The Oklahoma Defenders were a professional indoor football team and a charter member of the Champions Professional Indoor Football League (CPIFL). Based in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the Defenders played their home games at the Cox Business Center.

Oklahoma Defenders
Established 2012
Folded 2014
Played in Tulsa Convention Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma
League/conference affiliations
American Professional Football League (2012) Champions Professional Indoor Football League (2013–2014)
Current uniform
Team colorsNavy, Scarlet, White
     
MascotBillie the Regulator
Personnel
Owner(s)Lamar Baker
Team history
  • Oklahoma Defenders (2012–2014)
Championships
League championships (0)
Conference championships (0)
Division championships (0)
Playoff appearances (1)
  • APFL: 2012
Home arena(s)

It was announced in August 2014, that the team would go dark and cease all operation for the 2015 season, with the goal to return in the 2016 season. Many expect the team to fold and not return for the 2016 season.[who?]

The Defenders are the second arena/indoor team based in Tulsa, following the Tulsa Talons which played in arenafootball2 from the league's inaugural season in 2000 until its final season of 2009, and later in the Arena Football League from 2010 until 2011, after which the Talons moved to San Antonio.

History edit

The Defenders began play in 2012 as a member of the American Professional Football League.[1][2] The Defenders experienced immediate success, finishing the regular season with a 9–3 record, tied for second place with the Council Bluffs Express.[3] However, the Defenders would get the #3 seed because of the Express holding the head-to-head tiebreaker. In the teams' first-round playoff game, the Defenders lost to the Express 37–32.[4]

For the 2013 season, the Defenders played in the Champions Professional Indoor Football League. They posted a 3–9 record in their inaugural season in the CPIFL. The team's sophomore season in 2014 in the CPIFL was not much better with a duplicate 3–9 record.

It was announced in August 2014, that the team would go dark and cease all operation for the 2015 season, with the goal to return in the 2016 season.[5]

Final roster edit

Oklahoma Defenders roster
Quarterbacks
  •  8 Brady May
  • 12 Zach Rasmussen

Running backs

Wide receivers

  •  4 Isaiah Anderson
  •  1 Hubert Anyiam
  • 20 John Goodlett
  •  5 Jeff Hughley
  •  6 Patrick Jones
  • 23 Matt Rice
Offensive linemen
  • 71 Michael Billingsly
  • 95 Dalvin Brown
  • 69 Terry Johnson II
  •  — Jarrad Hernandez
  • 72 David Lazenby

Defensive linemen

  • 46 Ki'Ounta Cathey
  • 54 Victor Clore
  • 51 Cordero Moore
  • 44 Jared St. John
  • 91 Faafeti Te'o
Linebackers

Defensive backs

  • 21 Bobby Blackshire
  • 24 Delaney Dobard
  • 27 Sam Proctor
  • 22 Norris Wrenn
  • 43 Niko Wright

Kickers

Injured Reserve
  • Currently vacant

Transfer List

  • 21 Chika Madu DB

Refuse to Report

  • Currently vacant

Season-by-season edit

Season records
Season W L T Finish Playoff results
Oklahoma Defenders (APFL)
2012 9 3 0 3rd League Lost semi-final (Council Bluffs)
Oklahoma Defenders (CPIFL)
2013 3 9 0 8th League --
2014 4 8 0 7th League --
Totals 16 20 0 (including playoffs)

2014 edit

Season schedule edit

2014 Schedule
Week Date Kickoff Opponent Results
Final Score Team Record
1 March 1 (Sat) 7:05pm Kansas Koyotes 72-6 [6] 1-0
2 March 8 (Sat) 7:05pm @Dodge City Law 56-49 2-0
3 March 16 (Sun) 3:05pm Wichita Wild 44-50 2-1
4 March 22 (Sat) 7:05pm Sioux City Bandits 46-33 2-2
5 Bye
6 April 5 (Sat) 7:05pm @Lincoln Haymakers 73-61 3-2
7 April 12 (Sat) 7:05pm Bloomington Edge 58-59 3-3
8 April 19 (Sat) 7:05pm @Kansas Koyotes 64-55 [7] 4-3
9 April 26 (Sat) 7:05pm @Wichita Wild 37-67 4-4
10 May 3 (Sat) 7:05pm @Sioux City Bandits 52-60 4-5
11 May 10 (Sat) 7:30pm Dodge City Law 33-56 4-6
12 May 17 (Sat) 7:05pm Salina Bombers 40-60 4-7
13 Bye
14 May 31 (Sat) 7:05pm @Kansas Koyotes 63-75 4-8

Past seasons edit

2013 edit

Season schedule edit

2013 Schedule
Week Date Kickoff Opponent Results
Final Score Team Record
1 March 9 (Sat) 7:30pm Wichita Wild 26-70 0-1
2 March 16 (Sat) 7:30pm @Kansas Koyotes 62-40 1-1
3 Bye
4 March 30 (Sat) 7:30pm @Kansas City Renegades 47-54 1-2
5 April 6 (Sat) 7:30pm @Salina Bombers 31-50 1-3
6 April 14 (Sun) 7:30pm Mid-Missouri Outlaws 36-34 2-3
7 April 20 (Sat) 7:30pm Bloomington Edge 39-44 2-4
8 April 26 (Fri) 7:05pm @Lincoln Haymakers 40-46 2-5
9 May 4 (Sat) 7:05pm @Wichita Wild 7-73 2-6
10 May 11 (Sat) 7:30pm Kansas Koyotes 48-20 3-6
11 May 18 (Sat) 7:30pm Kansas City Renegades 28-65 3-7
12 May 26 (Sun) 4:30pm @Omaha Beef 21-59 3-8
13 Bye
14 June 8 (Sat) 7:30pm Salina Bombers 34-46 3-9

2012 edit

Season schedule edit

2012 Schedule
Date Time Opponent Location Score
March 24 7:05 PM @ Sioux City Bandits Tyson Events Center, Sioux City, IA L 40-70
March 31 7:05 PM Council Bluffs Express Expo Square Pavilion, Tulsa, OK W 56-41
April 7 7:05 PM Cheyenne Warriors Expo Square Pavilion, Tulsa, OK W 54-9
April 21 7:05 PM Sioux City Bandits Expo Square Pavilion, Tulsa, OK L 29-31
April 28 7:05 PM @ Kansas Koyotes Landon Arena, Topeka, KS W 67-20
May 12 7:05 PM @ Springfield Wolfpack Mediacom Ice Park, Springfield, MO W 58-22
May 19 7:05 PM @ Colorado Lightning Colorado Sports and Events Center, Monument, CO W 2-0 (forfeit)
May 26 7:05 PM Springfield Wolfpack Expo Square Pavilion, Tulsa, OK W 74-2
June 2 7:05 PM Kansas Koyotes Expo Square Pavilion, Tulsa, OK W 48-19
June 16 7:05 PM @ Mid-Missouri Outlaws Mathewson Exhibition Center, Sedalia, MO W 75-10
June 23 7:05 PM @ Council Bluffs Express Mid-America Center, Council Bluffs, IA L 39-62
June 30 7:05 PM Mid-Missouri Outlaws Tulsa Convention Center, Tulsa, OK W 88-41
July 7 7:05 PM @ Council Bluffs Express - APFL Playoffs Mid-America Center, Council Bluffs, IA L 32-37

Source:[8]

References edit

  1. ^ "Oklahoma Defenders chase the football dream, minus the glitz and glamour". Tulsa World. July 7, 2012.
  2. ^ "Official website". www.oklahomadefenders.com. Oklahoma Defenders.
  3. ^ "APFL - American Professional Football League". Archived from the original on 2012-07-22. Retrieved 2012-07-10.
  4. ^ "Bandits will host playoff game on Sunday". KTIV. July 3, 2012.
  5. ^ Lohman, Rich. "Oklahoma Defenders go dormant." Tulsa Today. Accessed July 15, 2015.
  6. ^ Peterson, Jr., Rick (March 22, 2014). "Koyotes set for home opener against Salina". The Topeka Capital-Journal. Archived from the original on April 28, 2014. Retrieved April 28, 2014.
  7. ^ Peterson, Jr., Rick (April 19, 2014). "Koyotes' comeback falls short against Oklahoma". The Topeka Capital-Journal. Archived from the original on April 28, 2014. Retrieved April 28, 2014.
  8. ^ "Schedule". American Professional Football League.

External links edit