The Grand Rapids Rampage was an arena football team based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The team began play in 1998 in the Arena Football League as an expansion team. They were last coached by Steve Thonn. Their home arena was the Van Andel Arena.
ArenaBowl XV was the 2001 edition of the Arena Football League's championship game, pairing the Grand Rapids Rampage of the Central Division with the Nashville Kats of the Southern Division. The Grand Rapids offense, led by quarterback Clint Dolezel and MVP Terrill Shaw, was able to outmatch the Nashville defense, and Grand Rapids won the game, 64–42.
Clint Dolezel is an American football coach and former professional arena football player in the Arena Football League (AFL).
The West Michigan ThunderHawks were an indoor football team based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The team was most recently a member of the Indoor Football League. From their inception in 2007 until 2009, the ThunderHawks were known as the Muskegon Thunder and played at L.C. Walker Arena. In 2010, the team moved to Grand Rapids, MI. This is where the downfall of the team took place. The season started off hopeful with a 5–2 record. After week 7 the players were promised money at a later date as long as they played. Starting in 2010 the ThunderHawks played their home games at the DeltaPlex Arena, in nearby Walker, Michigan. The Thunderhawks did not field a team in 2011.
Rahim Fahim Abdullah is a former American football player from Clemson University. He was a second round draft pick of the Cleveland Browns in 1999, the year of their return to the NFL. His brother is Khalid Abdullah, who played linebacker for the Cincinnati Bengals.
Troy Edwards is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver for seven seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs, became one of the most prolific receivers in college football history. He earned All-American honors and won the Fred Biletnikoff Award. Edwards was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the first round of the 1999 NFL Draft, and he played professionally for the Steelers, St. Louis Rams, Jacksonville Jaguars and Detroit Lions of the NFL. He also played for the Grand Rapids Rampage of the Arena Football League.
The Pacific Division, formerly the Central Division, was a division in the Arena Football League. The division was part of both the American and National Conferences at different points in its history. The division was first formed in 1995 when expansion teams were formed and put into the current divisions.
Harold Lamar Shaw is an American former football player who played as a fullback and occasional linebacker for 3 seasons with the New England Patriots of the National Football League (NFL), the Grand Rapids Rampage of the Arena Football League (AFL) and the New England Surge of the Continental Indoor Football League (CIFL). Shaw attended the University of Southern Mississippi.
Rodney Blackshear is a former arena football wide receiver who played in the Arena Football League (AFL). Blackshear played college football at Texas Tech University.
Jermaine Lewis is a former American football wide receiver. He was originally signed as an undrafted free agent by the Detroit Lions in 2003. He played college football at Western Michigan.
Sylvester "Buster" Stanley Jr. is a former American football player. Stanley played college football for the University of Michigan from 1990 to 1993 and was the Most Valuable Player on the 1993 Michigan Wolverines football team. He played professional football for the New England Patriots (1994), Rhein Fire (1996–1997) and Grand Rapids Rampage (1999–2000).
Donta Abron is a former American football player who played college ball at Northern Arizona Lumberjacks and professional ball for the Baltimore Stallions of the Canadian Football League, Albany Firebirds and the Grand Rapids Rampage of the Arena Football League.
Terrill Shaw is a former American football wide receiver who played nine seasons in the Arena Football League (AFL) with the Buffalo Destroyers, Grand Rapids Rampage, Las Vegas Gladiators, Philadelphia Soul, Dallas Desperados and Tampa Bay Storm. Shaw played college football at the University of Southern Mississippi. He was the MVP of ArenaBowl XV. He was also a member of the Kansas City Chiefs, Berlin Thunder and New Orleans Saints.
John Edward Hilliard is a former American football defensive end who played three seasons with the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the Seahawks in the sixth round of the 2000 NFL Draft. Hilliard played college football at Mississippi State University and attended Sterling High School in Houston, Texas. He was also a member of the Green Bay Packers, New Orleans VooDoo and Grand Rapids Rampage.
Jeff Loots is a former American football quarterback who played eight seasons in the Arena Football League (AFL) with the Milwaukee Mustangs, Minnesota Fighting Pike, Albany Firebirds, Oklahoma Wranglers, Chicago Rush, Buffalo Destroyers and Grand Rapids Rampage. He played college football at Southwest Minnesota State.
Brian Gowins is a former American football placekicker who played eight seasons in the Arena Football League with the Grand Rapids Rampage, Las Vegas Gladiators and Orlando Predators. He played college football at Northwestern University and attended Shades Valley High School in Irondale, Alabama. He was also a member of the Chicago Bears of the National Football League.
Charles "Sparky" McEwen is an American football coach and former player. He is the head football coach for Davenport University, a position he has held since 2017. McEwen played professionally as a quarterback for one season with the Grand Rapids Rampage of the Arena Football League (AFL). He played college football at Ferris State University and attended Creston High School in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He was also head coach of the Grand Rapids Rampage and Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz.
Anthony Buich is a former American football quarterback who played one season with the Grand Rapids Rampage of the Arena Football League (AFL). He played college football at Eastern Illinois University. He was also a member of the Iowa Barnstormers, Tulsa Talons, Tampa Bay Storm, Wichita Stealth, Nashville Kats and San Diego Riptide.
Anthony Dwayne Phillips is a former American football defensive back in the National Football League (NFL) who played for the Atlanta Falcons and Minnesota Vikings. He played college football for the Texas A&M–Kingsville Javelinas. He also played in the Arena Football League (AFL) for the Grand Rapids Rampage and Buffalo Destroyers, winning the Arena Bowl with Grand Rapids in his first season there.