2008 Cleveland Gladiators season
Encyclopedia
The 2008
Cleveland Gladiators season is the 12th season for the franchise, their first season in Cleveland. The Gladiators finished the regular season with a 9-7 record, and made the playoffs as the 4th seed in the National Conference. In the Wild Card round of the playoffs, they defeated the Orlando Predators
, 69-66. For their Divisional round game, they defeated the Georgia Force
73-70. In the National Conference Championship however, they were defeated 70-35 by the top-seeded Philadelphia Soul
.
IR = injured reserve
PS = practice squad
Week 1: vs. New York Dragons
Week 2: vs. Utah Blaze
Week 3: at Columbus Destroyers
Week 4: at New Orleans VooDoo
Week 6: at Dallas Desperados
Week 7: vs. Colorado Crush
Week 8: at Los Angeles Avengers
Week 9: at New York Dragons
Week 10: vs. Philadelphia Soul
Week 11: vs. Orlando Predators
Week 12: at Colorado Crush
Week 13: at Tampa Bay Storm
Week 14: vs. Dallas Desperados
Week 15: vs. Chicago Rush
Week 16: at Philadelphia Soul
Week 17: vs. Columbus Destroyers
National Conference Wild Card: vs. Orlando Predators
National Conference Divisional: at Georgia Force
National Conference Championship: at Philadelphia Soul
2008 Arena Football League season
The 2008 Arena Football League season was the 22nd season of the Arena Football League and final season before the 2009 cancellation. The regular season began play on February 29, 2008 and concluded on June 22...
Cleveland Gladiators season is the 12th season for the franchise, their first season in Cleveland. The Gladiators finished the regular season with a 9-7 record, and made the playoffs as the 4th seed in the National Conference. In the Wild Card round of the playoffs, they defeated the Orlando Predators
Orlando Predators
The Orlando Predators are an Arena Football League team based in Orlando, Florida that was founded in 1991. Their playoff streak is currently 19 seasons in a row, as of the season, becoming the ArenaBowl champions in 1998 and 2000...
, 69-66. For their Divisional round game, they defeated the Georgia Force
Georgia Force
The Georgia Force are an Arena Football League team based in Gwinnett County, Georgia, United States that plays in the South Division of the American Conference. The team is owned by Doug MacGregor and Donn Jennings...
73-70. In the National Conference Championship however, they were defeated 70-35 by the top-seeded Philadelphia Soul
Philadelphia Soul
The Philadelphia Soul are an Arena Football League team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They began play in as an expansion team. The team plays in the Eastern Division of the American Conference. They won their first ArenaBowl in 2008, defeating the San Jose SaberCats 59–56 in ArenaBowl XXII...
.
Regular season schedule
| Week | Date | Opponent | Home/Away | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | March 3 | New York Dragons New York Dragons The New York Dragons were an Arena Football League team based in the New York metropolitan area. The team was founded in as the original incarnation of the Iowa Barnstormers, and relocated to New York in . They played in New York until 2008, when the league folded... |
Home | W 61-49 |
| 2 | March 9 | Utah Blaze Utah Blaze The Utah Blaze is a professional arena football team based in Salt Lake City, Utah and competes in the West division of the Arena Football League. Home games are played at the EnergySolutions Arena.-The original Utah Blaze :... |
Home | W 66-63 |
| 3 | March 15 | Columbus Destroyers Columbus Destroyers The Columbus Destroyers were an Arena Football League team based in Columbus, Ohio. The team was founded in as the Buffalo Destroyers, based in Buffalo, New York, and relocated to Columbus in . They folded along with the original incarnation of the AFL following the 2008 season, after a total of... |
Away | W 59-57 |
| 4 | March 21 | New Orleans VooDoo New Orleans VooDoo The New Orleans VooDoo are an Arena Football League team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They play their home games in New Orleans Arena.... |
Away | L 24-63 |
| 5 | Bye | Week | ||
| 6 | April 5 | Dallas Desperados Dallas Desperados The Dallas Desperados were a professional Arena Football team. The Desperados played in the Southern Division of the now-defunct Arena Football League from 2002 to 2008.... |
Away | L 51-58 |
| 7 | April 11 | Colorado Crush Colorado Crush Colorado Crush were an Arena Football League team that began play as a 2003 expansion team. The Crush played in the Central Division of the American Conference until the Arena Football League suspended operations in 2009... |
Home | L 69-66 |
| 8 | April 19 | Los Angeles Avengers Los Angeles Avengers 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.-History:... |
Away | W 83-69 |
| 9 | April 26 | New York Dragons New York Dragons The New York Dragons were an Arena Football League team based in the New York metropolitan area. The team was founded in as the original incarnation of the Iowa Barnstormers, and relocated to New York in . They played in New York until 2008, when the league folded... |
Away | L 39-56 |
| 10 | May 2 | Philadelphia Soul Philadelphia Soul The Philadelphia Soul are an Arena Football League team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They began play in as an expansion team. The team plays in the Eastern Division of the American Conference. They won their first ArenaBowl in 2008, defeating the San Jose SaberCats 59–56 in ArenaBowl XXII... |
Home | W 67-55 |
| 11 | May 9 | Orlando Predators Orlando Predators The Orlando Predators are an Arena Football League team based in Orlando, Florida that was founded in 1991. Their playoff streak is currently 19 seasons in a row, as of the season, becoming the ArenaBowl champions in 1998 and 2000... |
Home | W 62-43 |
| 12 | May 17 | Colorado Crush Colorado Crush Colorado Crush were an Arena Football League team that began play as a 2003 expansion team. The Crush played in the Central Division of the American Conference until the Arena Football League suspended operations in 2009... |
Away | W 50-46 |
| 13 | May 23 | Tampa Bay Storm Tampa Bay Storm The Tampa Bay Storm are an Arena Football League team based in the Tampa Bay Area of Florida. They play their home games in the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa.... |
Away | L 48-58 |
| 14 | May 31 | Dallas Desperados Dallas Desperados The Dallas Desperados were a professional Arena Football team. The Desperados played in the Southern Division of the now-defunct Arena Football League from 2002 to 2008.... |
Home | L 52-68 |
| 15 | June 7 | Chicago Rush Chicago Rush The Chicago Rush is an arena football team based in Rosemont, Illinois. It is a member of the Central Division of the National Conference of the Arena Football League. The team was founded in 2001 and is co-owned by Mike Ditka, the Hall of Fame player and coach.The Rush have qualified for the... |
Home | W 65-44 |
| 16 | June 14 | Philadelphia Soul Philadelphia Soul The Philadelphia Soul are an Arena Football League team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They began play in as an expansion team. The team plays in the Eastern Division of the American Conference. They won their first ArenaBowl in 2008, defeating the San Jose SaberCats 59–56 in ArenaBowl XXII... |
Away | L 61-62 |
| 17 | June 21 | Columbus Destroyers Columbus Destroyers The Columbus Destroyers were an Arena Football League team based in Columbus, Ohio. The team was founded in as the Buffalo Destroyers, based in Buffalo, New York, and relocated to Columbus in . They folded along with the original incarnation of the AFL following the 2008 season, after a total of... |
Home | W 47-35 |
Playoff schedule
| Round | Date | Opponent | Home/Away | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NC Wild Card | June 30 | Orlando Predators Orlando Predators The Orlando Predators are an Arena Football League team based in Orlando, Florida that was founded in 1991. Their playoff streak is currently 19 seasons in a row, as of the season, becoming the ArenaBowl champions in 1998 and 2000... |
Home | W 69-66 |
| NC Divisional | July 7 | Georgia Force Georgia Force The Georgia Force are an Arena Football League team based in Gwinnett County, Georgia, United States that plays in the South Division of the American Conference. The team is owned by Doug MacGregor and Donn Jennings... |
Away | W 73-70 |
| NC Championship | July 12 | Philadelphia Soul Philadelphia Soul The Philadelphia Soul are an Arena Football League team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They began play in as an expansion team. The team plays in the Eastern Division of the American Conference. They won their first ArenaBowl in 2008, defeating the San Jose SaberCats 59–56 in ArenaBowl XXII... |
Away | L 35-70 |
Coaching
- Mike WilpoltMike WilpoltMike Wilpolt is a former American football wide receiver/defensive back for the Charlotte Rage , the Las Vegas Sting , and the Anaheim Piranhas in the Arena Football League.-Indiana Firebirds Head Coach:...
- Head Coach
- Brian Partlow - Offensive Coordinator
- Willie Wood Jr. - WR, DB and Special Teams Coach
- Lee Johnson - Offensive/Defensive Line Coach
- John Tsironis - Strength and Conditioning Coach
- Matt Carlson - Video Coordinator
Roster
| Uniform # | Player | Position | Height | Weight (lb) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Robert Redd Robert Redd Robert Redd is a American football wide receiver, who currently plays for the Cleveland Gladiators of the Arena Football League.-Early life:... | WR/DB | 5-10 | 195 |
| 3 | Alex Teems | WR/DB | 5-11 | 195 |
| 5 | Jose Davis Jose Davis Jose Davis is an American Arena Football League quarterback who was most recently the second string quarterback for the Cleveland Gladiators before being cut to make room for former New England Patriots and New York Dragons quarterback Rohan Davey.-High school years:Davis attended Bellaire High... | QB | 6-1 | 200 |
| 7 | Sean Scott Sean Scott Sean Scott is an Arena Football League wide receiver/linebacker playing currently for the Philadelphia Soul. He went to Millersville University... (IR) | WR/DB | 6-2 | 200 |
| 9 | Raymond Philyaw Raymond Philyaw Raymond Philyaw is an arena football quarterback who currently plays for the Bossier-Shreveport Battle Wings in the Arena Football League league... | QB | 5-10 | 180 |
| 10 | Otis Amey Otis Amey Fred Otis Holmes Amey is a professional American and Canadian football wide receiver for the Sacramento Mountain Lions of the United Football League. He was signed by the San Francisco 49ers as an undrafted free agent in 2005... | WR/DB | 5-10 | 192 |
| 11 | Jason Ball | K | 5-8 | 190 |
| 17 | Sakeen Wright | WR/DB | 6-3 | 225 |
| 18 | Kendrick Mosley Kendrick Mosley Kendrick Mosley is an American football wide receiver who is on the injured reserve list with the Cleveland Gladiators in the Arena Football League... (IR) | WR/DB | 6-2 | 210 |
| 21 | Chris Royal (PS) | WR/DB | 5-10 | 190 |
| 22 | Ryan Bowers | WR/DB | 6-1 | 210 |
| 23 | Alphonso Hodge Alphonso Hodge Alphonso Hodge is a professional American and Canadian football defensive back who is currently a free agent... | WR/DB | 5-9 | 203 |
| 24 | Brandon Hefflin | WR/DB | 6-1 | 185 |
| 25 | Tony Scott | WR/DB | 5-10 | 190 |
| 32 | Marlion Jackson Marlion Jackson Marlion Jackson is an American football fullback and linebacker. He currently plays for the Cleveland Gladiators in the Arena Football League.Marlion Jackson was born in Detroit, Michigan.... | FB/LB | 6-1 | 255 |
| 42 | Joshua Rue (IR) | FB/LB | 6-2 | 245 |
| 54 | Kimani Jones | OL/DL | 6-4 | 310 |
| 55 | Elex Reed (IR) | OL/DL | 6-5 | 270 |
| 65 | Tango McCauley Tango McCauley Tango Lee McCauley is an Arena Football League offensive lineman who is currently a free agent in the Arena Football League... | OL/DL | 6-4 | 305 |
| 72 | Antonio Narcisse | OL/DL | 6-2 | 307 |
| 73 | Donovan Arp Donovan Arp Donovan Arp is an Arena Football League offensive lineman/defensive lineman for the who is currently a free agent. He has also played for the Austin Wranglers. He played college football for the University of Louisville.... (IR) | OL/DL | 6-3 | 285 |
| 75 | Craig Heimburger Craig Heimburger Craig Heimburger is a former professional football player.-Early years:He attended Belleville East High School... | OL/DL | 6-3 | 320 |
| 88 | Cornelius Bonner Cornelius Bonner Cornelius Bonner is an American football wide receiver playing for the Cleveland Gladiators in the Arena Football League. The 6 feet tall and 190 pounds receiver played college football for the University of Cincinnati.... | WR/DB | 6-0 | 190 |
| 90 | Silas Demary Silas DeMary Silas DeMary is an offensive lineman/defensive lineman for the Cleveland Gladiators, an Arena Football League team.-High school career:... | OL/DL | 6-3 | 285 |
| 91 | Karon Riley Karon Riley Karon J. Riley is an gridiron football defensive lineman who most recently played for the Cleveland Gladiators of the Arena Football League-High school career:... | OL/DL | 6-2 | 265 |
| 92 | Ramon Richardson | OL/DL | 6-2 | 295 |
| 97 | Bryant Shaw | OL/DL | 6-3 | 287 |
| 98 | Joe Minucci | OL/DL | 6-3 | 298 |
IR = injured reserve
PS = practice squad