Orlando Rage

Orlando Rage
Founded 2001
League XFL
Team history Orlando Rage (2001)
Based in Orlando, Florida
Arena Citrus Bowl
Colors Red, Navy, Gold, White [1]
                   
Head coach Galen Hall
Division titles Eastern Division (2001)

The Orlando Rage was an American football team based in Orlando, Florida as part of the failed XFL begun by Vince McMahon of the World Wrestling Federation and by NBC, a major television network in the United States.

History

The team's colors were scarlet, yellow, navy blue and white with jersey numbers in a unique jagged font. They played their home games at Orlando's Citrus Bowl. The team's General Manager was Tom Veit a former Major League Soccer Vice President and were coached by former Florida Gators head coach Galen Hall. They were in the XFL's Eastern Division with the NY/NJ Hitmen, Chicago Enforcers and Birmingham Thunderbolts.

Jeff Brohm was the quarterback of the Rage for most of the regular season, amassing a 6–0 record as starter during his first time at the helm. The team looked to be the league's powerhouse franchise under Brohm and was on pace for a perfect season (coincidentally, Orlando's next professional football team, the Florida Tuskers, would also win their first six games in a row before losing the seventh). He showed his toughness after he suffered an injury from a devastating hit by at the hands of Memphis Maniax defensive end Shante Carver in Week 5. Brohm came back a week later against Las Vegas, but the following week he suffered a shoulder injury against the Los Angeles Xtreme and his season (and playing career) was done for good. It led to him being replaced by Brian Kuklick after six games. While Kuklick filled in the role of quarterback acceptably, the team lost a valuable leader on offense. The team went 2–2 in Kuklick's care; Kuklick, despite only starting four games, led the league in interceptions with 10.

The team finished their only regular season with an 8–2 record, the best in the league, but were upset in the first round of the playoffs by the 5–5 San Francisco Demons. Orlando had an early 16–0 advantage but allowed San Francisco to pull ahead and take a 26–16 lead by the fourth quarter. Using the XFL's newly introduced three-point conversion rule on a subsequent touchdown, the Rage got within one point but the Demons successfully ran out the clock and won 26–25. San Francisco would go on to lose the XFL Championship Game versus Los Angeles 38–6. Many in the league were disappointed, hoping for a match-up against the two division champions. NBC dropped the XFL concept after the first season (2001) due to dismal ratings, and the league folded soon afterward.

Season-by-season

Season W L T Finish Playoff results
2001 8 2 0 1st Eastern Lost Semifinals (San Francisco)
Totals 8 3 0 (including playoffs)

Personnel

Staff

2001 Orlando Rage staff
Front office
  • Vice President/General Manager – Tom Veit
  • Director of Player Personnel – Will McClay

Head coaches

  • Head Coach/Director of Football Operations – Galen Hall

Offensive coaches

  • Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks – Mike Kelly
  • Wide Receivers – Mike Jones
  • Tight Ends – Les Moss
  • Offensive Line – Whitey Jordan
  • Quality Control/Offense – Matt Moore
 Defensive coaches
  • Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers – Charlie Bailey
  • Defensive Line – Mickey Mays
  • Secondary – Steve Carson
  • Quality Control/Defense – Tom Silvanic

Special teams coaches

  • Special Teams – Andy Cox

[2]

Roster

2001 Orlando Rage final roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

  • 85 Lawrence Hart
 Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

  • 99 Andre Purvis DT
 Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams

 Reserve lists



Practice squad



Rookies in italics
 {{{active}}} Active, {{{inactive}}} Inactive, {{{PS}}} Practice squad

Standings

Eastern Division
Team W L T PCT PF PA STK
Orlando Rage 8 2 0 .800 207 162 L1
Chicago Enforcers 5 5 0 .500 163 178 W1
New York/New Jersey Hitmen 4 6 0 .400 110 145 W1
Birmingham Thunderbolts 2 8 0 .200 131 217 L7

[3]

Statistical leaders

Awards and honors

Awards

Season Coach Award
2001 Galen Hall Coach of the Year [4]

Honors

Season Player Position Honor
2001 Jeff Brohm Quarterback All-XFL team [5]
James Burgess Linebacker
Jason Gamble Guard

References

  1. ↑ "Team Colors – XFL". SSUR.org. Retrieved February 18, 2011.
  2. ↑ 2001 Orlando Rage Media Guide. XFL. pp. 4–12.
  3. ↑ "XFL Standings". USA Today. May 12, 2001. Retrieved February 18, 2011.
  4. ↑ "Orlando's Hall Picked As Coach Of The Year". Orlando Sentinel. April 20, 2001. Retrieved February 18, 2011.
  5. ↑ "3 Rage Players Named To All-XFL Team". Orlando Sentinel. April 28, 2001. Retrieved February 18, 2011.
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