2009 Erie RiverRats season

Erie RiverRats
2009 Erie RiverRats season
Head coach	Steven G. Fulmar
Home field	Louis J. Tullio Arena
Results
Record	3-11
Division place	5th
Playoff finish	did not qualify
	← 2008 ; Erie RiverRats ; 2010 →;

Last updated March 03, 2019

The 2009 Erie RiverRats season was the third season for the American Indoor Football Association (AIFA) franchise.

The 2009 American Indoor Football Association season is the league's fifth overall season. The regular season began on Saturday, March 7 and ended on Monday, July 7. The league champion was decided on Sunday, July 26 as the Reading Express won AIFA Championship Bowl III. Prior to the regular season, the league held an exhibition game in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania called the AIFA Kickoff Classic.

In August, 2008, Liotta resigned as coach of the RiverRats and left to coach the Wheeling Wildcats.^[1] In September 2008, the RiverRats named Steven G. Folmar as the franchise's second head coach.^[2] In December 2008, owner Jeff Hauser sold the team to a group of local businessmen, headed by Jeff Plyler, Bob Foltyn and Frank Herman.^[3]^[4] The RiverRats had to replace many players on the roster, as most of the 2008 roster followed Liotta to Wheeling.^[5] As a result of all the changes, the RiverRats struggled all season to score points, resulting in offensive coordinator Paul Pennington's resignation after an 0–3 start.^[6] After dropping to 0–7, the RiverRats got their first win of the season on a last second field goal by Joe Lindway.^[7] The RiverRats ended up finishing with a 3-11 record, and missing the playoffs for the first time in franchise history.^[8]

The Wheeling Wildcats were a professional indoor football team located in Wheeling, West Virginia. The team began play in the Continental Indoor Football League during the 2009 season as an expansion team. The Wildcats were the second indoor football team to be based in Wheeling. The team filled the void left by the demise of the Ohio Valley Greyhounds, who played their final down of football in 2007. The owner of the Wildcats was Dave Bender. The Wildcats played their home games at WesBanco Arena in Wheeling, West Virginia.

An offensive coordinator is a member of the coaching staff of an American football or Canadian football team who is in charge of the team's offense. Generally, along with the defensive coordinator, he represents the second level of command structure after the head coach. The offensive coordinator is in charge of the team's offensive game plan, and typically calls offensive plays during the game, although some offensive-minded head coaches also handle play-calling. Several position coaches work under the coordinator. The coordinator may also coach a position.

Schedule

Regular season

Date	Opponent	Home/Away	Result
March 15	Baltimore Mariners	Away	Lost 32-60
March 28	D.C. Armor	Home	Lost 30-34
April 4	Carolina Speed	Away	Lost 12-38
April 11	Reading Express	Away	Lost 13-47
April 18	Harrisburg Stampede	Home	Lost 31-34
April 26	Reading Express	Home	Lost 48-66
May 2	Fayetteville Guard	Away	Lost 28-58
May 10	Baltimore Mariners	Home	Won 53-50
May 23	Harrisburg Stampede	Home	Won 54-44
May 30	Harrisburg Stampede	Away	Lost 29-53
June 6	Carolina Speed	Home	Lost 21-51
June 13	Reading Express	Away	Lost 27-45
June 20	D.C. Armor	Away	Lost 28-47
June 27	Florence Phantoms	Home	Won 60-20

Standings

Team	Overall			Division
Team	Wins	Losses	Percentage	Wins	Losses	Percentage
North Division
Reading Express	11	3	0.786	8	2	0.800
Baltimore Mariners	9	5	0.643	8	2	0.800
Harrisburg Stampede	4	10	0.286	4	6	0.400
D.C. Armor	4	10	0.286	3	7	0.300
Erie RiverRats	3	11	0.214	2	8	0.200
South Division
Columbus Lions	11	3	0.786	8	2	0.800
Fayetteville Guard	8	6	0.571	5	5	0.500
South Carolina Force	7	7	0.500	4	6	0.400
Carolina Speed	7	7	0.500	4	6	0.400
Florence Phantoms	6	8	0.429	4	6	0.400
West Division
Wyoming Cavalry	12	2	0.857	12	2	0.857
Utah Valley Thunder	11	3	0.786	11	3	0.786
Ogden Knights	4	10	0.286	4	10	0.286
New Mexico Wildcats	1	13	0.071	1	13	0.071

Green indicates clinched playoff berth
Purple indicates division champion
Grey indicates best league record

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References

↑ "Liotta resigns as RiverRats coach". www.goerie.com. CyberInk LP and the Erie Times-News. August 5, 2008. Retrieved December 27, 2013.
↑ "Erie RiverRats Name Steven G. Folmar as New Head Coach". www.oursportscentral.com. OurSports Central. September 2, 2008. Retrieved December 26, 2013.
↑ "Area group purchases RiverRats". www.goerie.com. CyberInk LP and the Erie Times-News. December 11, 2008. Retrieved December 27, 2013.
↑ "Erie RiverRats Sold to Local Business Group". www.oursportscentral.com. OurSports Central. December 16, 2008. Retrieved December 26, 2013.
↑ "Wheeling Wildcats Sign QB Rod Rutherford for 2009 Season". www.oursportscentral.com. OurSports Central. December 12, 2008. Retrieved December 27, 2013.
↑ "Struggling RiverRats seek new offensive coordinator". www.goerie.com. CyberInk LP and the Erie Times-News. April 9, 2009. Retrieved December 27, 2013.
↑ Bob Jarzomski (May 11, 2009). "RiverRats kick winless label at buzzer". www.goerie.com. CyberInk LP and the Erie Times-News. Retrieved December 27, 2013.
↑ "Erie Ends 2009 Season With 60-20 Blowout of Defending Champs". www.oursportscentral.com. OurSports Central. June 29, 2009. Retrieved December 26, 2013.

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[1] "Liotta resigns as RiverRats coach". www.goerie.com. CyberInk LP and the Erie Times-News. August 5, 2008. Retrieved December 27, 2013.

[2] "Erie RiverRats Name Steven G. Folmar as New Head Coach". www.oursportscentral.com. OurSports Central. September 2, 2008. Retrieved December 26, 2013.

[3] "Area group purchases RiverRats". www.goerie.com. CyberInk LP and the Erie Times-News. December 11, 2008. Retrieved December 27, 2013.

[4] "Erie RiverRats Sold to Local Business Group". www.oursportscentral.com. OurSports Central. December 16, 2008. Retrieved December 26, 2013.

[5] "Wheeling Wildcats Sign QB Rod Rutherford for 2009 Season". www.oursportscentral.com. OurSports Central. December 12, 2008. Retrieved December 27, 2013.

[6] "Struggling RiverRats seek new offensive coordinator". www.goerie.com. CyberInk LP and the Erie Times-News. April 9, 2009. Retrieved December 27, 2013.

[7] Bob Jarzomski (May 11, 2009). "RiverRats kick winless label at buzzer". www.goerie.com. CyberInk LP and the Erie Times-News. Retrieved December 27, 2013.

[8] "Erie Ends 2009 Season With 60-20 Blowout of Defending Champs". www.oursportscentral.com. OurSports Central. June 29, 2009. Retrieved December 26, 2013.