Oklahoma Defenders
The Oklahoma Defenders were a professional indoor football team and a charter member of the Champions Professional Indoor Football League (CPIFL). Based in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the Defenders played their home games at the Cox Business Center.
| Oklahoma Defenders | ||
|---|---|---|
| Established 2012 Folded 2014 Played in Tulsa Convention Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma | ||
| ||
| League/conference affiliations | ||
| American Professional Football League (2012) Champions Professional Indoor Football League (2013–2014) | ||
| Team colors | Navy, Scarlet, White | |
| Mascot | Billie the Regulator | |
| Personnel | ||
| Owner(s) | Lamar Baker | |
| Team history | ||
| ||
| Championships | ||
| League championships (0) | ||
| Conference championships (0) | ||
| Division championships (0) | ||
| Playoff appearances (1) | ||
| ||
| Home arena(s) | ||
| ||
It was announced in August 2014, that the team would go dark and cease all operation for the 2015 season, with the goal to return in the 2016 season. Many expect the team to fold and not return for the 2016 season.
The Defenders are the second arena/indoor team based in Tulsa, following the Tulsa Talons which played in arenafootball2 from the league's inaugural season in 2000 until its final season of 2009, and later in the Arena Football League from 2010 until 2011, after which the Talons moved to San Antonio.
History
The Defenders began play in 2012 as a member of the American Professional Football League.[1][2] The Defenders experienced immediate success, finishing the regular season with a 9–3 record, tied for second place with the Council Bluffs Express.[3] However, the Defenders would get the #3 seed because of the Express holding the head-to-head tiebreaker. In the teams' first-round playoff game, the Defenders lost to the Express 37–32.[4]
For the 2013 season, the Defenders played in the Champions Professional Indoor Football League. They posted a 3–9 record in their inaugural season in the CPIFL. The team's sophomore season in 2014 in the CPIFL was not much better with a duplicate 3–9 record.
It was announced in August 2014, that the team would go dark and cease all operation for the 2015 season, with the goal to return in the 2016 season.[5]
Final roster
| Oklahoma Defenders roster | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Quarterbacks
Running backs
Wide receivers
|
Offensive linemen
Defensive linemen
|
Linebackers
Defensive backs
Kickers |
Injured Reserve
Transfer List
Refuse to Report
| |||
Season-by-season
| Season | W | L | T | Finish | Playoff results |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma Defenders (APFL) | |||||
| 2012 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 3rd League | Lost Semi-final (Council Bluffs) |
| Oklahoma Defenders (CPIFL) | |||||
| 2013 | 3 | 9 | 0 | 8th League | -- |
| 2014 | 4 | 8 | 0 | 7th League | -- |
| Totals | 16 | 20 | 0 | (including playoffs) | |
2014
Season schedule
| Week | Date | Kickoff | Opponent | Results | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Final Score | Team Record | ||||
| 1 | March 1 (Sat) | 7:05pm | Kansas Koyotes | 72-6 [6] | 1-0 |
| 2 | March 8 (Sat) | 7:05pm | @Dodge City Law | 56-49 | 2-0 |
| 3 | March 16 (Sun) | 3:05pm | Wichita Wild | 44-50 | 2-1 |
| 4 | March 22 (Sat) | 7:05pm | Sioux City Bandits | 46-33 | 2-2 |
| 5 | Bye | ||||
| 6 | April 5 (Sat) | 7:05pm | @Lincoln Haymakers | 73-61 | 3-2 |
| 7 | April 12 (Sat) | 7:05pm | Bloomington Edge | 58-59 | 3-3 |
| 8 | April 19 (Sat) | 7:05pm | @Kansas Koyotes | 64-55 [7] | 4-3 |
| 9 | April 26 (Sat) | 7:05pm | @Wichita Wild | 37-67 | 4-4 |
| 10 | May 3 (Sat) | 7:05pm | @Sioux City Bandits | 52-60 | 4-5 |
| 11 | May 10 (Sat) | 7:30pm | Dodge City Law | 33-56 | 4-6 |
| 12 | May 17 (Sat) | 7:05pm | Salina Bombers | 40-60 | 4-7 |
| 13 | Bye | ||||
| 14 | May 31 (Sat) | 7:05pm | @Kansas Koyotes | 63-75 | 4-8 |
Past seasons
Season schedule
| Week | Date | Kickoff | Opponent | Results | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Final Score | Team Record | ||||
| 1 | March 9 (Sat) | 7:30pm | Wichita Wild | 26-70 | 0-1 |
| 2 | March 16 (Sat) | 7:30pm | @Kansas Koyotes | 62-40 | 1-1 |
| 3 | Bye | ||||
| 4 | March 30 (Sat) | 7:30pm | @Kansas City Renegades | 47-54 | 1-2 |
| 5 | April 6 (Sat) | 7:30pm | @Salina Bombers | 31-50 | 1-3 |
| 6 | April 14 (Sun) | 7:30pm | Mid-Missouri Outlaws | 36-34 | 2-3 |
| 7 | April 20 (Sat) | 7:30pm | Bloomington Edge | 39-44 | 2-4 |
| 8 | April 26 (Fri) | 7:05pm | @Lincoln Haymakers | 40-46 | 2-5 |
| 9 | May 4 (Sat) | 7:05pm | @Wichita Wild | 7-73 | 2-6 |
| 10 | May 11 (Sat) | 7:30pm | Kansas Koyotes | 48-20 | 3-6 |
| 11 | May 18 (Sat) | 7:30pm | Kansas City Renegades | 28-65 | 3-7 |
| 12 | May 26 (Sun) | 4:30pm | @Omaha Beef | 21-59 | 3-8 |
| 13 | Bye | ||||
| 14 | June 8 (Sat) | 7:30pm | Salina Bombers | 34-46 | 3-9 |
Season schedule
| Date | Time | Opponent | Location | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 24 | 7:05 PM | @ Sioux City Bandits | Tyson Events Center, Sioux City, IA | L 40-70 |
| March 31 | 7:05 PM | Council Bluffs Express | Expo Square Pavilion, Tulsa, OK | W 56-41 |
| April 7 | 7:05 PM | Cheyenne Warriors | Expo Square Pavilion, Tulsa, OK | W 54-9 |
| April 21 | 7:05 PM | Sioux City Bandits | Expo Square Pavilion, Tulsa, OK | L 29-31 |
| April 28 | 7:05 PM | @ Kansas Koyotes | Landon Arena, Topeka, KS | W 67-20 |
| May 12 | 7:05 PM | @ Springfield Wolfpack | Mediacom Ice Park, Springfield, MO | W 58-22 |
| May 19 | 7:05 PM | @ Colorado Lightning | Colorado Sports and Events Center, Monument, CO | W 2-0 (forfeit) |
| May 26 | 7:05 PM | Springfield Wolfpack | Expo Square Pavilion, Tulsa, OK | W 74-2 |
| June 2 | 7:05 PM | Kansas Koyotes | Expo Square Pavilion, Tulsa, OK | W 48-19 |
| June 16 | 7:05 PM | @ Mid-Missouri Outlaws | Mathewson Exhibition Center, Sedalia, MO | W 75-10 |
| June 23 | 7:05 PM | @ Council Bluffs Express | Mid-America Center, Council Bluffs, IA | L 39-62 |
| June 30 | 7:05 PM | Mid-Missouri Outlaws | Tulsa Convention Center, Tulsa, OK | W 88-41 |
| July 7 | 7:05 PM | @ Council Bluffs Express - APFL Playoffs | Mid-America Center, Council Bluffs, IA | L 32-37 |
Source:[8]
References
- "Oklahoma Defenders chase the football dream, minus the glitz and glamour". Tulsa World. July 7, 2012.
- "Official website". www.oklahomadefenders.com. Oklahoma Defenders.
- http://americanprofessionalfootball.com/standings.cfm
- "Bandits will host playoff game on Sunday". KTIV. July 3, 2012.
- Lohman, Rich. "Oklahoma Defenders go dormant." Tulsa Today. Accessed July 15, 2015.
- Peterson, Jr., Rick (March 22, 2014). "Koyotes set for home opener against Salina". The Topeka Capital-Journal. Archived from the original on April 28, 2014. Retrieved April 28, 2014.
- Peterson, Jr., Rick (April 19, 2014). "Koyotes' comeback falls short against Oklahoma". The Topeka Capital-Journal. Archived from the original on April 28, 2014. Retrieved April 28, 2014.
- "Schedule". American Professional Football League.