The Kansas City Brigade
are an Arena football team in the Arena Football League. The team was founded before the 2006 season. Former Kansas City Chiefs Strong safety Kevin Porter is the current Head coach.
The team played at Kemper Arena in Kansas City, Missouri and has now moved to the Sprint Center in downtown Kansas City for the 2008 AFL season and thereafter. The team is owned by a Kansas City local, Chris Likens. One of the most notable co-owners is former Kansas City Chiefs star Neil Smith. Captain Max Runway
[1] was named the mascot of the Brigade in June 2007.
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KANSAS CITY BRIGADE TICKETS
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History
After the announcement that the
New Orleans VooDoo would suspend operations for the 2006 AFL season due to
Hurricane Katrina, the AFL awarded an expansion franchise to Kansas City. On November 21, 2005, the AFL announced that the team would be called the Kansas City Brigade. A stealth bomber, modeled after the
B-2 Spirits stationed at nearby
Whiteman Air Force Base, would represent the team for its logo.
Kevin Porter was named the team's first head coach. They would be placed in the National Conference
Southern Division, where they would take New Orleans' spot for the year.
2006 season
On February 19, 2006, after losing their very first three games of their inaugural season, the Brigade finally won their first game 45-24 at home against the
Columbus Destroyers. On April 9, 2006, after losing six-straight games, the Brigade finally managed their second win, defeating the
Los Angeles Avengers 62-45 at home. On April 22, 2006, the Brigade recorded their first road win in franchise history against the
Nashville Kats, winning 58-52. By the end of the 2006 season, the Brigade finished with a record of 3-13, placing them fifth in the National Conference Southern Division.
2006 Fan of the Year - Darrin "Wingman" Butler.
2007 season
With the
New Orleans VooDoo returning to the league's National Conference Southern in 2007, the Brigade switched conferences and divisions, as they moved to the American Conference
Central.
On March 4, 2007, in their home-opener, the Brigade defeated the defending
Arena Bowl champion Chicago Rush 54-41. The game was broadcast nationally on
ABC. The win marked the first time in franchise history that the Brigade were above .500 for the season.
On June 8, the Brigade clinched their first-ever playoff berth with a 47-34 victory over the
Columbus Destroyers.
The Brigade finished the regular season with a 10-6 record. While earning the American Conference's #3 seed, the Brigade hosted their first playoff game on
June 30, a wild-card matchup, with the American Conference's #6 seed, the
Colorado Crush. Unfortunately for the Brigade, they were plagued by injuries and the Crush won 49-42, despite Colorado coming into the game with a 4-game losing streak.
2007 Fan of the Year - Tony "Captain Brigade" Lauer.
2008 season
The
2008 season saw the longest field goal in franchise history (58 yards by Peter Martinez).
[2]
Former
Dallas Cowboys quarterback,
Quincy Carter, was named the
starter on June 3, 2008. Carter lost all three of his starts. Quarterback D. Bryant was named to the AFL's 2008 All-Rookie Team.
[3]
2008 Fan of the Year - Jack "Big Dog" Belcher.
Coaches
Head coach
| Tenure
| Regular season record (W-L)
| Post season record (W-L)
| Most recent coaching staff
| Notes
|
Kevin Porter
| 2006 - 2008
| 16-32
| 0-1
| OC: Skip Foster DC: Vacant DL Coach: Otis Moore OL coach: Travis Crusenberry
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Season-by-season
Note:
W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties''
Season
| W
| L
| T
| Finish
| Playoff results
|
2006
| 3
| 13
| 0
| 5th NC Southern
| --
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2007
| 10
| 7
| 0
| 2nd AC Central
| Lost Wild Card (Colorado 49-42)
|
2008
| 3
| 13
| 0
| 4th AC Central
| --
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2009
| Did Not Play
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Totals
| 16
| 33
| 0
| (including playoffs)
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Notable players
- Charles Frederick - WR - 2007 AFL Co-Rookie of the Year
- Quincy Carter - QB
- Michael Horacek - WR
- Chris Avery - FB/LB
- John Fitzgerald - QB
- Boo Williams - WR
- Raymond Philyaw - QB
- B. J. Cohen - DL
- Kenny McEntyre - DB
- Michael Bishop - QB
- Chris Sanders - QB
- Aaron Boone - WR
Retired numbers
- #90 Neil Smith, team co-owner and former NFL Defensive end.
Notes
- http://www.kcbrigade.com/max_runway.htm
- http://www.arenafan.com/news/?page=pressrel&article=9241
- http://www.arenafan.com/history/?page=awards&award=26.0.1