Florida Firecats

The Florida Firecats were a professional arena football team based in Estero, Florida. They played in the AF2, the Arena Football League's developmental league, from 2001 to 2009. They did not join the AFL following the leagues' reorganization in 2010. During their run they won the 2004 ArenaCup championship,[1] two conference titles, and made a total of seven playoff appearances. They played their home games at Germain Arena.

Florida Firecats
Established 2001
Folded 2009
Played in Germain Arena
in Estero, Florida
FloridaFirecats.com
League/conference affiliations
AF2 (2001–2009)
  • American Conference (2001–2006)
    • Southeastern Division (2001)
    • Southern Division (2002–2006)
  • National Conference (2007)
    • South Division (2007)
  • American Conference (2008–2009)
    • South Division (2008–2009)
Team colorsPurple, red, white
     
Personnel
Owner(s)Chris Vallozzi
Head coachKevin Bouis
Team history
  • Florida Firecats (2001–2009)
Championships
League championships (1)
Conference championships (2)
  • 2002, 2004
Division championships (3)
  • 2005, 2006, 2007
Playoff appearances (7)
  • 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
Home arena(s)

Season-by-season
Season records
SeasonWLTFinishPlayoff results
20017905th AC Southeast--
20029702nd AC SouthWon AC Round 1 (Tallahassee 43-31)
Won AC Semifinal (Macon 44-28)
Won AC Championship (Cape Fear 43-23)
Lost ArenaCup III (Peoria 65-47)
200310602nd AC SouthLost AC Round 1 (Macon 42-16)
200410602nd AC SouthWon AC Round 1 (Memphis 35-33)
Won AC Semifinal (Tennessee Valley 62-58)
Won AC Championship (Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 41-31)
Won ArenaCup V (Peoria 39-26)
200514201st AC SouthWon AC Semifinal (Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 59-45)
Lost AC Championship (Louisville 70-40)
200613301st AC SouthWon AC Semifinal (Manchester 40-39)
Lost AC Championship (Green Bay 60-47)
200711501st NC SouthLost AC Round 1 (South Georgia 59-50)
200810602nd AC SouthLost AC Round 1 (Tennessee Valley 48-33)
20097904th AC South--
Totals100590 (including playoffs)

* = Current standing

Uncertain future

The cancellation of the Arena Football League's 2009 season has left the future of many AF2 teams up in the air. 11 of the 25 AF2 teams have confirmed that they will be joining a new arena football league, Arena Football 1. The Florida Firecats are not one of those teams, and it is unclear whether they will continue to play in the AF2, seek another arena football league, or suspend operations.

The Firecats do not seem interested in joining AF1 and may be trying to join another indoor football league instead. Commissioner Jerry Kurz says the Firecats have yet to apply, and team president Chris Vallozzi was quoted as calling AF1 "an upstart league" without the AFL's 20 years of prior history, also saying they'd "keep all options open with all leagues."[2]

Roster
Florida Firecats roster
Quarterbacks
  • 10 Justin Midgett

Fullbacks

  • 12 Brandon Isaiah

Wide receivers

  •  1 Magic Benton
  •  4 Bruce Gordon
  •  2 Paul McKinney
  • 22 James Panui
 Offensive linemen
  • 63 Marcel Burrough
  • 44 Brian Cross
  • 56 Raymond James
  • 77 Joshua Stovall

Defensive linemen

  • 73 Chandler Blakely
  •  8 Terrance Chapman
  • 93 Jerome Walker
 Linebackers
  • 24 James Bear
  • 15 George Lewis

Defensive backs

  •  6 Demetri Hodges
  •  3 James McCoy
  •  9 Kris Thomas

Special teams

  • 21 Mike Adams
 Reserve lists
  • Currently vacant

Rookies in italics
Roster updated July 25, 2009
20 Active, 0 Inactive

References
  1. "Settling the Score: Gorrie Takes One More Run". ResSports.com. March 13, 2012. Retrieved March 13, 2012.
  2. Wommack, Woody. "''Naples News'', "Pro football: Firecats haven't applied to join new Arena League 1"". Naplesnews.com. Retrieved 2014-06-20.
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