Indiana Firebirds

For the af2 franchise known as the Albany Firebirds, see Albany Firebirds (af2).

Indiana Firebirds

Established 1990
Folded 2004
Played in Conseco Fieldhouse
in Indianapolis, Indiana


Helmet	Logo

League/conference affiliations

Arena Football League (1990–2004)

National Conference (1995-1999)
- East (1990–1999)
American Conference (2000-2004)
- Central (2000–2004)

Team colors

Black, Royal Blue, Red, Burnt Orange, Gold, White

Personnel

Owner(s)

Dave Lageschulte

Head coach

Mike Wilpolt

Team history

Albany Firebirds (1990–2000)

Indiana Firebirds (1990–2004)

Championships

League championships (1)

1999

Conference championships (0)
Prior to 2005, the AFL did not have conference championship games

Division championships (6)

Eastern: 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999
Central: 2000

Playoff appearances (6)

2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008

Home arena(s)

Knickerbocker Arena (1990–1999)
Conseco Fieldhouse (2000-2004)

The Indiana Firebirds were a team in the Arena Football 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.

History

Albany Firebirds (1990–2000)

Originally called the Albany Firebirds, the team was based in Albany, New York from 1990 to 2000.^[1]^[2] At that time, home games were played at the Knickerbocker Arena (now known as the Times Union Center). 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.

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 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.

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. 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 floundered 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.

Resurrection of the Albany Firebirds name

After the move of the Albany Firebirds AFL franchise to Indiana, an af2 team called the Albany Conquest took to the field to replace the arena football void left by the departure of the Firebirds. After eight seasons and troubles with fielding a winning team in recent seasons, Conquest owner Walter Robb contemplated shutting down the Conquest franchise. Then, on Friday, October 3, 2008, Robb announced the return of the team for the 2009 season but renamed as the Albany Firebirds in the hopes of "re-branding" the team.^[3]

Gallery

Albany Firebirds (1990–2000)
Indiana Firebirds (2001–2004)

Season-by-season

Season	W	L	T	Finish	Playoff results
Albany Firebirds
1990	3	5	0	5th	–
1991	6	4	0	4th	Lost Week 1 (Detroit 37–35)
1992	5	5	0	3rd Northern	Lost Week 1 (Dallas 48–45)
1993	5	7	0	5th NC	Lost Week 1 (Tampa Bay 48–34)
1994	10	2	0	1st NC	Won Week 1 (Las Vegas 49–30) Lost Week 2 (Arizona 40–33)
1995	7	5	0	1st NC Eastern	Won Week 1 (St. Louis 51–49) Lost Week 2 (Tampa Bay 56–49)
1996	10	4	0	1st NC Eastern	Won Week 1 (Milwaukee 70–58) Lost Week 2 (Iowa 62–55)
1997	6	8	0	3rd NC Eastern	–
1998	10	4	0	1st NC Eastern	Lost Week 1 (New Jersey 66–59)
1999	11	3	0	1st NC Eastern	Won Week 1 (Grand Rapids 55–45) Won Week 2 (Arizona 73–47) Won ArenaBowl XIII (Orlando 59–48)
2000	9	5	0	1st NC Eastern	Lost Week 2 (Arizona 53–50)
Indiana Firebirds
2001	9	5	0	2nd AC Central	Won Week 1 (Carolina 58–41) Won Week 2 (Tampa Bay 68–31) Lost Week 3 (Grand Rapids 83–70)
2002	7	7	0	3rd AC Central	Lost Week 1 (Dallas 47–46)
2003	6	10	0	4th AC Central	–
2004	8	8	0	3rd AC Central	–
Totals	121	91	0	(including playoffs)

Notable players

Arena Football Hall of Famers

No.	Name	Year Inducted	Position(s)	Years w/ Firebirds
Albany/Indiana Firebirds Hall of Famers
77	Sylvester Bembery	2011	OL/DL	1994–2003
17	Eddie Brown^[4]	2011	OS	1994–2003
–	Mike Dailey	2012	Head Coach	1997–2003
84	Fred Gayles	2002	WR/DB	1990–1997
?	Darryl Hammond	2013	WR/LB	1991–1994
–	Mike Hohensee	2012	Head Coach	1994–1996
82	Greg Hopkins	2013	WR/LB	1996–2001
–	Glenn Mazula	2000	Owner	1990–2002
?	Reggie Smith	2002	OS	1990
?	Durwood Roquemore	1999	WR/DB	1991

Individual awards

Season	Player	Position
AFL MVP
1994	Eddie Brown	OS

Season	Player	Position
AFL Offensive Player of the Year
1996	Eddie Brown	OS
1999	Eddie Brown	OS

Season	Player	Position
AFL Defensive Player of the Year
1996	David McLeod	WR/DB

Season	Player	Position
Kicker of the Year
1996	Pete Elezovic	K
2003	Clay Rush	K

Season	Player	Position
Ironman of the Year
1998	Chad Dukes	FB/LB

Season	Player	Position
AFL Rookie of the Year
2004	Adrian McPherson	QB

All-Arena players

The following Firebirds players were named to All-Arena Teams:

QB Tom Porras (1), Mike Perez (2), Mike Pawlawski (1)
FB/LB Chad Dukes (2), Leroy Thompson (1)
WR/DB Reggie Smith (1), Fred Gayles (1), Merv Mosely (2), David McLeod (1), Jay Jones (1), Evan Hlavacek (1)
WR/LB Fred Gayles (1), Greg Hopkins (2)
OL/DL Sylvester Bembery (3), Kevin Murphy (1), Jerome Brown (1), Joe Jacobs (3), Jon Krick (1), Chris Snyder (1), Kyle Moore-Brown (1)
OS/KR Reggie Smith (1)
OS Eddie Brown (4)
DS Derek Stingley (1), Cornelius Coe (1)
K Gary Gussman (1), Franco Grilla (1), Pete Elezovic (1), Clay Rush (1)

All-Ironman players

The following Firebirds players were named to All-Ironman Teams:

FB/LB Chad Dukes (1), Rich Young (1)
WR/DB Evan Hlavacek (1)
WR/LB Greg Hopkins (2)
OL/DL Joe Jacobs (2), Chris Snyder (1)

All-Rookie players

The following Firebirds players were named to All-Rookie Teams:

QB Adrian McPherson
FB/LB Van Johnson
WR/DB Brett Bech
DS Cornelius Coe

Notable Coaches

Head Coaches

Name	Term	Regular Season				Playoffs		Awards
Name	Term	W	L	T	Win%	W	L	Awards
Rick Buffington	1990–1993	19	21	0	.475	0	3
Mike Hohensee	1994–1995	17	9	0	.654	2	2
Mike Dailey	1997–2003	58	42	0	.580	5	4	Coach of the Year (1999)
Steve DeBerg	2004	0	5	0	.000	0	0
Mike Wilpolt	2004	8	3	0	.727	0	0

References

↑ Singelais, Mark (11 December 2009). "Firebirds won't play 2010 season". Times Union. Retrieved 25 May 2013.
↑ Tom Boggie (June 9, 1990). "Firebirds Host Commandos In Arena Football Opener". The Daily Gazette. Retrieved September 19, 2013.
↑ "The top 10 of the Double Os". Times Union. 20 December 2009. Retrieved 25 May 2013.
↑ Singelais, Mark (5 February 2011). "Father and son saga at Super Bowl". Times Union. Retrieved 25 May 2013.

External links

Indiana Firebirds

Formerly the Albany Firebirds
Founded in 1990
Folded in 2004
Based in Albany, New York (1990–2000) and Indianapolis, Indiana (2001–2004)

Franchise

Franchise
Seasons
Players

Arenas

Head coaches

Buffington
Hohensee
Dailey
DeBerg
Wilpolt

Playoff appearances (11)

Division championships (6)

ArenaBowl appearances (1)

XIII

Hall of Fame members

Seasons (15)

2000s	1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999

2000s	2000 2001 2002 2003 2004

Indiana Firebirds seasons

1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004

Defunct Arena Football League franchises

Alabama Vipers (2010) Anaheim Piranhas (1994–1997) Arizona Rattlers (1992–2016) Austin Wranglers (2004–2007) Bossier–Shreveport Battle Wings (2010) Carolina Cobras (2000–2004) Charlotte Rage (1992–1996) Chicago Bruisers (1987–1989) Chicago Politicians (1986) Chicago Rush (2001–2013) Cincinnati Rockers (1992–1993) Cleveland Thunderbolts (1991–1994) Colorado Crush (2003–2008) Columbus Destroyers (1999–2008) Connecticut Coyotes (1995–1996) Dallas Desperados (2002–2008) Dallas Texans (1990–1993) Dallas Vigilantes (2010–2011) Denver Dynamite (1987, 1989–1991) Detroit Fury (2001–2004) Florida Bobcats (1992–2001) Fort Worth Cavalry (1994) Georgia Force (2002–2008, 2011–2012) Grand Rapids Rampage (1998–2008) Houston ThunderBears (1996–2001) Indiana Firebirds (1990–2004) Iowa Barnstormers (2010–2014) Jacksonville Sharks (2010–2016) Kansas City Brigade/Command (2006–2012) Las Vegas Outlaws (2015) Los Angeles Avengers (2000–2008) Los Angeles Cobras (1988) Los Angeles Kiss (2014–2016) Massachusetts Marauders (1988–1994) Miami Vise (1987) Milwaukee Mustangs (1994–2001) Milwaukee Iron/Mustangs (2010–2012) Minnesota Fighting Pike (1996) Nashville Kats (1997–2001, 2005–2007) New England Steamrollers (1988) New Orleans Night (1991–1992) New Orleans VooDoo (2004–2005, 2007–2008, 2011–2015) New York Dragons (1995–2008) New York Knights (1988) Oklahoma Wranglers (1995–2001) Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz (2010) Orlando Predators (1991–2016) Pittsburgh Power (2011–2014) Portland Thunder/Steel (2014–2016) Rockford Metros (1986) San Antonio Force (1992) San Antonio Talons (2010–2014) San Jose SaberCats (1995–2008, 2011–2015) Spokane Shock (2010–2015) St. Louis Stampede (1995–1996) Toronto Phantoms (1997–2002) Utah Blaze (2006–2008, 2010–2013) Washington Commandos (1987–1989)

Related articles Arena Football League af2 (2000–2009) ArenaBowl AFL Arenas Arena football Indoor American football Arena Football video games

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