Tennessee Valley Tigers
Encyclopedia
The Tennessee Valley Tigers is a women's American football
team located in Huntsville, Alabama
. The Tigers joined the Women's Spring Football League
(WSFL) in 2011 and will play their first WSFL season in the spring of 2012. This will be the Tigers' fourth season overall, after three seasons in the Independent Women's Football League
(IWFL). The team currently consists of some former Alabama Renegades
players, as well as a number of new players who will be playing women's football for the first time in the 2011 season. Women’s full-contact football has been played in Huntsville, Alabama
since the fall of 2000 when the Alabama Renegades came into existence. The Renegades were one of the founding teams of the National Women's Football Association
(NWFA).
and the Nashville Dream
played a six game exhibition season to determine the viability of a women's full-contact football league. The exhibition games were a huge success and the league, the National Women's Football Association
, expanded to 12 teams in its first full season of play in the spring of 2001. Ray Quinn was the man who first brought full-contact football to Huntsville and he owned the team for two years. Nancy Byrd, a Renegades player, kept the football dream alive in 2003 when she took over the team from Quinn. She, along with general manager Lori Campbell, ran the team for the next six years. Nancy continued to play for the Renegades while owning the team. At the end of the 2009 season Nancy decided to retire from playing and looked to sell the team to a new owner. She was unable to find anyone willing to take on the responsibility of running the Alabama Renegades and decided she would no longer field a football team in the NWFA.
Carlos Mathews, the former Offensive Coordinator for the Alabama Renegades, realized the potential for women’s football in the Huntsville area and decided to explore ways to bring the game back for a 2009 season. Mathews researched several leagues but only found one with the stability needed to support women’s football in the Huntsville Area. The Tigers officially joined the Independent Women's Football League
on August 12, 2008, as a Tier II team[1]. In the first season of play, the Tigers finished with a 5-3 record, losing twice to the Chattanooga Locomotion
- another Tier II team - and once to the Atlanta Xplosion
- a Tier I team in 2009. The Tigers also defeated then ranked number seven Clarksville Fox
who in the 2008 season had competed for the Independent Women's Football League
Tier II[1] championship. The Tigers play their home games at Milton Frank Stadium
in Huntsville, Alabama
.
Because of the devastating effects of the April 2011 tornadoes
, the Tigers had to forfeit their final two regular-season games. On August 30, the Tigers announced they had left the IWFL to join the WSFL.
| colspan="6" align="center" | Tennessee Valley Tigers (IWFL)
|-
|2009 || 5 || 3 || 0 || 10th Tier II || --
|-
|2010 || 4 || 4 || 0 || 3rd Tier II East Southeast || --
|-
|2011 || 1 || 7 || 0 || 5th East Mid-South || --
|-
| colspan="6" align="center" | Tennessee Valley Tigers (WSFL)
|-
|2012* || -- || -- || -- || -- || --
|-
!Totals || 10 || 14 || 0
|colspan="2"|
* = Current Standing
** = Won by forfeit
*** = Forfeited
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
team located in Huntsville, Alabama
Huntsville, Alabama
Huntsville is a city located primarily in Madison County in the central part of the far northern region of the U.S. state of Alabama. Huntsville is the county seat of Madison County. The city extends west into neighboring Limestone County. Huntsville's population was 180,105 as of the 2010 Census....
. The Tigers joined the Women's Spring Football League
Women's Spring Football League
The Women's Spring Football League is a full contact Women's American football league which began play in 2010. Five teams played the WSFL's 2010 exhibition schedule, with twelve more joining for their first full season in 2011, and five more for 2012. Three of the league's original 5 have since...
(WSFL) in 2011 and will play their first WSFL season in the spring of 2012. This will be the Tigers' fourth season overall, after three seasons in the Independent Women's Football League
Independent Women's Football League
The Independent Women's Football League was founded in 2000, and began play in 2001.IWFL founders began with the goal to establish a quality women's football league that would be respected as the top level of women's tackle football in the world....
(IWFL). The team currently consists of some former Alabama Renegades
Alabama Renegades
The Alabama Renegades was a women's full-contact American football team based in Huntsville, Alabama.-Team history:The Renegades were one of the founding teams of the National Women's Football Association back in the fall of 2000. The Renegades and the Nashville Dream played a six game exhibition...
players, as well as a number of new players who will be playing women's football for the first time in the 2011 season. Women’s full-contact football has been played in Huntsville, Alabama
Huntsville, Alabama
Huntsville is a city located primarily in Madison County in the central part of the far northern region of the U.S. state of Alabama. Huntsville is the county seat of Madison County. The city extends west into neighboring Limestone County. Huntsville's population was 180,105 as of the 2010 Census....
since the fall of 2000 when the Alabama Renegades came into existence. The Renegades were one of the founding teams of the National Women's Football Association
National Women's Football Association
The National Women's Football Association was a full-contact American football league for women headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee. The league was founded by Catherine Masters in 2000, as the two benchmark teams, the Alabama Renegades and the Nashville Dream played each other six times in...
(NWFA).
History
In the fall of 2000, the Alabama RenegadesAlabama Renegades
The Alabama Renegades was a women's full-contact American football team based in Huntsville, Alabama.-Team history:The Renegades were one of the founding teams of the National Women's Football Association back in the fall of 2000. The Renegades and the Nashville Dream played a six game exhibition...
and the Nashville Dream
Nashville Dream
The Nashville Dream was a women's professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee. They were one of the founding teams of the National Women's Football Association...
played a six game exhibition season to determine the viability of a women's full-contact football league. The exhibition games were a huge success and the league, the National Women's Football Association
National Women's Football Association
The National Women's Football Association was a full-contact American football league for women headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee. The league was founded by Catherine Masters in 2000, as the two benchmark teams, the Alabama Renegades and the Nashville Dream played each other six times in...
, expanded to 12 teams in its first full season of play in the spring of 2001. Ray Quinn was the man who first brought full-contact football to Huntsville and he owned the team for two years. Nancy Byrd, a Renegades player, kept the football dream alive in 2003 when she took over the team from Quinn. She, along with general manager Lori Campbell, ran the team for the next six years. Nancy continued to play for the Renegades while owning the team. At the end of the 2009 season Nancy decided to retire from playing and looked to sell the team to a new owner. She was unable to find anyone willing to take on the responsibility of running the Alabama Renegades and decided she would no longer field a football team in the NWFA.
Carlos Mathews, the former Offensive Coordinator for the Alabama Renegades, realized the potential for women’s football in the Huntsville area and decided to explore ways to bring the game back for a 2009 season. Mathews researched several leagues but only found one with the stability needed to support women’s football in the Huntsville Area. The Tigers officially joined the Independent Women's Football League
Independent Women's Football League
The Independent Women's Football League was founded in 2000, and began play in 2001.IWFL founders began with the goal to establish a quality women's football league that would be respected as the top level of women's tackle football in the world....
on August 12, 2008, as a Tier II team[1]. In the first season of play, the Tigers finished with a 5-3 record, losing twice to the Chattanooga Locomotion
Chattanooga Locomotion
The Chattanooga Locomotion is a team in the Independent Women's Football League based in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Home games are played on the campus of Red Bank High School....
- another Tier II team - and once to the Atlanta Xplosion
Atlanta Xplosion
The Atlanta Ravens, formerly known as the Atlanta Xplosion, is a football team in the Independent Women's Football League. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, the Ravens play their home games in nearby Roswell at Centennial High School.-2003:...
- a Tier I team in 2009. The Tigers also defeated then ranked number seven Clarksville Fox
Clarksville Fox
The Clarksville Fox is a football team in the Independent Women's Football League. Based in Clarksville, Tennessee, the Fox play their home games on the campus of Northwest High School.-2007:...
who in the 2008 season had competed for the Independent Women's Football League
Independent Women's Football League
The Independent Women's Football League was founded in 2000, and began play in 2001.IWFL founders began with the goal to establish a quality women's football league that would be respected as the top level of women's tackle football in the world....
Tier II[1] championship. The Tigers play their home games at Milton Frank Stadium
Milton frank stadium
Milton Frank Stadium is a 12,000-seat multi-purpose stadium in Huntsville, Alabama. It was used for Alabama A&M football games before the creation of Louis Crews Stadium. It is currently used mainly for Huntsville City Schools high school and middle school football and soccer games. Construction...
in Huntsville, Alabama
Huntsville, Alabama
Huntsville is a city located primarily in Madison County in the central part of the far northern region of the U.S. state of Alabama. Huntsville is the county seat of Madison County. The city extends west into neighboring Limestone County. Huntsville's population was 180,105 as of the 2010 Census....
.
Because of the devastating effects of the April 2011 tornadoes
April 25–28, 2011 tornado outbreak
An extremely large and violent tornado outbreak, the largest tornado outbreak ever recorded, and popularly known as the 2011 Super Outbreak, occurred from April 25 to 28, 2011. The outbreak affected the Southern, Midwestern, and Northeastern United States, leaving catastrophic destruction in...
, the Tigers had to forfeit their final two regular-season games. On August 30, the Tigers announced they had left the IWFL to join the WSFL.
2011 staff
- Owner/Offensive Coordinator - Carlos Mathews
- Offensive Line Coach - Ella Banghart
- Assistant Defensive Coach - JJ Johnson
- Delegate - Brady Wakefield
- Marketing/Sales - Jamie Flynt
- Acting General Manager - Carson Wakefield
Season-by-season
|-| colspan="6" align="center" | Tennessee Valley Tigers (IWFL)
|-
|2009 || 5 || 3 || 0 || 10th Tier II || --
|-
|2010 || 4 || 4 || 0 || 3rd Tier II East Southeast || --
|-
|2011 || 1 || 7 || 0 || 5th East Mid-South || --
|-
| colspan="6" align="center" | Tennessee Valley Tigers (WSFL)
|-
|2012* || -- || -- || -- || -- || --
|-
!Totals || 10 || 14 || 0
|colspan="2"|
2011 schedule
| Date | Opponent | Home Home team In team sports, the term home advantage describes the advantage–usually a psychological advantage–that the home team is said to have over the visiting team as a result of playing in familiar facilities and in front of supportive fans... /Away Home team In team sports, the term home advantage describes the advantage–usually a psychological advantage–that the home team is said to have over the visiting team as a result of playing in familiar facilities and in front of supportive fans... |
Time | Event Title | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 9 | Memphis Belles Memphis Belles The Memphis Belles are a women's professional tackle football team and members of the Independent Women's Football League. Based in Memphis, Tennessee, the Memphis Belles played their 2010 home games at Halle Stadium football field in Memphis, Tennessee... |
Away | 7pm | N/A | L, 12-16 |
| April 16 | Clarksville Fox Clarksville Fox The Clarksville Fox is a football team in the Independent Women's Football League. Based in Clarksville, Tennessee, the Fox play their home games on the campus of Northwest High School.-2007:... |
Away | 7pm | N/A | L, 6-32 |
| April 23 | Georgia Peachez | Home | 7pm | TBA | W, 2-0** |
| April 30 | Bye | ||||
| May 7 | Memphis Belles Memphis Belles The Memphis Belles are a women's professional tackle football team and members of the Independent Women's Football League. Based in Memphis, Tennessee, the Memphis Belles played their 2010 home games at Halle Stadium football field in Memphis, Tennessee... |
Home | 4pm | TBA | L, 6-32 |
| May 14 | Clarksville Fox Clarksville Fox The Clarksville Fox is a football team in the Independent Women's Football League. Based in Clarksville, Tennessee, the Fox play their home games on the campus of Northwest High School.-2007:... |
Home | 7pm | N/A | L, 6-12 |
| May 21 | Clarksville Fox Clarksville Fox The Clarksville Fox is a football team in the Independent Women's Football League. Based in Clarksville, Tennessee, the Fox play their home games on the campus of Northwest High School.-2007:... |
Home | 7pm | TBA | L, 6-22 |
| May 28 | Chattanooga Locomotion Chattanooga Locomotion The Chattanooga Locomotion is a team in the Independent Women's Football League based in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Home games are played on the campus of Red Bank High School.... |
Away | 7pm | Battle for the Border Rivalry Game | L, 0-2*** |
| June 4 | Bye | ||||
| June 11 | Atlanta Xplosion Atlanta Xplosion The Atlanta Ravens, formerly known as the Atlanta Xplosion, is a football team in the Independent Women's Football League. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, the Ravens play their home games in nearby Roswell at Centennial High School.-2003:... |
Home | 7pm | TBA | L, 0-2 |
Single season records
| Date | Name | Record | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Alber, Marty | Season Passing Leader | 917 yds |
| 2009 | Alber, Marty | Season Passing TD Leader | 15 |
| 2009 | Bady, Starry | Season Receiving TD Leader | 4 |
| 2009 | Harvey, Stephanie | Season Receiving Leader | 210 yrds |
| 2009 | Suttles, Marsheka | Season Rushing TD Leader | 6 |
| 2009 | White, Katie | Field Goal Leader | 2 |
| 2009 | White, Katie | Extra Point Completed | 16 |
| 2009 | Bady, Starry | Interception Yards | 55 yrds |
| 2009 | Hendrix, Danielle | Leading Tackler | 41 |
| 2009 | Team Offense | Most Points in a Single Game | 68 |
| 2009 | Team Defense | Most shutouts in a season | 4 |
| 2010 | White, Katie | Longest Kickoff Return for TD | 70 yrds |
| 2010 | Eatman, Dionne | Season Rushing Yards Leader | 496 yrds |
| 2010 | Eatman, Dionne | Single Game Rushing Yards | 174 yrds |
2011 Roster
| Player | Position | Number |
|---|---|---|
| Carmela Sullivan | DB | 22 |
| Carmelesia Sullivan | DB | 23 |
| Carson Wakefield | OL | 84 |
| Cheronda "Rock" Phillips | RB | 50 |
| Christina Whitney | DB/K | 51 |
| Lauren "LC" Coleman | DB | 9 |
| Sharessa "TJ" Allen | DB | 82 |
| Sonia Leggs | RB/WR | 34 |
| Franchesca Atkins | QB/WR/CB | |
| Nina Cook | RB/WR | TBA |
| Shelley Drake | DE | TBA |
| Chasity Herron | WR/LB | TBA |
| Becky Hensel | QB/WR | TBA |
| Hayley Howard | LB | 55 |
| Monique Jefferson | OL/DT | TBA |
| Shana Levett | CB | TBA |
| Heidi McQuire | DL/OL/FB | TBA |
| Mosheda Pettus | TE/DE | TBA |
| Yvette Price | TBA | TBA |
| Aisha Robinson | C/OL | TBA |
| Jayme Truitt | WR/CB | TBA |
| Liz Wilson | QB/WR/CB | TBA |