Los Angeles Avengers
| Los Angeles Avengers | |
|---|---|
 Los Angeles Avengers | |
| Founded | 2000 |
| Folded | 2009 |
| League | Arena Football League |
| Conference | American |
| Division | West |
| Based in | Los Angeles, California |
| Arena | Staples Center |
| Colors |
Red, Blue & White |
| Owner(s) | Casey Wasserman |
| Head coach | Ed Hodgkiss |
| Division titles | 1: (2005) |
| Playoff berths | 5: (2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007) |
| Mascot | TD |
The Los Angeles Avengers were an Arena Football League team based in Los Angeles, California from 2000 through 2008. They folded on April 19, 2009.[1]
History
The Los Angeles Avengers played their home games at the Staples Center, which is also the current home to the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League, the Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers of the National Basketball Association, the Los Angeles Sparks of the Women's National Basketball Association, and the Los Angeles D-Fenders of the NBA Development League. The team began play in the 2000 season. The Avengers competed in the Western Division of the American Conference. Since its inception in 2000, the Avengers had competed in postseason play five times. The Avengers earned American Conference wildcard playoff berths in 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2007, and won the American Conference Western Division Championship in 2005.
The Avengers franchise was owned by Casey Wasserman, grandson of the late MCA head Lew Wasserman.
On April 10, 2005, Avengers defensive lineman Al Lucas was injured attempting to make a tackle and later died at a nearby hospital. It is the only fatal injury incurred during a game in the history of the league. The Al Lucas Hero Award is named after him.
The Avengers announced the termination of the program on April 20, 2009 after nine years of operation. Four years later, it was announced that the Los Angeles KISS would join the AFL starting in the 2014 season making them the fourth team to set up shop in the Los Angeles area.
The Avengers' official mascot was a superhero-like character named T.D.[2]
Memorable Avengers' highlights
- On Sunday, March 30, 2003, in a Week 9 road game against the Orlando Predators, the Avengers trailed 63-58 late in the game. However, Los Angeles managed to recover an onside kick and, on the very last play of the game, quarterback Tony Graziani threw a 32-yard touchdown pass that bounced off the rebound net and was caught by WR/LB Greg Hopkins, giving the Avengers a 64-63 win.[3]
- On Sunday, March 31, 2004, in the championship series taking place at the Staples Center, John Garcia led the team in sacks with 3 and also blocked and returned a field goal for a touchdown to win the game against the Chicago Enforcers by a score of 24-26. Quarterback Tony Graziani threw for only 1 touchdown pass and 3 interceptions.
Season-by-season
Coaches
| Head coach | Tenure | Regular season record (W-L) |
Post season record (W-L) |
Most recent coaching staff | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stan Brock | 2000 - 2001 | 3-14[4] | 0-0[4] | Let go after starting 0-3 during 2001.[4] | |
| Robert Lyles | 2001[5] | 5-6[5] | 0-0 | Replaced Brock, was not retained after season. | |
| Ed Hodgkiss | 2002 - 2008 | 57-53[6] | 1-5[6] | ||
| Pat O'Hara* | 2009 | 0-0 | 0-0 | OC:Vacant DC / DB Coach: Maurice Blanding QB / WR Coach: Chad Salisbury DL / LB Coach: Leroy Thompson OL / FB Coach: Mark Tucker |
Team folded before he coached a game. |
Notable players
Final roster
| Los Angeles Avengers roster | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Quarterbacks
Fullbacks
Wide receivers
|
Offensive linemen
Defensive linemen
|
Linebackers
Defensive backs
Kickers |
Injured reserve
Other league exempt
Practice Squad
Rookies in italics | |||
Arena Football Hall of Famers
| Los Angeles Avengers Hall of Famers | ||||
| No. | Name | Year Inducted | Position(s) | Years w/ Avengers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 82 | Greg Hopkins | 2013 | WR/LB | 2002-06 |
Individual awards
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Retired uniform numbers
| Los Angeles Avengers retired numbers | ||||
| N° | Player | Position | Seasons | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 76 | Al Lucas | DL | 2004−05 | |
| 82 | Greg Hopkins | WR | 2002-06 | |
All-Arena players
The following Avengers players have been named to All-Arena Teams:
- QB Tony Graziani (1)
- FB/LB Chad Dukes (1)
- WR/DB Kevin Ingram (3)
- WR/LB Greg Hopkins (2)
- OL/DL Victor Hall (1), Silas DeMary (1)
- DL Silas DeMary (1)
- OS Chris Jackson (1)
- DS Mark Ricks (1)
- K Remy Hamilton (3)
All-Ironman players
The following Avengers players have been named to All-Ironman Teams:
- FB/LB Josh Jeffries (1)
- WR/DB Kevin Ingram (3)
- WR/LB Chris Jackson (1), Greg Hopkins (2)
- OL/DL Victor Hall (1), Tony Plantin (1)
All-Rookie players
The following Avengers players have been named to All-Rookie Teams:
- QB Todd Marinovich, Sonny Cumbie
- WR/LB Chris Jackson
- OL/DL Arnold Miller
- DS Damen Wheeler
- K Brian Reaves
Notes
- ↑ "Arena Football League's Los Angeles Avengers shut down". April 20, 2009.
- ↑ LA Avengers: Kids
- ↑ http://www.arenafootball.com/mediaPlayer/video.dbml?DB_MENU_ID=&SPSID=38064&SPID=3172&DB_OEM_ID=3500&CLIP_ID=25766&CLIP_FILE_ID=29255&CONTENT_TYPE=ONDEMAND
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 "ArenaFan Online: AFL Coaches: Stan Brock". Retrieved 2008-10-24.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 "ArenaFan Online: AFL Coaches: Robert Lyles". Retrieved 2008-10-24.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 "ArenaFan Online: AFL Coaches: Ed Hodgkiss". Retrieved 2008-10-24.