Misplaced Pages

#159840

20-690: The franchise was announced by the ownership group led by Kevin and Cathy Guy at a press conference held on August 23, 2018, at the Tucson Convention Center. As Kevin Guy was also the head coach of the Arizona Rattlers , Cathy was named the majority owner of the Tucson team to oversee primary operations along with Mike Feder and Ali Farhang. The team announced Marcus Coleman as its first head coach on September 12, 2018. The team name

40-514: A game. Loots was playing on his third expansion team in three seasons. Another player from Southwest State was Alvin Ashley . The best-known ex-Pike is kicker Mike Vanderjagt , later a star in the CFL and NFL. Ray Jauch was the head coach. He was assisted by John Coatta Jr. on offense and Frank Haege on defense. The team's lack of exposure or advertising was the key reason for the team's folding at

60-785: A head coach at the af2 level, starting in 2002 with the Tennessee Valley Vipers . After coaching Tennessee to three consecutive playoff berths 2002, 2003 and 2004, he moved to the Rio Grande Valley Dorados , and served as head coach during the 2005 season and led the Dorados to the National Conference Championship game. After the 2005 season, Guy was named the defensive coordinator for the San Jose SaberCats of

80-949: A head coach in 2000 as the interim head coach for the New Jersey Red Dogs . After being the defensive coordinator for the San Jose SaberCats from 2006 to 2007, he became the Rattlers head coach in 2008. In 2018, his wife Cathy became co-owner of a new Tucson-based IFL franchise, called the Tucson Sugar Skulls , set to play in 2019. Born in Birmingham, Alabama , Guy grew up in Alabama then continued his high school career in Shelby County High School in Columbiana, Alabama , where he

100-623: A promotional hot tub at the arena. In 2024, a revival of the Arena Football League brought it the Minnesota Myth , a team which played only two games (one at Target Center) before folding themselves. Running backs Wide receivers Linebackers Kickers rookies in italics Roster updated August 16, 2012 32 Active, 0 Inactive, 0 PS Head coach Offensive coaches Defensive coaches at The Summit , Houston, Texas Attendance: 4,520 at

120-539: A scholarship from West Alabama . The Minnesota Fighting Pike signed Guy after he went unselected in the 1996 NFL draft . He played four years as a wide receiver and defensive back in the AFL, with Minnesota in 1996, the New Jersey Red Dogs from 1997 to 1999, and the Orlando Predators in 1999. He first became a regular starting defensive back in 1996 with Minnesota. In 1998 with New Jersey, he helped lead

140-638: The Arena Football League (AFL) in 1996 as an expansion team . The Fighting Pike were the first ever attempt at an arena/indoor football team in the state of Minnesota . The owner of the Fighting Pike was Tom Scallen . The Fighting Pike played at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota . The team colors were green and gold. In a 2012 AFL Poll, the Fighting Pike were voted as the 8th greatest nickname in AFL history. In November 1995,

160-646: The ArenaBowl , winning ArenaBowl XXV and ArenaBowl XXVI both over the Philadelphia Soul , and winning ArenaBowl XXVII over the Cleveland Gladiators . In September 2005, Guy was named the defensive coordinator of the San Jose SaberCats of the AFL. Guy was named the head coach of the Arizona Rattlers in August 2007. On September 15, 2020, it was announced Guy would be assuming

180-506: The Target Center , Minneapolis, Minnesota Attendance: 14,840 at the Target Center , Minneapolis, Minnesota Attendance: 8,726 at the Times Union Center , Albany, New York Attendance: 11,712 at the Target Center , Minneapolis, Minnesota Attendance: 7,781 at the Target Center , Minneapolis, Minnesota Attendance: 8,117 at the Target Center , Minneapolis, Minnesota Attendance: 8,207 at

200-675: The University of Minnesota or other Minnesota colleges and universities. Tony Levine , a former Golden Gopher, joined the team and received 8 passes for a total of 83 yards and 1 touchdown. Former Gopher Rickey Foggie was the quarterback and he struggled adapting to the Arena Football League after many years in the Canadian Football League . Once during the season he was benched in favor of Southwest State 's Jeff Loots , who threw four interceptions in

220-718: The West Palm Beach Auditorium , West Palm Beach, Florida Attendance: 4,450 at the Target Center , Minneapolis, Minnesota Attendance: 7,207 at the Hartford Civic Center , Hartford, Connecticut Attendance: 9,249 at the Amway Arena , Orlando, Florida Attendance: 15,107 at the Target Center , Minneapolis, Minnesota Attendance: 7,380 at the HP Pavilion , San Jose, California Attendance: 14,901 at

SECTION 10

#1732798825160

240-584: The 2022 IFL season. Kevin Guy Kevin Guy (born December 6, 1972) is an arena football coach and former wide receiver and defensive back who is the head coach for the Arizona Rattlers of the Indoor Football League (IFL). He played his college football at the University of West Alabama , and was an AFL wide receiver and defensive back from 1996 to 1999. He has been a football coach since 2000, and first served as

260-689: The AFL. Guy's defensive squad helped lead the SaberCats to back-to-back American Conference Championship Game appearances, and a berth in ArenaBowl XXI , where the SaberCats would defeat the Chicago Rush . Following the SaberCats ArenaBowl victory, the Arizona Rattlers named Guy their 4th head coach in franchise history. Guy led the team to playoff appearances in his first five seasons there, making four consecutive appearances in

280-613: The Red Dogs to the AFL Semifinal . In 2000, while not even being one year removed from the AFL, Guy was a defensive coordinator for the Red Dogs under head coach Frank Mattiace . With four games left in the 2000 season, the Red Dogs fired Mattiace, and Guy served the teams interim head coach for the remainder of the season. In 2001, he returned to the AFL as a defensive coordinator for the Florida Bobcats . He then became

300-725: The Sugar Skulls hired two-time IFL coach of the year Dixie Wooten away from the Iowa Barnstormers as head coach and general manager for the 2020 season. However, the season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic before the Sugar Skulls played any games. Running backs Wide receivers Defensive linemen Defensive backs Kickers Rookies in italics Roster updated June 26, 2024 25 Active, 0 Inactive → More rosters Coaches Note: Statistics are correct through

320-426: The announced that they would be nicknamed the "Fighting Pike" and that Art Haege was named the team's head coach. During the team's first tryout, Haege walked out, stating he was going "Back to Iowa." The next day, Haege faxed in his resignation to team owner Tom Scallen . The Pike were 0-7 at home, and the average attendance for the seven home games was 8,894. The roster was full of players who had played at

340-588: The end of the 1996 season. The team did not have a regional television deal to promote their games or have the games advertised in newspapers and other media. The Pike's final game of the season against the Memphis Pharaohs was played in Tupelo, Mississippi , because the Pharaohs had been evicted from their arena. The Pike's official mascot was a giant Pike named "Tackle." He was known to "dive" into

360-542: The role of Arizona Rattlers team president in addition to his head coaching and general manager duties. On July 27, 2024, Guy became the winningest coach in arena/indoor football history with 262 victories following the Rattlers' 39-38 win over the Vegas Knight Hawks in the first round of the 2024 IFL Playoffs. 1996 Minnesota Fighting Pike season The Minnesota Fighting Pike were an Arena football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota . They joined

380-528: Was a member of the Wildcats football team from 1987 to 1990. Kevin then enrolled at University of West Alabama , and played wide receiver before finishing his career as a defensive back on the West Alabama Tigers football team from 1991 to 1995. Guy was tested by many high level programs, taking visits to Alabama , Auburn , Mississippi State , Samford and Chattanooga , but only received

400-522: Was revealed on September 20, 2018, after a name-the-team contest originating from the local tradition of creating sugar skulls for Día de Muertos ( Day of the Dead ) and the Roman Catholic holiday of All Souls Day . The team qualified for the playoffs in their first season with a 7–7 record. They lost to the eventual league champion Sioux Falls Storm 50–47 in the first round. After the season,

#159840