Oklahoma Defenders

Last updated
Oklahoma Defenders
Established 2012
Folded 2014
Played in Tulsa Convention Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma
OklahomaDefenders.PNG
League/conference affiliations
American Professional Football League (2012) Champions Professional Indoor Football League (2013–2014)
Current uniform
Team colorsNavy, Scarlet, White
   
MascotBillie the Regulator
Personnel
Owner(s)Lamar Baker
Team history
  • Oklahoma Defenders (2012–2014)
Championships
League championships (0)
Conference championships (0)
Division championships (0)
Playoff appearances (1)
  • APFL: 2012
Home arena(s)

The Oklahoma Defenders were a professional indoor football team and a charter member of the Champions Professional Indoor Football League (CPIFL). Based in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the Defenders played their home games at the Cox Business Center.

Contents

It was announced in August 2014, that the team would go dark and cease all operation for the 2015 season, with the goal to return in the 2016 season. Many expect the team to fold and not return for the 2016 season.[ who? ]

The Defenders are the second arena/indoor team based in Tulsa, following the Tulsa Talons which played in arenafootball2 from the league's inaugural season in 2000 until its final season of 2009, and later in the Arena Football League from 2010 until 2011, after which the Talons moved to San Antonio.

History

The Defenders began play in 2012 as a member of the American Professional Football League. [1] [2] The Defenders experienced immediate success, finishing the regular season with a 9–3 record, tied for second place with the Council Bluffs Express. [3] However, the Defenders would get the #3 seed because of the Express holding the head-to-head tiebreaker. In the teams' first-round playoff game, the Defenders lost to the Express 37–32. [4]

For the 2013 season, the Defenders played in the Champions Professional Indoor Football League. They posted a 3–9 record in their inaugural season in the CPIFL. The team's sophomore season in 2014 in the CPIFL was not much better with a duplicate 3–9 record.

It was announced in August 2014, that the team would go dark and cease all operation for the 2015 season, with the goal to return in the 2016 season. [5]

Final roster

Oklahoma Defenders roster
Quarterbacks
  •  8Brady May
  • 12Zach Rasmussen

Running backs

Wide receivers

  •  4Isaiah Anderson
  •  1Hubert Anyiam
  • 20John Goodlett
  •  5 Jeff Hughley
  •  6Patrick Jones
  • 23Matt Rice
Offensive linemen
  • 71Michael Billingsly
  • 95Dalvin Brown
  • 69Terry Johnson II
  •  Jarrad Hernandez
  • 72David Lazenby

Defensive linemen

  • 46Ki'Ounta Cathey
  • 54Victor Clore
  • 51Cordero Moore
  • 44Jared St. John
  • 91Faafeti Te'o
Linebackers

Defensive backs

  • 21Bobby Blackshire
  • 24Delaney Dobard
  • 27Sam Proctor
  • 22Norris Wrenn
  • 43Niko Wright

Kickers

Injured Reserve
  • Currently vacant

Transfer List

  • 21Chika Madu DB

Refuse to Report

  • Currently vacant

Season-by-season

Season records
SeasonWLTFinishPlayoff results
Oklahoma Defenders (APFL)
20129303rd LeagueLost semi-final (Council Bluffs)
Oklahoma Defenders (CPIFL)
20133908th League--
20144807th League--
Totals16200(including playoffs)

2014

Season schedule

2014 Schedule
WeekDateKickoffOpponentResults
Final ScoreTeam Record
1March 1 (Sat)7:05pm Kansas Koyotes 72-6 [6] 1-0
2March 8 (Sat)7:05pm@Dodge City Law 56-492-0
3March 16 (Sun)3:05pm Wichita Wild 44-502-1
4March 22 (Sat)7:05pm Sioux City Bandits 46-332-2
5Bye
6April 5 (Sat)7:05pm@Lincoln Haymakers 73-613-2
7April 12 (Sat)7:05pm Bloomington Edge 58-593-3
8April 19 (Sat)7:05pm@Kansas Koyotes 64-55 [7] 4-3
9April 26 (Sat)7:05pm@Wichita Wild 37-674-4
10May 3 (Sat)7:05pm@Sioux City Bandits 52-604-5
11May 10 (Sat)7:30pm Dodge City Law 33-564-6
12May 17 (Sat)7:05pm Salina Bombers 40-604-7
13Bye
14May 31 (Sat)7:05pm@Kansas Koyotes 63-754-8

Past seasons

2013

Season schedule

2013 Schedule
WeekDateKickoffOpponentResults
Final ScoreTeam Record
1March 9 (Sat)7:30pm Wichita Wild 26-700-1
2March 16 (Sat)7:30pm@Kansas Koyotes 62-401-1
3Bye
4March 30 (Sat)7:30pm@Kansas City Renegades 47-541-2
5April 6 (Sat)7:30pm@Salina Bombers 31-501-3
6April 14 (Sun)7:30pm Mid-Missouri Outlaws 36-342-3
7April 20 (Sat)7:30pm Bloomington Edge 39-442-4
8April 26 (Fri)7:05pm@Lincoln Haymakers 40-462-5
9May 4 (Sat)7:05pm@Wichita Wild 7-732-6
10May 11 (Sat)7:30pm Kansas Koyotes 48-203-6
11May 18 (Sat)7:30pm Kansas City Renegades 28-653-7
12May 26 (Sun)4:30pm@Omaha Beef 21-593-8
13Bye
14June 8 (Sat)7:30pm Salina Bombers 34-463-9

2012

Season schedule

2012 Schedule
DateTimeOpponentLocationScore
March 247:05 PM@ Sioux City Bandits Tyson Events Center, Sioux City, IAL 40-70
March 317:05 PM Council Bluffs Express Expo Square Pavilion, Tulsa, OKW 56-41
April 77:05 PM Cheyenne Warriors Expo Square Pavilion, Tulsa, OKW 54-9
April 217:05 PMSioux City BanditsExpo Square Pavilion, Tulsa, OKL 29-31
April 287:05 PM@ Kansas Koyotes Landon Arena, Topeka, KSW 67-20
May 127:05 PM@ Springfield Wolfpack Mediacom Ice Park, Springfield, MOW 58-22
May 197:05 PM@ Colorado Lightning Colorado Sports and Events Center, Monument, COW 2-0 (forfeit)
May 267:05 PMSpringfield WolfpackExpo Square Pavilion, Tulsa, OKW 74-2
June 27:05 PMKansas KoyotesExpo Square Pavilion, Tulsa, OKW 48-19
June 167:05 PM@ Mid-Missouri Outlaws Mathewson Exhibition Center, Sedalia, MOW 75-10
June 237:05 PM@ Council Bluffs Express Mid-America Center, Council Bluffs, IAL 39-62
June 307:05 PMMid-Missouri Outlaws Tulsa Convention Center, Tulsa, OKW 88-41
July 77:05 PM@ Council Bluffs Express - APFL PlayoffsMid-America Center, Council Bluffs, IAL 32-37

Source: [8]

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References

  1. "Oklahoma Defenders chase the football dream, minus the glitz and glamour". Tulsa World. July 7, 2012.
  2. "Official website". www.oklahomadefenders.com. Oklahoma Defenders.
  3. "APFL - American Professional Football League". Archived from the original on 2012-07-22. Retrieved 2012-07-10.
  4. "Bandits will host playoff game on Sunday". KTIV. July 3, 2012.
  5. Lohman, Rich. "Oklahoma Defenders go dormant." Tulsa Today. Accessed July 15, 2015.
  6. Peterson, Jr., Rick (March 22, 2014). "Koyotes set for home opener against Salina". The Topeka Capital-Journal . Archived from the original on April 28, 2014. Retrieved April 28, 2014.
  7. Peterson, Jr., Rick (April 19, 2014). "Koyotes' comeback falls short against Oklahoma". The Topeka Capital-Journal . Archived from the original on April 28, 2014. Retrieved April 28, 2014.
  8. "Schedule". American Professional Football League.