Las Vegas Gladiators
Conference	American
Division	Western
Year founded	1997
Home arena	Orleans Arena
City, State	Las Vegas, Nevada
Wild card titles	3: 1997, 1998, 2003
Division titles	1: 2002
Conference titles	none
ArenaBowl championships	none

The Las Vegas Gladiators have no connection to the Pittsburgh Gladiators, the Arena Football League team that is now the Tampa Bay Storm.

The Las Vegas Gladiators are an Arena Football League team. The team that is now known as the Gladiators played its first season in the AFL in 1997. Image File history File links LasVegasGladiators. ... 1997 (MCMXCVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Orleans Arena is a 7,000-seat multi-purpose arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. ... For other uses around the city, see Las Vegas metropolitan area and Las Vegas Strip. ... The ArenaBowl is the Arena Football Leagues championship game. ... Conference National Division Southern Year founded 1987 Home arena St. ... The Arena Football League (AFL) (not to be confused with The Australian Football League) was founded in 1987 as an American football indoor league. ...

History

New Jersey Red Dogs (1997-2000)

The New Jersey Red Dogs entered the Arena Football League in 1997, along with the Nashville Kats and the New York CityHawks. Their ownership group, which was led by New Jersey radio entrepreneur E. Burke Ross, also included several ex-NFL players, such as Joe Morris, Carl Banks, and Harry Carson. The Red Dogs played at Continental Airlines Arena in the New Jersey Meadowlands. Image File history File links NewJerseyRedDogs. ... The Arena Football League (AFL) (not to be confused with The Australian Football League) was founded in 1987 as an American football indoor league. ... See also: 1996 in sports, other events of 1997, 1998 in sports and the list of years in sports. // Auto Racing Stock car racing: Jeff Gordon is the youngest driver ever to win the Daytona 500 on February 16 NASCAR Championship - Jeff Gordon Indy Racing League - Indianapolis 500 - Arie Luyendyk... Conference National Division Southern Year founded 2001 Home arena Philips Arena City, State Atlanta, Georgia Wild card titles 1: 2003 Division titles 1: 2005 Conference titles 1: 2005 ArenaBowl championships none The Georgia Force is in no way related to the San Antonio Force, which was an Arena Football League... Year founded 1997 Year folded 2002 Prior names New York CityHawks, New England Sea Wolves ArenaBowl championships none The Toronto Phantoms was the final name of a team in the Arena Football League, that also operated in New York City and New England. ... For the Bon Jovi album, see New Jersey (album) Official language(s) None, English de facto Capital Trenton Largest city Newark Area  Ranked 47th  - Total 8,729 sq mi (22,608 km²)  - Width 70 miles (110 km)  - Length 150 miles (240 km)  - % water 14. ... For other uses of National Football League, see National Football League (disambiguation). ... Joe Morris is a former NFL running back who played for the New York Giants in the 1980s. ... Carl Banks (Born August 29, 1962) was a former National Football League linebacker who played for three teams from 1984 to 1995, the New York Giants, the Washington Redskins and the Cleveland Browns. ... Harry Carson (born November 26, 1953) is a former American football inside linebacker who played his entire career for the New York Giants in the NFL(1976-1988). ... Continental Airlines Arena is a multi-purpose indoor arena in the Meadowlands Sports Complex in East Rutherford, New Jersey. ... The Meadowlands Sports Complex is a sports and entertainment facility located in East Rutherford, New Jersey owned and operated by the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority (NJSEA). ...

The AFL's intention was to add only New Jersey and Nashville for 1997. However, well after the awarding of the Red Dogs and Kats franchises, the owners of Madison Square Garden in New York City requested a franchise of their own, and the league granted this request. And so the CityHawks also began play in 1997. This had an impact on the Red Dogs, in that the league then prevented the Red Dogs from advertising in New York. While North Jersey itself is very populous in its own right, the Red Dogs had hoped to be the team for the entire New York metropolitan area. Madison Square Garden, often abbreviated as MSG, known colloquially simply as The Garden, has been the name of four arenas in New York City, United States. ... Nickname: Big Apple, Gotham, NYC, City That Never Sleeps, The Concrete Jungle, The City So Nice They Named It Twice Location in the state of New York Coordinates: Country United States State New York Boroughs The Bronx Brooklyn Manhattan Queens Staten Island Settled 1613  - Mayor Michael Bloomberg (R) Area    - City... Metropolitan statistical areas and divisions of New Jersey; counties shaded in blue hues are in the New York City metro; counties shaded in green hues are in the Philadelphia metro. ... The New York metropolitan area is the most populous in the United States and the fourth most populous in the world (after Tokyo, Seoul, and Mexico City). ...

Despite this setback, the Red Dog management built a good team, which opened its history in memorable fashion. The team won 8 of its first 9 games, including a victory in their inaugural game on a last-second game-winning field goal, a thrilling overtime victory against the Albany Firebirds, a thorough thrashing of the Iowa Barnstormers (runners-up in the previous year's ArenaBowl X), and also one game in which they scored a then-record 91 points against the Texas Terror. (This record has since been surpassed by the New York Dragons, who scored 99 in a game against the Carolina Cobras in 2001.) A field goal (formerly goal from the field) is a general term used in some sports wherein a goal may be scored either during general play (from the field) or via some sort of free shot. ... The Indiana Firebirds were a team in the Arena Football League. ... The New York Dragons are an Arena Football League team. ... The ArenaBowl is the Arena Football Leagues championship game. ... The Texas Terror was a franchise in the Arena Football League, a league which plays a scaled-down version of American football in venues primarily designed for ice hockey or basketball. ... Conference National Division Eastern Year founded 1995 Home arena Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum City, State Uniondale, New York Wild card titles 1: 1995 Division titles 8: 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005 Conference titles none ArenaBowl championships none The New York Dragons are an Arena Football League team. ... Year founded 2000 Year folded 2004 Prior names none ArenaBowl championships none // History The Carolina Cobras were a franchise in the Arena Football League. ... See also: 2000 in sports, other events of 2001, 2002 in sports and the list of years in sports. // Auto Racing Stock car racing: Michael Waltrip won the Daytona 500, a race that also saw the death of seven-time NASCAR champion Dale Earnhardt in an unspectacular crash during the...

The Red Dogs were led by head coach John Hufnagel, who had been a quarterback and offensive coordinator for the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League, and who has since gone on to be an offensive coach for several National Football League teams, including the New England Patriots and the New York Giants. John Coleman Hufnagel (born September 13, 1951, in Coraopolis, Pennsylvania) is a American football coach and former pro quarterback. ... Navy quarterback Aaron Polanco sets up to throw. ... The Calgary Stampeders are a Canadian Football League team based in Calgary, Alberta. ... Lions Stampeders Eskimos Roughriders Blue Bombers Tiger-Cats Argonauts Alouettes The Canadian Football League (CFL), also known by its French name, Ligue canadienne de football (LCF), is a professional sports league located in Canada that plays Canadian football, and is the second most popular sports league in Canada. ... For other uses of National Football League, see National Football League (disambiguation). ... City Foxborough, Massachusetts Other nicknames The Pats Team colors Nautical Blue, New Century Silver, Red, and White Head Coach Bill Belichick Owner Robert Kraft General manager Bill Belichick, Scott Pioli Mascot Pat Patriot League/Conference affiliations American Football League (1960–69) Eastern Division (1960–69) National Football League (1970–present... City East Rutherford, New Jersey Other nicknames Big Blue Wrecking Crew, Big Blue, G-Men, The Jints, The New York Football Giants Team colors Royal Blue, Red, Gray, and White Head Coach Tom Coughlin Owner John Mara (50%) and Steve Tisch (50%) General manager Jerry Reese League/Conference affiliations National...

Hufnagel brought in several players with CFL experience to the Red Dogs, including QB Rickey Foggie and offensive specialist Larry Ray Willis. The team's other main receiver was Alvin Ashley, a player whose small size (150 lb.) made him unlikely to play in the NFL but suited the more compact Arena game.

The Red Dogs slumped late in their first season, losing 4 of their final 5 games to finish 9-5, then losing to the Orlando Predators in the first round of the playoffs. Conference National Division Southern Year founded 1991 Home arena Hummer Field at TD Waterhouse Centre City, State Orlando, Florida Wild card titles 8: 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005 Division titles 7: 1992, 1993, 1994, 1997, 2000, 2002, 2006 Conference titles 7: 1992, 1994, 1995, 1998, 1999, 2000...

The Red Dogs finished 8-6 in 1998, their second season, and won their first playoff game in Albany against the Firebirds. // Stock car racing: Dale Earnhardt won the Daytona 500 NASCAR Championship - Jeff Gordon NASCAR celebrates its 50th anniversary Indy Racing League - Indianapolis 500 - Eddie Cheever CART Racing - Alex Zanardi won the season championship Formula One Championship - Mika Häkkinen of Finland 24 hours of Le Mans: won by the team...

Hufnagel left the Red Dogs after the 1998 season for a job with the NFL's Cleveland Browns, and he was replaced by Frank Mattiace, a former defensive lineman for the New Jersey Generals of the USFL. Star Larry Ray Willis was traded to the Milwaukee Mustangs ... The New Jersey Generals were a franchise of the United States Football League (USFL), established in 1982 to begin play in the spring and summer of 1983. ... The United States Football League was a professional American football league that played three seasons between 1983 and 1985. ... Categories: Stub | Defunct American football teams | Milwaukee sports ...

Following those losses, the Red Dogs slumped in 1999 to their first losing season, going 6-8, despite winning 3 of their first 4.

The Red Dogs made a significant trade following the 1999 season, a trade they never got to benefit from. New Jersey sent Alvin Ashley to the Orlando Predators for wide receiver/defensive back Barry Wagner, widely regarded as the greatest player in the league's history. However, soon after the trade, the league and its players agreed to a new collective bargaining agreement that resulted in several veteran players -- including Wagner -- gaining free agency. Wagner then signed with the San Jose SaberCats. Barry Wagner (born November 11, 1967) is an Arena Football League wide receiver/defensive back with the San Jose SaberCats. ... The Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) is the contract between the NHL and the NHLPA that defines the structure of procedural, financial, and disciplinary relationships between the NHL, its teams, and its players. ... Conference American Division Western Year founded 1995 Home arena HP Pavilion City, State San Jose, California Wild card titles 5: 1997, 1998, 2000, 2004, 2005 Division titles 5: 1995, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 Conference titles none ArenaBowl championships 2: 2002, 2004 The San Jose SaberCats are an Arena Football League...

In 2000, the Red Dogs, without Wagner, Ashley, and offensive mainstay Chad Lindsey, fell to 4-10. Foggie lost his job as starting QB, replaced by Tommy Maddox, at the time a failed NFL quarterback. Head coach Frank Mattiace left the team in mid-season and was replaced on an interim basis by Kevin Guy, a former defensive back/wide receiver who had played two full seasons with the Red Dogs. See also: 1999 in sports, other events of 2000, 2001 in sports and the list of years in sports. // Auto Racing Stock car racing: Dale Jarrett won the Daytona 500 NASCAR Championship - Bobby Labonte Indy Racing League - Buddy Lazier won the season championship Indianapolis 500- Juan Pablo Montoya CART Racing... Thomas (Tommy) Alfred Maddox (born September 2, 1971 in Shreveport, Louisiana) is a football quarterback who most recently played for the Pittsburgh Steelers. ...

New Jersey Gladiators (2001-2002)

Before the 2001 season, the New Jersey team was sold to Jim Ferraro, a lawyer from Miami. Ferraro changed the team name to the New Jersey Gladiators. The new ownership appointed as head coach the ex-CityHawk boss Lary Kuharich, who had won ArenaBowl VII in 1993 with the Tampa Bay Storm, and acquired Connell Maynor from Orlando to be the starting QB. This article is about the city in Florida. ... The ArenaBowl is the Arena Football Leagues championship game. ... See also: 1992 in sports, other events of 1993, 1994 in sports and the list of years in sports. // Athletics February 11 - Irina Privalova sets a new womens 60m indoors world record August 13 - August 22 - World Championships held in Stuttgart Auto Racing Stock car racing: Dale Jarrett won...

Maynor had led the Predators to victory in ArenaBowl XIV the previous season, and was named the game's MVP. An all-around threat, Maynor had played with the CityHawks under Kuharich in 1997, but took only one snap all season as the backup to Mike Perez. Instead, the CityHawks used Maynor as a wide receiver/linebacker, and one week he even won the award for the league's best "ironman" (player who plays both on offense and defense, as 6 of 8 players must do in Arena Football). A snap (colloquially called a hike, snapback, or pass from center) starts each Canadian football and American football play from scrimmage. ... In sport, offense (American English) and offence (British English and Canadian English) is the action of attacking or engaging an opposing team with the objective of scoring points or goals. ... In sport, defense (AmE) and defence (CwE) is the action of preventing an opponent from scoring. ...

The Gladiators reached the lowest ebb in the history of the franchise in 2001, winning only 2 out of 14 games that season. The club's top receivers attained roughly half the amount of yards that Larry Ray Willis had done in each of the franchise's first two seasons, and the rushing leader was QB Maynor himself.

In 2002, the club had another new coach, Frank Haege, who had been a Red Dog assistant under John Hufnagel. After leaving the Red Dogs, Haege went on to coach the Quad City Steamwheelers of the AFL's minor-league circuit af2. Haege's Quad City team dominated the af2 for two seasons, winning 31 of 32 regular-season games -- including one win by a score of 103-3 -- and two championships. (Haege was later charged by the AFL with violating the af2 salary cap rules at Quad City, and was fined heavily by the league. Also, the Quad City team was banned from the af2 playoffs in 2002.) See also: 2001 in sports, 2003 in sports and the list of years in sports. Auto Racing Stock car racing: Ward Burton wins the Daytona 500 NASCAR Championship - Tony Stewart Indy Racing League - Sam Hornish Jr. ... Frank Haege is the current head football coach at Augsburg College. ... The Quad City Steamwheelers are a professional arena football team. ... af2 (short for arenafootball2) is the name of the Arena Football Leagues minor league, which started play in 2000. ...

The Gladiators' new QB for 2002 was Jay McDonagh, who had played under Haege at Quad City. Former Red Dog Alvin Ashley was back with the club, seeing limited duty; however, this time around the main New Jersey receiver was Mike Horacek, who had starred for the Iowa Barnstormers, and has since returned to that franchise to play for the Dragons. The Gladiators' fortunes turned around, and they had their first winning season since 1998, going 9-5 and hosting a playoff game for the first time (a loss to Orlando).

The New Jersey Gladiators looked all set to go for the 2003 season. The 2003 season would be the first one to begin in February instead of April, and it would be the first one in which the league's games would be televised weekly by NBC. // World Artistic Gymnastics Championships: Mens all-around champions: Paul Hamm, USA, Yang Wei, China Womens all-around champion: Svetlana Khorkina, Russia Mens team competition champion: China Womens team competition champion: USA April 13 — Rotterdam Marathon, Netherlands Mens Winner: William Kiplagat (KEN) 2:07:42 Women... NBC (an abbreviation for National Broadcasting Company, its former corporate name) is an American television network headquartered in the GE Building in New York Citys Rockefeller Center. ...

However, with only weeks to go before the start of the season, owner Ferraro moved the team to Las Vegas. The move came as a shock to the team's fans, as the Gladiators were sending out ticket package offers even through their last week in New Jersey.

The AFL schedules for the 2003 season had already been devised, so the Las Vegas Gladiators would play that season in the Eastern Division of the National Conference, before shifting in 2004 to the American Conference's Western Division. // On January 28, International Olympic Committee Vice-President Kim Un-yong is arrested on charges of corruption in Seoul. ...

Las Vegas Gladiators (2003-present)

Patch displaying franchise's fifth season as the Las Vegas Gladiators

The Las Vegas Gladiators relocated to Las Vegas for the 2003 season and played their home games at the Thomas & Mack Center on the campus of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. This arena was also the home of a previous Arena team, the Las Vegas Sting, in 1994 and 1995. In 2007, in an effort to increase attendance, the Gladiators will move to Orleans Arena, which has a smaller capacity than the T & M Center. Image File history File linksMetadata 5th_Anniversary. ... Image File history File linksMetadata 5th_Anniversary. ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Satellite picture of the Thomas & Mack Center. ... The University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) is a public, coeducational university located in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, known for its programs in engineering, English, hotel administration, and management information systems. ... Categories: Stub | Defunct American football teams | Los Angeles sports ... 1994 (MCMXCIV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated as the International Year of the Family and the International Year of the Sport and the Olympic Ideal by United Nations. ... 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Orleans Arena is a 7,000-seat multi-purpose arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. ...

The Gladiators currently compete in the Western Division of the AFL's American Conference. The Arena Football League (AFL) (not to be confused with The Australian Football League) was founded in 1987 as an American football indoor league. ...

The Gladiators official mascot is a gladiator uniform-claded lion named Thraxx[1].

Hosting ArenaBowl

The first ArenaBowl to be played at a neutral site took place in 2005, when Las Vegas hosted ArenaBowl XIX. Previously, the ArenaBowl had been held at the home arena of the higher-seeded of the two remaining teams. 2006's ArenaBowl XX was also held in Las Vegas. The game moved to New Orleans for ArenaBowl XXI in 2007. The ArenaBowl is the Arena Football Leagues championship game. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Date June 12, 2005 Arena Thomas & Mack Center City Las Vegas, Nevada Attendance 10,822 Offensive Player of the Game Willis Marshall, WR/DB, Colorado Defensive Player of the Game Ahmad Hawkins, DS, Colorado Ironman of the Game Willis Marshall, WR/DB, Colorado Winning Coach Mike Dailey Losing Coach Doug... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... Date June 11, 2006 Arena Thomas & Mack Center City Las Vegas, Nevada Attendance 13,476 Offensive Player of the Game Matt DOrazio, QB, Chicago Defensive Player of the Game Dennison Robinson, WR/DB, Chicago Ironman of the Game Bob McMillen, FB/LB, Chicago Winning Coach Mike Hohensee Losing Coach...

Head Coaches

• John Hufnagel -- 1997-1998
• Frank Mattiace -- 1999-2000
• Kevin Guy -- 2000
• Lary Kuharich -- 2001
• Frank Haege -- 2002-2004
• Ron James -- 2005-2006

John Coleman Hufnagel (born September 13, 1951, in Coraopolis, Pennsylvania) is a American football coach and former pro quarterback. ... Frank Haege is the current head football coach at Augsburg College. ... Ron James is: Ron James, owner and operator of NamePros Ron James (comedian), former member of Second City Toronto Ron James (footballer), former Australian rules footballer with the Footscray Football Club This is a disambiguation page: a list of articles associated with the same title. ...

Notable players

• Alvin Ashley - WR/DB
• Wilky Bazile - OL/DL
• Clint Dolezel - QB
• Joe Douglass - WR/LB
• Rickey Foggie - QB
• Mike Horacek - OS
• Eric Houle - K
• Matt Kinsinger - FB/LB
• Steve Konopka - OL/DL
• Mark Lewis - K
• Chad Lindsey - WR/LB
• Junior Lord - WR/DB
• Jay McDonagh - QB
• Marcus Nash - OS
• Dameon Porter - WR/DB
• Alonzo Spellman - DL
• Steve Videtich - K
• Larry Ray Willis - OS
• Shaun King - QB

Clint Dolezel is an Arena Football League quarterback for the Dallas Desperados. ... Joe Douglass(Born:January 21, 1974) is an Arena Football League wide receiver/linebacker for the Las Vegas Gladiators. ... Eric Houle is an Arena Football League kicker for the Las Vegas Gladiators. ... Matthew Mark Kinsinger is an Arena Football League fullback/linebacker for the Las Vegas Gladiators. ... Steve Konopka is an Arena Football League tight end/defensive tackle for the Las Vegas Gladiators. ... Mark Lewis is an Arena Football League kicker for the Las Vegas Gladiators. ... Junior Lord is a former XFL wide receiver and a current Arena Football League wide receiver/linebacker for the Las Vegas Gladiators. ... Marcus Nash is an Arena Football League offensive specialist for the Las Vegas Gladiators. ... Dameon Porter is an Arena Football League wide receiver/defensive back for the Las Vegas Gladiators. ... Alonzo Spellman (born September 27, 1971) is a former National Football League player, who in a career lasting nine years played for the Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, and the Dallas Cowboys. ... Shaun Earl King (born May 29, 1977 in St. ...

Season-by-season

Note: W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties

Conference National Division Southern Year founded 1991 Home arena Hummer Field at TD Waterhouse Centre City, State Orlando, Florida Wild card titles 8: 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005 Division titles 7: 1992, 1993, 1994, 1997, 2000, 2002, 2006 Conference titles 7: 1992, 1994, 1995, 1998, 1999, 2000... Conference American Division Western Year founded 1992 Home arena US Airways Center City, State Phoenix, Arizona Wild card titles 8: 1993, 1994, 1995, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2006 Division titles 5: 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2004 Conference titles none ArenaBowl championships 2: 1994, 1997 Arizona Rattlers are an Arena Football...

External links

• Las Vegas Gladiators Official Website
• "New Jersey Red Dogs acquire Barry Wagner from Orlando", AP via SLAM! Sports, September 23, 1999
• "Red Dogs sold, name changed to Gladiators", AP via CNNSI.com, February 12, 2001
• "Gladiators roll the dice toward Vegas" by Marc Viquez, ArenaFan Online, December 27, 2002
• Las Vegas Gladiators Fan Site
• Las Vegas Gladiators Fan Club