Georgia Force

Not to be confused with San Antonio Force.

Georgia Force

Established 2002 (Original Incarnation)
Folded 2012 (Second Incarnation)
Played in Arena at Gwinnett Center
in Duluth, Georgia


Helmet	Logo

League/conference affiliations

Arena Football League (2002–2012)

American Conference (2002-2008, 2011-2012)
- South (1997–2001, 2005-2007)

Team colors

Blue, Black, White

Mascot

Blu

Personnel

Owner(s)

Doug MacGregor

President

Corey Remillard

Head coach

Dean Cokinos

Team history

Original franchise:
Nashville Kats (1997–2001)
Georgia Force (2002–2008)
New franchise:
Tennessee Valley Vipers (2000–2004, 2006–2009)
Alabama Vipers (2010)
Georgia Force (2011–2012)

Championships

League championships (0)
0

Conference championships (1)
2005

2005

Prior to 2005, the AFL did not have conference championship games

Division championships (2)
2005, 2007

Playoff appearances (6)

2002, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2012

Home arena(s)

Philips Arena (2002, 2005–2007)
Arena at Gwinnett Center (2003–2004, 2008, 2011–2012)

The Georgia Force was an Arena Football League (AFL) team based in Gwinnett County, Georgia, United States (part of suburban Atlanta) that played in the South Division of the American Conference. The team was owned by Doug MacGregor and Donn Jennings. They were most recently coached by Dean Cokinos.

Following the termination of operations of the Arena Football League on August 4, 2009, Georgia Force officials quickly followed with a release that indicated that they, too, were ceasing operations.^[1]

In 2010, the Alabama Vipers announced they would leave Huntsville, and would move to suburban Atlanta for the 2011 AFL season, once again playing home games at Arena at Gwinnett Center.

Following the 2012 season, the franchise folded citing, "The market never responded to our extensive marketing and sales campaign," said team president Corey Remillard. "With all of the outreach, marketing, community and public relations that we put forward, it would have been impossible to not know that we were playing here, and the city simply did not respond. Atlanta is simply not a football town."^[2]

History

The original Nashville Kats

The team began as the first Nashville Kats team from 1997 to 2001. The original Kats played in the Nashville Arena (later known as Gaylord Entertainment Center, now known as Bridgestone Arena) in downtown Nashville and were initially coached by Eddie Khayat in 1997 and 1998. Khayat was then succeeded by Pat Sperduto for the balance of the team's time in Nashville. The Kats were the league's "Organization of the Year" for their inaugural year of 1997, and were in the playoffs for every season of their relatively brief existence, even playing in the ArenaBowl each of their final two seasons, albeit losing both times they reached the AFL's championship game.

Virgil Williams, an Atlanta businessman, purchased the franchise for nearly $10 million in December 2001, and moved the team to Atlanta after the team's previous owners failed to negotiate a favorable lease with the arena's primary tenant and manager, the National Hockey League's Nashville Predators. The Kats would return to Nashville as an expansion team in 2005 (in a situation similar to the National Football League's Cleveland Browns). The second Nashville Kats team would fold after a losing 2007 season.

First Dispersal Draft

1. OL/DL Mike Lawson- (Miami)-formerly Florida Bobcats
2. WR/DB Kusanti Abdul-Salaam - (UCLA)-formerly Oklahoma Wranglers
3. FB/DB Scott Byrd Johnson (Ole Miss)-formerly-Knoxville Nighthawks(PIFL)
4. OL/DL Marcus Keyes (North Alabama)-formerly- Florida Bobcats
5. DS Scotty Lundsey (Stephen F. Austin)-formerly-Houston Thunderbears

^[3]

Georgia Force

The rechristened Force initially played in Duluth, a suburb of Atlanta, in the Arena at Gwinnett Center until relocating in the 2004 season to Philips Arena in downtown Atlanta.

The team name was chosen through a contest in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Rommel Rana submitted the winning name.

Under Williams' three-year tenure as owner, the team made the playoffs one time in 2003. Upon selling the team to Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank in September 2004, it was announced that the franchise would return to the downtown Philips Arena for the 2005 season in response to fan desires as expressed in a poll. However, following the 2007 season, the Force announced they were returning to the Gwinnett Center in 2008 after signing a 10-year lease.^[4]

The Georgia Force's only Rival in the Arena Football League is the New Orleans VooDoo. Previous owners of both teams, owned NFL teams in the same market. The New Orleans Saints Rivaled with The Atlanta Falcons & The New Orleans VooDoo Rivaled with The Georgia Force.

The 2005 season was, by far, the most successful in team history with highlights including a conference-best 11–5 record, and undefeated home record (8–0), a division title, a National Conference Championship, and a trip to ArenaBowl XIX. They lost to the Colorado Crush, 51–48. They also won Southern Division titles in 2007 and 2008.

The Force's official mascot used to be a high-tech runner named G-Force, but was later changed to a blue, cuddly monster named Blu.^[5]

Season-by-season

Main article: List of Georgia Force seasons

Coaches

Coaches listed are Georgia Force coaches only, NOT for the Nashville Kats.

Head coach	Tenure	Regular season record (W–L)	Post season record (W–L)	Most recent coaching staff	Notes
Robert Lyles	2002	1–4^[6]	0–0^[6]
Marty Lowe	2002–2004	12–15^[7]	1–1^[7]
Bob Kronenberg	2004	3–2^[8]	0–0^[8]
Doug Plank	2005–2008	43–21^[9]	4–4^[9]		2x Arena Football League Coach of the Year (2005, 2007)^[9]
Dean Cokinos	2011–2012	11–7	1–0	Asst./Line Coach: James Clark (2011–present) Asst./Line Coach: Juan Porter (2011–present) Asst./DB Coach: Willie Gary (2011–present)

Notable players

Final roster

Georgia Force Roster

Quarterbacks

4 Darnell Kennedy
9 Bryant Moniz

Fullbacks

21 Lance Ancar
44 Benji McDowell

Wide Receivers

5 C. J. Johnson
8 Michael Johnson
18 Syvelle Newton
1 Larry Shipp

Offensive Linemen

68 Sean Allen
66 Curtis Duron
70 Raymond Norell
54 Kevin McAlmont
53 Bruce McCaleb

Defensive Linemen

43 Darian Barnes
50 LeRoy Burgess
58 Rico Reese
-- Tremaine Johnson
11 Matt Marcorelle
-- Marcus Owens
56 Jerry Turner

Linebackers

19 Caleb Bostic
10 Jeremy Grier

Defensive backs

6 Tracy Belton
13 Quentin Burrell
3 Robert Durham
20 Ahmad Hawkins
2 Marrio Norman

Kickers

7 Carlos Martinez

Injury Reserve

92 Louis Ellis DL
99 Jarvis Geathers DL
18 Shay Hodge WR

Other League Exempt

12 R. J. Archer QB
-- Armando Murillo DB

Refuse to Report

-- Rodney Bradley WR
-- Simmie Yarborough WR

League Suspension

3 Roger Brown DB
58 Kris Cooke DL
4 Brett Elliott QB
-- Bryan Jean-Pierre DL

Rookies in italics
Roster updated July 26, 2012
27 Active, 11 Inactive

→ More rosters

Individual awards

Season	Player	Position
Breakout Player of the Year
2011	Maurice Purify	WR

Season	Player	Position
Kicker of the Year
2011	Carlos Martinez	K

Season	Player	Position
AFL Rookie of the Year
2005	Troy Bergeron	OS
2011	Maurice Purify	WR

All-Arena players

The following Force players were named to All-Arena Teams:

QB Matt Nagy (1), Chris Greisen (1)
WR/LB Derek Lee (1)
WR Chris Jackson (1), Troy Bergeron (1), Maurice Purify (1)
OL/DL Jermaine Smith (3), Gillis Wilson (1)
OL Marcus Keyes (1) Shane Grice (1)
DL Jermaine Smith (1)
LB Umar Muhammad (1)
DB Tracy Belton (1)
DS Kevin Gaines (2)
K Carlos Martinez (1)

All-Ironman players

The following Force players were named to All-Ironman Teams:

FB/LB Travis Reece (1), Scott Byrd Johnson (1), Matt Huebner (1)
WR/LB Darryl Hammond (1), Derek Lee (1)
WR/KR C. J. Johnson (1),

All-Rookie players

The following Force players were named to All-Rookie Teams:

QB Leon Murray
FB/LB Robert Thomas
WR/LB Derek Lee
OL/DL Jermaine Smith
OS Troy Bergeron
WR/CB Tiger Jones

Notes

↑ Following AFL's End, Georgia Force Ceases Operations
↑ "Force Fold". www.oursportscentral.com. OurSports Central. October 14, 2012. Retrieved October 15, 2012.
↑ Holcomb, T. (2001, Dec 11). PRO FOOTBALL: ARENA FOOTBALL: Atlanta gets 2-way lineman with top pick. The Atlanta Journal the Atlanta Constitution, pp. C.5-C.5.
↑ Georgia Force Sign 10-Year Lease with Gwinnett, oursportscental.com; retrieved September 2008
↑ http://georgiaforce.com/cheerleaders/Blu.asp
1 2 "ArenaFan Online: AFL Coaches: Robert Lyles". Retrieved 2008-10-25.
1 2 "ArenaFan Online: AFL Coaches: Marty Lowe". Retrieved 2008-10-25.
1 2 "ArenaFan Online: AFL Coaches: Bob Kronenberg". Retrieved 2008-10-25.
1 2 3 "ArenaFan Online: AFL Coaches: Doug Plank". Retrieved 2008-10-25.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Georgia Force.

Georgia Force on ArenaFan

Georgia Force

Formerly the Nashville Kats Founded in 1997 Folded in 2012 Resurrected from the Alabama Vipers in 2010 Based in Duluth, Georgia

Franchise	Franchise Seasons Players

Arenas	Philips Arena Arena at Gwinnett Center

Head coaches	Lyles Lowe Kronenberg Plank Cokinos

Playoff appearances (7)	2003 2005 2006 2007 2008 2011 2012

Division championships (3)	2005 2007 2008

ArenaBowl appearances (1)	XIX

League affiliations	League: Arena Football League Conference: American Conference Division: South Division

Georgia Force seasons

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2010 2011 2012

NOTE: The "new" Georgia Force is the former Tennessee Valley Vipers that started in 2000 in af2 and became the Alabama Vipers for the first year of the new league. When the team moved to Duluth, Georgia, the old Force name was available per agreement with the 2009 purchase of assets by Arena Football One.

Defunct Arena Football League franchises

Alabama Vipers (2010) Anaheim Piranhas (1994–1997) Arizona Rattlers (1992–2016) Austin Wranglers (2004–2007) Bossier–Shreveport Battle Wings (2010) Carolina Cobras (2000–2004) Charlotte Rage (1992–1996) Chicago Bruisers (1987–1989) Chicago Politicians (1986) Chicago Rush (2001–2013) Cincinnati Rockers (1992–1993) Cleveland Thunderbolts (1991–1994) Colorado Crush (2003–2008) Columbus Destroyers (1999–2008) Connecticut Coyotes (1995–1996) Dallas Desperados (2002–2008) Dallas Texans (1990–1993) Dallas Vigilantes (2010–2011) Denver Dynamite (1987, 1989–1991) Detroit Fury (2001–2004) Florida Bobcats (1992–2001) Fort Worth Cavalry (1994) Georgia Force (2002–2008, 2011–2012) Grand Rapids Rampage (1998–2008) Houston ThunderBears (1996–2001) Indiana Firebirds (1990–2004) Iowa Barnstormers (2010–2014) Jacksonville Sharks (2010–2016) Kansas City Brigade/Command (2006–2012) Las Vegas Outlaws (2015) Los Angeles Avengers (2000–2008) Los Angeles Cobras (1988) Los Angeles Kiss (2014–2016) Massachusetts Marauders (1988–1994) Miami Vise (1987) Milwaukee Mustangs (1994–2001) Milwaukee Iron/Mustangs (2010–2012) Minnesota Fighting Pike (1996) Nashville Kats (1997–2001, 2005–2007) New England Steamrollers (1988) New Orleans Night (1991–1992) New Orleans VooDoo (2004–2005, 2007–2008, 2011–2015) New York Dragons (1995–2008) New York Knights (1988) Oklahoma Wranglers (1995–2001) Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz (2010) Orlando Predators (1991–2016) Pittsburgh Power (2011–2014) Portland Thunder/Steel (2014–2016) Rockford Metros (1986) San Antonio Force (1992) San Antonio Talons (2010–2014) San Jose SaberCats (1995–2008, 2011–2015) Spokane Shock (2010–2015) St. Louis Stampede (1995–1996) Toronto Phantoms (1997–2002) Utah Blaze (2006–2008, 2010–2013) Washington Commandos (1987–1989)

Related articles Arena Football League af2 (2000–2009) ArenaBowl AFL Arenas Arena football Indoor American football Arena Football video games

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