Tennessee Valley Tigers
Founded | 2008 |
---|---|
League |
IWFL (2009-2011) WSFL (2012-present) |
Team history | Tennessee Valley Tigers (2008-present) |
Based in | Huntsville, Alabama |
Stadium | Milton Frank Stadium |
Colors | Black, Silver, Purple |
Owner(s) | Carlos Mathews |
Championships | 0 |
Division titles | 0 |
Mascot | Unnamed |
The Tennessee Valley Tigers is a women's American football team located in Huntsville, Alabama. The Tigers joined the Women's Spring Football League (WSFL) in 2011 and will play their first WSFL season in the spring of 2012. This will be the Tigers' fourth season overall, after three seasons in the Independent Women's Football League (IWFL). The team currently consists of some former Alabama Renegades players, as well as a number of new players who will be playing women's football for the first time in the 2011 season. Women’s full-contact football has been played in Huntsville, Alabama since the fall of 2000 when the Alabama Renegades came into existence. The Renegades were one of the founding teams of the National Women's Football Association (NWFA).
History
In the fall of 2000, the Alabama Renegades and the Nashville Dream played a six-game exhibition season to determine the viability of a women's full-contact football league. The exhibition games were a huge success and the league, the National Women's Football Association, expanded to 12 teams in its first full season of play in the spring of 2001. Ray Quinn was the man who first brought full-contact football to Huntsville and he owned the team for two years. Nancy Byrd, a Renegades player, kept the football dream alive in 2003 when she took over the team from Quinn. She, along with general manager Lori Campbell, ran the team for the next six years. Nancy continued to play for the Renegades while owning the team. At the end of the 2009 season Nancy decided to retire from playing and looked to sell the team to a new owner. She was unable to find anyone willing to take on the responsibility of running the Alabama Renegades and decided she would no longer field a football team in the NWFA.
Carlos Mathews, the former Offensive Coordinator for the Alabama Renegades, realized the potential for women’s football in the Huntsville area and decided to explore ways to bring the game back for a 2009 season. Mathews researched several leagues but only found one with the stability needed to support women’s football in the Huntsville Area. The Tigers officially joined the Independent Women's Football League on August 12, 2008, as a Tier II team[1]. In the first season of play, the Tigers finished with a 5-3 record, losing twice to the Chattanooga Locomotion - another Tier II team - and once to the Atlanta Xplosion - a Tier I team in 2009. The Tigers also defeated then ranked number seven Clarksville Fox who in the 2008 season had competed for the Independent Women's Football League Tier II[1] championship. The Tigers play their home games at Milton Frank Stadium in Huntsville, Alabama.
Because of the devastating effects of the April 2011 tornadoes, the Tigers had to forfeit their final two regular-season games. On August 30, the Tigers announced they had left the IWFL to join the WSFL.
2011 staff
- Owner/Offensive Coordinator - Carlos Mathews
- Offensive Line Coach - Ella Banghart
- Assistant Defensive Coach - JJ Johnson
- Delegate - Brady Wakefield
- Marketing/Sales - Jamie Flynt
- Acting General Manager - Carson Wakefield
Season-by-season
Season | W | L | T | Finish | Playoff results |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tennessee Valley Tigers (IWFL) | |||||
2009 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 10th Tier II | -- |
2010 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 3rd Tier II East Southeast | -- |
2011 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 5th East Mid-South | -- |
Tennessee Valley Tigers (WSFL) | |||||
2012* | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
Totals | 10 | 14 | 0 |
* = Current Standing
2011 schedule
Date | Opponent | Home/Away | Time | Event Title | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
April 9 | Memphis Belles | Away | 7pm | N/A | L, 12-16 |
April 16 | Clarksville Fox | Away | 7pm | N/A | L, 6-32 |
April 23 | Georgia Peachez | Home | 7pm | TBA | W, 2-0** |
April 30 | Bye | ||||
May 7 | Memphis Belles | Home | 4pm | TBA | L, 6-32 |
May 14 | Clarksville Fox | Home | 7pm | N/A | L, 6-12 |
May 21 | Clarksville Fox | Home | 7pm | TBA | L, 6-22 |
May 28 | Chattanooga Locomotion | Away | 7pm | Battle for the Border Rivalry Game | L, 0-2*** |
June 4 | Bye | ||||
June 11 | Atlanta Xplosion | Home | 7pm | TBA | L, 0-2 |
** = Won by forfeit *** = Forfeited
Single season records
Date | Name | Record | Result |
---|---|---|---|
2009 | Alber, Marty | Season Passing Leader | 917 yds |
2009 | Alber, Marty | Season Passing TD Leader | 15 |
2009 | Bady, Starry | Season Receiving TD Leader | 4 |
2009 | Harvey, Stephanie | Season Receiving Leader | 210 yrds |
2009 | Suttles, Marsheka | Season Rushing TD Leader | 6 |
2009 | White, Katie | Field Goal Leader | 2 |
2009 | White, Katie | Extra Point Completed | 16 |
2009 | Bady, Starry | Interception Yards | 55 yrds |
2009 | Hendrix, Danielle | Leading Tackler | 41 |
2009 | Team Offense | Most Points in a Single Game | 68 |
2009 | Team Defense | Most shutouts in a season | 4 |
2010 | White, Katie | Longest Kickoff Return for TD | 70 yrds |
2010 | Eatman, Dionne | Season Rushing Yards Leader | 496 yrds |
2010 | Eatman, Dionne | Single Game Rushing Yards | 174 yrds |
2011 Roster
Player | Position | Number |
---|---|---|
Carmela Sullivan | DB | 22 |
Carmelesia Sullivan | DB | 23 |
Carson Wakefield | OL | 84 |
Cheronda "Rock" Phillips | RB | 50 |
Christina Whitney | DB/K | 51 |
Lauren "LC" Coleman | DB | 9 |
Sharessa "TJ" Allen | DB | 82 |
Sonia Leggs | RB/WR | 34 |
Franchesca Atkins | QB/WR/CB | |
Nina Cook | RB/WR | TBA |
Shelley Drake | DE | TBA |
Chasity Herron | WR/LB | TBA |
Becky Hensel | QB/WR | TBA |
Hayley Howard | LB | 55 |
Monique Jefferson | OL/DT | TBA |
Shana Levett | CB | TBA |
Heidi McQuire | DL/OL/FB | TBA |
Mosheda Pettus | TE/DE | TBA |
Yvette Price | TBA | TBA |
Aisha Robinson | C/OL | TBA |
Jayme Truitt | WR/CB | TBA |
Liz Wilson | QB/WR/CB | TBA |
References
- Official website of the WSFL
- Tennessee Valley Tigers official website (obsolete)
- Tennessee Valley Tigers official website (new)
- Pretty Tough.com
- Our Sports Central-Weekly Sports League and Franchise Report
- Boo's Unofficial Guide to Women's Tackle Football
- Who's Who in Huntsville Jan/Feb 2009 Newsletter
- Visitor's Bureau