| Los Angeles Avengers | ||
| ||
| Year founded | 2000 | |
| Year folded | 2009 | |
| Prior names | None | |
| Divisional championships | 1: 2005 | |
| ArenaBowl championships | None | |
The Los Angeles Avengers was an Arena Football League team based in Los Angeles, California from 2000 through 2008. They folded on April 19, 2009.[1]
History[]
The Los Angeles Avengers played their home games at the Staples Center, which is also the current home to the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League, the Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers of the National Basketball Association, the Los Angeles Sparks of the Women's National Basketball Association, and the Los Angeles D-Fenders of the NBA Development League. The team began play in the 2000 season. The Avengers competed in the Western Division of the American Conference. Since its inception in 2000, the Avengers had competed in postseason play five times. The Avengers earned American Conference wildcard playoff berths in 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2007, and won the American Conference Western Division Championship in 2005.
The Avengers franchise was owned by Casey Wasserman, grandson of the late MCA head Lew Wasserman.
On April 10, 2005, Avengers defensive lineman Al Lucas was injured attempting to make a tackle and later died at a nearby hospital. It is the only fatal injury incurred during a game in the history of the league. The Al Lucas Hero Award is named after him.
The Avengers announced the termination of the program on April 20, 2009 after nine years of operation: "The LA Avengers has terminated its participation in the Arena Football League." The Los Angeles Avengers could possibly be returning in 2012 in the new Arena Football League along with Columbus, New York, Grand Rapids, & Colorado.
The Avengers official mascot was a superhero-like character named TD.[2]
Memorable Avengers' highlights[]
- On Sunday, March 30, 2003, in a Week 9 road game against the Orlando Predators, the Avengers trailed 63-58 late in the game. However, L.A. managed to recover an onside kick and on the very last play of the game, Quarterback Tony Graziani threw a 32-yard touchdown pass that flinged off the rebound net and was caught by WR/LB Greg Hopkins, giving the Avengers a 64-63 win. On the Arena Football League's 20 Greatest Highlights Countdown, this is at #19. Greg Hopkins would later coach special teams for the Avengers where he forced his players to do push-ups if they do not know the answers to his questions.[3]
Season-by-season[]
Coaches[]
| Head coach | Tenure | Regular season record (W-L) |
Post season record (W-L) |
Most recent coaching staff | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stan Brock | 2000 - 2001 | 3-14[4] | 0-0[4] | Let go after starting 0-3 during 2001.[4] | |
| Robert Lyles | 2001[5] | 5-6[5] | 0-0 | Replaced Brock, was not retained after season. | |
| Ed Hodgkiss | 2002 - 2008 | 57-53[6] | 1-5[6] | ||
| Pat O'Hara* | 2009 | 0-0 | 0-0 | OC:Vacant DC / DB Coach: Maurice Blanding QB / WR Coach: Chad Salisbury DL / LB Coach: Leroy Thompson OL / FB Coach: Mark Tucker |
Team folded before he coached a game. |
Notable past players[]
- Shannon Culver -WR/LB
- Clarence Cunningham - WR/FS
- Jim Druckenmiller - QB
- Tony Graziani - QB
- Greg Hopkins - WR/LB
- John Kaleo - QB
- Al Lucas - OL/DL
- Todd Marinovich - QB
- Chris Jackson - WR
- Michael Cobbins - FB
- Lonnie Ford - FB/DL
Silas Demary - OL/DL AFL 2005 Player Of the Year
Retired numbers[]
- #76 Al Lucas – June 17, 2007
- #82 Greg Hopkins – June 17, 2007
Notes[]
- ↑ "Arena Football League's Los Angeles Avengers shut down". April 20, 2009. http://www.bizjournals.com/losangeles/stories/2009/04/20/daily3.html.
- ↑ LA Avengers: Kids
- ↑ http://www.arenafootball.com/mediaPlayer/video.dbml?DB_MENU_ID=&SPSID=38064&SPID=3172&DB_OEM_ID=3500&CLIP_ID=25766&CLIP_FILE_ID=29255&CONTENT_TYPE=ONDEMAND
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 "ArenaFan Online: AFL Coaches: Stan Brock". http://www.arenafan.com/history/?page=coaches&coach=2. Retrieved 2008-10-24.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 "ArenaFan Online: AFL Coaches: Robert Lyles". http://www.arenafan.com/history/?page=coaches&coach=56. Retrieved 2008-10-24.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 "ArenaFan Online: AFL Coaches: Ed Hodgkiss". http://www.arenafan.com/history/?page=coaches&coach=58. Retrieved 2008-10-24.