Pensacola Power
Encyclopedia
The Gulf Coast Riptide is a women's American football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...

 full contact football team in the Women's Football Alliance
Women's Football Alliance
The Women's Football Alliance is a full-contact Women's American football league which began play in the spring of 2009. They have now completed three full seasons and grew to over 60 teams slated for the 2011 season. The women play 11 person tackle football games with rules that basically mirror...

 founded in 2001 as the Pensacola Power of the National Women's Football Association
National Women's Football Association
The National Women's Football Association was a full-contact American football league for women headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee. The league was founded by Catherine Masters in 2000, as the two benchmark teams, the Alabama Renegades and the Nashville Dream played each other six times in...

. The WFA plays under NFL rules with minor modifications such as ball size and kick off placement. Their home field is Escambia High School
Escambia High School
Escambia High School is a high school located in Escambia County, Florida.Malcolm Thomas is the current Superintendent of Schools for the Escambia County School District-History:...

 in West Pensacola.

2001 Season

The team's history started one cool Saturday morning in February 2001. That's when Catherine Masters (NWFA CEO & founder) held tryouts for the first women's football team in Pensacola. Ray Quinn (Head Coach & owner of the Alabama Renegades
Alabama Renegades
The Alabama Renegades was a women's full-contact American football team based in Huntsville, Alabama.-Team history:The Renegades were one of the founding teams of the National Women's Football Association back in the fall of 2000. The Renegades and the Nashville Dream played a six game exhibition...

) and Tim Smart (Power Head Coach Candidate) were on hand to greet the first batch of football hopefuls. Over 120 women tried out for the team over the next three weekends but only 60 could make the squad. After a laborious selection process, 60 women were chosen and the team was ready to get started.

The Power had less than 2 months to select a team, get in shape, order equipment and learn the fundamentals of the game. Expectations for the first season were understandably moderate. With 4 games against teams from Nashville
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...

 and Huntsville
Huntsville, Alabama
Huntsville is a city located primarily in Madison County in the central part of the far northern region of the U.S. state of Alabama. Huntsville is the county seat of Madison County. The city extends west into neighboring Limestone County. Huntsville's population was 180,105 as of the 2010 Census....

, (teams with 8 games under their belts) the Power was optimistically hoping for a 4-4 season.

The Power burst on the NWFA
NWFA
NWFA is an initialism which could mean:*National Women's Football Association*North West Frontier Agency*North West Film Archive...

 scene with a vengeance setting records for attendance ranging from a reported 2,500 to 5,000 fans per game. No one was disappointed. During the course of their first season the Power recorded the first ever undefeated regular season, earned the Southern Division Title with the 2nd ranked defense and the 2nd ranked offense in the league, had the leagues first and only 1,000 yard rusher (Jill Penderghest), the league leader in interceptions (Jodi Albright), the leagues’ best punter and field goal kicker (Emily Morgan) and earned a berth in the first ever National Women's Football Association
National Women's Football Association
The National Women's Football Association was a full-contact American football league for women headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee. The league was founded by Catherine Masters in 2000, as the two benchmark teams, the Alabama Renegades and the Nashville Dream played each other six times in...

 National Championship game. While the Power lost the championship game to nerves and the overwhelming size and strength of the Philadelphia Liberty Belles
Philadelphia Liberty Belles
The Philadelphia Liberty Belles are a team of the Women's Football Alliance which began play for its inaugural 2009 season. Home games are played on the campus of Wissahickon High School in Ambler, Pennsylvania....

, no one could have asked for a better start.

2002 Season

The 2002 season began under a heavy cloud of doubt. After an awesome 8-1 inaugural season but after bad management, the Power was given a new life. Bolstered by new ownership and confidence, the Power prepared for the 2002 season. With about 25 returning veterans the Power had a solid core to build on. The NWFA
NWFA
NWFA is an initialism which could mean:*National Women's Football Association*North West Frontier Agency*North West Film Archive...

 had added another 10 teams to the league and had recreated itself into five conferences. The Power found itself in the new Gulf Coast Division with teams from Biloxi, Panama City
Panama City
Panama is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Panama. It has a population of 880,691, with a total metro population of 1,272,672, and it is located at the Pacific entrance of the Panama Canal, in the province of the same name. The city is the political and administrative center of the...

 and New Orleans. The Power was quick to use its experience and power to dominate divisional opponents and wrapped up its’ second consecutive undefeated season and divisional title. They outscored their opponents 421-19. They had the #1 rated offense and the #2 rated defense in the league. The Power defeated the Alabama Renegades
Alabama Renegades
The Alabama Renegades was a women's full-contact American football team based in Huntsville, Alabama.-Team history:The Renegades were one of the founding teams of the National Women's Football Association back in the fall of 2000. The Renegades and the Nashville Dream played a six game exhibition...

 12-8 in the first round of the playoffs but fell to the eventual National Champion, the Detroit Danger by a score of 14-7. The Power has amassed a 17-2 (.894 winning percentage) record over the last two years.

Unlike the 2001 season the 2002 season was a success on and off the field. With new management and solid financial controls the Power ended the year with zero debt and the ability to start the 2003 season with a small balance in the bank.

2003 Season

Head Coach Tim Smart - who is a retired Air Force Officer currently coaching the 2006 champions (the D.C. Divas) receives orders and is unable to complete the season. The Power warms up with a home pre-season game against the Nashville Dream
Nashville Dream
The Nashville Dream was a women's professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee. They were one of the founding teams of the National Women's Football Association...

, winning 37-12. Coach Smart takes the Power to a regular season 7-0 record before he has to pack up. Coach Mike Thomas (defensive coordinator) takes over as head coach and the transition is smooth. Coach Thomas' first official game as head coach is a victory and seals up an incredible record of 8-0 for the season outscoring opponents 480-10. The Power is now undefeated in regular season play for the third consecutive year.

Entering the playoffs with an official Bye and home field advantage, the Power is ranked No. 1. The first match-up was against the Alabama Renegades
Alabama Renegades
The Alabama Renegades was a women's full-contact American football team based in Huntsville, Alabama.-Team history:The Renegades were one of the founding teams of the National Women's Football Association back in the fall of 2000. The Renegades and the Nashville Dream played a six game exhibition...

. With a victory of 32-12, the Power advanced to play Oklahoma City Lightning
Oklahoma City Lightning
The Oklahoma City Lightning is Oklahoma City full-contact women's American football team in the Women's Football Alliance. Home games are played at Taft Stadium....

. Again, the Power was successful with a victory of 26-14 and went on to the Championship in Nashville
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...

 TN. Although the Power played a head to head game at Vanderbilt
Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University is a private research university located in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. Founded in 1873, the university is named for shipping and rail magnate "Commodore" Cornelius Vanderbilt, who provided Vanderbilt its initial $1 million endowment despite having never been to the...

 against the Detroit Demolition
Detroit Demolition
The Detroit Demolition is a women's semi-professional American football team of the Women's Spring Football League based in the Detroit, Michigan area. During their most recent season, home games were played at Franklin High School in Livonia. They joined the National Women's Football Association...

, Detroit made wise use of the clock and went on to win the Championship Title with a score of 28-21. The Power holds a record of 10-1 for the 2003 Season and are the reigning Gulf Coast Division Champions and Southern Conference Champions. For the 2003 season, the Power were rated #1 Defense and #2 Offense in the NWFA
NWFA
NWFA is an initialism which could mean:*National Women's Football Association*North West Frontier Agency*North West Film Archive...

 according to Massy Ratings. The franchise record stands at 27-3 (.894), not including pre-season scrimmages. The National Title has so far managed to slip out of their grasp, but the Power has without a doubt established themselves as a national contender.

2004 Season

With Coach Mike Thomas leading the way, the Power saw some new competition, as their favorite rival the Alabama Renegades
Alabama Renegades
The Alabama Renegades was a women's full-contact American football team based in Huntsville, Alabama.-Team history:The Renegades were one of the founding teams of the National Women's Football Association back in the fall of 2000. The Renegades and the Nashville Dream played a six game exhibition...

 were shifted into a different division. Although the games were tougher as the competition gets more experienced, the Power had their 4th consecutive 8-0 regular season. New playoff rules put into place made the scenario such that you must beat each opponent by more than 30 points to ultimately gain the home field advantage. Teams who were given forfeits automatically were credited with a 30 point spread win. Although 8-0 and outscoring their opponents 398-57, the Power lost the home field advantage, was seeded #3 and had to travel for 2 out of 3 playoff games. The Power breezed their way through the first round defeating the Ashville Assault 61-0. The team met the always competitive Chattanooga Locomotion
Chattanooga Locomotion
The Chattanooga Locomotion is a team in the Independent Women's Football League based in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Home games are played on the campus of Red Bank High School....

 in the next round. This was the first time the two teams had met again since the 2001 season. The game began slowly with both teams showing some strengths and weaknesses but the Power opened things up in the second half and defeated the Locomotion 35-20. The final playoff game and Southern Conference Championship was against the Lightning in Oklahoma City
Oklahoma city
Oklahoma City is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of Oklahoma.Oklahoma City may also refer to:*Oklahoma City metropolitan area*Downtown Oklahoma City*Uptown Oklahoma City*Oklahoma City bombing*Oklahoma City National Memorial...

. The Power was disappointed as they weren't able to take the team to the final game with a loss to OKC. The franchise record after this season is 36-4 (.894) not including pre-season scrimmages.

2005 season

This time, riding another 8-0 season, the Power beat OKC in overtime earning a third appearance at the Championships. They traveled to Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...

 to play the Detroit Demolition for the NWFA
NWFA
NWFA is an initialism which could mean:*National Women's Football Association*North West Frontier Agency*North West Film Archive...

 Championship but they were literally out of their league as the were overpowered by a painful 74-0 loss.

2006 season

Limping home after their loss, the Power never quite recovered and suffered their first regular season loss in the franchise history to the Austin Outlaws
Austin Outlaws
The Austin Outlaws are a women's football team in the Women's Football Alliance. They are based in Austin, Texas. Home games are played at Chaparral Stadium on the campus of Westlake High School....

. They ended the 2006 season 6-2 but still captured their Southeast Division Title. The Power were beaten by the Columbus Comets
Columbus Comets
The Columbus Comets are a women's professional American football team based in Columbus, Ohio. They play in the Women's Football Alliance. The Comets played in the National Women's Football Association from their inception in 2003 until 2008...

 in the 2nd round of playoffs to end their 2006 season.

2007 season

Despite capturing a 7-1 record and another Southeast Division Title, the Power were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by the Columbus Comets
Columbus Comets
The Columbus Comets are a women's professional American football team based in Columbus, Ohio. They play in the Women's Football Alliance. The Comets played in the National Women's Football Association from their inception in 2003 until 2008...

 once again.

2008 season

Once again, the Power finished 6-2 and won the Southeast Division championship. Likewise, the Power were eliminated in the first round, losing 6-0 to the Kentucky Karma
Kentucky Karma
The Kentucky Karma is a team in the Women's Football Alliance. Based in Louisville, the Karma play their home games at South Oldham High School in Crestwood, Kentucky, approximately 20 miles northeast of Louisville...

.

2009 season

For the 2009 season, the Power moved to the Women's Football Alliance
Women's Football Alliance
The Women's Football Alliance is a full-contact Women's American football league which began play in the spring of 2009. They have now completed three full seasons and grew to over 60 teams slated for the 2011 season. The women play 11 person tackle football games with rules that basically mirror...

 and changed their name to the Gulf Coast Riptide. Despite another well-played season and another 6-2 record, for the first time in franchise history, the Riptide missed the playoffs. This is because of the WFA's new playoff system which did not allow for any wildcards from the American Conference and because of the Riptide's two losses to the Jacksonville Dixie Blues
Jacksonville Dixie Blues
The Jacksonville Dixie Blues are a women's American football team based in Jacksonville, Florida. Founded in 2001, they are currently members of the Women's Football Alliance , playing their home games on the campus of University Christian School....

.

2011 season

The 2011 season continued the downfall of their previous season. For only the second time in team history, the Riptide failed to win the division title or play any postseason games; also for the first time in team history, the team finished with a losing record at 3-5.

Season-By-Season

|-
| colspan="6" align="center" | Pensacola Power (NWFA)
|-
|2001 || 8 || 0 || 0 || 1st Unknown Division || Lost NWFA Championship (Philadelphia
Philadelphia Liberty Belles
The Philadelphia Liberty Belles are a team of the Women's Football Alliance which began play for its inaugural 2009 season. Home games are played on the campus of Wissahickon High School in Ambler, Pennsylvania....

)
|-
|2002 || 8 || 0 || 0 || 1st Gulf Coast || Won First Round (Alabama
Alabama Renegades
The Alabama Renegades was a women's full-contact American football team based in Huntsville, Alabama.-Team history:The Renegades were one of the founding teams of the National Women's Football Association back in the fall of 2000. The Renegades and the Nashville Dream played a six game exhibition...

)
Lost Semifinal (Detroit)
|-
|2003 || 8 || 0 || 0 || 1st South || First-round bye
Won Conference Semifinal (Alabama
Alabama Renegades
The Alabama Renegades was a women's full-contact American football team based in Huntsville, Alabama.-Team history:The Renegades were one of the founding teams of the National Women's Football Association back in the fall of 2000. The Renegades and the Nashville Dream played a six game exhibition...

)
Won Conference Championship (Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City Lightning
The Oklahoma City Lightning is Oklahoma City full-contact women's American football team in the Women's Football Alliance. Home games are played at Taft Stadium....

)
Lost NWFA Championship (Detroit
Detroit Demolition
The Detroit Demolition is a women's semi-professional American football team of the Women's Spring Football League based in the Detroit, Michigan area. During their most recent season, home games were played at Franklin High School in Livonia. They joined the National Women's Football Association...

)
|-
|2004 || 8 || 0 || 0 || 1st South Gulf Coast || Won Southern Conference Quarterfinal (Asheville)
Won Southern Conference Semifinal (Chattanooga
Chattanooga Locomotion
The Chattanooga Locomotion is a team in the Independent Women's Football League based in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Home games are played on the campus of Red Bank High School....

)
Lost Southern Conference Championship (Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City Lightning
The Oklahoma City Lightning is Oklahoma City full-contact women's American football team in the Women's Football Alliance. Home games are played at Taft Stadium....

)
|-
|2005 || 8 || 0 || 0 || T-1st South || Won South Division Semifinal (Chattanooga
Chattanooga Locomotion
The Chattanooga Locomotion is a team in the Independent Women's Football League based in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Home games are played on the campus of Red Bank High School....

)
Won South Division Championship (Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City Lightning
The Oklahoma City Lightning is Oklahoma City full-contact women's American football team in the Women's Football Alliance. Home games are played at Taft Stadium....

)
Lost NWFA Championship (Detroit
Detroit Demolition
The Detroit Demolition is a women's semi-professional American football team of the Women's Spring Football League based in the Detroit, Michigan area. During their most recent season, home games were played at Franklin High School in Livonia. They joined the National Women's Football Association...

)
|-
|2006 || 6 || 2 || 0 || 1st South East || First-round bye
Lost NWFA Quarterfinal (Columbus
Columbus Comets
The Columbus Comets are a women's professional American football team based in Columbus, Ohio. They play in the Women's Football Alliance. The Comets played in the National Women's Football Association from their inception in 2003 until 2008...

)
|-
|2007 || 7 || 1 || 0 || 1st South South || Lost Southern Conference Quarterfinal (Columbus
Columbus Comets
The Columbus Comets are a women's professional American football team based in Columbus, Ohio. They play in the Women's Football Alliance. The Comets played in the National Women's Football Association from their inception in 2003 until 2008...

)
|-
|2008 || 6 || 2 || 0 || 1st South Southeast || Lost Southern Conference Quarterfinal (Kentucky
Kentucky Karma
The Kentucky Karma is a team in the Women's Football Alliance. Based in Louisville, the Karma play their home games at South Oldham High School in Crestwood, Kentucky, approximately 20 miles northeast of Louisville...

)
|-
| colspan="6" align="center" | Gulf Coast Riptide (WFA)
|-
|2009 || 6 || 2 || 0 || 2nd American Southeast || --
|-
|2010 || colspan="6" rowspan="1" align="center" | Did Not Play
|-
|2011 || 3 || 5 || 0 || 3rd South Atlantic || --
|-
!Totals || 75 || 20 || 0
|colspan="2"| (including playoffs)

2009

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
April 25 New Orleans Blaze
New Orleans Blaze
The New Orleans Blaze is a women's American football team in the Women's Football Alliance. Formerly a member of the National Women's Football Association, they play at City Park, splitting their time between Pan American Stadium and Tad Gormley Stadium....

Home Won 28-0
May 2 Emerald Coast Barracudas
Emerald Coast Barracudas
The Emerald Coast Barracudas are a women's American football team in the Women's Football Alliance. Previously a member of the National Women's Football Association and known as the Panama City Beach Rumble and the Emerald Coast Sharks, they are based in Panama City, Florida...

Away Won 66-8
May 9 New Orleans Blaze Away Won 20-10
May 16 Memphis Belles
Memphis Belles
The Memphis Belles are a women's professional tackle football team and members of the Independent Women's Football League. Based in Memphis, Tennessee, the Memphis Belles played their 2010 home games at Halle Stadium football field in Memphis, Tennessee...

Home Won 55-8
May 30 Jacksonville Dixie Blues
Jacksonville Dixie Blues
The Jacksonville Dixie Blues are a women's American football team based in Jacksonville, Florida. Founded in 2001, they are currently members of the Women's Football Alliance , playing their home games on the campus of University Christian School....

Home Lost 36-49
June 13 Memphis Belles Away Won 54-20
June 20 Emerald Coast Barracudas Home Won 6-0**
June 27 Jacksonville Dixie Blues Away Lost 14-37

2011

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
April 2 Atlanta Heartbreakers Away Won 64-6
April 9 Miami Fury
Miami Fury
The Miami Fury is a football team in the Women's Football Alliance. Based in Miami, Florida, the Fury plays its home games at North Miami Athletic Stadium.-2000:...

Away Lost 14-52
April 30 Jacksonville Dixie Blues
Jacksonville Dixie Blues
The Jacksonville Dixie Blues are a women's American football team based in Jacksonville, Florida. Founded in 2001, they are currently members of the Women's Football Alliance , playing their home games on the campus of University Christian School....

Home Lost 14-21
May 7 Central Florida Anarchy
Central Florida Anarchy
The Orlando Anarchy are a women's American football team based in the Orlando, Florida area. They currently play in the Women's Football Alliance. They play their home games at Clermont Middle School in the suburb of Clermont, Florida....

Away Lost 14-41
May 14 Tampa Bay Pirates Home Won 18-13
May 21 Jacksonville Dixie Blues Away Lost 0-43
June 4 Central Florida Anarchy Home Lost 14-26
June 18 Carolina Raging Wolves
Carolina Raging Wolves
The Carolina Raging Wolves are a team of the Women's Football Alliance scheduled to begin play for the 2010 season. Home games will be played on the campus of St. Pauls High School in St...

Home Won 36-14


** = Won by forfeit

External links

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