsome, RB/LB
- Julian Reese, QB
- Jarrod Rouanzoin, WR/LB/QB
- Kendell Walker, WR/DB/KR
- Kareem Larrimore DB
External links