Oklahoma Defenders
{{short description|Former professional indoor football team}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox indoor American football team
| name = Oklahoma Defenders
| logo = OklahomaDefenders.PNG
| helmet =
| founded = 2012
| folded = 2014
| city = Tulsa Convention Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma
| colors = Navy, Scarlet, White
{{color box|#BF311B}} {{color box|#000050}} {{color box|white}}
| coach =
| owner = Lamar Baker
| president =
| general manager =
| cheerleaders =
| mascot = Billie the Regulator
| league =
American Professional Football League (2012)
Champions Professional Indoor Football League (2013–2014)
| team_history =
- Oklahoma Defenders (2012–2014)
| no_conf_champs = 0
| conf_champs =
| no_div_champs = 0
| div_champs =
| no_league_champs = 0
| league_champs =
| no_playoff_appearances = 1
| playoff_appearances =
- APFL: 2012
| arena_years =
- Tulsa Convention Center (2012–2014)
}}
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.
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|date=December 2014}}
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.{{cite news|url=http://www.tulsaworld.com/sportsextra/article.aspx?subjectid=235&articleid=20120707_235_B1_CUTLIN835100|title=Oklahoma Defenders chase the football dream, minus the glitz and glamour|newspaper=Tulsa World|date=July 7, 2012}}{{cite web|url=http://www.oklahomadefenders.com |title=Official website|publisher=Oklahoma Defenders |work=www.oklahomadefenders.com}} The Defenders experienced immediate success, finishing the regular season with a 9–3 record, tied for second place with the Council Bluffs Express.{{Cite web |url=http://americanprofessionalfootball.com/standings.cfm |title=APFL - American Professional Football League |access-date=2012-07-10 |archive-date=2012-07-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120722130443/http://www.americanprofessionalfootball.com/standings.cfm |url-status=dead }} 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.{{cite news|url=http://www.ktiv.com/story/18944065/bandits-will-host-playoff-game-on-sunday|title=Bandits will host playoff game on Sunday|date=July 3, 2012|publisher=KTIV}}
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.[http://www.tulsatoday.com/2014/08/28/oklahoma-defenders-go-dormant/ Lohman, Rich. "Oklahoma Defenders go dormant." Tulsa Today.] Accessed July 15, 2015.
Final roster
| class="toccolours" style="text-align: left;" |
| colspan="7" style="text-align:center; background-color:#000050; color:white; border:2px solid #BF311B;" | Oklahoma Defenders roster |
|---|
| style="font-size: 95%;vertical-align:top;" | Quarterbacks
{{playern|8|Brady May}} {{playern|12|Zach Rasmussen}} Running backs {{playern|42|Jamario Thomas}} {{playern|2|Kingjack Washington}} Wide receivers {{playern|4|Isaiah Anderson}} {{playern|1|Hubert Anyiam}} {{playern|20|John Goodlett}} {{playern|5|Jeff Hughley}} {{playern|6|Patrick Jones}} {{playern|23|Matt Rice}} | style="width: 25px;" | | style="font-size: 95%;vertical-align:top;" | Offensive linemen {{playern|71|Michael Billingsly}} {{playern|95|Dalvin Brown}} {{playern|69|Terry Johnson II}} {{playern|—|Jarrad Hernandez}} {{playern|72|David Lazenby}} Defensive linemen {{playern|46|Ki'Ounta Cathey}} {{playern|54|Victor Clore}} {{playern|51|Cordero Moore}} {{playern|44|Jared St. John}} {{playern|91|Faafeti Te'o}} | style="width: 25px;" | | style="font-size: 95%;vertical-align:top;" | Linebackers {{playern|52|Austen Brooner}} {{playern|56|Ronnell Lewis}} Defensive backs {{playern|21|Bobby Blackshire}} {{playern|24|Delaney Dobard}} {{playern|27|Sam Proctor}} {{playern|22|Norris Wrenn}} {{playern|43|Niko Wright}} Kickers {{playern|94|Tommy Frevert}} | style="width: 25px;" | | style="font-size: 95%;vertical-align:top;" | Injured Reserve
Transfer List {{playern|21|Chika Madu DB}} Refuse to Report
{{plainlist|1=
}} |
Season-by-season
{{Start NFL SBS}}
|-
| colspan="6" align="center" | Oklahoma Defenders (APFL)
|-
| 2012 || 9 || 3 || 0 || 3rd League || Lost semi-final (Council Bluffs)
|-
| colspan="6" align="center" | Oklahoma Defenders (CPIFL)
|-
| 2013 || 3 || 9 || 0 || 8th League || --
|-
| 2014 || 4 || 8 || 0 || 7th League || --
|-
!Totals || 16 || 20 || 0
|colspan="2"| (including playoffs)
{{s-end}}
2014
=Season schedule=
| class="wikitable"
|+ 2014 Schedule |
| rowspan="2" width="40" | Week
! rowspan="2" width="110" | Date ! rowspan="2" width="110" | Kickoff ! rowspan="2" width="180" | Opponent ! colspan="2" width="180" | Results |
|---|
| width="90" | Final Score
! width="90" | Team Record |
| align="center" |1
| align="center" |March 1 (Sat) | align="center" |7:05pm | align="center" |Kansas Koyotes | align="center" |72-6 {{cite news |last=Peterson, Jr. |first=Rick |title=Koyotes set for home opener against Salina |url=http://cjonline.com/sports/2014-03-22/koyotes-set-home-opener-against-salina |accessdate=April 28, 2014 |newspaper=The Topeka Capital-Journal |date=March 22, 2014 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140428153234/http://cjonline.com/sports/2014-03-22/koyotes-set-home-opener-against-salina |archivedate=April 28, 2014 |url-status=live}} | align="center" |1-0 |
| align="center" |2
| align="center" |March 8 (Sat) | align="center" |7:05pm | align="center" |@Dodge City Law | align="center" |56-49 | align="center" |2-0 |
| align="center" |3
| align="center" |March 16 (Sun) | align="center" |3:05pm | align="center" |Wichita Wild | align="center" |44-50 | align="center" |2-1 |
| align="center" |4
| align="center" |March 22 (Sat) | align="center" |7:05pm | align="center" |Sioux City Bandits | align="center" |46-33 | align="center" |2-2 |
| align="center" |5
| colSpan=5 align="center" | Bye |
| align="center" |6
| align="center" |April 5 (Sat) | align="center" |7:05pm | align="center" |@Lincoln Haymakers | align="center" |73-61 | align="center" |3-2 |
| align="center" |7
| align="center" |April 12 (Sat) | align="center" |7:05pm | align="center" |Bloomington Edge | align="center" |58-59 | align="center" |3-3 |
| align="center" |8
| align="center" |April 19 (Sat) | align="center" |7:05pm | align="center" |@Kansas Koyotes | align="center" |64-55 {{cite news |last=Peterson, Jr. |first=Rick |title=Koyotes' comeback falls short against Oklahoma |url=http://cjonline.com/sports/2014-04-19/koyotes-comeback-falls-short-against-oklahoma |accessdate=April 28, 2014 |newspaper=The Topeka Capital-Journal |date=April 19, 2014 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140428152407/http://cjonline.com/sports/2014-04-19/koyotes-comeback-falls-short-against-oklahoma |archivedate=April 28, 2014 |url-status=live}} | align="center" |4-3 |
| align="center" |9
| align="center" |April 26 (Sat) | align="center" |7:05pm | align="center" |@Wichita Wild | align="center" |37-67 | align="center" |4-4 |
| align="center" |10
| align="center" |May 3 (Sat) | align="center" |7:05pm | align="center" |@Sioux City Bandits | align="center" |52-60 | align="center" |4-5 |
| align="center" |11
| align="center" |May 10 (Sat) | align="center" |7:30pm | align="center" |Dodge City Law | align="center" |33-56 | align="center" |4-6 |
| align="center" |12
| align="center" |May 17 (Sat) | align="center" |7:05pm | align="center" |Salina Bombers | align="center" |40-60 | align="center" |4-7 |
| align="center" |13
| colSpan=5 align="center" | Bye |
| align="center" |14
| align="center" |May 31 (Sat) | align="center" |7:05pm | align="center" |@Kansas Koyotes | align="center" |63-75 | align="center" |4-8 |
Past seasons
=2013=
=Season schedule=
| class="wikitable"
|+ 2013 Schedule |
| rowspan="2" width="40" | Week
! rowspan="2" width="110" | Date ! rowspan="2" width="110" | Kickoff ! rowspan="2" width="180" | Opponent ! colspan="2" width="180" | Results |
|---|
| width="90" | Final Score
! width="90" | Team Record |
| align="center" |1
| align="center" |March 9 (Sat) | align="center" |7:30pm | align="center" |Wichita Wild | align="center" |26-70 | align="center" |0-1 |
| align="center" |2
| align="center" |March 16 (Sat) | align="center" |7:30pm | align="center" |@Kansas Koyotes | align="center" |62-40 | align="center" |1-1 |
| align="center" |3
| colSpan=5 align="center" | Bye |
| align="center" |4
| align="center" |March 30 (Sat) | align="center" |7:30pm | align="center" |@Kansas City Renegades | align="center" |47-54 | align="center" |1-2 |
| align="center" |5
| align="center" |April 6 (Sat) | align="center" |7:30pm | align="center" |@Salina Bombers | align="center" |31-50 | align="center" |1-3 |
| align="center" |6
| align="center" |April 14 (Sun) | align="center" |7:30pm | align="center" |Mid-Missouri Outlaws | align="center" |36-34 | align="center" |2-3 |
| align="center" |7
| align="center" |April 20 (Sat) | align="center" |7:30pm | align="center" |Bloomington Edge | align="center" |39-44 | align="center" |2-4 |
| align="center" |8
| align="center" |April 26 (Fri) | align="center" |7:05pm | align="center" |@Lincoln Haymakers | align="center" |40-46 | align="center" |2-5 |
| align="center" |9
| align="center" |May 4 (Sat) | align="center" |7:05pm | align="center" |@Wichita Wild | align="center" |7-73 | align="center" |2-6 |
| align="center" |10
| align="center" |May 11 (Sat) | align="center" |7:30pm | align="center" |Kansas Koyotes | align="center" |48-20 | align="center" |3-6 |
| align="center" |11
| align="center" |May 18 (Sat) | align="center" |7:30pm | align="center" |Kansas City Renegades | align="center" |28-65 | align="center" |3-7 |
| align="center" |12
| align="center" |May 26 (Sun) | align="center" |4:30pm | align="center" |@Omaha Beef | align="center" |21-59 | align="center" |3-8 |
| align="center" |13
| colSpan=5 align="center" | Bye |
| align="center" |14
| align="center" |June 8 (Sat) | align="center" |7:30pm | align="center" |Salina Bombers | align="center" |34-46 | align="center" |3-9 |
=2012=
==Season schedule==
| class="wikitable"
|+ 2012 Schedule | ||||
| Date | Time | Opponent | Location | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 24 | 7:05 PM | @ Sioux City Bandits | Tyson Events Center, Sioux City, IA | L 40-70 |
| March 31 | 7:05 PM | Council Bluffs Express | Expo Square Pavilion, Tulsa, OK | W 56-41 |
| April 7 | 7:05 PM | Cheyenne Warriors | Expo Square Pavilion, Tulsa, OK | W 54-9 |
| April 21 | 7:05 PM | Sioux City Bandits | Expo Square Pavilion, Tulsa, OK | L 29-31 |
| April 28 | 7:05 PM | @ Kansas Koyotes | Landon Arena, Topeka, KS | W 67-20 |
| May 12 | 7:05 PM | @ Springfield Wolfpack | Mediacom Ice Park, Springfield, MO | W 58-22 |
| May 19 | 7:05 PM | @ Colorado Lightning | Colorado Sports and Events Center, Monument, CO | W 2-0 (forfeit) |
| May 26 | 7:05 PM | Springfield Wolfpack | Expo Square Pavilion, Tulsa, OK | W 74-2 |
| June 2 | 7:05 PM | Kansas Koyotes | Expo Square Pavilion, Tulsa, OK | W 48-19 |
| June 16 | 7:05 PM | @ Mid-Missouri Outlaws | Mathewson Exhibition Center, Sedalia, MO | W 75-10 |
| June 23 | 7:05 PM | @ Council Bluffs Express | Mid-America Center, Council Bluffs, IA | L 39-62 |
| June 30 | 7:05 PM | Mid-Missouri Outlaws | Tulsa Convention Center, Tulsa, OK | W 88-41 |
| July 7 | 7:05 PM | @ Council Bluffs Express - APFL Playoffs | Mid-America Center, Council Bluffs, IA | L 32-37 |
References
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
- [http://www.oklahomadefenders.com Oklahoma Defenders official website]
{{CPIFL}}
Category:American football teams in Oklahoma
Category:Champions Professional Indoor Football League teams
Category:Defunct American football teams in Oklahoma
Category:Sports in Tulsa, Oklahoma
Category:American football teams established in 2012
Category:American football teams disestablished in 2014