Texas Copperheads
Encyclopedia
The Texas Copperheads were a professional arena football
that played in af2
, the minor league
for the Arena Football League. The team was founded in 2006 as member of the National Indoor Football League
(NIFL). They played their home games at the Richard E. Berry Educational Support Center
in Cypress, Texas
. They were coached by Ollie Guidry.
in 2005. They moved to the Leonard E. Merrell Center
in 2006.
In 2006, they gained national attention on Cold Pizza
, a show on ESPN 2, in a segment called "A Day In A Life Of An NIFL Team". The same year, they got into the NIFL playoffs but were eliminated by the Rapid City Flying Aces
, 60-38.
After the 2006 season, the team announced they were changing their name to the Texas Copperheads, moving to the af2, and moving to the Richard E. Berry Educational Support Center
in Cypress, Texas
.
The team also has the dubious distinction of being only the second af2 team (after the Peoria Pirates
' opening-day loss to the Quad City Steamwheelers
in 2001) ever to be suffer a shutout loss (a 52-0 road defeat to the Bossier-Shreveport Battle Wings
on April 14, 2007).
In March 2006, the Copperheads became the first indoor football team to produce a podcast
. In 2006 and 2007 the show was hosted by Chris Doelle.
Former NFL RB Bam Morris
played for the Copperheads in 2006.
of not paying their rent for the season when they were at the Merrell Center playing as the Katy Copperheads (Katy I.S.D. owns the Merrell Center). At the end of the season they owed Katy I.S.D. $
38,892.43. The owner, Bryan Blake would later pay the money in February 2007. In order to do this, he had to sell some of the Texas Copperheads ownership, to the owner of the Austin Wranglers
, Doug McGregor. Afterwards, Katy I.S.D gave Blake back $38,000 worth of supplies. The Copperheads moved out of Katy to Cypress to play in the Berry Center as a result. The former head coach is now coaching with the Austin Turfcats of the newly formed Southern Indoor Football League.
| colspan="6" align="center" | Katy Copperheads (NIFL)
|-
|2006 || 11 || 3 || 0 || 1st Pacific South || Won PC Quarterfinals (Beaumont
)
Lost PC Semifinals (Rapid City
)
|-
| colspan="6" align="center" | Texas Copperheads (af2)
|-
|2007 || 2 || 14 || 0 || 4th NC Southwest || --
|-
|2008 || 2 || 14 || 0 || 5th NC Southwest || --
|-
!Totals || 16 || 31 || 0
|colspan="2"| (including playoffs)
2007-2008 Roster
Arena football
Arena football is a variety of gridiron football played by the Arena Football League . It is a proprietary game, the rights to which are owned by Gridiron Enterprises, and is played indoors on a smaller field than American or Canadian outdoor football, resulting in a faster and higher-scoring game....
that played in af2
Af2
AF2 was the name of the Arena Football League's developmental league; it was founded in 1999 and played its first season in 2000. Like parent AFL, the AF2 played using the same arena football rules and style of play. League seasons ran from April through July with the postseason and ArenaCup...
, the minor league
Minor league
Minor leagues are professional sports leagues which are not regarded as the premier leagues in those sports. Minor league teams tend to play in smaller, less elaborate venues, often competing in smaller cities. This term is used in North America with regard to several organizations competing in...
for the Arena Football League. The team was founded in 2006 as member of the National Indoor Football League
National Indoor Football League
National Indoor Football League was a professional indoor football league in the United States. For their first six years, the league had teams in markets not covered by either the Arena Football League or its developmental league, af2, however, that changed briefly with their expansion into AFL...
(NIFL). They played their home games at the Richard E. Berry Educational Support Center
Richard E. Berry Educational Support Center
The Richard E. Berry Educational Support Center is a multi-purpose sports complex located in Cypress, Texas. It was completed in March 2006 and consists of five separate facilities: an arena, stadium, theater, conference center and food production center. It was named after former Cy-Fair ISD...
in Cypress, Texas
Cypress, Texas
Cypress is an unincorporated area of Harris County, Texas, United States located completely inside the extraterritorial jurisdiction of the City of Houston. The Cypress area is located along U.S...
. They were coached by Ollie Guidry.
Team history
The team started as the Katy Copperheads of the National Indoor Football LeagueNational Indoor Football League
National Indoor Football League was a professional indoor football league in the United States. For their first six years, the league had teams in markets not covered by either the Arena Football League or its developmental league, af2, however, that changed briefly with their expansion into AFL...
in 2005. They moved to the Leonard E. Merrell Center
Leonard E. Merrell Center
The Leonard E. Merrell Center is a 7,200-seat multi-purpose arena in Katy, Texas. It was built in 2005 and was the former home of the Katy Copperheads and the Katy Ruff Riders of the Intense Football League. Since 2008 the Merrell Center has hosted the Southland Conference Men's and Women's...
in 2006.
In 2006, they gained national attention on Cold Pizza
Cold Pizza
Cold Pizza was a television sports morning talk show that aired weekdays on ESPN2. The show's style was more akin to Good Morning America than SportsCenters straight news and highlights format. It included daily sports news, interviews with sports journalists, athletes, and personalities, and an...
, a show on ESPN 2, in a segment called "A Day In A Life Of An NIFL Team". The same year, they got into the NIFL playoffs but were eliminated by the Rapid City Flying Aces
Rapid City Flying Aces
The Rapid City Flying Aces is a professional indoor American football team in Rapid City, South Dakota. Like their predecessors, the Black Hills Red Dogs, they play their home games at the Don Barnett Arena in Rapid City. As of April 2007 The Flying Aces did not belong to any football league...
, 60-38.
After the 2006 season, the team announced they were changing their name to the Texas Copperheads, moving to the af2, and moving to the Richard E. Berry Educational Support Center
Richard E. Berry Educational Support Center
The Richard E. Berry Educational Support Center is a multi-purpose sports complex located in Cypress, Texas. It was completed in March 2006 and consists of five separate facilities: an arena, stadium, theater, conference center and food production center. It was named after former Cy-Fair ISD...
in Cypress, Texas
Cypress, Texas
Cypress is an unincorporated area of Harris County, Texas, United States located completely inside the extraterritorial jurisdiction of the City of Houston. The Cypress area is located along U.S...
.
Records
On June 25, 2006, the Copperheads scored 132 points in a game against the West Palm Beach Phantoms - final score 132-3. This record stands as the highest point total for an indoor football game at any level.The team also has the dubious distinction of being only the second af2 team (after the Peoria Pirates
Peoria Pirates
The Peoria Pirates were a professional arena football team that last played in af2, the minor league to the Arena Football League. They played their home games at Carver Arena, part of the Peoria Civic Center in Illinois, and were coached by Mike Hohensee...
' opening-day loss to the Quad City Steamwheelers
Quad City Steamwheelers
The Quad City Steamwheelers were a professional arena football team. They were a charter member of the af2. They play their home games at i wireless Center in Moline, Illinois....
in 2001) ever to be suffer a shutout loss (a 52-0 road defeat to the Bossier-Shreveport Battle Wings
Bossier-Shreveport Battle Wings
The Bossier Shreveport Battle Wings were an Arena Football League team based in Bossier City, Louisiana. They played at the CenturyTel Center in Bossier City and represented both Bossier City and Shreveport...
on April 14, 2007).
In March 2006, the Copperheads became the first indoor football team to produce a podcast
Podcast
A podcast is a series of digital media files that are released episodically and often downloaded through web syndication...
. In 2006 and 2007 the show was hosted by Chris Doelle.
Former NFL RB Bam Morris
Bam Morris
Byron "Bam" Morris is a former American football running back who played for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Chicago Bears, Baltimore Ravens, and the Kansas City Chiefs.-Early life:...
played for the Copperheads in 2006.
Legal trouble
The Copperheads were accused by Katy Independent School DistrictKaty Independent School District
The Katy Independent School District is a public school district based in Katy, Texas, United States. The district enrolls over 60,000 students and is currently rated as Recognized by the Texas Education Agency...
of not paying their rent for the season when they were at the Merrell Center playing as the Katy Copperheads (Katy I.S.D. owns the Merrell Center). At the end of the season they owed Katy I.S.D. $
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
38,892.43. The owner, Bryan Blake would later pay the money in February 2007. In order to do this, he had to sell some of the Texas Copperheads ownership, to the owner of the Austin Wranglers
Austin Wranglers
The Austin Wranglers were an arena football team based in Austin, Texas. They played four seasons in the Arena Football League from 2004 to 2007 and spent one season in AF2, the AFL's developmental league, in 2008. They made playoff appearances in the AFL in 2006 and in AF2 in 2008...
, Doug McGregor. Afterwards, Katy I.S.D gave Blake back $38,000 worth of supplies. The Copperheads moved out of Katy to Cypress to play in the Berry Center as a result. The former head coach is now coaching with the Austin Turfcats of the newly formed Southern Indoor Football League.
Season-By-Season
|-| colspan="6" align="center" | Katy Copperheads (NIFL)
|-
|2006 || 11 || 3 || 0 || 1st Pacific South || Won PC Quarterfinals (Beaumont
Beaumont Drillers
The Beaumont Drillers were a professional indoor football team. They played their home games at Ford Arena in Beaumont, TX. They originally began playing as the Louisiana Rangers in the Indoor Professional Football League in 2000 when they replaced the Louisiana Bayou Beast...
)
Lost PC Semifinals (Rapid City
Rapid City Flying Aces
The Rapid City Flying Aces is a professional indoor American football team in Rapid City, South Dakota. Like their predecessors, the Black Hills Red Dogs, they play their home games at the Don Barnett Arena in Rapid City. As of April 2007 The Flying Aces did not belong to any football league...
)
|-
| colspan="6" align="center" | Texas Copperheads (af2)
|-
|2007 || 2 || 14 || 0 || 4th NC Southwest || --
|-
|2008 || 2 || 14 || 0 || 5th NC Southwest || --
|-
!Totals || 16 || 31 || 0
|colspan="2"| (including playoffs)
Coaching staff
- Ollie Guidry - Head Coach
- Ed Jenkins - Defensive CoordinatorDefensive coordinatorA defensive coordinator typically refers to a coach on a gridiron football team who is in charge of the defense. Generally, along with his offensive counterpart, he represents the second level of command structure after the head coach...
- Richard Kitterman - Offensive Line / Special Teams Coach
- Jerry Hornsby - Defensive Line / LinebackerLinebackerA linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
s - Chris Scarborough - Wide ReceiverWide receiverA wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
s
2007-2008 Roster
External links
- Official Site (broken link)