Los Angeles Avengers

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Los Angeles Avengers
LosAngelesAvengers.png
Los Angeles Avengers
Founded 2000
Folded 2009
League Arena Football League
Conference American
Division West
Based in Los Angeles, California
Arena Staples Center
Colors Red, Blue & White
              
Owner(s) Casey Wasserman
Head coach Ed Hodgkiss
Division titles 1: (2005)
Playoff berths 5: (2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007)
Mascot TD

The Los Angeles Avengers were an Arena Football League team based in Los Angeles, California from 2000 through 2008. They folded on April 19, 2009.[1]

History

The Los Angeles Avengers played their home games at the Staples Center, which is also the current home to the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League, the Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers of the National Basketball Association, the Los Angeles Sparks of the Women's National Basketball Association. The team began play in the 2000 season. The Avengers competed in the Western Division of the American Conference. Since its inception in 2000, the Avengers had competed in postseason play five times. The Avengers earned American Conference wildcard playoff berths in 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2007, and won the American Conference Western Division Championship in 2005.

The Avengers franchise was owned by Casey Wasserman, grandson of the MCA head Lew Wasserman.

On April 10, 2005, Avengers defensive lineman Al Lucas was injured attempting to make a tackle and later died at a nearby hospital. It is the only fatal injury incurred during a game in the history of the league. The Al Lucas Hero Award is named after him.

The Avengers announced the termination of the program on April 20, 2009 after nine years of operation. Four years later, it was announced that the Los Angeles KISS would join the AFL starting in the 2014 season making them the fourth team to set up shop in the Los Angeles area.

The Avengers' official mascot was a superhero-like character named T.D.[2]

Memorable Avengers' highlights

  • On Sunday, March 30, 2003, in a Week 9 road game against the Orlando Predators, the Avengers trailed 63-58 late in the game. However, Los Angeles managed to recover an onside kick and, on the very last play of the game, quarterback Tony Graziani threw a 32-yard touchdown pass that bounced off the rebound net and was caught by WR/LB Greg Hopkins, giving the Avengers a 64-63 win.[3]

On Sunday, March 31, 2004, In the championship series taking place at Staples Center, Los Angeles, Ca. #98 John Garcia not only led the team in sacks on this day with 3 also blocked and returned a FG to win the game against the Chicago Enforcers. Final Score 24-26. Quarterback Tony Graziani threw for only 1 Touchdown pass and 3 INT's.

Season-by-season

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Coaches

Head coach Tenure Regular season
record (W-L)
Post season
record (W-L)
Most recent coaching staff Notes
Stan Brock 2000 - 2001 3-14[4] 0-0[4] Let go after starting 0-3 during 2001.[4]
Robert Lyles 2001[5] 5-6[5] 0-0 Replaced Brock, was not
retained after season.
Ed Hodgkiss 2002 - 2008 57-53[6] 1-5[6]
Pat O'Hara* 2009 0-0 0-0 OC:Vacant
DC / DB Coach: Maurice Blanding
QB / WR Coach: Chad Salisbury
DL / LB Coach: Leroy Thompson
OL / FB Coach: Mark Tucker
Team folded before he coached a game.

Notable players

Final roster

Los Angeles Avengers roster
Quarterbacks

Fullbacks

Wide receivers

Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

Linebackers

Defensive backs

Kickers

Injured reserve

Other league exempt

  • Currently vacant

Practice Squad

Rookies in italics
Roster updated October 13, 2008
23 Active, 8 Inactive

Arena Football Hall of Famers

Los Angeles Avengers Hall of Famers
No. Name Year Inducted Position(s) Years w/ Avengers
82 Greg Hopkins 2013 WR/LB 2002-06

Individual awards

Retired uniform numbers

Los Angeles Avengers retired numbers
Player Position Seasons Ref.
76 Al Lucas DL 2004−05
82 Greg Hopkins WR 2002-06

All-Arena players

The following Avengers players have been named to All-Arena Teams:

All-Ironman players

The following Avengers players have been named to All-Ironman Teams:

All-Rookie players

The following Avengers players have been named to All-Rookie Teams:

Notes

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  2. LA Avengers: Kids
  3. http://www.arenafootball.com/mediaPlayer/video.dbml?DB_MENU_ID=&SPSID=38064&SPID=3172&DB_OEM_ID=3500&CLIP_ID=25766&CLIP_FILE_ID=29255&CONTENT_TYPE=ONDEMAND
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External links