Mississippi Mudcats
Encyclopedia
The Mississippi MudCats are a team of the American Indoor Football Association. They play their home games at BancorpSouth Arena in Tupelo, Mississippi
.
. One month later, it was announced that Todd Ellis, former Georgia Tech Football Player, would be the team owner and president.
A name-the team contest was held, and despite Ellis' preference of "Tupelo Kings" (which would have been in honor of Elvis Presley
-the "King of Rock 'n' Roll" was born in Tupelo), the team was christened the Mississippi MudCats (honoring the state's catfish
industry), the same day they would announce Brian Brents as their head coach.
In 2007 the Mudcats had a great first season and averaged over 3,200 fans per game more than any other team in the AIFA. At the end of the 2007 season, civil rights attorney Jim Waide bought the team from Todd Ellis the founder of the team.
After another great start, the MudCats won their final two games and the Division Playoff game against the Columbus Lions, ending their season with only 2 losses, the best record in the AIFA for 2008.
Tupelo had previously hosted another indoor football team, the Tupelo FireAnts
, who played in the NIFL and United Indoor Football
from 2002 until 2005.
In late 2008, owner Jim Waide has said he will not field a team in 2009 due to financial reasons and failure to find new owners. He has not ruled out a return in the future for the team.
Through Mr. Waide's and Ellis' efforts in the community the Mudcats team was beloved by the fans. In their community efforts they supported the Boys and Girls Clubs as well as other youth organizations near and around the Tupelo area.
|2007 || 11 || 3 || 0 || 2nd Southern || Won SC Round 1 (Tallahassee
)
Lost SC Championship (Lakeland
)
|-
|2008 || 13 || 1 || 0 || 1st WC Southern || Won WCS Round 1 (Columbus
)
Lost WC Championship (Wyoming
)
|-
|2009 || -- || -- || -- || -- || --
|-
!Totals || 26 || 6 || 0
|colspan="2"| (including playoffs)
Tupelo, Mississippi
Tupelo is the largest city in and the county seat of Lee County, Mississippi, United States. It is the seventh largest city in the state of Mississippi, smaller than Meridian, and larger than Greenville. As of the 2000 United States Census, the city's population was 34,211...
.
History
The team was announced on June 20, 2006, the same day as the team now known as the Danville DemolitionDanville Demolition
The Danville Demolition were an American Indoor Football Association team played in 2007. The team played their home games at the David S. Palmer Arena.- History :...
. One month later, it was announced that Todd Ellis, former Georgia Tech Football Player, would be the team owner and president.
A name-the team contest was held, and despite Ellis' preference of "Tupelo Kings" (which would have been in honor of Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
-the "King of Rock 'n' Roll" was born in Tupelo), the team was christened the Mississippi MudCats (honoring the state's catfish
Catfish
Catfishes are a diverse group of ray-finned fish. Named for their prominent barbels, which resemble a cat's whiskers, catfish range in size and behavior from the heaviest and longest, the Mekong giant catfish from Southeast Asia and the second longest, the wels catfish of Eurasia, to detritivores...
industry), the same day they would announce Brian Brents as their head coach.
In 2007 the Mudcats had a great first season and averaged over 3,200 fans per game more than any other team in the AIFA. At the end of the 2007 season, civil rights attorney Jim Waide bought the team from Todd Ellis the founder of the team.
After another great start, the MudCats won their final two games and the Division Playoff game against the Columbus Lions, ending their season with only 2 losses, the best record in the AIFA for 2008.
Tupelo had previously hosted another indoor football team, the Tupelo FireAnts
Tupelo FireAnts
The Tupelo FireAnts were a professional indoor football team that played their home games at the BancorpSouth Center in Tupelo, Mississippi. They started off as a charter member of the National Indoor Football League . Despite two seemingly good records in 2001 and 2004, they failed to make the...
, who played in the NIFL and United Indoor Football
United Indoor Football
United Indoor Football was a United States indoor football league that started in 2005. Ten owners from the National Indoor Football League, including one expansion and two from arenafootball2 took their franchises and formed their own league...
from 2002 until 2005.
In late 2008, owner Jim Waide has said he will not field a team in 2009 due to financial reasons and failure to find new owners. He has not ruled out a return in the future for the team.
Through Mr. Waide's and Ellis' efforts in the community the Mudcats team was beloved by the fans. In their community efforts they supported the Boys and Girls Clubs as well as other youth organizations near and around the Tupelo area.
Season-By-Season
|-|2007 || 11 || 3 || 0 || 2nd Southern || Won SC Round 1 (Tallahassee
Tallahassee Titans
The Tallahassee Titans were an American Indoor Football Association team that began play as a 2007 member. The team played its home games at the Donald L. Tucker Center in Tallahassee, Florida.-History:...
)
Lost SC Championship (Lakeland
Lakeland Thunderbolts
The Lakeland Thunderbolts are a professional indoor football team. They are a member of the American Indoor Football Association. They play their home games at the Lakeland Center.- History :...
)
|-
|2008 || 13 || 1 || 0 || 1st WC Southern || Won WCS Round 1 (Columbus
Columbus Lions
The Columbus Lions are an indoor football team of the Professional Indoor Football League. Based in Columbus, Georgia, the Lions play their home games at the Columbus Civic Center...
)
Lost WC Championship (Wyoming
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....
)
|-
|2009 || -- || -- || -- || -- || --
|-
!Totals || 26 || 6 || 0
|colspan="2"| (including playoffs)
2007 Season Schedule
| Date | Opponent | Home Home team In team sports, the term home advantage describes the advantage–usually a psychological advantage–that the home team is said to have over the visiting team as a result of playing in familiar facilities and in front of supportive fans... /Away Home team In team sports, the term home advantage describes the advantage–usually a psychological advantage–that the home team is said to have over the visiting team as a result of playing in familiar facilities and in front of supportive fans... |
Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| February 3 | Pittsburgh RiverRats Pittsburgh RiverRats The Erie Explosion is a professional indoor football team. It is a member of the Ultimate Indoor Football League, and plays its home games at the Louis J. Tullio Arena in Erie, Pennsylvania.-History:... |
Home | Won 54-34 |
| February 10 | Montgomery Bears Montgomery Bears The Montgomery Bears were a professional indoor football team that played their home games at the Garrett Coliseum in Montgomery, Alabama. They are a member of the American Indoor Football Association. The team began play as the Montgomery Maulers of the National Indoor Football League and won the... |
Home | Won 57-27 |
| February 17 | Lakeland Thunderbolts Lakeland Thunderbolts The Lakeland Thunderbolts are a professional indoor football team. They are a member of the American Indoor Football Association. They play their home games at the Lakeland Center.- History :... |
Home | Won 46-36 |
| February 24 | Gulf Coast Raiders | Home | Won 74-45 |
| March 10 | Tallahassee Titans Tallahassee Titans The Tallahassee Titans were an American Indoor Football Association team that began play as a 2007 member. The team played its home games at the Donald L. Tucker Center in Tallahassee, Florida.-History:... |
Away | Won 62-58 |
| March 17 | Florence Phantoms Florence Phantoms The Florence Phantoms was a professional arena football team based out of Florence, South Carolina, in the United States. They are a 2006 expansion member of the American Indoor Football Association, and the current AIFA Champions as of the 2008 season's end... |
Home | Won 63-14 |
| March 24 | Baltimore Blackbirds Baltimore Blackbirds The Baltimore Blackbirds were an indoor football team based in Baltimore, Maryland. They played the 2007 season as an expansion member of the American Indoor Football Association, at the 1st Mariner Arena.-History:... |
Home | Won 80-20 |
| April 2 | Montgomery Bears Montgomery Bears The Montgomery Bears were a professional indoor football team that played their home games at the Garrett Coliseum in Montgomery, Alabama. They are a member of the American Indoor Football Association. The team began play as the Montgomery Maulers of the National Indoor Football League and won the... |
Away | Won 62-37 |
| April 7 | Carolina Speed | Away | Lost 52-64 |
| April 14 | Tallahassee Titans Tallahassee Titans The Tallahassee Titans were an American Indoor Football Association team that began play as a 2007 member. The team played its home games at the Donald L. Tucker Center in Tallahassee, Florida.-History:... |
Home | Won 80-75 |
| April 28 | Carolina Speed | Home | Won 70-28 |
| May 5 | Lakeland Thunderbolts Lakeland Thunderbolts The Lakeland Thunderbolts are a professional indoor football team. They are a member of the American Indoor Football Association. They play their home games at the Lakeland Center.- History :... |
Away | Lost 31-54 |
| May 19 | Florence Phantoms Florence Phantoms The Florence Phantoms was a professional arena football team based out of Florence, South Carolina, in the United States. They are a 2006 expansion member of the American Indoor Football Association, and the current AIFA Champions as of the 2008 season's end... |
Away | Lost 45-44 |
| May 25 | Erie Freeze Erie Freeze The Erie Freeze was an American indoor football team based in Erie, Pennsylvania.They were an original member of the American Indoor Football League in 2005, and advanced to the first AIFL Championship Game. When the league was reorganized into the American Indoor Football Association in 2007, they... |
Away | Won 53-47 |
| June 10 | Tallahassee Titans Tallahassee Titans The Tallahassee Titans were an American Indoor Football Association team that began play as a 2007 member. The team played its home games at the Donald L. Tucker Center in Tallahassee, Florida.-History:... (Playoffs) |
Home | Won 62-32 |
| June 18 | Lakeland Thunderbolts Lakeland Thunderbolts The Lakeland Thunderbolts are a professional indoor football team. They are a member of the American Indoor Football Association. They play their home games at the Lakeland Center.- History :... (Playoffs) |
Away | Lost 62-84 |