Grand Rapids Rampage

Grand Rapids Rampage
Established 1998
Folded 2010
Played in Van Andel Arena
in Grand Rapids, Michigan
Logo
League/conference affiliations

Arena Football League (1998–2009)

  • American Conference (1998-2009)
Last uniform
Team colors

Red, Black, Silver, White

                   
Mascot Blitz
Personnel
Owner(s) Arena Football League
Head coach Steve Thonn
Team history
  • Grand Rapids Rampage (1998–2009)
Championships
League championships (1)
2001
Conference championships (0)
Prior to 2005, the AFL did not have conference championship games

Division championships (1)

Playoff appearances (6)
1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2009
Home arena(s)

The Grand Rapids Rampage was an arena football team based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The team began play in 1998 in the Arena Football League as an expansion team. They were last coached by Steve Thonn. Their home arena was the Van Andel Arena.

History

The team became the Detroit Drive in 1988 and, in 1994, became the Massachusetts Marauders for one season. Three years later, DP Fox Ventures, L.L.C. bought the team and moved it to Grand Rapids.

The team under its final name dates back to 1997. They began play as a professional team in 1998 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, when Dan DeVos purchased the Detroit Drive/Massachusetts Marauders franchise out of bankruptcy court. Grand Rapids was the smallest market in which the AFL had a franchise at the times of its disbanding. The Rampage played in the Van Andel Arena, which is also the home of the AHL's Grand Rapids Griffins. They competed in the Central Division of the American Conference.

The Grand Rapids Rampage started play in 1998 under coach Michael Trigg. In 2001, with notable players Clint Dolezel, and Terrill Shaw, the Rampage went on to win their first ArenaBowl. This game was broadcast live on the ABC Network.

The Rampage's official mascot was a Rhinoceros named Blitz.[1]

The Rampage had a rivalry with the Nashville Kats, one which dates back to the original Kats. This rivalry solidified with the Rampage's defeat of Nashville in ArenaBowl XV.

The Rampage also shared a rivalry with the Chicago Rush, known as the Amtrak Classic, after the Amtrak railway system which connects the two cities. On July 6, 2008, the Amtrak Classic added an interesting chapter as the Rampage, losers of their last six meetings with Chicago, defeated their heavily favored opponents on the road. Grand Rapids entered the game as a 6 seed, and upended the #1 seeded Rush 58-41, in a game of controversial penalties and brawls.

On March 5, 2010, it was announced that the Rampage were officially out of business and had no plans to return.[2]

Logo

The Rampage's logo was a red rhinoceros. Its end zone is unique as being the only end zone that does not feature a team name or city. It simply says Arena Football in red with a black background.

Rampage Highlights

Season-by-season

Notable players

Arena Football Hall of Famers

Grand Rapids Rampage Hall of Famers
No. Name Year Inducted Position(s) Years w/ Rampage
13 Clint Dolezel 2012 QB 2001-2003
84 Fred Gayles 2002 WR/DB 1998

Individual awards

Kicker of the Year
Season Player Position
2001Brian GowinsK
Most Inspirational Player of the Year
Season Player Position
2001JoJo PolkDB

All-Arena players

The following Rampage players were named to All-Arena Teams:

All-Ironman players

The following Rampage players were named to All-Ironman Teams:

All-Rookie players

The following Rampage players were named to All-Rookie Teams:

Venue location and front office

The Grand Rapids Rampage played in the Van Andel Arena, which is located in downtown Grand Rapids.

Coaches

Head coach Tenure Regular season
record (W-L)		 Post season
record (W-L)		 Most recent coaching staff Notes
Michael Trigg 1998 - 2003 43-41[6] 3-4[6] AFL Coach of the year (2001).[6]
ArenaBowl XV winning head coach.[6]
Assistant coach: Will McClay (1998 - 1999)
became head coach
of the Philadelphia Soul (2004).
Bob Cortese 2004 1-10[7] 0-0 Let go during the season
Rick Frazier 2004 0-5[8] 0-0 Replaced Bob Cortese during the season.
Sparky McEwen 2005 - 2007 13-35[9] 0-0 Grand Rapids assistant coach (2001 - 2003).
Steve Thonn 2008 6-10 2-1 DC / Director of Player Personnel:
Ron Selesky
Line coach: Darrin Kenney
ST Coordinator and FB / LB coach:
Paul Reinke
Manager of Football Ops. / Assist. coach:
Rod Miller

Notes

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Wednesday, April 27, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.