Orlando Predators
Encyclopedia
The Orlando Predators are an Arena Football League
Arena Football League
The Arena Football League is the highest level of professional indoor American football in the United States. It is currently the second longest running professional football league in the United States, after the National Football League. It was founded in 1987 by Jim Foster...

 team based in Orlando, Florida
Orlando, Florida
Orlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States...

 that was founded in 1991
1991 Arena Football League season
The 1991 Arena Football League season was the 5th season of the Arena Football League. The league champions were the Tampa Bay Storm, who defeated the Detroit Drive in ArenaBowl V.-Standings:* Green indicates clinched playoff berth...

. Their playoff streak is currently 19 seasons in a row, as of the season, becoming the ArenaBowl
ArenaBowl
The ArenaBowl is the Arena Football League's championship game. From 1987 to 2004, the ArenaBowl was hosted by either the team with the better regular-season record or the higher seeding in the playoffs. From ArenaBowl XIX in 2005 until ArenaBowl XXII in 2008, the game was played at a neutral site...

 champions in 1998
ArenaBowl XII
Arena Bowl XII was the Arena Football League's twelfth Arena Bowl. In this match-up, it pitted the #4 Orlando Predators of the National Conference against the #1 Tampa Bay Storm , also of the National Conference. This would be the second and final ArenaBowl to have the "War On I-4" rivalry on...

 and 2000
ArenaBowl XIV
ArenaBowl XIV is widely hailed as one of the most exciting games in ArenaBowl history, ranking alongside classics such as ArenaBowl XVIII and ArenaBowl XIX. Featuring two teams from the Arena Football League's Southern Division, the game went as a Southern Division game might be expected to: a...

. For many years they were coached by Jay Gruden
Jay Gruden
Jay Gruden is an American football coach and former quarterback. He is currently the offensive coordinator for the Cincinnati Bengals and was formerly the head coach of the Florida Tuskers of the United Football League. He is also a decorated player and coach in Arena Football League history,...

, younger brother of Jon Gruden
Jon Gruden
Jon David Gruden is an American football analyst and former head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for seven seasons and prior to that the Oakland Raiders for four seasons. In his first year as the head coach of Tampa Bay, the Buccaneers won Super Bowl XXXVII, defeating the Raiders whom he had...

, but he became the offensive coordinator of the UFL's Florida Tuskers (now Virginia Destroyers) after the cancellation of the AFL
Arena Football League
The Arena Football League is the highest level of professional indoor American football in the United States. It is currently the second longest running professional football league in the United States, after the National Football League. It was founded in 1987 by Jim Foster...

's 2009 season.

History

The Orlando Predators franchise was awarded by the AFL to Davey Johnson, Tracy Allen and Mike McBath
Mike McBath
Michael Strickler McBath is an American businessman, former professional American football player, and part-owner of the Orlando Predators of the Arena Football League...

 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 qualified for the playoffs in 18 consecutive seasons, the longest streak in the original AFL. One noted administrator for the Predators was Hall of Fame lineman Jack Youngblood
Jack Youngblood
Herbert Jackson "Jack" Youngblood, III is a former American college and professional football player who was a defensive end for the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League for fourteen seasons during the 1970s and 1980s. He was a five-time consensus All-Pro and a seven-time Pro Bowl...

 who came to the Predators in 1995 as vice-president and then later, president of the organization. He was with the team through the 1999 season.

For much of their existence in the original AFL their head coach was Jay Gruden
Jay Gruden
Jay Gruden is an American football coach and former quarterback. He is currently the offensive coordinator for the Cincinnati Bengals and was formerly the head coach of the Florida Tuskers of the United Football League. He is also a decorated player and coach in Arena Football League history,...

, younger brother of prominent National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...

 coach Jon Gruden
Jon Gruden
Jon David Gruden is an American football analyst and former head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for seven seasons and prior to that the Oakland Raiders for four seasons. In his first year as the head coach of Tampa Bay, the Buccaneers won Super Bowl XXXVII, defeating the Raiders whom he had...

. Jay Gruden was formerly an outstanding Arena Football quarterback, leading the Tampa Bay Storm
Tampa Bay Storm
The Tampa Bay Storm are an Arena Football League team based in the Tampa Bay Area of Florida. They play their home games in the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa....

 to four ArenaBowl
ArenaBowl
The ArenaBowl is the Arena Football League's championship game. From 1987 to 2004, the ArenaBowl was hosted by either the team with the better regular-season record or the higher seeding in the playoffs. From ArenaBowl XIX in 2005 until ArenaBowl XXII in 2008, the game was played at a neutral site...

 championships, and then served one year as offensive coordinator for the Nashville Kats
Nashville Kats
The Nashville Kats were an Arena Football League team, located in Nashville, Tennessee. They were last coached by Pat Sperduto, who coached the team's original incarnation to two ArenaBowl appearances prior to the original franchise's move to Atlanta in 2002...

 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
ArenaBowl XII
Arena Bowl XII was the Arena Football League's twelfth Arena Bowl. In this match-up, it pitted the #4 Orlando Predators of the National Conference against the #1 Tampa Bay Storm , also of the National Conference. This would be the second and final ArenaBowl to have the "War On I-4" rivalry on...

 and 2000
ArenaBowl XIV
ArenaBowl XIV is widely hailed as one of the most exciting games in ArenaBowl history, ranking alongside classics such as ArenaBowl XVIII and ArenaBowl XIX. Featuring two teams from the Arena Football League's Southern Division, the game went as a Southern Division game might be expected to: a...

 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
Fran Papasedero
Fran Papasedero was an Arena football player and coach. Papasedero coached the Arena Football League's Orlando Predators in the 2002 and 2003 seasons, having been appointed to replace Jay Gruden who wanted to resume his playing career at quarterback for the Predators. He had a 19-11 record and was...

, in a car accident.

The Predators are undoubtedly one of the premier franchises in the history of the original AFL, and have a legendary rivalry with Tampa Bay, who moved to Tampa the same year the Predators formed. They have met twice in the ArenaBowl, with Tampa Bay winning in 1995
ArenaBowl IX
ArenaBowl IX was the Arena Football League's ninth Arena Bowl. The game featured the #6 Orlando Predators of the National Conference against the #1 Tampa Bay Storm , also of the National Conference. This would be the very first ArenaBowl to have the "War On I-4" rivalry featured in it...

 and Orlando winning in 1998. The rivalry, nicknamed the "War On I-4" after the interstate that connects the two cities, intensified when Gruden took over as Orlando's head coach.

Orlando and Tampa Bay have each lasted longer in their markets than any other AFL franchise. The Predators are unique in that they had played in their previous venue, Amway Arena, for 18 seasons in the AFL, longer than any other team. Amway Arena was often nicknamed "The Jungle" during Predators games due to the hostile environment from the fans, harsh smoke that fills the arena during the players intro, and a Guns N' Roses
Guns N' Roses
Guns N' Roses is an American hard rock band, formed in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, in 1985. The band has released six studio albums, three EPs, and one live album...

 song
Welcome to the Jungle
"Welcome to the Jungle" is a song by American rock band Guns N' Roses, featured on its 1987 debut studio album, Appetite for Destruction. It was released as the band's second single on October 3, 1987, and reached number #7 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and number #24 on the UK Singles Chart...

 which "welcomes" other teams followed by their impending death. They shared Amway Arena with the Orlando Magic
Orlando Magic
The Orlando Magic is a professional basketball team based in Orlando, Florida. They play in the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association and are currently coached by Stan Van Gundy...

 of the NBA
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...

 and the Orlando Titans
Orlando Titans
The Orlando Titans were a professional lacrosse team in the National Lacrosse League that played in the 2010 season. The Titans began as the New York Titans, and played for three seasons in New York before announcing the move to Orlando on August 10, 2009....

 of the NLL
National Lacrosse League
The National Lacrosse League is a men's professional indoor lacrosse league in North America. It currently has nine teams; three in Canada and six in the United States. Unlike other lacrosse leagues which play in the summer, the NLL plays its games in the winter and spring. Each year, the playoff...

. The 2010 season was the Predators' 19th and final season at Amway Arena. The team will move to Amway Center, the new arena in Orlando, for the 2011 season. A Predators game was the final sporting event ever performed at Amway Arena. The Tampa Bay Storm
Tampa Bay Storm
The Tampa Bay Storm are an Arena Football League team based in the Tampa Bay Area of Florida. They play their home games in the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa....

 can surpass that record of 19 seasons in one venue if they stay at the St. Pete Times Forum
St. Pete Times Forum
The St. Pete Times Forum is an arena in Tampa, Florida, that has been used for ice hockey, basketball, and arena football games, as well as concerts....

 until 2018.

The team's current mascot is a monster-like human named Klaw who looks much like the alien (Predator
Predator (alien)
The Predator is a fictional extraterrestrial species featured in the Predator science-fiction franchise, characterised by its trophy hunting of other dangerous species for sport, including humans and its fictional counterparts, Aliens....

) from the Predator
Predator (film)
Predator is a 1987 American science fiction action film directed by John McTiernan, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Carl Weathers, Jesse Ventura, and Kevin Peter Hall. It was distributed by 20th Century Fox....

 films, with only different coloring.

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).

During the 2007 season, the Predators inaugurated the "Predator Fan Hall Of Fame". The inaugural inductees are Nancy Morris & Richard Grabe. Morris, who has been a superfan
Superfan
Superfan may be:* Student fans of the Boston College Eagles* "Superfan", nickname for football enthusiast Giles Pellerin* "Superfan", nickname for NBA basketball enthusiast James Goldstein...

 for almost sixteen years, is known to most of the team and the front office as "The PredMom", and is currently the president of the Orlando Predator In Your Face Fan Club. Grabe, who has been a superfan
Superfan
Superfan may be:* Student fans of the Boston College Eagles* "Superfan", nickname for football enthusiast Giles Pellerin* "Superfan", nickname for NBA basketball enthusiast James Goldstein...

 since 1991, is the creator of the "PredHeads" that are seen worn by a select group of fans that sit in section 113 of the Amway Arena, and are also known for their tailgating parties on "Predator Island" (located in the northeast corner of lot 4 of the centroplex).

The Predators maintained their organization and web presence after the AFL suspended operations in August 2009. On September 28, 2009, the Predators announced their return to play for the 2010 season as a member of the new Arena Football 1 league, until that league purchased the AFL's assets and assumed the AFL's history. With Jay Gruden obligated to the UFL by his contract with the Tuskers, eventually becoming the team's head coach, they hired former quarterback Pat O'Hara
Pat O'Hara
Patrick O'Hara is an arena football coach and retired quarterback. He is currently the head coach of the New Orleans VooDoo of the Arena Football League. He was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 10th round of the 1991 NFL Draft...

 as their head coach for the 2010 season. When the schedule for the league's season was announced on December 31, 2009, the Predators were slated to return to action on April 9, 2010. In the 2010 season, the Predators finished with an 8–8 record. They qualified for the playoffs, but lost the conference championship to the Tampa Bay Storm by a single point as a last-second field goal attempt was unsuccessful.

In 2011
2011 Orlando Predators season
The 2011 Orlando Predators season was the 20th season for the franchise in the Arena Football League. The team was coached by Pat O'Hara. This was the Predators' first season at Amway Center. The Predators finished the regular season 11–7, qualifying for the playoffs for the 19th consecutive season...

, the Predators finished the regular season 11–7, but fell to the Jacksonville Sharks
Jacksonville Sharks
The Jacksonville Sharks were a professional American football team based in Jacksonville, Florida. They competed for part of the 1974 season in the World Football League, a failed attempt to launch a major professional football league in the United States in competition with the National Football...

 in the conference semifinals by a score of 63–48.

Predator 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
    San Antonio Force
    The San Antonio Force was an Arena Football League team that competed in the 1992 season only. They played their home games at HemisFair Arena, then the home of the San Antonio Spurs...

     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
    Af2
    AF2 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...

     and other indoor football leagues, it proved to be the only shutout ever recorded in the original AFL.
  • On Friday, June 19, 1992, in a Week 4 road game against the Detroit Drive
    Massachusetts Marauders
    The Massachusetts Marauders was a professional arena football team that played in the Arena Football League in 1994.-Detroit Drive :...

    , quarterback Ben Bennett
    Ben Bennett
    Ben Bennett is an American football coach most recently the head coach of the af2's Austin Wranglers. He has been involved in professional football as a player and coach since 1984...

     and the Predators trailed 42–32 with only 49 seconds left. In a miraculous feat of strength, Wide receiver / Defensive back Barry Wagner
    Barry Wagner
    Barry Wagner is a retired American football player in the Arena Football League for the Orlando Predators with whom he won his first ArenaBowl Championship and the San Jose SaberCats, with whom he won two championships. He also played in the World Indoor Football League as a wide...

     would catch two touchdown passes, get two two-point conversions, recover an onside kick, and made a game-ending tackle. With a safety added in, Orlando would win, 50–49. The comeback would become known as "The Miracle Minute". On the AFL's 20 Greatest Highlights Countdown, this comeback ranked #1.

Coaches

Head coach
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...

Tenure Regular season
record (W-L)
Post season
record (W-L)
Most recent coaching staff Notes
Perry Moss
Perry Moss
-External links:...

1991
1991 Arena Football League season
The 1991 Arena Football League season was the 5th season of the Arena Football League. The league champions were the Tampa Bay Storm, who defeated the Detroit Drive in ArenaBowl V.-Standings:* Green indicates clinched playoff berth...

1997
1997 Arena Football League season
The 1997 Arena Football League season was the 11th season of the Arena Football League. The league champions were the Arizona Rattlers, who defeated the Iowa Barnstormers in ArenaBowl XI.-Standings:* Green indicates clinched playoff berth...

59–25 8–8
Jay Gruden
Jay Gruden
Jay Gruden is an American football coach and former quarterback. He is currently the offensive coordinator for the Cincinnati Bengals and was formerly the head coach of the Florida Tuskers of the United Football League. He is also a decorated player and coach in Arena Football League history,...

1998
1998 Arena Football League season
The 1998 Arena Football League season was the 12th season of the Arena Football League. The league champions were the Orlando Predators, who defeated the Tampa Bay Storm in ArenaBowl XII.-Standings:* Green indicates clinched playoff berth...

2001
2001 Arena Football League season
The 2001 Arena Football League season was the 15th season of the Arena Football League. The league champions were the Grand Rapids Rampage, who defeated the Nashville Kats in ArenaBowl XV.-Standings:* Green indicates clinched playoff berth...

35–21 8–2 Resigned as head coach to
become starting quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...

.
Arena Football League Hall
of Fame (1999)
All-ArenaBowl Team - QB (1999)
Second-team 15th
Anniversary Team - QB (2001)
2x ArenaBowl
ArenaBowl
The ArenaBowl is the Arena Football League's championship game. From 1987 to 2004, the ArenaBowl was hosted by either the team with the better regular-season record or the higher seeding in the playoffs. From ArenaBowl XIX in 2005 until ArenaBowl XXII in 2008, the game was played at a neutral site...

 winning
coach (XII
ArenaBowl XII
Arena Bowl XII was the Arena Football League's twelfth Arena Bowl. In this match-up, it pitted the #4 Orlando Predators of the National Conference against the #1 Tampa Bay Storm , also of the National Conference. This would be the second and final ArenaBowl to have the "War On I-4" rivalry on...

, XIV
ArenaBowl XIV
ArenaBowl XIV is widely hailed as one of the most exciting games in ArenaBowl history, ranking alongside classics such as ArenaBowl XVIII and ArenaBowl XIX. Featuring two teams from the Arena Football League's Southern Division, the game went as a Southern Division game might be expected to: a...

)
Fran Papasedero
Fran Papasedero
Fran Papasedero was an Arena football player and coach. Papasedero coached the Arena Football League's Orlando Predators in the 2002 and 2003 seasons, having been appointed to replace Jay Gruden who wanted to resume his playing career at quarterback for the Predators. He had a 19-11 record and was...

2002
2002 Arena Football League season
The 2002 Arena Football League season was the 16th season of the Arena Football League. The league champions were the San Jose SaberCats, who defeated the Arizona Rattlers in ArenaBowl XVI...

2003
2003 Arena Football League season
The 2003 Arena Football League season was the 17th season of the Arena Football League. The league champions were the Tampa Bay Storm, who defeated the Arizona Rattlers in ArenaBowl XVII. The AFL expanded its season to a 16-game schedule...

19–11 3–2
Jay Gruden 2004
2004 Arena Football League season
The 2004 Arena Football League season was the 18th season of the Arena Football League. The league champions were the San Jose SaberCats, who defeated the Arizona Rattlers in ArenaBowl XVIII...

–2008
47–33 3–5 Assis. Head Coach:
Les Moss (1991–present)
Line Coach:
Willie Fears (2004–present)
WR
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...

 Coach:
Sean Beckton (2008–present)
Arena Football League 20
Greatest Players - #4 (2006)
Pat O'Hara 19–15 1–2
Bret Munsey
Bret Munsey
Bret Munsey is currently the Head Coach for the Orlando Predators of the Arena Football League. Previously he was the head coach for the Philadelphia Soul of the Arena Football League , and later the Director of Player Personnel for the Florida Tuskers of the United Football League.-College...

2012 0-0 0-0

Notable players

  • Ernest Allen - OL / DL
  • Ben Bennett
    Ben Bennett
    Ben Bennett is an American football coach most recently the head coach of the af2's Austin Wranglers. He has been involved in professional football as a player and coach since 1984...

     - QB
  • Siaha Burley
    Siaha Burley
    Siaha Burley is an arena football wide receiver who is currently a free agent in the Arena Football League. He played college football at Central Florida.-High school years:...

     - OS
  • Reggie Doster
    Reggie Doster
    Reggie Doster is a former XFL cornerback and a current Arena Football League defensive back for the Utah Blaze.-High school career:...

     - DS
  • Cory Fleming
    Cory Fleming
    Cory Lamont Fleming is a former professional American football wide receiver in the National Football League. He played two seasons for the Dallas Cowboys ....

     - WR / LB
  • Jay Gruden
    Jay Gruden
    Jay Gruden is an American football coach and former quarterback. He is currently the offensive coordinator for the Cincinnati Bengals and was formerly the head coach of the Florida Tuskers of the United Football League. He is also a decorated player and coach in Arena Football League history,...

     - QB / Coach
  • Joe Hamilton
    Joe Hamilton (football player)
    Joe Hamilton is a former American football player who now serves as running backs coach at Georgia State University. Before joining the Georgia State football staff in 2010, he had played professionally as a quarterback, most recently for the Orlando Predators of the Arena Football League...

     - QB
  • Connell Maynor - QB
  • Kenny McEntyre
    Kenny McEntyre
    Kenny McEntyre is a retired arena football defensive specialist in the Arena Football League. He is most known as a member of the Orlando Predators...

     - DS
  • Duke Pettijohn - FB / LB
  • Shane Stafford
    Shane Stafford
    Shane Stafford is a gridiron football quarterback for the Dallas Vigilantes of Arena Football League . He was signed by the Tallahassee Thunder as a street free agent in 2000. He played college football at Connecticut.Prior to signing with Orlando, he played with the Tampa Bay Storm for five seasons...

     - QB
  • Barry Wagner
    Barry Wagner
    Barry Wagner is a retired American football player in the Arena Football League for the Orlando Predators with whom he won his first ArenaBowl Championship and the San Jose SaberCats, with whom he won two championships. He also played in the World Indoor Football League as a wide...

     -WR / LB
  • Herkie Walls
    Herkie Walls
    McCurey 'Herkie' Walls is a former Arena Football League wide receiver for the Orlando Predators.Walls was a 7th round pick in the 1983 NFL Draft out of the University of Texas by the Houston Oilers. He played in the 1983-1985 seasons for the Oilers...

     - WR
  • Greg White
    Greg White
    Stylez G. White is an American football defensive end for the Virginia Destroyers of the United Football League. He was drafted by the Houston Texans in the seventh round of the 2002 NFL Draft...

     - OL / DL

AFL Hall of Famers

  • Ben Bennett
    Ben Bennett
    Ben Bennett is an American football coach most recently the head coach of the af2's Austin Wranglers. He has been involved in professional football as a player and coach since 1984...

  • Jay Gruden
    Jay Gruden
    Jay Gruden is an American football coach and former quarterback. He is currently the offensive coordinator for the Cincinnati Bengals and was formerly the head coach of the Florida Tuskers of the United Football League. He is also a decorated player and coach in Arena Football League history,...

  • Durwood Roquemore
    Durwood Roquemore
    Durwood Roquemore Durwood Roquemore Durwood Roquemore (born January 19, 1960 in Dallas, Texas is a former American football cornerback in the National Football League, United States Football League, and Arena Football League. He was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the sixth round of the 1982...

  • Perry Moss
    Perry Moss
    -External links:...

  • Carl Aikens
  • Reggie Smith
  • Herkie Walls
    Herkie Walls
    McCurey 'Herkie' Walls is a former Arena Football League wide receiver for the Orlando Predators.Walls was a 7th round pick in the 1983 NFL Draft out of the University of Texas by the Houston Oilers. He played in the 1983-1985 seasons for the Oilers...

  • Barry Wagner
    Barry Wagner
    Barry Wagner is a retired American football player in the Arena Football League for the Orlando Predators with whom he won his first ArenaBowl Championship and the San Jose SaberCats, with whom he won two championships. He also played in the World Indoor Football League as a wide...


External links

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