Orlando Predators History

1991
Ownership group headed by former Major League manager Davey Johnson purchases rights to operate an expansion franchise in the Arena Football League...Jackson Design group, a Winter Park Advertising Agency, designs team’s first logo...Team hires Perry Moss as first Head Coach and General Manager...First group of players signed include future AFL Hall of Fame member and Predators Ring of Honor inductee Herkie Walls...Preds win first game in franchise history, upsetting Tampa Bay, 51-38...Quarterback Reggie Collier accounts for 28 touchdowns (21 pass, 7 run) in his lone season with the Predators...Orlando finishes first season with 3-7 record.

1992
Team opens second season of AFL play...Just prior to season opener, group led by Windermere businessmen Donald R. Dizney and James English purchase team and become managing general partners...Barry Wagner joins team in Week 2 and goes on to win the first of six consecutive “Ironman of the Year” honors as Arena Football’s best two-way player...Predators record only shutout in AFL history, beating San Antonio, 50-0, on June 13, 2001...Wagner scores two touchdowns, recovers a fumble, scores a two-point conversion and knocks down pass in final :46 seconds of game as Predators use “Miracle Minute” to beat Detroit, 50-49...Team goes on to win nine games in regular season, captures first conference championship and earns spot in ArenaBowl, where they lose to Detroit...Team records first sellout in playoffs against Tampa Bay (13,680).

1993
Predators roll to 10-2 regular season...Team sells out all six regular season games plus both home playoff games...Largest regular season crowd in Arena Football League history watches Predators defeat Tampa Bay, 46-45, in front of 28,746 fans at St. Pete’s Thunderdome (now Tropicanna Field)...Tampa Bay ends Orlando’s season, 55-52, in semifinals before 13,720 at Orlando Arena...Team moves headquarters to First Union Bank Building on Central Ave. after spending previous two years at First Union Bank Tower on Magnolia Ave.

1994
Predators come within 17 seconds of recording only undefeated season in AFL history, losing 40-39 to Tampa Bay in final game of regular season to finish at 11-1...Wagner sets AFL history by becoming first player to win “Ironman of the Game” and “MVP” honors at Albany, June 25.   Predators continue sellout streak to 19 games, culminating with club-record 14,368 fans for ArenaBowl VIII...Arizona, which lost twice to Orlando in regular season by a combined score of 84-49, pulls major upset by beating Predators 36-31 in championship game.

1995
Future NFL Hall of Famer Jack Youngblood becomes General Manager of Orlando Predators...  Team sells out all six regular season homes games, averaging 15,638 to run sellout streak to 25 games...Wagner scores 44 points in final game of season to win second league scoring title with 294 points... Team finishes campaign at 7-5, but upsets both San Jose and Iowa on road to advance to second straight ArenaBowl championship game, where they lose to Jay Gruden’s Tampa Bay team, 48-35...Quarterback Ben Bennett plays final season with Preds...Wagner again sets AFL history by becoming first player to win league’s “Ironman of Year” and “MVP” award in same seasons.

1996
Predators roll to 9-5 regular season mark...sellout streak ends in Week 2 game at Texas after city adds more than 2,500 seats to Orlando Arena...team still averages more 15,566 fans per game...Predators upset Tampa Bay 40-39 July 19 in miracle finish with touchdown pass by back-up quarterback Brad Lebo and two-point conversion by Michael McClenton on final play of game...team drops 65-48 decision to Arizona in first round of playoffs...all-time greats Herkie Walls and Durwood Roquemore retire at end of season—Roquemore leaves as Predators and AFL’s all-time leader in interceptions.

1997
Team purchased by Arizona group headed by Will Meris... Predators record 10-4 record in regular season...Club record 16,529 fans attend “Guaranteed Win” night against Tampa Bay on June 27...Predators defeat New Jersey in first round of AFL playoffs, but lost to Iowa in semifinals to finish year at 11-5-0...Predators announce retirement of Head Coach Perry Moss in August...name Nashville Kats offensive coordinator Jay Gruden as Head Coach...All-time great Paul McGowan announces retirement following season...Predators unveil plans to become a publicly traded company and unveil new logo in December.

1998
Team goes public, traded under symbol PRED on NASDAQ exchange...Team announces formation of “Ring of Honor” to recognize outstanding achievement to organization...first inductees include former Head Coach Perry Moss and fullback/linebacker Paul McGowan...After rocky 5-4 start, Predators roll and clinch first round home playoff game with four wins in final five games...newly acquired defensive specialist Kenny “The Glove” McEntyre shines in first round home win against Nashville...Orlando returns to first ArenaBowl since 1995 as it uses “The Drive” to defeat Arizona, 38-33, in semifinals...after losing to Tampa Bay twice in regular season by 98-54 margin, Predators pull biggest upset in ArenaBowl history by shocking top-seeded Tampa Bay, 62-31 in front of nationwide audience on ABC Sports...Predators intercept Peter Tom Willis six times in game, including three by Chris Barber; while Rick Hamilton runs for AFL Championship game record 82 yards and three touchdowns in upset....Gruden becomes first man to win championship as both a player and a head coach as Predators end seven years of playoff frustration to claim first title...Wagner is named “ArenaBowl Ironman of Game” for an incredible fourth time in career.

1999
Predators earn three “Best Of” awards for 1998 season at AFL University, including best highlights video and best media guide...Injury –riddled season results in 7-7 mark...Team inducts offensive specialist Herkie Walls into “Ring of Honor”...Predators sneak into playoffs as number eight seed with 48-40 win over Buffalo in Week 14...Predators become first number eight seed to win playoff game, upsetting #1 seed Tampa Bay (12-2), 41-19, in quarterfinals...Team becomes first #8 seed to advance to ArenaBowl with 48-41 win over Iowa...Dreams of second consecutive title disappear with 59-48 loss to Albany in ArenaBowl XIII...Six-time AFL Ironman of Year Wagner signs as free agent with San Jose... ...Team moves in off-season to 400 West Church Street location.

2000
During off-season, team unveils “Predators Adventure,” a series of interactive inflatables...Community Relations Director Herkie Walls creates “Fitness is Fun,” school program...Predators get off to second fastest start in team history with 7-0 record...team loses back-to-back games for only time in season, losing to Tampa Bay and Nashville to fall to 9-3...Bret Cooper catches touchdown pass on final play of game to beat Albany (61-59) in season finale as Orlando grabs number two seed with 11-3 record...Predators knock Storm out of playoffs for third consecutive season with 34-24 first-round win...Orlando earns record sixth ArenaBowl appearance with 56-44 win over Arizona...David Cool becomes first player to score winning points on final play of an ArenaBowl as 19-yard field goal beats Nashville, 41-38.

2001
Predators finish regular season with 8-6 mark, qualifying for playoffs for 10th consecutive year...season ends with first round home loss to Chicago...Head Coach Jay Gruden announces resignation and plans to return to playing field at ArenaBowl XV...Team introduces former Assistant Head Coach Fran Papasedero as the third Head Coach in franchise history...team names Dave Berryman President and Chief Operating Office in December...Team moves to new headquarters at 4901 Vineland Road.

2002
First-year head coach Fran Papasedero rallies Predators from 1-4 start to win six of last nine regular season games and claim team’s 6th division title...Papasedero becomes just the 4th coach in AFL history to win nine games in his first season, as Predators advance all the way to semifinals before losing to top-seeded San Jose... Gruden sets numerous single season passing marks, including yardage, touchdowns, and completions...Ernest Allen selected as both Team MVP and Team Ironman...Kenny McEntyre is lone selection to All-Arena team. 

2003
Team moves into new headquarters at 302 South Graham Ave...Predators win first four games with Jay Gruden at quarterback...Gruden misses six games with ankle injury, returns to win last six starts to close season at 10-0 as a starter and help propel Predators to 12-4 record and fourth seed in playoffs...Orlando beats New York in first round playoff game but loses to Tampa Bay in semifinals...Kenny McEntyre named All-Arena for fourth straight time and Travis McGriff is AFL Rookie of the Year...Ten days after semifinal loss, Head Coach Fran Papasedero is killed in tragic automobile accident...“Fran Fest,” a street party and golf tournament raises more than $100,000 for Fran Papasedero Memorial Trust Fund to benefit his daughter Vivian...Team announces marketing plan that makes season ticket holders “partners” in organization and also unveils list of 20 local investor/owners...Gruden announces second retirement as a player in September and agrees to assume the role of Head Coach and Director of Football Operations...A group of 21 prominent local businessmen and businesswomen join Predators ownership group, including Peter DiPasqua Jr. (DiPasqua Enterprises -Subway), John Williams (Wayne Densch – Budweiser), Lou Pearlman (Entertainment), Greg and Lena Wasserman (Horizon Homes), Stephen DeLuca (Delco Oil), Bob Gries (Sports Funding, Inc.), Bob Hirsch (First Financial Corporation), Ron Howse (Ron Howse PA), Bill Louche (Contractor), Mike McBath (Paine Webber), Mike McHale (Physician), Pat McHale (MRO Software), Michael O’Quinn (Attorney – Fowler & O’Quinn, PA), Ron Schwartz (Real Estate), and WEP, LLC (Apartment Complex Developers).

2004
Jay Gruden returns as head coach...Team starts off slow, but rallies behind rookie QB Joe Hamilton to win seven of final eight games to finish with solid 10-6 mark...Team keeps alive its streaks of 13 seasons with a winning record and 13 trips to the playoffs...Orlando players win three major awards, as Cory Fleming is named “US Army Ironman of the Year,” Kenny McEntyre is named “ADT Defensive Player of the Year,” and Jay Taylor is named “Kicker of the Year”...McEntyre picks off 11 passes in season to lift his career total to an AFL record 54...McEntyre, Taylor, Fleming all named to first team All-AFL, Rupert Grant and Jermaine Smith named second team to give Predators league-leading five players on All-Arena squad...Taylor is also named to All-Rookie team...Off the field, Predators establish the Orlando Predators Foundation to aid charitable causes...First Red and Black Ball is a huge success, allowing team to make sizeable donations to local charities....Predators make $1,000 donation to Poinciana High School to assist their hurricane ravaged football program get back on its feet...Florida Citrus Sports Foundation matches donation and encourages its sponsors to help...prominent Central Florida auto dealer Roger Holler Jr. joins list of local owners of team.

2005
Predators run string of consecutive playoff appearances and consecutive winning seasons to 14, as team finishes 10-6 in regular season before falling in the semifinals to Georgia, 60-58...Kenny “The Glove” McEntyre is named “All-Arena” for a Predators record-tying sixth time...Team hosts second Red and Black Ball, with Rudy Reutinger – from the movie “Rudy” -- serving as guest speaker...team hosts two “Ultimate Tailgate Trips” allowing fans to fly to New Orleans and Philadelphia with team...Jay Gruden coaches his 100th game with Predators...Orlando Predators Foundation holds “Venture to Vegas,” a charity Texas Hold’em Tournament...McEntyre organizes and raises thousands for Hurricane Katrina relief with a charity golf tournament...Cory Fleming, team’s leading receiver for past three years, traded to Nashville after season.

2006
Predators win 10+ games in regular season for a fourth consecutive time...extend AFL record for overall winning seasons to 15 and tied AFL record for consecutive playoff appearances 15...club establishes new record for season ticket holders with 11,244...Central Florida businessman Ron Howse becomes majority owner...Preds place two players (Javarus Dudley and Greg White) on All-Rookie team; while lineman Henry Taylor (1st team) and QB Joe Hamilton (2nd team) named to All-Arena squad...Defensive Specialist Kenny McEntyre named first recipient of AFL’s prestigious “Al Lucas Hero Award” for meritorious community service...Predators pull major upset, defeating top-seeded Dallas (15-3) on the road to earn record 7th ArenaBowl appearance...Special teams breakdowns and a 3rd quarter interception proves too much to overcome as Chicago defeats Orlando in ArenaBowl XX...McEntyre traded to Kansas City in off-season...Predators sign market’s top free agent in QB Shane Stafford and then released QB Joe Hamilton.

2007
Predators post an 8-9 overall record and set a national record for professional sports for consecutive seasons in the playoffs, tied only with the Detroit Red Wings at 16...Preds defensive lineman Greg White sets AFL record with 15 sacks and snags the ADT Defensive Player of the Year...White goes on to sign with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the 2007 NFL season...team brings back 3-time Defensive Player of the Year, Kenny McEntyre, in the off season and re-signs fan favorite, offensive specialist Jimmy Fryzel out of free agency.

2008
Predators improve from 2007 campaign posting an overall record of 9-8 and reached the playoffs for the 17th consecutive season dating back to 1992.  Wide receiver T.T. Toliver sets a team record for single season All-Purpose and receiving yards overtaking records set by Barry Wagner (All-Purpose) and Cory Fleming (Receiving yards). Defensive back Kenny "The Glove" McEntyre records 8 interceptions bringing his career total to 81. Preds season ends in loss to expansion Cleveland Gladiators in the wild card round of the AFL playoffs.