Arizona Rattlers

Arizona Rattlers
Current season
Established 1992
Play in Talking Stick Resort Arena
in Phoenix, Arizona
AZRattlers.com
HelmetLogo
League/conference affiliations

Arena Football League (1992–2016)

  • National Conference (2011–2016)

Indoor Football League (2017–present)

  • Intense Conference (2017–present)
Team colors Black, Copper, Teal, White
                   
Mascot Fang and Stryker
Personnel
Owner(s) Ron Shurts
President Chris Presson
General manager Kevin Guy
Head coach Kevin Guy
Team history
  • Arizona Rattlers (1992–present)
Championships
League championships (5)
AFL: 1994, 1997, 2012, 2013, 2014
IFL: 0
Conference championships (5)
AFL: 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016
IFL: 0
Division championships (10)
AFL: 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2004, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015
IFL: 0
Playoff appearances (21)
AFL: 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016
IFL: 0
Home arena(s)

The Arizona Rattlers are a professional indoor American football team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They are currently members of the Indoor Football League (IFL). The Rattlers were founded in 1992 as an expansion team in the Arena Football League and were the third oldest active franchise in the AFL until their departure in 2016. They play their home games at Talking Stick Resort Arena. The Rattlers are led by head coach Kevin Guy. Since the team's establishment in 1992, the Rattlers have won ten division titles and have played in nine ArenaBowl Championship games, winning championships in 1994, 1997, 2012, 2013 and 2014.

History

Founding and White era (1991–2004)

In 1987, it was speculated that the Phoenix, Arizona, area would be a target for the newly formed Arena Football League (AFL).[1]

On September 11, 1991, it was announced that Jerry Colangelo had been awarded an expansion franchise in the AFL in Phoenix.[2] Colangelo, owner of the NBA's Phoenix Suns, first approached Frank Kush to coach his team, but Kush declined the invitation.[3] In October 1991, the team announced that former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Danny White would be the franchise's first head coach.[4] In December 1991, the team announced that they would be named the Arizona Rattlers after more than 250 people suggested that the team's nickname should be the Rattlers, while 55% of their responders picked "Arizona" over "Phoenix".[5]

In 1992, the Rattlers began with their first two games on the road, and won their home debut in front of a sell-out crowd of 15,505 at America West Arena by a score of 56–31 over the Sacramento Attack.[6]

In 1994, the Rattlers captured their first ArenaBowl championship, with a 36–31 victory over the Orlando Predators.[7]

In December 1999, Gene Nudo, White and Will Meris pursued the purchase of the Rattlers from Colangelo.[8]

Kevin Guy coaching era (2008–present)

Rattlers helmet from 2013 to 2015

In 2008, it was announced that Brett Bouchy would become the new owner of the Arizona Rattlers. After the Rattlers had a 4–12 record in 2007, Brett Bouchy hired Kevin Guy as the new Arizona Rattlers head coach in the 2008 season and the Rattlers improved to an 8–8 record and cliched playoff berth for the first time since 2006, but lost in the first round. In August 2009, numerous media outlets began reporting that the AFL was folding permanently and would file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. The league released a statement on August 4 to the effect that while the league was not folding, it was suspending league operations indefinitely. Despite this, several of the league's creditors filed papers to force a Chapter 7 liquidation if the league did not do so voluntarily. This request was granted on August 7, though converted to a Chapter 11 reorganization on August 26. However Brett Bouchy and a group of investors planned to launch a new league called Arena Football 1 and helped the Arizona Rattlers and the Orlando Predators to become two of the four teams to survive and return in 2010 with Arena Football 1. In early 2010, it was announced that Arena Football 1 was granted the trademarks to the AFL brand and was renamed the Arena Football League. In 2011, after Brett Bouchy was able keep both the Arizona Rattlers and the Orlando Predators alive, he was forced to let go of ownership to one of the teams and that became the Arizona Rattlers.

On May 12, 2011, Ron Shurts became the new majority owner of the Rattlers franchise.[9]

In 2011, the Rattlers won 16 games in the regular season, a league-record for wins in a single regular season. In the playoffs, by winning the National Conference championship, they clinched a berth in ArenaBowl XXIV. They lost the game to the Jacksonville Sharks when Jacksonville quarterback Aaron Garcia threw a game-winning touchdown pass on the game's final play. The Rattlers redeemed themselves the following season, winning ArenaBowl XXV over the Philadelphia Soul to win their first title in 15 years.[10]

In 2013, the Rattlers and Soul met again in ArenaBowl XXVI, with the Rattlers winning yet again, 48-39. This made them the first team since 1995 to win back-to-back championships, and the first team in history to beat the same team for both titles.[11][12]

In 2014, the Rattlers went 15–3 in the regular season after a 14-game winning streak to start the season, and defeated the Cleveland Gladiators in ArenaBowl XXVII by a score of 72–32, becoming the first team in AFL history to win three consecutive AFL championships since the Detroit Drive of 1988–1990, as well as establishing the largest margin of victory (40 points) in an ArenaBowl.[13]

In 2015, the Rattlers went 14-4 in the regular season and made it to the Conference Championships but lost to the San Jose Sabercats 70-67, a team which had twice beaten them in the regular season. This ended their streak of consecutive ArenaBowl appearances at four.

In 2016, the Rattlers went 13-3 in the regular season, then blew out the Portland Steel and the Cleveland Gladiators en route to their fifth ArenaBowl appearance in six years, only to lose to the Philadelphia Soul.

Move from the AFL to the IFL

On October 17, 2016, the Rattlers announced it had left the AFL and joined the Indoor Football League for the 2017 season.[14]

Notable players

Current roster

Arizona Rattlers roster
Quarterbacks
  • -- Aaron Aiken
  • -- Darron Thomas
  • -- Quintin Williams
  • -- Jon Wolf

Running backs

  • -- Ketrich Harmon
  • -- Derrell Monroe
  • -- LaVance Taylor
  • -- DeJuan Wright

Wide receivers

  • -- Anthony Amos
  • -- Diondre Borel
  • -- DeWayne Boston
  • -- Larry Cobb
  • -- Antonio Vaughan
  • -- Demarius Washington
Offensive linemen
  • -- DeShawn Byrd
  • -- Glen Haisley
  • -- Keyon Haughton
  • -- Ian Joseph
  • -- Lamar Mady
  • -- Dante Moses
  • -- Keyun Swinney

Defensive linemen

  • -- Herbert Gonzalez III
  • -- Joshua Gordon
  • -- Leon Mackey
  • -- Justin Martin
  • -- Chris McAllister
  • -- Edward Mosley
  • -- ShaQuille Prather
  • -- Sean Watson
Linebackers
  • -- Justin Shirk

Defensive backs

  • -- James Ackel
  • -- Josh Atkinson
  • -- Anttonio Brown
  • -- Demar Dorsey
  • -- Nathan Lindsey
  • -- Demetruce McNeal
  • -- Adam Sauder
  • -- Tee Shepard
  • -- Damond Smith

Kickers

  • -- Sawyer Petre
Injured reserve
  • Currently vacant

Exempt

  • Currently vacant

Refused to report

  • Currently vacant


Rookies in italics
Roster updated November 21, 2016
40 Active, 0 Inactive

→ More rosters

Retired uniform numbers

Arizona Rattlers retired numbers
N° Player Position Seasons Date Retired Ref.
13 Sherdrick Bonner QB 1993-2007 June 16, 2010 [15]
14 Hunkie Cooper WR/LB 1993-2005 May 6, 2005 [16]
17 Randy Gatewood WR/DB 1996-2007 May 9, 2008 [17]

Arena Football League Hall of Famers

Arizona Rattlers Hall of Famers
No. Name Year Inducted Position(s) Years w/ Rattlers
13 Sherdrick Bonner 2012 QB 1993–2007
14 Hunkie Cooper 2011 WR/LB 1993–2005
17 Randy Gatewood 2012 WR/DB 1996–2007
44 Bob McMillen 2013 FB/LB 1995–2000
-- Gene Nudo 2011 Executive/Head Coach 1993–2007
-- Danny White 2002 Head Coach 1994–2002

Individual awards

AFL MVP
Season Player Position
1993Hunkie CooperWR/LB
2011Nick DavilaQB
2014Nick DavilaQB
2016Nick DavilaQB
AFL Offensive Player of the Year
Season Player Position
1998Calvin SchexnayderOS
2014Nick DavilaQB
AFL Ironman of the Year
Season Player Position
1999Hunkie CooperWR/LB
2000Hunkie CooperWR/LB
2003Randy GatewoodWR/DB
2006Randy GatewoodWR/DB

AFL Rookie of the Year
Season Player Position
2010Rod WindsorWR
ArenaBowl MVP Winners
ArenaBowl Player Position
VIIISherdrick BonnerQB
XIDonnie DavisQB
XXVNick DavilaQB
XXVIRod WindsorWR
XXVIINick DavilaQB
Offensive Lineman of the Year
Season Player Position
2013Billy EisenhardtOL
2016Jordan MudgeOL

Kicker Player of the Year
Season Player Position
2013Garrett LindholmK
Defensive Back of the Year
Season Player Position
2014Marquis FloydDB
2015Jeremy KellemDB

All-Arena players

The following Rattlers players have been named to All-Arena Teams:

All-Ironman players

The following Rattlers players have been named to All-Ironman Teams:

All-Rookie players

The following Rattlers players have been named to All-Rookie Teams:

Notable coaches

Head coaches

Note: Statistics are correct through the end of the 2016 Arena Football League season.

Name Term Regular Season Playoffs Awards
W L T Win% W L
Danny White 1992–2004 121 55 0 .688 20 10 1993 Coach of the Year
Todd Shell 2005 7 9 0 .438 0 0
Gene Nudo 2006–2007 12 20 0 .375 1 1
Kevin Guy 2008–present 104 34 0 .754 13 5 2011, 2016 Coach of the Year

Staff

Arizona Rattlers staff
Front Office
  • CEO/Majority Owner – Ron Shurts
  • President - Chris Presson
  • General Manager - Kevin Guy
  • Assistant General Manager - Jeff Jarnigan
  • Director of Team Operations – J. T. Thompson
  • Sidewinders Dancers Director – Angie Baker
  • Athletic Trainer - Sean McMannes
  • Equipment Manager - Todd Conner
  

Head Coach

Offensive Coaches

  • Assistant Head Coach – Kani Kauahi
  • Offensive Coordinator - Vacant

Defensive Coaches

  • Defensive Coordinator – Vacant

Team ownership

The Arizona Rattlers introduced Ron Shurts as the team’s new majority owner on May 12, 2011.[9]

"I have been an Arizona Rattlers season ticket holder since day one and attended the first Arizona Rattlers game at America West Arena. I believe in the team and the Arena Football League," said Shurts. "I want to bring the passion and excitement for Rattlers football back to US Airways Center and the Valley."

"Downtown Phoenix continues to grow and the Rattlers will be an integral part of the affordable, family-fun entertainment that the Suns and the Mercury are providing the local community," Shurts added.

Season-by-season

Media

1992-1995

The Very first broadcaster of the Rattlers was KUTP UPN-45. They would televise home & away games, whichever games were not picked up by ESPN, to include playoff games.

1996-2003

KASW-TV WB6 WB61 took over broadcasting the Rattlers.

2004–2008

Starting in the 2004 season, the Arizona Rattlers partnered with Fox Sports Arizona. That 1st season, they televised 4 games. When the 2005 season came, the Arena football league announced a partnership with Fox Sports Regional to televise games regionally. In addition, the Arizona Rattlers announced they would also produce games with Fox Sports Arizona separate from the League contract.

2010

After the cancellation of the 2009 season and return of the Arena Football League. The Arizona Rattlers announced a new broadcast deal with KAZT-TV AZTV 7 to broadcast up to eight games of the 2010 season. The partnership ended after one season after KAZT would not renew their broadcast partnership with the Rattlers in the 2011 season.

2011

After major changes of ownership throughout the 2011 season the Arizona Rattlers announced a new broadcast deal in mid season to return to Fox Sports Arizona with some games carried on Fox Sports Arizona Plus.

2012–2014

As the 2012 season approached the Arizona Rattlers would again announced that they would be moving their broadcasts to a new home this time to Cox7 Arizona with longtime Arizona sports caster Kevin Ray and Dale Hellestrae calling the game in the booth with Chris Harris on the sidelines and Lindsay Smith on Social Media. Cox7 was known as the Rattlers best broadcaster by televising all nine of their home games including selected away games that were simulcasted to other teams broadcasts. Cox7 also did Pregame Shows with the Rattlers before every home game showing documentaries and Talking LIVE before the game. The Partnership became a major success for Cox7 the Arizona Rattlers later extended their contract with Cox7 through the 2014 season when the announcement was made in November 2012.

2015–present

After the major success with Cox7 Arizona, the Rattlers would not renew with the station after their contract expired in the 2014 season and announced they would move their broadcasts back to Fox Sports Arizona with broadcasting up to only three home games and one playoff game on Fox Sports Arizona Plus. However the Rattlers still carried over the same broadcast team from Cox7 Arizona with Kevin Ray, Dale Hellestrae, and Chris Harris calling the game. The Rattlers can also be seen on National broadcasts on ESPN2 and CBS Sports Network.

References

  1. ↑ "Phoenix may get indoor team". Mohave Daily Miner. July 24, 1987. Retrieved March 6, 2014.
  2. ↑ "Arena expansion planned". The Daily Gazette. October 2, 1991. Retrieved March 6, 2014.
  3. ↑ "Kush says no to new Phoenix team". The News. September 13, 1991. Retrieved March 6, 2014.
  4. ↑ "Ex-Cowboy White new Arena coach". Spokane Chronicle. October 11, 1991. Retrieved March 6, 2014.
  5. ↑ "Arena football team settles on 'Rattlers'". The Prescott Courier. December 8, 1991. Retrieved March 6, 2014.
  6. ↑ Mel Relsner (June 17, 1992). "51-36? Doesn't seem like 'real' football". Kingman Daily Miner. Retrieved March 6, 2014.
  7. ↑ Tim Hipps (September 3, 1994). "Rattlers bite Predators at ArenaBowl". The News-Journal. Retrieved March 6, 2014.
  8. ↑ "Danny White interetsed in purchasing Arizona Rattlers". The Daily Courier. December 17, 1999. Retrieved March 6, 2014.
  9. 1 2 Williams, Cory. "Arena Football: Arizona Rattlers Find New Majority Owner, Ron Shurts". SB Nation Arizona. Retrieved 2 May 2011.
  10. ↑ "Game Statistics". www.arenafootball.com. Arena Football League. August 10, 2012. Retrieved August 23, 2012.
  11. ↑ "Arizona Rattlers Repeat as ArenaBowl Champions". www.arenafootball.com. Arena Football League. August 17, 2013. Retrieved August 17, 2013.
  12. ↑ Joe Williams (August 17, 2013). "ArenaBowl XXVI: Rattlers win 2nd Arena Football League title in row". www.orlandosentinel.com. Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved August 19, 2013.
  13. ↑ http://www.arenafootball.com/sports/arenabowl/spec-rel/082414aaa.html
  14. ↑ "IFL Announces Addition of Arizona Rattlers". IFL. October 17, 2016.
  15. ↑ "Arizona Rattlers To Retire Shedrick Bonner's Jersey". www.boxscorenews.com. Stryker-Indigo. June 12, 2010. Retrieved August 19, 2013.
  16. ↑ Darren Urban (May 6, 2005). "Rattlers to honor former star at halftime ceremony". www.eastvalleytribune.com. East Valley Tribune. Retrieved August 19, 2013.
  17. ↑ "Rattlers To Retire Randy Gatewood's Number 17". www.oursportscentral.com. OurSports Central. April 29, 2008. Retrieved August 19, 2013.

External links

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