Amarillo Dusters
Encyclopedia
The Amarillo Venom are an professional indoor football team in the Lone Star Football League
. The Venom began play in 2004 as the Amarillo Dusters, a charter member of the Intense Football League
, a small indoor football league based in Texas
. They won the championship in their first and only season with the IFL. The following year, the Dusters became the first team to leave the Intense Football League and join the af2
, where they played for four seasons until the af2's folding in 2009. At that point, the team held a fan vote as to whether to join their af2 brethren in the new Arena Football 1 (now the Arena Football League
) or enjoy numerous Texas rivalries in the Indoor Football League. On October 9, 2009, it was announced that, because of a 65-35 percent margin in the fan vote, the Dusters would be moving to the Indoor Football League for the 2010 season. The team plays their home games at Amarillo Civic Center
.
The team was featured on an episode of Only in America
, a show that airs on the Discovery Times
channel.
On December 21, 2008 the Dusters introduced a new color scheme for the team. The new colors were revealed as Crimson
, Grey
, and Black
.
It was announced on January 28, 2010 that the Dusters would have to be renamed, because the Arena Football League
owns the rights to the Dusters name and logo. On February 8, the new Amarillo Venom name and logo was unveiled.
with a 13-3 record en route to a league championship. Coach Don Carthel lead the Dusters to the cup as they defeated the Lubbock LoneStars. The Dusters would abandon their spot in the IFL to play in the af2
. Carthel would take the head coaching job at West Texas A&M 2 games into the first Dusters af2 season. Steve Perdue took over the Head Coaching job and lead the team playoffs and a first round victory over the Oklahoma City Yard Dawgs.
.
| colspan="6" align="center" | Amarillo Dusters (Intense)
|-
|2004 || 13 || 3 || 0 || 1st League || Won Round 1 (S.A. Stampede
41-29)
Won Intense Bowl I (L. Lone Stars
62-47)
|-
| colspan="6" align="center" | Amarillo Dusters (af2)
|-
|2005 || 8 || 8 || 0 || 4th NC Midwest || Won NC Round 1 (Oklahoma City
59-56)
Lost Semifinals (Memphis
71-30)
|-
|2006 || 4 || 12 || 0 || 5th NC Midwest || --
|-
|2007 || 3 || 13 || 0 || 4th NC Central || --
|-
|2008 || 8 || 8 || 0 || 3rd NC Central || Won NC Round 1 (Tulsa
65-62)
Won NC Semifinals (Bossier-Shreveport
59-45)
Lost NC Championship (Spokane
79-49)
|-
|2009 || 3 || 13 || 0 || 3rd NC Central || --
|-
| colspan="6" align="center" | Amarillo Venom (IFL)
|-
|2010 || 11 || 3 || 0 || 1st IC Lonestar West || Won IC Round 1 (West Texas 56-36)
Lost IC Semifinals (Arkansas
46-31)
|-
|2011 || 4 || 10 || 0 || 3rd Lonestar || --
|-
| colspan="6" align="center" | Amarillo Venom (LSFL)
|-
|2012 || -- || -- || -- || -- || --
|-
!Totals || 55 || 72 || 0
|colspan="2"| (including playoffs)
** = Replacement Team.
crowd to win Round 1 over the Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz
. The Dusters fell in Round 2 to the eventual-af2 champion Memphis Xplorers
.
-led Bossier-Shreveport Battle Wings
' perfect season with a 51–49 upset.
Donte Newsome was shot to death outside of a nightclub in Huntington, West Virginia
, home of his alma mater Marshall University
.
until at least 2011. It was announced that their offices would be moving into the historic Paramount Building in Downtown Amarillo.
Lone Star Football League
The Lone Star Football League is a regional professional indoor football league set to begin its inaugural season in 2012. All six of the LSFL's charter teams are based in the state of Texas, with five teams coming from the Southern Indoor Football League and two from the Indoor Football...
. The Venom began play in 2004 as the Amarillo Dusters, a charter member of the Intense Football League
Intense Football League
The Intense Football League was a professional indoor football league that initially began operations in 2004. Its focus was in Texas, but was notable for being the first professional football league to place a franchise in Alaska.-History:...
, a small indoor football league based in Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. They won the championship in their first and only season with the IFL. The following year, the Dusters became the first team to leave the Intense Football League and join the af2
Af2
AF2 was the name of the Arena Football League's developmental league; it was founded in 1999 and played its first season in 2000. Like parent AFL, the AF2 played using the same arena football rules and style of play. League seasons ran from April through July with the postseason and ArenaCup...
, where they played for four seasons until the af2's folding in 2009. At that point, the team held a fan vote as to whether to join their af2 brethren in the new Arena Football 1 (now the Arena Football League
Arena Football League
The Arena Football League is the highest level of professional indoor American football in the United States. It is currently the second longest running professional football league in the United States, after the National Football League. It was founded in 1987 by Jim Foster...
) or enjoy numerous Texas rivalries in the Indoor Football League. On October 9, 2009, it was announced that, because of a 65-35 percent margin in the fan vote, the Dusters would be moving to the Indoor Football League for the 2010 season. The team plays their home games at Amarillo Civic Center
Amarillo Civic Center
The Amarillo Civic Center is a multi-purpose convention center in Amarillo, Texas. Built in 1964, it consists of multiple facilities including:* A 2,848-seat auditorium with 2,324 permanent seats and used for concerts, Broadway shows and other events....
.
The team was featured on an episode of Only in America
Only in America
Only in America is a children's television programme that originally aired in 2005 on the CBBC Channel. It is presented by Fearne Cotton and Reggie Yates....
, a show that airs on the Discovery Times
Discovery Times
Investigation Discovery is a television network that is owned by Discovery Communications. The channel features documentary-style programming dealing with criminal investigations , and other crime-related documentaries.-History:The channel launched in 1996 under the name Discovery Civilization...
channel.
On December 21, 2008 the Dusters introduced a new color scheme for the team. The new colors were revealed as Crimson
Crimson
Crimson is a strong, bright, deep red color. It is originally the color of the dye produced from a scale insect, Kermes vermilio, but the name is now also used as a generic term for those slightly bluish-red colors that are between red and rose; besides crimson itself, these colors include...
, Grey
Grey
Grey or gray is an achromatic or neutral color.Complementary colors are defined to mix to grey, either additively or subtractively, and many color models place complements opposite each other in a color wheel. To produce grey in RGB displays, the R, G, and B primary light sources are combined in...
, and Black
Black
Black is the color of objects that do not emit or reflect light in any part of the visible spectrum; they absorb all such frequencies of light...
.
It was announced on January 28, 2010 that the Dusters would have to be renamed, because the Arena Football League
Arena Football League
The Arena Football League is the highest level of professional indoor American football in the United States. It is currently the second longest running professional football league in the United States, after the National Football League. It was founded in 1987 by Jim Foster...
owns the rights to the Dusters name and logo. On February 8, the new Amarillo Venom name and logo was unveiled.
IFL success
The Amarillo Dusters finished their only season in the Intense Football LeagueIntense Football League
The Intense Football League was a professional indoor football league that initially began operations in 2004. Its focus was in Texas, but was notable for being the first professional football league to place a franchise in Alaska.-History:...
with a 13-3 record en route to a league championship. Coach Don Carthel lead the Dusters to the cup as they defeated the Lubbock LoneStars. The Dusters would abandon their spot in the IFL to play in the af2
Af2
AF2 was the name of the Arena Football League's developmental league; it was founded in 1999 and played its first season in 2000. Like parent AFL, the AF2 played using the same arena football rules and style of play. League seasons ran from April through July with the postseason and ArenaCup...
. Carthel would take the head coaching job at West Texas A&M 2 games into the first Dusters af2 season. Steve Perdue took over the Head Coaching job and lead the team playoffs and a first round victory over the Oklahoma City Yard Dawgs.
Lone Star Football League
For the 2012 season, the Venom will play in the Lone Star Football LeagueLone Star Football League
The Lone Star Football League is a regional professional indoor football league set to begin its inaugural season in 2012. All six of the LSFL's charter teams are based in the state of Texas, with five teams coming from the Southern Indoor Football League and two from the Indoor Football...
.
Season-By-Season
|-| colspan="6" align="center" | Amarillo Dusters (Intense)
|-
|2004 || 13 || 3 || 0 || 1st League || Won Round 1 (S.A. Stampede
San Angelo Stampede Express
The San Angelo Stampede Express is a professional indoor football team from San Angelo, Texas. They are a member of the Lone Star Football League. They play their home games in the Foster Communications Coliseum...
41-29)
Won Intense Bowl I (L. Lone Stars
Lubbock Gunslingers
The Lubbock Gunslingers were a professional indoor football team. They played their home games in Lubbock, Texas at Lubbock Municipal Coliseum....
62-47)
|-
| colspan="6" align="center" | Amarillo Dusters (af2)
|-
|2005 || 8 || 8 || 0 || 4th NC Midwest || Won NC Round 1 (Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz
The Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz was a member of the new Arena Football League. The team began play as a 2004 expansion team of the original Arena Football League's now-defunct minor league af2...
59-56)
Lost Semifinals (Memphis
Memphis Xplorers
The Memphis Xplorers were a professional arena football team. They were a 2001 expansion member of the af2. They played their home games at DeSoto Civic Center in Southaven, Mississippi ....
71-30)
|-
|2006 || 4 || 12 || 0 || 5th NC Midwest || --
|-
|2007 || 3 || 13 || 0 || 4th NC Central || --
|-
|2008 || 8 || 8 || 0 || 3rd NC Central || Won NC Round 1 (Tulsa
Tulsa Talons
The San Antonio Talons are a professional arena football franchise in San Antonio, Texas that plays in the Arena Football League.The Talons began in 2000 in Tulsa, Oklahoma as the Tulsa Talons, a charter member of the defunct minor league Arena Football 2, also known as af2...
65-62)
Won NC Semifinals (Bossier-Shreveport
Bossier-Shreveport Battle Wings
The Bossier Shreveport Battle Wings were an Arena Football League team based in Bossier City, Louisiana. They played at the CenturyTel Center in Bossier City and represented both Bossier City and Shreveport...
59-45)
Lost NC Championship (Spokane
Spokane Shock
The Spokane Shock is a professional arena football team of the Arena Football League from Spokane, Washington, USA. They play their home games at the Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena...
79-49)
|-
|2009 || 3 || 13 || 0 || 3rd NC Central || --
|-
| colspan="6" align="center" | Amarillo Venom (IFL)
|-
|2010 || 11 || 3 || 0 || 1st IC Lonestar West || Won IC Round 1 (West Texas 56-36)
Lost IC Semifinals (Arkansas
Arkansas Diamonds
The Arkansas Diamonds were a soccer club based in Little Rock, Arkansas that competed in the SISL and USISL. The team was first owned by Samir Haj a youth club coach based in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The franchise struggled for funding as it first played outdoor at Scott Field in Little Rock and...
46-31)
|-
|2011 || 4 || 10 || 0 || 3rd Lonestar || --
|-
| colspan="6" align="center" | Amarillo Venom (LSFL)
|-
|2012 || -- || -- || -- || -- || --
|-
!Totals || 55 || 72 || 0
|colspan="2"| (including playoffs)
Preseason
| Week | Date | Kickoff | Opponent | Results | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Final Score | Team Record | ||||
| February 20 (Sun) | 3:05pm | Allen Wranglers | L 25-26 | ||
Regular Season
| Week | Date | Kickoff | Opponent | Results | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Final Score | Team Record | ||||
| 1 | February 25 (Fri) | 7:00pm (8:00 Central) |
@Colorado Ice Colorado Ice The Colorado Ice is a professional indoor football team. They are a member of the Indoor Football League . Their home games are played at the Budweiser Events Center in Loveland, Colorado, which is also the home of the CHL's Colorado Eagles... |
L 26-37 | 0-1 |
| 2 | Bye | ||||
| 3 | March 13 (Sun) | 7:11pm | @Bricktown Brawlers Bricktown Brawlers The Bricktown Brawlers were an Indoor Football League team that played in the 2011 season. Based in Oklahoma City, the Brawlers played its home games at Cox Convention Center... |
L 20-29 | 0-2 |
| 4 | March 18 (Fri) | 7:05pm | Wyoming Cavalry Wyoming Cavalry The Wyoming Cavalry are a professional indoor football team of the Indoor Football League. They play their home games in Casper, Wyoming at Casper Events Center.... |
L 33-37 | 0-3 |
| 5 | March 25 (Fri) | 7:11pm | @West Texas Roughnecks | L 34-37 | 0-4 |
| 6 | April 2 (Sat) | 7:05pm | Allen Wranglers | L 51-52 | 0-5 |
| 7 | April 9 (Sat) | 7:05pm | Colorado Ice Colorado Ice The Colorado Ice is a professional indoor football team. They are a member of the Indoor Football League . Their home games are played at the Budweiser Events Center in Loveland, Colorado, which is also the home of the CHL's Colorado Eagles... |
L 24-27 | 0-6 |
| 8 | April 16 (Sat) | 7:05pm | @Wichita Wild Wichita Wild The Wichita Wild is a professional indoor football team located in Wichita, Kansas. The wild plays in the Indoor Football League the second biggest football league in the United States only after the NFL. The IFL was formed in 2008 through a merger between the Intense Football League and the... |
L 32-56 | 0-7 |
| 9 | April 23 (Sat) | 7:05pm | West Texas Roughnecks | L 23-66 | 0-8 |
| 10 | April 30 (Sat) | 7:05pm | Allen Wranglers | L 20-44 | 0-9 |
| 11 | Bye | ||||
| 12 | May 14 (Sat) | 7:05pm | Bricktown Brawlers Bricktown Brawlers The Bricktown Brawlers were an Indoor Football League team that played in the 2011 season. Based in Oklahoma City, the Brawlers played its home games at Cox Convention Center... |
W 50-35 | 1-9 |
| 13 | May 21 (Sat) | 7:35pm | @Allen Wranglers | W 36-33 | 2-9 |
| 14 | May 28 (Sat) | 7:05pm (8:05 Central) |
@Arizona Adrenaline Arizona Adrenaline The Arizona Adrenaline were a professional indoor football team of the Indoor Football League. The team was based in Prescott Valley, Arizona, with home games played at the Tim's Toyota Center.... |
W 79-32 | 3-9 |
| 15 | June 6 (Mon) | 7:05pm | Bricktown Brawlers Bricktown Brawlers The Bricktown Brawlers were an Indoor Football League team that played in the 2011 season. Based in Oklahoma City, the Brawlers played its home games at Cox Convention Center... |
W 77-0 | 4-9 |
| 16 | June 11 (Sat) | 7:11pm | @West Texas Roughnecks | L 24-37 | 4-10 |
2005 season
In their first year in the af2, the Amarillo Dusters reached the playoffs with an 8-8 record, which was good enough for a wildcard. The Dusters, led by Julian Reese, came from 21 points down at the start of the 4th quarter to quiet the Cox Convention CenterCox Convention Center
The Cox Business Services Convention Center is a multi-purpose complex, located in downtown Oklahoma City, Oklahoma....
crowd to win Round 1 over the Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz
Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz
The Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz was a member of the new Arena Football League. The team began play as a 2004 expansion team of the original Arena Football League's now-defunct minor league af2...
. The Dusters fell in Round 2 to the eventual-af2 champion Memphis Xplorers
Memphis Xplorers
The Memphis Xplorers were a professional arena football team. They were a 2001 expansion member of the af2. They played their home games at DeSoto Civic Center in Southaven, Mississippi ....
.
2006 season
The Dusters tried to build off of the moderate success they had in 2005. However, in 2006, the team suffered many injuries and failed to make it to the af2 playoffs. Quarterback Steve Panella was injured early in the season, forcing numerous backups to take the job. The Dusters then lost receivers. They ended the season with a 4–12 record.2007 season
Looking to rebound after the previous losing season, injuries plagued the Dusters' offense. After a win against the ubbock Renegades]The Dusters struggled for the remainder of the year but were still able end the Quincy CarterQuincy Carter
Lavonya Quintelle "Quincy" Carter is a former American football quarterback. He was drafted in the second round of the 2001 NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys...
-led Bossier-Shreveport Battle Wings
Bossier-Shreveport Battle Wings
The Bossier Shreveport Battle Wings were an Arena Football League team based in Bossier City, Louisiana. They played at the CenturyTel Center in Bossier City and represented both Bossier City and Shreveport...
' perfect season with a 51–49 upset.
Death of Donte Newsome
On July 5, 2008, Dusters running backRunning back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
Donte Newsome was shot to death outside of a nightclub in Huntington, West Virginia
Huntington, West Virginia
Huntington is a city in Cabell and Wayne counties in the U.S. state of West Virginia, along the Ohio River. Most of the city is in Cabell County, for which it is the county seat. A small portion of the city, mainly the neighborhood of Westmoreland, is in Wayne County. Its population was 49,138 at...
, home of his alma mater Marshall University
Marshall University
Marshall University is a coeducational public research university in Huntington, West Virginia, United States founded in 1837, and named after John Marshall, the fourth Chief Justice of the United States....
.
On The Field
Under the leasdership of Head Coach Chris MacKeown the Amarillo Dusters went 10-9 in 2008, and played for the af2 National Conference ArenaCup Finals. Following the Dusters most successful season, in their af2 history, MacKeown stepped up to AFL as the offensive coordinator for John Elway's Colorado Crush.Future
On October 25, 2007, the Dusters signed a contract to remain at the Amarillo Civic CenterAmarillo Civic Center
The Amarillo Civic Center is a multi-purpose convention center in Amarillo, Texas. Built in 1964, it consists of multiple facilities including:* A 2,848-seat auditorium with 2,324 permanent seats and used for concerts, Broadway shows and other events....
until at least 2011. It was announced that their offices would be moving into the historic Paramount Building in Downtown Amarillo.
Past
- Donte Newsome, RB/LB
- Jarrod Rouanzoin, WR/LB/QB
- Kendrick Walker, WR/DB/KR
- Kareem Larrimore DB
- Ron Jenerette, DL/OL
- Titus Ivory, FB/LB
- McDonald, Calvin OL/DL
- Belina, Rich OL/DL
- Patton, Joe OL