The Corpus Christi Fury (formerly the Corpus Christi Hammerheads), was a professional indoor football team based in Corpus Christi, Texas, United States. The Fury played its home games at the American Bank Center.

Corpus Christi Fury
Established 2003
Folded 2016
Played in Corpus Christi, Texas
at the American Bank Center
CCFury.com
League/conference affiliations
Intense Football League (2004, 2006–2008)

National Indoor Football League (2005)
Indoor Football League (2009–2010)
Southern Indoor Football League (2011)
Lone Star Football League (2012)
Ultimate Indoor Football League (2013–2014)
X-League Indoor Football (2015)

American Indoor Football (2016)
Current uniform
Team colorsNavy, White, Bright Green, Silver
       
NicknamesFury
Personnel
Owner(s)Chad Dittman
ChairmanChad Dittman
PresidentChad Dittman
General managerRobert Wehling
Head coachLaDaniel Marshall
Team history
  • Corpus Christi Hammerheads (2004–2012)
  • Corpus Christi Fury (2013–2016)
Championships
League championships (1)
UIFL: 2014
Conference championships (0)
Division championships (0)
Playoff appearances (8)
2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014
Home arena(s)

History

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The Fury began life as the Corpus Christi Hammerheads, a charter member of the Intense Football League. The Hammerheads were coached by ex-University of Houston Quarterback and former IFL star Jason McKinley, son of former NFL player Bob McKinley, and were led by a strong supporting cast of players such as quarterback Wes Cooper, wide receiver Shomari Buchanan, tight end Matt Ross, and linebackers Roy Salas and DeAndrae Filmore. They played their home games at the Memorial Coliseum in 2004 and at the American Bank Center in 2005 and 2006, both of which are in Corpus Christi, Texas.

The team did not return to the American Bank Center for 2007 after the arena decided not to renew the team's lease[1] and it became the home of the af2 team, the Corpus Christi Sharks. In 2007, the Hammerheads played in the Central Pavilion Arena in nearby Robstown, Texas.[2] In 2008, head coach Jason McKinley guided the Hammerheads back to the Intense Football League's title game only to lose 65–36 in Lake Charles, Louisiana to the Louisiana Swashbucklers. After the Sharks folded following the 2009 season the Hammerheads announced they were returning to the American Bank Center for the upcoming 2010 season.[3]

For the 2011 season, the Hammerheads joined the Southern Indoor Football League. Finishing at 7–5, the Hammerheads lost to the Louisiana Swashbucklers in the first round of the playoffs. After the 2011 season, the Hammerheads left the SIFL to help start the Lone Star Football League.

The team was removed from the Lone Star Football League following the 2012 season. In 2013, the team played in the Ultimate Indoor Football League and renamed as the Corpus Christi Fury (the logos were originally designed for a proposed 2012 UIFL expansion team, the Danville Dragons).

The fury fell to the Florida Tarpons in Ultimate Bowl III, but returned to the Ultimate Bowl in 2014. The team defeated the Tarpons 60–23 to claim their first championship in franchise history.[4]

For the 2015 season, the Fury played in the X-League after the UIFL ceased operations. The Fury also was winless that season.

On October 1, 2015, the Fury joined American Indoor Football after the X-League folded.[5] The team cancelled several games during the 2016 season and only played one game against another AIF member. While never announced by the team, the Fury appeared to have folded before their May 15, 2016, game against the New Mexico Stars, giving the Stars 24 hours' notice that they would be unable to make the game.[6] They also announced their May 22 home game was cancelled over social media on the day of the game without explanation.

The Fury were removed from the AIF website after the completion of the 2016 season. AIF also ceased all operations in July 2016. In October, a new indoor football team was announced to begin play in 2017 out of the American Bank Center called the Corpus Christi Rage. The new team had no connection to the former Hammerheads/Fury franchise and was a member of the new National Arena League.[7] The Rage, however, also went winless and failed to complete the 2017 season.[8] The Hammerheads hold the record for most Intense Bowls played, but lost all three games.

Final roster & standings

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On October 1, 2015, the Fury joined American Indoor Football from the recently folded X-League Indoor Football.[9] The team's coach remained LaDaniel Marshall working under general manager Robert Wehling and owner, Chad Dittman.

The team cancelled several games during the season and only played one game against an AIF member. While never announced by the team itself, the Fury appeared to have folded before their game on May 15 against the New Mexico Stars, giving the Stars 24 hours' notice that they would be unable to make the game.[10] They also announced their May 22 home game was cancelled on the day of the game over social media without explanation.

Corpus Christi Fury – final roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

  • 22 Gio Greene
  • 34 Fred Wallace

Wide receivers

  •  2 Schuyler Anderson
  • 11 Alex Darley
  • 18 Brent Holmes
  •  7 Arvin Jackson
  •  5 Timon Marshall
  •  1 Kenyada Tatum
Offensive linemen
  • 50 Derick Hamilton

Defensive linemen

  • 44 Bradley Deary
  • 55 Ricky Jones
  • 97 Justin Scott
  • -- Joe Searcy
Linebackers
  •  8 DeAndrae Fillmore
  • 33 Champ Glory
  • 15 Leonard Harris
  • 12 Ryan Rhodes
  • 10 Roy Salas

Defensive backs

  • 21 Bryan Carroll
  •  4 Dos Dietze
  • -- Reuben Flowers
  •  9 Olajuwon Muhammed

Kickers

  • 24 Matthew Dawod
Injured reserve
  • Currently vacant

Transfer list

  • Currently vacant

Refuse to report

  • Currently vacant

Rookies in italics
Roster updated April 28, 2016
25 Active, 0 Inactive


Season-by-season

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Season records
Season W L T Finish Playoff results
Corpus Christi Hammerheads (Intense Football League)
2004 8 8 0 5th League
Corpus Christi Hammerheads (NIFL)
2005 8 6 0 2nd Pacific South Won PC Quarterfinal (S.W. Louisiana)
Lost PC Semifinal (Odessa)
Corpus Christi Hammerheads (Intense Football League)
2006 9 5 0 2nd League Won Semifinal (Centex)
Lost Intense Bowl II (Odessa)
2007 12 2 0 2nd League Won Semifinal (Frisco)
Lost Intense Bowl III (Louisiana)
2008 10 4 0 2nd League Won Semifinal (CenTex)
Lost Intense Bowl IV (Louisiana)[11]
Corpus Christi Hammerheads (Indoor Football League)
2009 5 9 0 4th Intense Lone Star
2010 6 8 0 3rd Intense Lone Star Lost Round 1 (Arkansas)
Corpus Christi Hammerheads (SIFL)
2011 7 5 0 2nd WC Southwest Lost WC Round 1 (Louisiana)
Corpus Christi Hammerheads (LSFL)
2012 4 7 0 5th League
Corpus Christi Fury (UIFL)
2013 6 1 0 2nd League Lost Ultimate Bowl III (Florida)
2014 5 0 0 1st League Won Ultimate Bowl IV (Florida)
Corpus Christi Fury (X-League)
2015 0 6 0 9th League
Corpus Christi Fury (AIF)
2016 2 1 0
Totals 86 69 0 (including IFL, NIFL, SIFL, UIFL, X-League & AIF playoffs)
Team W L PCT
yNew Mexico Stars 6 1 .857
Corpus Christi Fury 2 1 .667
Steel City Menace 0 2 .000

References

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  1. ^ "Press release". www.americanbankcenter.com. American Bank Center. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
  2. ^ Hammerheads [permanent dead link]
  3. ^ "Hammerhead heading back to Corpus Christi, American Bank Center". www.caller.com. Corpus Christi Caller Times. October 21, 2009. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
  4. ^ Matt Young (August 2, 2014). "Fury rout Tarpons, claim championship of two-team league". www.caller.com. Corpus Christi Caller Times. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
  5. ^ "AIF to Add West Division". www.oursportscentral.com. OurSports Central. October 1, 2015. Retrieved October 1, 2015.
  6. ^ "NM Stars take long road to Georgia, playoffs". Albuquerque Journal. June 3, 2016.
  7. ^ "Ceremony held for new Corpus Christi Rage arena football team". KIII. October 17, 2016.
  8. ^ "Another indoor football team bites the dust, Rage calls it quits after going 0-9". KRIS-TV. June 15, 2017.[permanent dead link]
  9. ^ "AIF to Add West Division". www.oursportscentral.com. OurSports Central. October 1, 2015. Retrieved October 1, 2015.
  10. ^ "NM Stars take long road to Georgia, playoffs". Albuquerque Journal. June 3, 2016.
  11. ^ Hammerheads' 2008 stats
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