Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz

Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz
Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz
	Established 2004; Folded 2010; Played in Cox Convention Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
League/conference affiliations
	AF2 (2004–2009) National Conference (2004–2009) Southwest Division (2004); Midwest Division (2005–2006); Central Division (2007–2009); ; Arena Football League (2010) American Conference (2010) Southwest Division (2010); ;
	Current uniform
Team colors	Black, brick, silver, white;
Personnel
Owner(s)	Phil Miller
Head coach	Sparky McEwen
Team history
	Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz (2004–2010);
Championships
	League championships (0);
	Conference championships (0);
	Division championships (0);
Playoff appearances (5)
	af2: 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009;
Home arena(s)
	Ford Center (2004–2008); Cox Convention Center (2009–2010);

The Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz were an arena football team. The team began play as a 2004 expansion team of the Arena Football League's minor league af2 before becoming a member of the AFL in 2010. Formerly a tenant of the Ford Center from 2004 until 2008, the Yard Dawgz were forced out when the National Basketball Association's Oklahoma City Thunder moved into town; starting in 2009, the Yard Dawgz played across the street at the Cox Convention Center. On October 25, 2010 Yard Dawgz owner Phil Miller announced that he decided not to play in the Arena Football League for the 2011 season.^[1]

Team history

Three straight winning seasons

The Yard Dawgz had a successful first year on and off the field by leading the league in attendance and finishing the regular season with 10–6 record to finish second in the Southwest Division of the National Conference.

In 2005, The Yard Dawgz had another successful year, despite changing divisions, by coming in third in attendance and finishing the regular season with 10–6 record to finish second in the Midwest Division of the National Conference. The Dawgz lost in the first round to the Amarillo Dusters.

The Yard Dawgz had their best showing in 2006 with a record of 11–5 and their third playoff appearance. Kicker A.J. Haglund won the af2 Kicker of the Year award and Quarterback Craig Strickland became the only player in af2 history to reach 20,000 career passing yards.

First losing season

In 2007, under head coach John Fitzgerald, the Yard Dawgz had the second leading offense in the league – averaging 310.9 yd/game. Despite finishing 7-9, the team made its fourth consecutive playoff appearance. Three members of the 2007 Yard Dawgz earned All-af2 First Team honors – WR/DB Al Hunt, Center Gene Frederic, and OL/DL Barry Giles.

2008 season

The Yard Dawgs brought back Gary Reasons to coach in 2008, but after the team got off to a 1–5 start, Reasons stepped down as head coach. Sparky McEwen took over as interim head coach.^[2] On June 28, 2008, against the Lubbock Renegades, Wide Receiver Al Hunt became only the third player in af2 history to record 1,000 points.

2009 season

After starting the season with a 4–0 record, a team–record four straight opening wins, the Yard Dawgz then dropped five games in a row, the longest losing streak in team history, to drop to 4–5. The Dawgz bounced back to win three in a row to push their record to 7–5, and kept their playoff hopes alive.

On June 20, the Yard Dawgz faced off against the Corpus Christi Sharks. The Yard Dawgz beat the Sharks 93–41 and set an af2 record for points scored in a first half (59) and beat their own franchise record for points scored in a game, which had previously been set against the Tulsa Talons.

Despite a loss against the Spokane Shock on June 26, the Yard Dawgz clinched a playoff berth when Boise beat Central Valley on the next night. The playoff appearance marked the fifth time in six years that the Dawgz were in post-season play.

The Yard Dawgz season ended on August 1 at the hands of the Tulsa Turkeys in the first round of ArenaCup playoffs. With the loss, the Dawgz had dropped five straight postseason games and were winless in the team's history in the playoffs.

2011 season

On October 25, 2010, Yard Dawgz owner Phil Miller announced that he decided not to play in the Arena Football League for the 2011 season.^[1] However, the Indoor Football League announced the same day that a new team would play in Oklahoma City in 2011.^[1]

Season-by-season

Final roster

Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz roster

Quarterbacks

15 Tommy Grady

Fullbacks

37 Chad Cook

Wide receivers

Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

Linebackers

Defensive backs

8 Fred Shaw

Kickers

10 A.J. Haglund

Injured reserve

-- C. J. McLain FB

Exempt list

-- Kelly Butler OL CFL

Suspended list

90 Mike Berry DL
-- Larry Dibbles DL
88 Dan Loney C/LS
78 Kevin Myers OL/DT
55 Erik Robertson OL
23 Freddie Rollins FB
6 Antwone Savage WR

Rookies in italics
Roster updated June 10, 2010
23 Active, 9 Inactive

Staff

Head coaches

Name	Term	Regular Season				Playoffs		Awards
Name	Term	W	L	T	Win%	W	L	Awards
Gary Reasons	2004, 2008	11	11	0	.500	0	1
Jeff Jarnigan	2005–2006	21	11	0	.656	0	2
John Fitzgerald	2007	7	9	0	.438	0	1
Sparky McEwen	2008–2010	18	24	0	.429	0	1

References

^ ^a ^b ^c Aber, Ryan. "Yard Dawgz won't play in OKC this year, but IFL will". The Oklahoman. Retrieved 7 November 2010.
^ Ray Martin (May 12, 2008). "Reasons steps down as Yard Dawgz coach". www.newsok.com. NewsOK.com. Retrieved November 19, 2013.

External links

[nomore-1] Aber, Ryan. "Yard Dawgz won't play in OKC this year, but IFL will". The Oklahoman. Retrieved 7 November 2010.

[2] Ray Martin (May 12, 2008). "Reasons steps down as Yard Dawgz coach". www.newsok.com. NewsOK.com. Retrieved November 19, 2013.

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