Amarillo Venom
 | |
| Founded | 2003 |
|---|---|
| League |
Intense (2004) af2 (2005–2009) IFL (2010–2011) LSFL (2012–2014) CIF (2015–present) |
| Division |
Midwest (2005–2006) Central (2007–2009) Lonestar West (2010) Lonestar (2011) Southern (2016–present) |
| Team history |
Amarillo Dusters (2004–2009) Amarillo Venom (2010–present) |
| Based in | Amarillo, Texas |
| Arena | Amarillo Civic Center |
| Colors |
Black, Red, Tan, White |
| Owner(s) | Stephanie Tucker |
| Head coach | Julian Reese |
| Championships | 3 (2004 Intense, 2012 LSFL, 2013 LSFL) |
| Division titles | 3 (2004 Intense, 2010 IFL, 2012 LSFL) |
| Dancers | Venom Vixens |
The Amarillo Venom are a professional indoor football team in the Champions Indoor Football league. The Venom began play in 2004 as the Amarillo Dusters, a charter member of the Intense Football League, a small indoor football league based in Texas. They won the championship in their first and only season with the IFL. The following year, the Dusters became the first team to leave the Intense Football League and join the af2, where they played for four seasons until the af2's folding in 2009. At that point, the team held a fan vote as to whether to join their af2 brethren in the new Arena Football 1 (now the Arena Football League) or enjoy numerous Texas rivalries in the Indoor Football League. On October 9, 2009, it was announced that, because of a 65-35 percent margin in the fan vote, the Dusters would be moving to the Indoor Football League for the 2010 season. The team plays their home games at Amarillo Civic Center.
The team was featured on an episode of Only in America, a show that airs on the Discovery Times channel.
On December 21, 2008 the Dusters introduced a new color scheme for the team. The new colors were revealed as Crimson, Grey, and Black.[1]
It was announced on January 28, 2010 that the Dusters would have to be renamed, because the Arena Football League owns the rights to the Dusters name and logo. On February 8, the new Amarillo Venom name and logo was unveiled.
In 2014, after completing their 3rd season in the Lone Star Football League (LSFL), the Venom became a part of Champions Indoor Football (CIF) in a merger with the Champions Professional Indoor Football League (CPIFL).
History
Amarillo Dusters (2004–2009)
Expansion championship (2004)
The Amarillo Dusters finished their only season in the Intense Football League with a 13-3 record en route to a league championship. Coach Don Carthel lead the Dusters to the cup as they defeated the Lubbock Lone Stars.[2] The Dusters would abandon their spot in the IFL to play in the af2.
Move to af2 (2005)
In their first year in the af2, the Amarillo Dusters reached the playoffs with an 8-8 record, which was good enough for a wildcard. The Dusters, quarterbacked by Julian Reese, came from 21 points down at the start of the 4th quarter to quiet the Cox Convention Center crowd to win Round 1 over the Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz. The Dusters fell in Round 2 to the eventual-af2 champion Memphis Xplorers.
2006 season
The Dusters tried to build on the moderate success they had in 2005. However, in 2006, the team suffered many injuries and failed to make it to the af2 playoffs. Quarterback Steve Panella was injured early in the season, forcing numerous backups to take the job. The Dusters then lost receivers. They ended the season with a 4–12 record. Carthel would take the head coaching job at West Texas A&M 2 games into the first Dusters af2 season.
2007 season
Steve Perdue took over the Head Coaching job and lead the team playoffs and a first round victory over the Oklahoma City Yard Dawgs. Looking to rebound after the previous losing season, injuries plagued the Dusters' offense. After a win against the Lubbock Renegades the Dusters struggled for the remainder of the year but were still able end the Quincy Carter-led Bossier-Shreveport Battle Wings' perfect season with a 51–49 upset.
2008 season
Death of Donte Newsome
On July 5, 2008, Dusters running back Donte Newsome was shot to death outside of a nightclub in Huntington, West Virginia, home of his alma mater Marshall University.[3]
On The Field
Under the leasdership of Head Coach Chris MacKeown and outstanding QB play by Julian Reese, the Amarillo Dusters went 10-9 in 2008, and played for the af2 National Conference ArenaCup Finals. Following the Dusters most successful season, in their af2 history, MacKeown stepped up to AFL as the offensive coordinator for John Elway's Colorado Crush.
Amarillo Venom (2010–present)
Moving to the IFL (2010–2011)
With the af2 breaking up and its larger market teams moving to Arena Football 1, the Dusters were forced to find a new league. Owner Randy Sanders applied for his team's spot in the Indoor Football League (IFL),[4] and they were accepted as an expansion franchise.[5]
2011 season
Move to the LSFL (2012–present)
For the 2012 season, the Venom will play in the Lone Star Football League (LSFL).[6] In their inaugural season in the LSFL they won the 2012 championship. Under the leadership of Quarterback Nate Davis and Coach Julian Reese, the Venom finished the 2013 season with a 9-3 record. In the playoffs, the finished off the Abilene Bombers, 70-40.
Back-to-back championships (2013)
On July 13, 2013, they faced off against the Laredo Rattlesnakes, where they won 70-69. Davis won the MVP of the Game.[7]
Season-by-season
| Season | W | L | T | Finish | Playoff results |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amarillo Dusters (Intense) | |||||
| 2004 | 13 | 3 | 0 | 1st League | Won Round 1 (S.A. Stampede 41-29) Won Intense Bowl I (L. Lone Stars 62-47) |
| Amarillo Dusters (af2) | |||||
| 2005 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 4th NC Midwest | Won NC Round 1 (Oklahoma City 59-56) Lost Semifinals (Memphis 71-30) |
| 2006 | 4 | 12 | 0 | 5th NC Midwest | -- |
| 2007 | 3 | 13 | 0 | 4th NC Central | -- |
| 2008 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 3rd NC Central | Won NC Round 1 (Tulsa 65-62) Won NC Semifinals (Bossier-Shreveport 59-45) Lost NC Championship (Spokane 79-49) |
| 2009 | 3 | 13 | 0 | 3rd NC Central | -- |
| Amarillo Venom (IFL) | |||||
| 2010 | 11 | 3 | 0 | 1st IC Lonestar West | Won IC Round 1 (West Texas 56-36) Lost IC Semifinals (Arkansas 46-31) |
| 2011 | 4 | 10 | 0 | 3rd Lonestar | -- |
| Amarillo Venom (LSFL) | |||||
| 2012 | 10 | 4 | 0 | 1st League | Won Round 1 (West Texas 56-42) Won Lone Star Bowl I (Rio Grande Valley 62-40) |
| 2013 | 7 | 5 | 0 | 2nd League | Won LSFL Semifinals (Abilene 70-42) Won Lone Star Bowl II (Laredo 70-69) |
| 2014 | 5 | 7 | 0 | -- | -- |
| Amarillo Venom (CIF) | |||||
| 2015 | 7 | 5 | 0 | 6th League | Lost Semifinals (Sioux City 83-52) |
| Totals | 93 | 94 | 0 | (including playoffs) | |
Notable players
Roster
| Amarillo Venom roster | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Quarterbacks
Running Backs
Wide Receivers
|
Offensive Linemen
Defensive Linemen
|
Linebackers
Defensive Backs
Kickers
|
Injured Reserve
Exempt List
Rookies in italics | |||
Awards and honors
| Season | Player | Position | Award |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Nate Davis | QB | LSFL Championship MVP |
Notes
- ↑ "Dusters unveil new website and team colors". af2.com. arenafootball2. 2008-12-21. Archived from the original on 1 January 2009. Retrieved 2008-12-30.
- ↑ "Editorial: Dusters blow away IFL competition, Amarillo". www.amarillo.com. Amarillo Globe-News. September 8, 2004. Retrieved April 28, 2014.
- ↑ Dusters remember fallen teammate
- ↑ Lee Baker (October 8, 2009). "Dusters' decision". www.connectamarillo.com. Sinclair Communications, LLC. Retrieved April 28, 2014.
- ↑ Ryan Minch (November 10, 2009). "Indoor Football League announces teams for 2010". www.billingsgazette.com. The Billings Gazette. Retrieved April 28, 2014.
- ↑ Dave Henry (October 5, 2011). "Venom owner Tucker: LSFL is all about Texas". www.amarillo.com. Amarillo Globe-News. Retrieved April 28, 2014.
- ↑ Lance Lahnert (July 13, 2013). "Lahnert: QB Nate Davis leads Venom to another crown". www.amarillo.com. Amarillo Globe-News. Retrieved April 28, 2014.
External links
- Official website
- Amarillo Dusters at ArenaFan
- Final Standings of the Dusters' Only Year In The IFL
- 2008 af2 Stats
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