Indoor and Arena Football History
 | Albany/Indiana Firebirds League: Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)Home: Indianapolis, Indiana Active: 1990-2004 |
1990
Following a meeting on the eve of Arena Bowl 1 in '87 between Albany County Executive Jim Coyne and the game's founder, Jim Foster, it was only a matter of time until Arena Football would surface in Albany. After completion of Knickerbocker Arena ( know Pepsi Arena), Arena Football could finally be played in Albany.
On April 19, 1990 Jim Foster presented then co-owners Glenn Mazula and Joe O'Hara with an Arena Football license, and Arena Football in Albany came to fruition. Rick Buffington, assistant coach under legendary Vito "Babe" Parilli in New England and Denver, was chosen as the Firebirds first head coach. Buffington led the Firebirds to a 3-5 record in their inaugural season and a fourth place tie with the Pittsburgh Gladiators (now the Tampa Bay Storm). Despite missing the playoffs, all was not lost. Arena Football proved to be a huge success in the Capital District as the Firebirds finished third in league attendance with an average of 10,153 fans.
1991
In 1991, the Firebirds improved both on the field and in the stands. Average home attendance climbed to over 11,000 fans per game and the Firebirds completed the regular season with a record of 6-4, good enough for a their first ever berth in the Arena Football League postseason. Though Albany was defeated by the AFL defending champion Detroit Drive, 37-35, in the first round, the Firebirds had made and impressive statement.
1992
In January of 1992, a change in the Firebirds ownership structure was announced as Joe O'Hara sold his rights to partner, Glenn Mazula. This sale became inevitable when conflicting interests arouse following O'Hara's being named President of the AFL. In Mazula's first year as sole owner, attendance skyrocketed to an average of 12,381 fans per game. The Firebirds finished the regular season at 5-5 and played their first-ever home playoff game, a 48-45 loss to the Dallas Texans.
1993
Despite displaying a powerful offense which ranked third in total net yards from scrimmage and fifth in overall yardage, the Firebirds struggled to a 5-7 regular season record and were bounced out of the playoffs in the first round by the eventual champion Tampa Bay Storm 48-34. Following the 1993 campaign, Rick Buffington was replaced by Mike Hohensee as the Firebirds Head Coach.
1994
Under first year head coach Mike Hohense, the Firebirds righted the ship enroute to their finest season in team history. The Firebirds completed the regular season at 10-2, won the American Conference Championship, and advaned to the AFL semifinals. The 'Birds possessed the league's top-ranked offense, averaging 53.5 points-per-game and Eddie Brown established himself as the premier offensive specialist in the league catching 48 touchdowns and scoring 288 points in his rookie season. At the gate, the Firebirds established single game (13,652) and single season (74,106) attendance records. Overall, the Firebirds set or tied fifteen Arena League records and 49 franchise marks. Brown was named the league's Most Valuable Player, Mazula was named Owner-of-the-Year and General Manager Joe Hennessy was named Executive-of-the-Year.
1995
In 1995, the Firebirds captured their first ever Eastern Divsion title following a 7-5 regular season. Albany's home attendance reached an all-time high as the 'Birds averaged 12,240 per game. Offensively, the Firebirds continued to impress. The offensive line allowed only two sacks of the league's top rated quarterback, Mike Perez. Perez led the league in rating and touchdown passes and established himself as Albany's all-time passing leader.
1996
The 1996 season saw the Firebirds equal their franchise record in wins, going 10-4 and winning their second consecutive Eastern Division title. Led by quarterback Mike Perez and Offensive Specialist Eddie Brown, the Firebirds re-wrote the AFL record books. Perez became the first quarterback ever to pass for 4,000 yards (4,153) and he set the league record for touchdown passes in a season (84). The Firebirds continued their offensive dominance averaging 62.4 points-per-game, including a team record 88 points versus Charlotte. Eddie Brown dominated the league; setting league records for scoring (308 points) and total touchdowns (51). Brown also set league records for points in a game (54), touchdowns in a game (9) and receiving touchdowns in a game (7). The Firebirds defeated the Milwaukee Mustangs 79-58 at home in the first round of the playoffs to advance to the semi-finals for the third straight year. The 'Birds lost a hard fought game to Iowa, 62-55 in Des Moines. The offseason saw Head Coach Mike Hohensee replaced with long-time assistant and offensive coordinator Mike Dailey and also pull off what was perhaps the biggest trade in team history, sending career passing leader Mike Perez to the New York CityHawks for draft picks.
1997
In head coach Mike Dailey's first season in charge of the Firebirds, the new look Firebirds started the season quickly. New 'Birds quarterback Mike Pawlawski led Albany to a 2-0 start, but the Firebirds proceeded to lose five of their next six games. The 'Birds were later defeated by both ArenaBowl participants in the final two weeks of the season and failed to make the post-season for the first time since their inaugural season.
Despite their 6-8 season, the Firebirds continued to assault the league record books with another tremendous offensive season. Pawlawski set league records for yards in a season (4,272), completion percentage (69.0%), and passer rating (122.64). He also set the record for most passing yards in a game (455) and a tied the single-game record for touchdown passes (9). Offensive Specialist Eddie Brown continued to be an offensive force as he set the league record for receptions (135) and receiving yards (1,650) in a season, while Firebirds fullback Chad Dukes led the Arena Football league in rushing yards (364) and rushing touchdowns (17).
1998
After a rebuilding year in '97, Mike Dailey and the Firebirds returned to their winning ways. The Firebirds captured their third Eastern Division title in four years. Mike Dailey again teamed up with Mike Hohensee, who returned as the team's offensive coordinator, to lead Albany to the league's second best regular season record at 10-4.
Fullback/Linebacker Chad Dukes led the league in rushing for the second year in a row with 364 yards to earn the prestigious Ironman of the Year Award and landed First Team All-Arena honors. Eddie Brown topped the league in scoring for the third time in his career with 284 points and led the Firebirds in receiving with 120 receptions for 1,673 yards and 43 touchdowns. Brown combined with third year star Greg Hopkins to give Albany one of the best receiving tandems in the league. Hopkins recorded 85 catches for 1,023 yards and 18 touchdowns to earn Second Team All-Arena honors.
Quarterback Mike Pawlawski was the AFL's highest rated passer for the second straight season completing 293-of-447 passes for 3,795 yards and 74 touchdowns. Another standout for the Firebirds was lineman Joe Jacobs who finished the season with 8 sacks and was named First Team All-Arena.
With their sights set on making a serious run at their first ever trip to the ArenaBowl, the 'Birds suffered a heart-breaking 66-59 loss to the New Jersey Red Dogs in the first round of the Arena League playoffs.
1999
Poised to erase the memories of the 1998 playoff nightmare, the Firebirds and the city of Albany celebrated ten seasons of Arena Football as the Firebirds captured their first ever ArenaBowl Championship in front of a sold out crowd of 13,652 at the Pepsi Arena. Head Coach Mike Dailey was named AFL's Coach of the Year leading the 'Birds to their second straight Eastern Division title and the best record in franchise history at 14-3.
The Firebirds possessed the league's most explosive offense, averaging 58.4 points and 325.2 yards per game. Quarterback Mike Pawlawski earned his first All-Arena selection leading the league in pass rating for the third straight season. He also broke his own league record with a 126.9 pass rating. Offensive Specialist Eddie Brown led the league in receiving and scoring with one of the most amazing season's in AFL history en-route to being named Offensive Player of the Year . Brown set new single-season league records for receptions (138), and receiving touchdowns (45) and broke his own Firebirds record for receiving yards (1,858). Brown also became the first player to lead the league in scoring in consecutive seasons with 294 points. The Firebirds also placed OL/DL Joe Jacobs and DS Derek Stingley on the All-Arena 1st Team. Jacobs finished second in the league in sacks with 6.0 and was a candidate for Lineman of the Year while Stingley lead the league in passes defended with 29 and ranked third in total tackles with 94. OL/DL Jon Krick also earned second team All-Arena honors.
2000
Following a story book season in 1999 and an ArenaBowl championship, the Firebirds figured to contend for the league title again in 2000. With 18 of the 20 players who competed in ArenaBowl XIII back, the Firebirds looked every bit like a championship contender in an impressive 76-65 win over Nashville in week one.
Unfortunately everything went south after week one. The surprise retirement of Offensive Specialist Eddie Brown following a record setting performance in week one combined with a season mared by numerous untimely injuries would cool the Firebirds down.
The 'Birds would regroup and go on to post an impressive 9-5 regular season record and claim a third straight Eastern Division Title. But a quaterfinal playoff loss to Arizona in Albany ended the Firebirds season well short of pre-season expectations.
2001
After spending twelve seasons in Albany, New York, the Firebirds relocated to Indianapolis for the 2001 season. With the return of 'Touchdown' Eddie Brown and the emergence quarterback Raymond Philyaw, the Firebirds fought their way to a 9-5 regular season record and their eleventh playoff appearance in thirteen seasons.
With the league's leading scoring and top rated quarterback, the Firebirds marched all the way to the Arena Football League semi-finals. After defeating the Carolina Cobras and the Tampa Bay Storm, the Firebirds traveled to Grand Rapids in a rematch with the division rival Rampage. Despite a valiant effort, the 'Birds were on the short end of an 83-70 final score and missed a shot at their second trip to the ArenaBowl in three years.
The Firebirds developed a liking to their new nest as they won seven out of eight games at the Conseco Fieldhouse, including their final seven in a row.
2002
The Firebirds entered the 2002 season hoping to build on an impressive 2001 season where the team advanced to the Arena Football League semi-finals. The Firebirds ended the season with a 7-7 record and made it to the post-season for the twelfth time in fourteen seasons despite early season injuries to key players such as Eddie Brown, Evan Hlavacek, and Cornelius Coe. The ‘Birds won three out of their last four games to fight their way into the playoffs, but fell short during the first round in a fiercely contested battle with the expansion Dallas Desperados, falling 47-46.
With FB/LB Leroy Thompson earning Built Ford Tough Man of the Year and the emergence of OL/DL Chris Snyder, the Firebirds have their eyes set on returning to ArenaBowl Champion form.
The Firebirds also changed ownership during the 2002 season, as Dave Lagaschulte took over the reigns from long-time owner Glenn Mazula
2003
The Firebirds missed the playoffs for the first time in six years, finishing the regular season with a 6-10 overall record. Injuries to key players QB Raymond Philyaw and WR/LB Brett Bech cost the Firebirds the consistency they had been accustomed to in years past. Through adversity the Firebirds still had an opportunity to qualify for the postseason before falling short in the team’s final regular season game, 46-43 in overtime to the Chicago Rush.
Evan Hlavacek emerged as on of the top two-way players in the AFL earning 2nd team All-Arena Honors and All-Ironman Team mention, while key offseason free-agent acquisition, Clay Rush, was named Kicker of the Year and earned first team All-Arena Honors. FB/LB Rich Young was named to the All-Ironman Team along with Hlavacek.
Indiana mainstay “Touchdown” Eddie Brown was moved from his regular offensive specialist to wide receiver/ linebacker, playing defense for the first time in his 10 year career. Brown would go on to lead the team once again in receptions (90), receiving yards (1,101) and touchdowns (17), while recording 18.5 total tackles.
2004
The Firebirds started the season losing their first five games in a row, tying the franchise mark for the longest stretch without a win. The slow start cost rookie coach and former NFL passer Steve Deberg his job, as he was replaced by Mike Wilpolt.
The coaching move and the rapid development of quarterback Adrian McPherson helped the 'Birds rebound with six consecutive victories, but three loses in the final five games left Indiana at 8-8 and out of the playoffs again.
With McPherson at the helm, Anthony Hines led all Firebirds receivers with 1060 yards and 20 touchdowns. McPherson completed nearly 60 percent of his throws with 61 touchdowns and just five interceptions and also ran for another 19 scores.
On September 8, 2004, Firebirds owner Dave Lageschulte announced that his company Lags Football LLC, would cease all business operations for the Firebirds football team. A subsequent search for local ownership, included offering the team on eBay, came up empty.
Adapted from firebirds.com
