Orlando Predators
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Orlando Predators logo
Founded in 1991, the Orlando Predators are an Arena Football League team based in Orlando, Florida.
Annually among the league-leaders in attendance, the Predators have qualified for the playoffs 13 consecutive years and have posted a league-record 13 consecutive winning seasons. As of this writing, they are coached by Jay Gruden, younger brother of prominent National Football League coach Jon Gruden. Jay Gruden was formely an outstanding Arena 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 Arena Football, and have a legendary rivalry with Tampa Bay, whom 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 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 (2005) in their fifteenth season of playing in the same venue, the TD Waterhouse Centre (Orlando Arena), which they share with the Orlando Magic of the National Basketball Association. They have played in the ArenaBowl a total of six times. The Predators currently compete in the Southern Division of the National Conference.
In consecutive weeks in 1992, the Orlando Predators marked two historic achievements in AFL history. On June 13, 1992, the team defeated the San Antonio Force 50-0. San Antonio kicker Matt Franz missed six field goals. To date, it is the only shutout in Arena League history.
The next weekend, on June 19, 1992, the Predators faced the Detroit Drive. Down 42-32 with a minute to go, Barry Wagner caught a touchdown and a two-point conversion with 46 seconds left to play. Detroit answered with a quick touchdown and point attempt to make it 49-40. Barry Wagner caught an onside kick, then caught another touchdown and another two-point conversion to pull the Predators to 49-48. On the next Drive possession, the Predators forced a safety to take the lead, 50-49. The Drive got one more chance, but Wagner made a crucial tackle to win the game for the Predators. A total of seven possessions were logged in the final 46 seconds of the game. The feat was called the Miracle Minute.
Head Coaches
- 1991-1997: Perry Moss, 59-25
- 1998-2001, 2004-?: Jay Gruden, 63-36
- 2002-2003: Fran Papasedero, 19-11
External link
- Orlando Predators (http://www.orlandopredators.com/)