Richmond Raiders
{{Short description|Professional indoor football team in Richmond, Virginia}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox indoor American football team
| name = Richmond Raiders
| logo = RichmondRaiders.PNG
| helmet = Richmond Raiders Helmet Logo.png
| founded = 2008
| folded = 2015
| city = Richmond, Virginia
at the Richmond Coliseum
| colors = Blue, Black, Silver, White
{{Color box|#243D8D}} {{Color box|black}} {{Color box|silver}} {{Color box|white}}
| coach = James Fuller
| owner = Richmond Raiders, LLC
(Mike & Elizabeth Fraizer)
| president =
| general manager =
| cheerleaders = Lady Raiders
| mascot = Risky the Horse
| league =
American Indoor Football Association (2010)
- Eastern Division (2010)
Southern Indoor Football League (2011)
- Eastern Conference (2011)
- Mid-Atlantic Division (2011)
Professional Indoor Football League (2012–2015)
- American Conference (2014)
| team_history =
- Richmond Raiders (2010–2015)
| no_conf_champs = 0
| conf_champs =
| no_div_champs = 1
| div_champs =
- SIFL Mid-Atlantic: (2011)
| no_league_champs = 0
| league_champs =
| no_playoff_appearances = 3
| playoff_appearances =
- PIFL: 2012, 2013, 2015
| arena_years =
- Richmond Coliseum (2010–2015)
}}
The Richmond Raiders were a professional indoor football team located in Richmond, Virginia the Richmond Coliseum as their home arena. The Raiders began play in the 2010 as an expansion team of the American Indoor Football Association (AIFA). The Raiders moved to the Southern Indoor Football League (SIFL) when the Eastern Division of the AIFA merged with the SIFL in the winter of 2010, beginning SIFL play in the 2011 season. After just a single season in the SIFL the Raiders, along with four other members of the SIFL, became the charter members of the Professional Indoor Football League (PIFL). The team was then a member the PIFL from 2012 to 2015.
History
{{main|2010 Richmond Raiders season}}
In July, 2009, the American Indoor Football Association announced that they would be expanding into Richmond, Virginia. After a month-long name-the-team contest, the Richmond franchise announced that it would be nicknamed the Raiders on August 5, 2009.{{cite web |url=http://www.richmond.com/sports/article_8bd0f793-3ccb-5fe6-a4f2-3eda22b502f4.html |title=Raiders chosen as name for Richmond's AIFA team |date=August 5, 2009 |publisher=BH Media Group Holdings, Inc. |work=www.richmond.com |access-date=December 17, 2014}} On October 12, 2009, the Raiders officially unveiled their new logo.{{cite web |url=http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3915974 |title=Richmond Raiders unveil team logo |date=October 12, 2009 |publisher=OurSports Central.com |access-date=December 17, 2014}}
The Raiders' first game was the 2010 AIFA Kickoff Classic; on January 23, 2010, where they played an exhibition game against the AIFA All-Stars at the Richmond Coliseum.{{cite web |url=http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3954969 |title=AIFA Kickoff Classic Set For Richmond Saturday Night |date=January 22, 2010 |publisher=OurSports Central |work=www.oursportscentral.com |access-date=December 17, 2014}}
On May 5, 2010, defensive coordinator Charles Gunnings replaced Mike Siani as the head coach, as Siani resigned.{{cite web |url=http://www.richmond.com/news/article_a25247e5-294b-504a-b3bd-3afd6f96a023.html |title=Richmond Raiders change coaches |date=May 5, 2010 |publisher=BH Media Group Holdings, Inc. |work=www.richmond.com |access-date=December 17, 2014}}{{cite web |url=http://www.richmond.com/sports/article_3ab79182-5294-5527-b68f-11310fce5374.html |title=Gunnings replaces Siani as Raiders' coach |author=Time Pearrell |date=May 6, 2010 |publisher=BH Media Group Holdings, Inc. |work=www.richmond.com |access-date=December 17, 2014}}
{{main|2011 Richmond Raiders season}}
Chris Simpson became the head coach of the Raiders for the 2011 season, coming over from the Baltimore Mariners on September 13, 2010. Even more change came about for the 2011 season, as the AIFA announced an merger with the Southern Indoor Football League (SIFL).{{cite web |url=http://richmondcoliseum.net/2010/11/11/raiders-join-southern-indoor-football-league/ |title=Raiders Join Southern Indoor Football League |author=Matthew Felan |date=November 10, 2010 |publisher=Richmond Coliseum |work=www.richmondcoliseum.net |access-date=December 17, 2014}} In February, 2011, Simpson resigned before opening day, as he "relocated to Texas to pursue family business opportunities".{{cite web | title = AFL Veteran Takes Over For Promising 2011 Season | access-date = February 21, 2011 | url = http://www.richmondraidersprofootball.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=150&Itemid=38}} He was replaced by James Fuller, who was the interim head coach for the Arena Football League's Dallas Vigilantes in 2010.
Former Richmond Revolution head coach Steve Criswell signed with the Raiders as a senior consultant for the 2011 season. Criswell brought several former Revolution players along, including QB Bryan Randall and DL Lawrence Lewis.
{{main|2012 Richmond Raiders season}}
The 2012 season saw the Raiders move to the just formed Professional Indoor Football League (PIFL).{{cite web |url=http://www.richmond.com/archive/article_3df79a02-91d9-5bd8-8b1e-afc78c440b87.html |title=Raiders join PIFL for 2012 |date=September 29, 2011 |publisher=Richmond Times-Dispatch |work=www.richmond.com |access-date=July 15, 2015}}
{{main|2013 Richmond Raiders season}}
{{main|2014 Richmond Raiders season}}
{{main|2015 Richmond Raiders season}}
After starting the season with a 2-4 record, the Raiders rallied to win their final six games to clinch the #2 seed in the PIFL playoffs. After a 54-35 victory over the Nashville Venom in the opening round of the PIFL playoffs,{{cite web |url=http://www.richmond.com/sports/richmond-raiders/article_0aa38df2-bcaa-51aa-a487-9a64c6d6a819.html |title=Strong start spurs Raiders to semifinal win |author=Laura Fien |date=June 29, 2015 |publisher=Richmond Times-Dispatch |work=www.richmond.com |access-date=July 15, 2015}} the Raiders advanced to PIFL IV against the Columbus Lions. The Raiders were defeated 38-64.{{cite web |url=http://www.richmond.com/sports/richmond-raiders/article_ebd67399-e379-56aa-9e2c-a36cb6c3228b.html |title=Columbus Lions feast on Richmond Raiders again, claim indoor football title with 64-38 win |author=Justin Ferguson |date=July 6, 2015 |publisher=Richmond Times-Dispatch |work=www.richmond.com |access-date=July 15, 2015}}
After the 2015 season, and due to turmoil in the lower levels of indoor football, the Raiders announced that they would take the 2016 season off, as there was no league within reasonable geographic distance that the team's ownership felt comfortable joining.{{cite web |url=http://www.richmondraidersprofootball.com/latest-news/685-a-message-from-the-richmond-raiders-management.html |title=A MESSAGE FROM THE RICHMOND RAIDERS MANAGEMENT |author=Elizabeth and Mike Fraizer |date=September 8, 2015 |access-date=September 14, 2015 |publisher=Richmond Raiders |work=www.richmondraidersprofootball.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160203233531/http://www.richmondraidersprofootball.com/latest-news/685-a-message-from-the-richmond-raiders-management.html |archive-date=February 3, 2016 }} In summer 2016, the ownership announced that Raiders would not be returning and they would continue to focus on their sports performance training business.
Players
=Final roster=
| class="toccolours" style="text-align: left;" |
| colspan="7" style="background-color:#243D8D; border:2px solid #000000; color:white; text-align:center;" | Richmond Raiders roster |
|---|
| style="font-size: 95%;vertical-align:top;" | Quarterbacks
{{playern|3|Jonathan Bane}} {{playern|10|Phil Konopka}} Fullbacks {{playern|35|Derrick Okafor}} Wide receivers {{playern|12|Gerron Bryant}} {{playern|2|Daron Clark}} {{playern|9|Ronald Davis}} {{playern|14|Dexter Green}} {{playern|1|Robert Holland}} {{playern|5|Herb Jones}} | style="width: 25px;" | | style="font-size: 95%;vertical-align:top;" | Offensive linemen {{playern|77|James Carter}} {{playern|56|Blade Shoop}} {{playern|78|Jarius Spain}} {{playern|63|Ken Van Heule}} {{playern|55|Eric Weaver}} Defensive linemen {{playern|7|Alex Johnson}} {{playern|94|Devin Jones}} {{playern|90|Christian Lacey}} {{playern|41|Chris Robinson}} {{playern|75|Brandon Sparrow}} | style="width: 25px;" | | style="font-size: 95%;vertical-align:top;" | Linebackers {{playern|32|Blake Jones}} {{playern|45|Brandon Robinson}} Defensive backs {{playern|21|Kevin Allen}} {{playern|22|Tyrell Austin}} {{playern|6|Malik Cromartie}} {{playern|8|Torez Jones}} {{playern|31|Maurice Thorne}} Kickers {{playern|18|T. C. Stevens}} | style="width: 25px;" | | style="font-size: 95%;vertical-align:top;" | Injured reserve {{NFLplayer |
| -|Ammar Dyson|link=no|WR|IR}}
Exempt list {{NFLplayer|76|Miles Mason|link=no|rookie=y|OL|Exempt}} {{NFLplayer|20|Brian Smith|d=defensive back, born 1990|DB|Exempt}} {{NFLplayer|2|Devin Wilson|WR|Exempt}} Suspended
{{ubl|Rookies in italics |[http://www.richmondraidersprofootball.com/team/roster.html Roster] updated June 14, 2015 |27 Active, 4 Inactive }} |
=Awards and honors=
The following is a list of all Raiders players who won league awards:
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" | |||
| bgcolor="#efefef"
!Season!! Player!! Position!! Award | |||
| 2012 | Antwon Young | QB | Most Valuable Player |
| 2012 | T. C. Stevens | K | Special Teams of the Year |
| 2014 | Devin Jones | DL | Defensive Rookie of the Year |
| 2014 | Devin Jones | DL | Defensive Player of the Year |
| 2015 | T. C. Stevens | K | Special Teams of the Year |
| 2015 | Jonathan Bane | QB | Offensive Player of the Year{{cite web |url=http://www.richmond.com/sports/richmond-raiders/article_01a78c79-01b2-5770-a2f5-b8ac1f7f1bd9.html |title=Raiders QB Jonathan Bane wins PIFL Offensive Player of the Year |date=July 15, 2015 |publisher=Richmond Times-Dispatch |work=www.richmond.com |access-date=July 15, 2015}} |
Head coaches
| class="wikitable" |
| rowspan="2" style="width:140px;"|Name
! rowspan="2" | Term ! colspan="4" | Regular season ! colspan="2" | Playoffs ! rowspan="2" | Awards |
|---|
| W
! L ! T ! Win% ! W ! L |
| style="text-align:center;"|Mike Siani
| style="text-align:center;"|2010 | style="text-align:center;"|2 | style="text-align:center;"|5 | style="text-align:center;"|0 | style="text-align:center;"|{{winperc|2|5}} | style="text-align:center;"|0 | style="text-align:center;"|0 | style="text-align:center;"| |
| style="text-align:center;"|Charlie Gunnings
| style="text-align:center;"|2010 | style="text-align:center;"|4 | style="text-align:center;"|3 | style="text-align:center;"|0 | style="text-align:center;"|{{winperc|4|3}} | style="text-align:center;"|0 | style="text-align:center;"|0 | style="text-align:center;"| |
| style="text-align:center;"|James Fuller
| style="text-align:center;"|2011–2015 | style="text-align:center;"|37 | style="text-align:center;"|24 | style="text-align:center;"|0 | style="text-align:center;"|{{winperc|36|24}} | style="text-align:center;"|3 | style="text-align:center;"|3 | style="text-align:center;"|2012 PIFL Coach of the Year |
Season-by-season results
| class="wikitable" style="margin:center; font-size:75%;" |
| style="text-align:center; background:#fcc;"|League Champions
| style="text-align:center; background:#dfd;"|Conference Champions | style="text-align:center; background:#d0e7ff;"|Division Champions | style="text-align:center; background:#96cdcd;"|Wild Card Berth | style="text-align:center; background:#c8a2c8;"|League Leader |
| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;" | ||
| rowspan="2" | Season
!rowspan="2" | Team !rowspan="2" | League !rowspan="2" | Conference !rowspan="2" | Division !colspan="4" | Regular season !rowspan="2" | Postseason results | ||
|---|---|---|
| Finish
!Wins !Losses !Ties | ||
| background:#fcc;"
! style="text-align:center;"| 2010 | style="text-align:center;"| 2010 | style="text-align:center;"| AIFA | style="text-align:center;"| | style="text-align:center;"| Eastern | style="text-align:center;"| 5th | style="text-align:center;"| 6 | style="text-align:center;"| 8 | style="text-align:center;"| 0 | | ||
| style="text-align:center;"| 2011
| style="text-align:center;"| 2011 | style="text-align:center;"| SIFL | style="text-align:center;"| Eastern | style="text-align:center;background:#d0e7ff;"| Mid-Atlantic | style="text-align:center;"| 1st | style="text-align:center;"| 6 | style="text-align:center;"| 6 | style="text-align:center;"| 0 | | ||
| style="text-align:center;"| 2012
| style="text-align:center;"| 2012 | style="text-align:center;"| PIFL | style="text-align:center;"| | style="text-align:center;"| | style="text-align:center;background:#d0e7ff;"| 1st | style="text-align:center;"| 10 | style="text-align:center;"| 2 | style="text-align:center;"| 0 |Won Semifinals (Louisiana) 56-50 | ||
| style="text-align:center;"| 2013
| style="text-align:center;"| 2013 | style="text-align:center;"| PIFL | style="text-align:center;"| | style="text-align:center;"| | style="text-align:center;background:#96cdcd;"| 3rd | style="text-align:center;"| 7 | style="text-align:center;"| 5 | style="text-align:center;"| 0 |Won Semifinals (Lehigh Valley) 44-40 | ||
| style="text-align:center;"| 2014
| style="text-align:center;"| 2014 | style="text-align:center;"| PIFL | style="text-align:center;"| American | style="text-align:center;"| | style="text-align:center;"| 3rd | style="text-align:center;"| 5 | style="text-align:center;"| 7 | style="text-align:center;"| 0 | | ||
| style="text-align:center;"| 2015
| style="text-align:center;"| 2015 | style="text-align:center;"| PIFL | style="text-align:center;"| | style="text-align:center;"| | style="text-align:center;background:#96cdcd;"| 2nd | style="text-align:center;"| 8 | style="text-align:center;"| 4 | style="text-align:center;"| 0 |Won Semifinals (Nashville) 54-35 | ||
| style="text-align:center;" rowspan="5" colspan="6"|Totals
! style="text-align:center;"|42 ! style="text-align:center;"|32 ! style="text-align:center;"|0 ! style="text-align:center;" colspan="3"|All-time regular season record (2010–2015) | ||
| style="text-align:center;" | 3 | 3
| |
| colspan="3"|All-time postseason record (2010–2015) | ||
| style="text-align:center;"|45
! style="text-align:center;"|35 ! style="text-align:center;"|0 ! style="text-align:center;" colspan="3"|All-time regular season and postseason record (2010–2015) |
References
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
- [http://www.richmondraidersprofootball.com/ Official website]
- [http://www.thestatguys.com/SIFL/2011/RIC.HTM Raiders' 2011 stats]
{{Richmond Raiders seasons}}
{{PIFL}}
{{SIFL}}
Category:2008 establishments in Virginia
Category:2015 disestablishments in Virginia
Category:Viking Age in popular culture