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| {{United Football League (2009) team | |||
| | name = Florida Tuskers | |||
| | founded = 2009 | |||
| | disbanded = 2011 | |||
| | helmet = Florida Tuskers helmet.png | |||
| | logo = Florida Tuskers logo.svg | |||
| | city = ] | |||
| | colors = Blue, Black, White | |||
| {{color box|#0090C5}} {{color box|black}} {{color box|white}} | |||
| | coach = ] | |||
| | owner = ] | |||
| | general_manager = Jay Gruden | |||
| | current_name_since = 2009 | |||
| | uniform =NonFreeImageRemoved.svg <!--Fair-Use (]) File Removed by DASHBot--> | |||
| | league_champs = | |||
| | no_league_champs = 0 | |||
| | conf_champs = <!-- Reserved for future use --> | |||
| | no_conf_champs = <!-- Reserved for future use --> | |||
| | div_champs = <!-- Reserved for future use --> | |||
| | no_div_champs = <!-- Reserved for future use --> | |||
| | stadium_years = *] (2009–2010) | |||
| *] (2009) | |||
| | website = <!-- Reserved for future use --> | |||
| }} | |||
| The '''Florida Tuskers''' were a professional ] team in ] that played in the ]. The team played its home games at the ]. Their head coach for the ] season was ], who led the team to the ]. Their head coach and ] for the ] was ]. The team folded after the 2010 season and partially merged with the expansion franchise, ]. | |||
| ==Franchise history== | |||
| ===2009 season=== | |||
| {{Main|2009 Florida Tuskers season}} | |||
| {{See also|2009 UFL season}} | |||
| Orlando was awarded a franchise for the UFL's ] season. Former ] and ] head coach ] was named the first head coach of the team on March 11, 2009.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ufl-football.com/press/2009/03/11/ufl_names_jim_haslett_head_coach_of_the_orlando_franchise|title=UFL Names Jim Haslett Head Coach of the Orlando Franchise|work=]|date=2009-03-11|accessdate=2009-11-30}}{{Dead link|date=April 2010}}</ref> | |||
| Tryouts for the four teams that would play in the 2009 season took place in Orlando and ] during the summer, with the ] taking place on June 19. With their first selection, the Tuskers picked ], who had gone undrafted in the ] before signing with the ] as a practice squad member. | |||
| The team's name, along with its colors and uniforms, were unveiled to the public in August, two months before the start of the season.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ufl-football.com/press/2009/08/12/united_football_league_introduces_florida_tuskers_as_team_name_unveils_uniforms|title=United Football League Introduces Florida Tuskers as Team Name & Unveils Uniforms|work=]|date=2009-08-12|accessdate=2009-11-30}}{{Dead link|date=April 2010}}</ref> On the same day it was announced that the ] had bought interest in the team.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www2.tbo.com/content/2009/aug/12/121624/rays-buy-ufl-franchise-slate-game-trop/|title=Rays buy into UFL franchise, slate game at Trop|work=Tampa Bay Online|first=Marc|last=Lancaster|date=2009-08-12|accessdate=2009-11-30}}</ref> | |||
| In their inaugural season, the Tuskers were led by quarterback ], and wide receiver ]. Bollinger was the league leader in passing yards, while Biddle led in receiving yards. On the defensive side of the ball, ] led the team in tackles, ] was the league leader in sacks, and ] led the league in interceptions. | |||
| The team was noted for having a large number of former players from the nearby ]. Among the Buccaneer alumnus were ], who once kicked a game-winning 62-yard field goal as time expired, which is also the third-longest successful attempt in NFL history, ], the first player in Tampa Bay history to return a kickoff for a touchdown, and ] ] ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2009-10-28/sports/0910270213_1_tuskers-bucs-super-bowl-xxxvii|title=Former Bucs presence being felt in UFL|work=]|first=Chris|last=Harry|date=2009-10-28|accessdate=2009-11-30}}</ref> | |||
| The Tuskers put together a league-best undefeated 6–0 record in the regular season, clinching a spot in the championship game in Week 4. However in the ], the Tuskers were beaten by the ], losing on a game-winning field goal in overtime. Despite the team being unable to complete a ], ] was named Coach of the Year, while Bollinger was given the league's ] award.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ufl-football.com/press/2009/12/02/united_football_league_announces_season_end_awards|title=United Football League Announces Season-End Awards|work=]|date=2009-12-02|accessdate=2009-12-03}}{{Dead link|date=April 2010}}</ref> | |||
| ===2010 season=== | |||
| {{main|2010 Florida Tuskers season}} | |||
| {{See also|2010 UFL season}} | |||
| In January 2010, head coach ] left the team to become the defensive coordinator for the ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/13/AR2010011300289.html|title=Redskins hire Jim Haslett as defensive coordinator|work=]|authors=Maske, Mark and Barry Svrluga|date=2010-01-13|accessdate=2010-02-08}}</ref> On February 9, 2010, UFL commissioner ] named ] as head coach and ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ufl-football.com/press/2010/02/09/united_football_league_names_jay_gruden_head_coach_of_florida_tuskers|title=United Football League Names Jay Gruden Head Coach of Florida Tuskers|work=]|date=2010-02-09|accessdate=2010-02-09}}{{Dead link|date=April 2010}}</ref> On the same day it was announced that the ] had sold their interest in the team, meaning the Tuskers would be fully based in Orlando for the 2010 season.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ufl-football.com/press/2010/02/09/florida_tuskers_to_make_orlando_home|title=Florida Tuskers To Make Orlando Home|work=]|date=2010-02-09|accessdate=2010-02-09}}{{Dead link|date=April 2010}}</ref> After several months of league ownership, a group led by ] purchased the team in October 2010. The Tuskers signed ] as their radio affiliate, becoming the second UFL team to have one.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ufl-football.com/news/wygm-air-tuskers-games-2010|title=WYGM to Air Tuskers Games in 2010|work=]|date=2010-07-13|accessdate=2010-07-14}}</ref> | |||
| Florida extended their regular season winning streak to seven games when they defeated the Las Vegas Locos in their opener on September 18, 27–20. The Tuskers lost their first regular season game in franchise history in week 2 when they were defeated by the ], 24–20. They dropped their next contest on September 30 against the Locos, 20–17, the first time Las Vegas had beaten Florida in a regular season matchup. After splitting their next two games, the Tuskers were 2–3 and in danger of being eliminated from championship contention. After backup quarterback ] became the new starter in week 8, the Tuskers went on to win their final three games, sending them back to the ], once again facing ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ufl-football.com/news/tuskers-join-locos-championship-rematch|title=Tuskers to Join Locos in “The Championship” Rematch|author=Dusty Sloan|work=]|date=November 20, 2010|accessdate=November 20, 2010}}</ref> | |||
| ====2010 schedule==== | |||
| {{:2010 Florida Tuskers season}} | |||
| ==== 2011==== | |||
| On January 12, 2011, it was announced that the UFL would cease operations in Orlando. Jay Gruden and staff would relocate to the new ] team. <ref> {{cite web|url=http://www.ufl-football.com/news/jay-gruden-coach-virginia-destroyers-united-football-league|title=Jay Gruden to Coach the Virginia Destroyers of the United Football League}}</ref> | |||
| ==Season-by-season records== | |||
| {| class="wikitable" | |||
| |- style="font-weight:bold; background-color:#dddddd;" | | |||
| |Season || W || L || T || Avg. || Finish || Postseason || Awards | |||
| |- | |||
| | ] || 6 || 0 || 0 || 1.000 || 1st || Lost ] (]) 20–17 <small>(OT)</small> || ] (Season MVP) <br> ] (COY) | |||
| |- | |||
| | ] || 5 || 3 || 0 || .625 || 2nd || Lost ] (]) 23-20 || | |||
| |- bgcolor="#eeeeee" | |||
| |- align="center" style="font-weight:bold; background-color:#dddddd;" | | |||
| | Totals || 11 || 3 || 0 || .786 || - || 0–2 || - | |||
| |- | |||
| |- bgcolor="#eeeeee" | |||
| |- align="center" style="font-weight:bold; background-color:#dddddd;" | | |||
| | Regular season and playoffs || 11 || 5 || 0 || .687 || - || - || - | |||
| |} | |||
| ====Records vs. teams==== | |||
| {| class="wikitable" | |||
| !Team | |||
| !Record | |||
| !Percent | |||
| |- | |||
| | ] || 4–0 || 1.000 | |||
| |- | |||
| | ] || 3–3 || .500 | |||
| |- | |||
| | ] || 2–0 || 1.000 | |||
| |- | |||
| | ] || 2–2 || .500 | |||
| |- | |||
| | ] || 0–0 || .000 | |||
| |} | |||
| *'''Note''': This includes postseason games. | |||
| ====Home, away, and neutral records==== | |||
| {| class="wikitable" | |||
| !Location | |||
| !Record | |||
| !Percent | |||
| |- | |||
| |Home || 5–2 || .714 | |||
| |- | |||
| |Away || 6–1 || .857 | |||
| |- | |||
| |Neutral || 0–2 || .000 | |||
| |} | |||
| ==See Also== | |||
| ] | |||
| ==References== | |||
| {{Reflist|2}} | |||
| ==External links== | |||
| * | |||
| * | |||
| {{Florida Tuskers}} | |||
| {{United Football League (2009)}} | |||
| {{Florida Sports}} | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ==Virgina Destoyers== | |||
| {{United Football League (2009) team | |||
| | name = Virginia Destroyers | |||
| | founded = 2010 | |||
| | helmet = <!-- Reserved for future use --> | |||
| | logo = VirginiaDestroyers.PNG | |||
| | city = ], ] | |||
| | colors = Blue, Red, Gray | |||
| {{color box|#002A5C}} {{color box|#890034}} {{color box|#CECFD1}} | |||
| | coach = ''Vacant'' | |||
| | owner = United Football League<br><small>(represented by ] as team president)</small> | |||
| | general_manager = ''Vacant'' | |||
| | current_name_since = 2011 | |||
| | hist_misc = | |||
| * Florida Tuskers (]–]) | |||
| | uniform =NonFreeImageRemoved.svg <!--Fair-Use (]) File Removed by DASHBot--> | |||
| | league_champs = | |||
| | no_league_champs = 0 | |||
| | conf_champs = <!-- Reserved for future use --> | |||
| | no_conf_champs = <!-- Reserved for future use --> | |||
| | div_champs = <!-- Reserved for future use --> | |||
| | no_div_champs = <!-- Reserved for future use --> | |||
| | stadium_years = ] (2011–present) | |||
| | website = | |||
| }} | |||
| The '''Virginia Destroyers''' are a professional ] team based in ]. They are scheduled to play in the ] (UFL) beginning in the ]. They will play their home games at the ]. The team is a successor to the '''Florida Tuskers''', who began play as a charter UFL franchise in ] in 2009; the Tuskers appeared in both of the ]s (losing both) before the team ceased operations and moved the remnants of the team to Virginia Beach to assume the identity (and some executive staff) of a previously announced ] that was to begin play in 2011.<ref>Cordes, Henry (2011-02-21). . ''Omaha World-Herald''. Retrieved 2011-02-21.</ref> | |||
| ===History=== | |||
| ====Organizing==== | |||
| The UFL originally announced an expansion team based in ], to begin play in ]. ], owner of the ] and (briefly) the ] of the ], was named as the team's owner, but relinquished control of the team to the league on August 23, 2010 opening up bidding to other parties.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ufl-football.com/news/statement-ufl-virginia|title=Statement on UFL Virginia|work=]|date=2010-08-20|accessdate=2010-08-20}}</ref> Former ] and ] quarterback ] later was named the team's ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ufl-football.com/news/united-football-league-board-grants-conditional-approval-norfolk-virginia-host-sixth-team|title=United Football League Board Grants Conditional Approval for Norfolk, Virginia, To Host Sixth Team|work=]|date=2010-06-21|accessdate=2010-06-22}}</ref><ref name="apnorfolk">{{cite news|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/more/06/21/ufl.norfolk.ap/|title=UFL to add Virginia team for 2011 season|work=]|publisher=]|date=2010-06-21|accessdate=2010-06-22}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=RjwilmsiBot}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2010/05/18/washington-redskins-should-bring-doug-williams-home-again/|title=Washington Redskins should bring Doug Williams home again|work=]|first=Thomas|last=George|date=2010-05-18|accessdate=2010-05-18}}</ref> On February 21, 2011, Williams resigned from the Destroyers to become the head coach at ]. | |||
| ====2011 season==== | |||
| ], chairman of ] and a former college coordinator who last coached football in the 1980s, was given the head coaching position<ref>Burke, Monte (2010-11-07). . ''Forbes''. Retrieved 2010-11-08.</ref> at the behest of league commissioner ] in November 2010; Williams had no input on the hire.<ref>Robinson, Tom (2010-11-11). . ''The Virginian-Pilot''. Retrieved 2010-11-11.</ref> However, in January 2011, the league announced Moglia would instead coach the ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fanhouse.com/2011/01/12/joe-moglia-to-coach-omaha-nighthawks/|title=Joe Moglia to Coach Omaha Nighthawks|work=]|first=Robert|last=Karpeles|date=2011-01-12|accessdate=2011-01-12}}</ref> | |||
| Meanwhile, on January 12, 2011, the league announced that the Tuskers ceased operations in Orlando and moved to Virginia, with Jay Gruden remaining as the Destroyers' coach. ], the Tuskers' director of player personnel, assumed authority over player personnel upon Williams' resignation. Theismann, a minority owner of the team in Florida, was relegated to being a consultant for the league.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ufl-football.com/news/jay-gruden-coach-virginia-destroyers-united-football-league|title=Jay Gruden to Coach the Virginia Destroyers of the United Football League|work=United Football League|date=2011-01-12|accessdate=2011-01-12}}</ref> In February 2011, Gruden was hired by the ] of the NFL as their ]. | |||
| ==Current personnel== | |||
| ===Current staff=== | |||
| {{Virginia Destroyers staff}} | |||
| ===Current roster=== | |||
| {{Virginia Destroyers roster}} | |||
| ==References== | |||
| {{Reflist|2}} | |||
| ===See also=== | |||
| ] | |||
| ===External links=== | |||
| * | |||
| {{Virginia Destroyers}} | |||
| {{United Football League (2009)}} | |||
| {{Virginia Sports}} | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
Revision as of 14:14, 24 February 2011
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