Richmond Raiders

Richmond Raiders
Founded 2008
Current season 2015
League American Indoor Football Association (2010)
Southern Indoor Football League (2011)
Professional Indoor Football League (2012-present)
Conference Eastern (2011)
National (2014)
Division Eastern (2010)
Mid-Atlantic (2011)
Team history Richmond Raiders (2010-present)
Based in Richmond, Virginia
Arena Richmond Coliseum
Colors Blue, Black, Silver, White
                   
Owner(s) Richmond Raiders, LLC
(Mike & Elizabeth Fraizer)
Head coach James Fuller
Championships (0)
Conference titles (0)
Division titles (1)
SIFL Mid-Atlantic: 2011
Playoff berths (2)
PIFL: 2012, 2013
Dancers Lady Raiders
Mascot Risky the Horse
Website www.RichmondRaidersProFootball.com

The Richmond Raiders are a professional indoor football team located in Richmond, Virginia. The team is currently a member the Professional Indoor Football League (PIFL). The team's home arena is the Richmond Coliseum. The Raiders began play in the 2010 as an expansion team of the American Indoor Football Association (AIFA). The Raiders moved to the Southern Indoor Football League (SIFL) when the Eastern Division of the AIFA merged with the SIFL in the winter of 2010, beginning SIFL play in the 2011 season. After just a single season in the SIFL the Raiders, along with four other members of the SIFL, became the charter members of the PIFL.

History

In July, 2009, the American Indoor Football Association announced that they would be expanding into Richmond, Virginia. After a month-long name-the-team contest, the Richmond franchise announced that it would be nicknamed the Raiders on August 5, 2009.[1] On October 12, 2009, the Raiders officially unveiled their new logo.[2]

The Raiders' first game was the 2010 AIFA Kickoff Classic; on January 23, 2010, where they played an exhibition game against the AIFA All-Stars at the Richmond Coliseum.[3]

On May 5, 2010, defensive coordinator Charles Gunnings replaced Mike Siani as the head coach, as Siani resigned.[4][5]

Chris Simpson became the head coach of the Raiders for the 2011 season, coming over from the Baltimore Mariners on September 13, 2010. Even more change came about for the 2011 season, as the AIFA announced an merger with the Southern Indoor Football League (SIFL).[6] In February, 2011, Simpson resigned before opening day, as he "relocated to Texas to pursue family business opportunities".[7] He was replaced by James Fuller, who was the interim head coach for the Arena Football League's Dallas Vigilantes in 2010.

Former Richmond Revolution head coach Steve Criswell signed with the Raiders as a senior consultant for the 2011 season. Criswell brought several former Revolution players along, including QB Bryan Randall and DL Lawrence Lewis.

Players

Current roster

Richmond Raiders roster
Quarterbacks
  •  3 Jonathan Bane
  • 10 Phil Konopka

Fullbacks

  • 35 Derrick Okafor

Wide Receivers

  • 12 Gerron Bryant
  •  9 Ronald Davis
  • 14 Dexter Green
  •  1 Robert Holland
  •  5 Herb Jones
Offensive Linemen
  • 77 James Carter
  • 76 Miles Mason
  • 56 Blade Shoop
  • 78 Jarius Spain
  • 55 Eric Weaver

Defensive Linemen

  •  7 Alex Johnson
  • 94 Devin Jones
  • 90 Christian Lacey
  • 75 Brandon Sparrow
Linebackers
  • 42 Altece Crawford
  • 45 Brandon Robinson

Defensive Backs

  • 21 Kevin Allen
  • 22 Tyrell Austin
  •  6 Malik Cromartie
  •  8 Torez Jones
  • 20 Brian Smith
  • 31 Maurice Thorne
  •  1 Lynn Williams

Kickers

  • 18 T. C. Stevens
Injured Reserve
  • -- Ammar Dyson WR

Exempt List

  •  2 Devin Wilson WR

Suspended

  • Currently vacant

Rookies in italics
Roster updated April 30, 2015
27 Active, 2 Inactive

→ More rosters

Awards and honors

The following is a list of all Raiders players who have won league awards:

Season Player Position Award
2012 Antwon Young Quarterback Most Valuable Player
2014 Devin Jones Defensive Lineman Defensive Rookie of the Year
2014 Devin Jones Defensive Lineman Defensive Player of the Year

Head coaches

Note: Statistics are correct through Week 6 of the 2015 PIFL season.

Name Term Regular Season Playoffs Awards
W L T Win% W L
Mike Siani 2010 2 5 0 .286 0 0
Charlie Gunnings 2010 4 3 0 .571 0 0
James Fuller 2011-present 30 24 0 .556 2 2 2012 PIFL Coach of the Year

Statistics and records

Season-by-season results

Note: The Finish, Wins, Losses, and Ties columns list regular season results and exclude any postseason play.

League Champions Conference Champions Division Champions Wild Card Berth League Leader
Season Team League Conference Division Regular season Postseason Results
Finish Wins Losses Ties
2010 2010 AIFA Eastern 5th 6 8 0
2011 2011 SIFL Eastern Mid-Atlantic 1st 6 6 0
2012 2012 PIFL 1st 10 2 0 Won Semifinals (Louisiana) 56-50
Lost PIFL Cup I (Albany) 56-60
2013 2013 PIFL 3rd 7 5 0 Won Semifinals (Lehigh Valley) 44-40
Lost PIFL Cup II (Alabama) 44-70
2014 2014 PIFL American 3rd 5 7 0
2015 2015 PIFL 2 4 0
Totals 36 32 0 All-time regular season record (2010–2015)
2 2 - All-time postseason record (2010–2015)
38 34 0 All-time regular season and postseason record (2010–2015)

* Season currently in progress

References

  1. ↑ "Raiders chosen as name for Richmond's AIFA team". www.richmond.com. BH Media Group Holdings, Inc. August 5, 2009. Retrieved December 17, 2014.
  2. ↑ "Richmond Raiders unveil team logo". OurSports Central.com. October 12, 2009. Retrieved December 17, 2014.
  3. ↑ "AIFA Kickoff Classic Set For Richmond Saturday Night". www.oursportscentral.com. OurSports Central. January 22, 2010. Retrieved December 17, 2014.
  4. ↑ "Richmond Raiders change coaches". www.richmond.com. BH Media Group Holdings, Inc. May 5, 2010. Retrieved December 17, 2014.
  5. ↑ Time Pearrell (May 6, 2010). "Gunnings replaces Siani as Raiders' coach". www.richmond.com. BH Media Group Holdings, Inc. Retrieved December 17, 2014.
  6. ↑ Matthew Felan (November 10, 2010). "Raiders Join Southern Indoor Football League". www.richmondcoliseum.net. Richmond Coliseum. Retrieved December 17, 2014.
  7. ↑ "AFL Veteran Takes Over For Promising 2011 Season". Retrieved February 21, 2011.

External links