2009 Arkansas Twisters season

May 2014 Arkansas Twisters 2009 11-5 (regular season) 2nd, Southwestern Division Chris Siegfried Jim SmithJeff Everetts Verizon ArenaNorth Little Rock, Arkansas Lost to Boise Burn in 1st Round 2010 Arkansas Diamonds season (IFL) The 2009 Arkansas Twisters season was the franchise's tenth season as a football franchise, last in the arenafootball2 league, and final season as the "Arkansas Twisters". The National Conference team, led by head coach Chris Siegfried, played their home games on Allstate Field at Alltel Arena (which changed names to "Verizon Arena" mid-season) in North Little Rock, Arkansas. The Diamonds finished the 2009 regular season with an 11-5 record and 2nd place in the Southwest Division. The team's playoff run ended with a 36-77 loss to the Boise Burn in the first round. Off-field moves After two seasons in the Central Division of the National Conference, the Twisters were realigned to the Southwest Division for the 2009 season. They joined the Bossier–Shreveport Battle Wings, Corpus Christi Sharks, and Rio Grande Valley Dorados in the Southwest Division. The Twisters re-signed head coach Chris Siegfried for a second season after leading the team to a winning record and a short playoff run in 2008. The assistant coaches for 2009 were former Dallas Cowboys fullback and first-year coach Robert Thomas, four-time ArenaBowl champion player and 2004 ArenaBowl Defensive MVP Omar Smith, plus veteran assistant coach and East Tennessee State University alum Travis Crusenberry. In April 2009, the team was alerted that two active players had been assigned the "retired" jersey numbers of former Twisters players Reggie Swinton and Kahlil Carter. The team blamed the error on a "former employee" who had ordered the team's new uniforms without checking with veteran front office staff. 2009 was the final year for Arkansas in arenafootball2 (af2) as the league was merged with remnants of the original Arena Football League to create Arena Football 1. Although they signed on as a charter member of Arena Football 1, Twisters ownership soon had issues with league restructuring and financial stability so they jumped to the Indoor Football League. To avoid buying the rights to the team's name and logo, the Arkansas franchise held a "name the team" contest and became the Arkansas Diamonds for the 2010 season, their last before relocating to Texas. Arkansas is the site of the only diamond mine in the United States. Roster moves When pre-season training camp began on March 6, 2009, players included the 2008 AF2 Offensive Player of the Year, quarterback Kyle Rowley, plus defensive back Lawrence Richardson, wide receiver Robert Johnson, kicker James Paul, and prospect Xavier Lee. Receiver Rod Harper left the team mid-season in June 2009 when he signed with the NFL's New Orleans Saints. Harper was the second Twisters player to jump directly from AF2 to the NFL. (The first was Reggie Swinton who played for the Twisters in 2000 before being signed by the Dallas Cowboys in 2001.) Schedule #CCFFCC Win 1px solid #AAAAAA #FFFFCC Tie 1px solid #AAAAAA #FFCCCC Loss 1px solid #AAAAAA #CCCCCC Bye 1px solid #AAAAAA Pre-season Week Day Date Kickoff Opponent Results Location Final Score Team Record1WednesdayMarch 187:05pmat Spokane ShockL 28-35---Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena Regular season Week Day Date Kickoff Opponent Results Location Attendance Final Score Team Record1SaturdayMarch 287:05pmBossier–Shreveport Battle WingsW 39-381-0Alltel Arena 3,8192SaturdayApril 47:00pmat Amarillo DustersW 45-242-0Amarillo Civic Center 2,4483SaturdayApril 117:05pmRio Grande Valley DoradosW 77-643-0Alltel Arena 3,4554SaturdayApril 187:05pmTennessee Valley VipersL 60-613-1Alltel Arena 3,7395FridayApril 247:30pmat Green Bay BlizzardW 62-474-1Resch Center 5,8656SaturdayMay 27:00pmat Bossier–Shreveport Battle WingsL 61-694-2CenturyTel Center 2,9787SaturdayMay 97:05pmFlorida FirecatsW 55-425-2Alltel Arena 3,6988SaturdayMay 169:00pmat Central Valley CoyotesW 68-516-2Selland Arena 1,8569 Bye10SaturdayMay 307:05pmat Corpus Christi SharksW 82-597-2American Bank Center 3,84211SaturdayJune 67:05pmOklahoma City Yard DawgzL 54-567-3Alltel Arena 4,26312SaturdayJune 137:00pmat Tulsa TalonsL 47-567-4BOK Center 5,51113SaturdayJune 207:05pmAmarillo VenomW 63-628-4Alltel Arena 3,14214SaturdayJune 277:05pmat Rio Grande Valley DoradosW 57-549-4Dodge Arena 4,41015 Bye16SaturdayJuly 117:05pmCorpus Christi SharksW 57-4710-4Verizon Arena* 3,25017SaturdayJuly 187:05pmTulsa TalonsW 81-5511-4Verizon Arena* 4,26118SaturdayJuly 257:00pmat Bossier–Shreveport Battle WingsL 50-6411-5CenturyTel Center 5,612 Because of the sale of Alltel to Verizon Wireless, the Alltel Arena was renamed "Verizon Arena" on July 1, 2009. Playoffs Round Day Date Kickoff Opponent Results Location Attendance Final Score Team Record1SaturdayAugust 17:00pmat Boise BurnL 36-77---Qwest Arena 2,887 Roster 2009 Arkansas Twisters roster Quarterbacks 3 Kyle Rowley Running backs 6 Olan Coleman 25 Chad Cook Wide receivers 81 Aaron Fairooz 24 Cameron Kinard 17 Xavier Lee 15 Kenneth Williams Offensive linemen 79 Brandon Leyritz 60 Isaac Morales 74 Derik Stotland Defensive linemen 55 Vegas Franklin 52 Tramaine Jehovah 42 Aaron Robbins 1 Jerry Turner Linebackers 19 Bernard Morris Defensive backs 8 Brandon Freeman 2 Lawrence Richardson 4 Travis Roland 21 James Todd Kickers 23 Taylor Rowan Injured Reserve currently vacant Exempt list currently vacant rookies in italics Roster updated July 25, 2009 20 Active, 0 Inactive → More rosters References 2 KARK-TV Arkansas Twisters Release '09 Schedule http://arkansasmatters.com/fulltext?nxd_id=146481 November 11, 2008 October 17, 2012 https://archive.today/20130117024334/http://arkansasmatters.com/fulltext?nxd_id=146481 January 17, 2013 dead mdy-all Arkansas Sports 360 Arkansas Business Publishing Group Arena Football: Twisters Change Divisions, Release 2009 Schedule http://www.arkansassports360.com/12625/arena-football-twisters-change-divisions-release-2009-schedule November 12, 2008 October 25, 2012 Philip Seaton Arkansas Sports 360 Arkansas Twisters' Roster Starting to Take Shape in Preparation for Upcoming Season http://www.arkansassports360.com/13122/arkansas-twisters-roster-starting-to-take-shape-in-preparation-for-upcoming-season January 23, 2009 October 25, 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120722141942/http://www.arkansassports360.com/13122/arkansas-twisters-roster-starting-to-take-shape-in-preparation-for-upcoming-season July 22, 2012 Our Sports Central Twisters Coaching Staff Brings Rings http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3787410 March 9, 2009 October 26, 2012 The Spokesman-Review Spokane, Washington Shock Win Exhibition; Spokane holds off Arkansas in sloppy preseason game http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=SR&p_theme=sr&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=127286485D2770A0&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM March 19, 2009 October 25, 2012 Shreveport Times Battle Wings lose season opener 4 https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/shreveporttimes/access/1703608991.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Mar+29%2C+2009&author=&pub=The+Times&edition=&startpage=4&desc=Battle+Wings+lose+season+opener https://archive.today/20130131144613/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/shreveporttimes/access/1703608991.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Mar+29,+2009&author=&pub=The+Times&edition=&startpage=4&desc=Battle+Wings+lose+season+opener dead January 31, 2013 March 29, 2009 October 26, 2012 Arkansas Sports 360 Arkansas Business Publishing Group Arena Football: Rowley Accounts for 6 TDs in Twisters Second Win http://www.arkansassports360.com/13586/arena-football-rowley-accounts-for-6-tds-in-twisters-second-win April 6, 2009 October 25, 2012 Arkansas Sports 360 Arkansas Business Publishing Group Twisters Down Rio Grande Valley; Improve to 3-0 http://www.arkansassports360.com/13613/twisters-down-rio-grande-valley-improve-to-3-0 April 11, 2009 October 25, 2012 Phillip Seaton Arkansas Sports 360 Arkansas Business Publishing Group Twisters' Flub, Use Retired Jerseys http://www.arkansasbusiness.com/article/17617/twisters-flub-use-retired-jerseys April 18, 2009 October 16, 2014 Arkansas Sports 360 Arkansas Business Publishing Group Tennessee Valley Drops Twisters 61-60 in Final Seconds http://www.arkansassports360.com/13637/tennessee-valley-drops-twisters-61-60-in-final-seconds April 19, 2009 October 25, 2012 Green Bay Press Gazette Green Bay, Wisconsin Arena football: Twisters dismantle Blizzard at Resch C1 http://archive.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20090425/GPG0211/904250552/Arena-football-story-photos-Twisters-dismantle-Blizzard-Resch April 25, 2009 October 26, 2012 Jimmy Watson Shreveport Times Man of many words 1 https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/shreveporttimes/access/1700583771.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=May+2%2C+2009&author=Jimmy+Watson&pub=The+Times&edition=&startpage=1&desc=Man+of+many+words https://archive.today/20130201013951/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/shreveporttimes/access/1700583771.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=May+2,+2009&author=Jimmy+Watson&pub=The+Times&edition=&startpage=1&desc=Man+of+many+words dead February 1, 2013 May 2, 2009 October 26, 2012 Bossier Press-Tribune Lancaster, defense impressive in 69-61 win over Arkansas http://www.nwlanews.com/index2.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=13952&pop=1&page=0&Itemid=27 May 4, 2009 October 22, 2009 April 2019 InternetArchiveBot yes Naples Daily News Naples, Florida af2: Arkansas QB-WR tandem puts away Firecats http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2009/may/09/af2-arkansas-qb-wr-tandem-puts-away-firecats/ May 9, 2009 October 26, 2012 The Arkansas Twisters opened the second half with two scores to wrest control of the game in a 55-42 victory Saturday night over the Florida Firecats. The News-Press Fort Myers, Florida Twisters overcome Firecats C6 https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/news_press/access/1709453101.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=May+10%2C+2009&author=&pub=The+News+Press&edition=&startpage=C.6&desc=Twisters+overcome+Firecats https://archive.today/20130131203153/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/news_press/access/1709453101.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=May+10,+2009&author=&pub=The+News+Press&edition=&startpage=C.6&desc=Twisters+overcome+Firecats dead January 31, 2013 May 10, 2009 October 26, 2012 Our Sports Central Twisters Win Again http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3825712 May 18, 2009 October 26, 2012 Erick Quintero Corpus Christi Caller-Times Corpus Christi, Texas Sharks can't handle Twisters, Harper; Arkansas WR makes 14 catches for 275 yards, 8 TDs http://www.caller.com/news/2009/may/31/sharks-cant-handle-twisters-harper/ May 31, 2009 October 26, 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20100330210559/http://www.caller.com/news/2009/may/31/sharks-cant-handle-twisters-harper/ March 30, 2010 Arkansas Sports 360 Arkansas Business Publishing Group Twisters' Harper Signs With New Orleans Saints http://www.arkansassports360.com/13813/twisters-harper-signs-with-new-orleans-saints June 4, 2009 October 25, 2012 KARK-TV Twisters Fall to OKC http://arkansasmatters.com/fulltext/?nxd_id=227901 June 6, 2009 October 17, 2012 https://archive.today/20130117072202/http://arkansasmatters.com/fulltext/?nxd_id=227901 January 17, 2013 dead mdy-all Robert Yates Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Twisters stumble minus Harper 32 http://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2009/jun/07/arena-football-2-twisters-stumble-minus-h-20090607/ June 7, 2009 October 26, 2012 Arkansas Democrat-Gazette AF2 Offense intercepted in loss by Twisters 37 http://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2009/jun/14/af2-offense-intercepted-loss-twisters-20090614/ June 14, 2009 October 26, 2012 Mike Brown Tulsa World Tulsa, Oklahoma Talons hold off Arkansas http://www.tulsaworld.com/sportsextra/article.aspx?subjectid=407&articleid=20090614_223_B1_Arkans576428 June 14, 2009 October 26, 2012 KARK-TV Arkansas Avoids 3 Game Losing Streak http://arkansasmatters.com/fulltext/?nxd_id=232162 June 20, 2009 October 17, 2012 https://archive.today/20130117222416/http://arkansasmatters.com/fulltext/?nxd_id=232162 January 17, 2013 dead mdy-all Robert Yates Arkansas Democrat-Gazette AF2 Twisters turn to UCA for help 34 http://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2009/jun/21/af2-twisters-turn-uca-help-20090621/ June 21, 2009 October 26, 2012 Darren Haynes KGBT-TV Late Field Goal Pushes Twisters Past Dorados http://www.valleycentral.com/sports/story.aspx?list=~\sports\lists\recent&id=318313 June 27, 2009 October 25, 2012 Aaron Nolan KARK-TV Twisters Top Rio Grande http://arkansasmatters.com/fulltext/?nxd_id=234001 June 27, 2009 October 17, 2012 https://archive.today/20130117115250/http://arkansasmatters.com/fulltext/?nxd_id=234001 January 17, 2013 dead mdy-all Arkansas Sports 360 Arkansas Business Publishing Group Arkansas Twisters http://www.arkansassports360.com/15764/arkansas-twisters June 29, 2009 October 25, 2012 Arkansas Democrat-Gazette NLR's Alltel Arena now Verizon Arena 13 http://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2009/jul/02/nlrs-alltel-arena-now-verizon-arena-20090702/ July 2, 2009 October 17, 2012 KARK-TV Twisters Win by 10 http://arkansasmatters.com/fulltext/?nxd_id=237472 July 11, 2009 October 17, 2012 https://archive.today/20130117030117/http://arkansasmatters.com/fulltext/?nxd_id=237472 January 17, 2013 dead mdy-all Doug Crise Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Twisters recover from 2nd-half lull 27 http://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2009/jul/12/arena-football-2-twisters-recover-2nd-hal-20090712/ July 12, 2009 October 26, 2012 Nick Walker Arkansas Democrat-Gazette AF2 Twisters win to set up showdown in finale 25 http://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2009/jul/19/af2-twisters-win-set-showdown-finale-20090719/ July 19, 2009 October 26, 2012 Aaron Nolan KARK-TV Twisters Keep Winning http://arkansasmatters.com/fulltext/?nxd_id=239111 July 19, 2009 October 17, 2012 https://archive.today/20130117083421/http://arkansasmatters.com/fulltext/?nxd_id=239111 January 17, 2013 dead mdy-all KARK-TV Twisters Move up in Polls http://arkansasmatters.com/fulltext/?nxd_id=240152 July 23, 2009 October 17, 2012 https://archive.today/20130117033545/http://arkansasmatters.com/fulltext/?nxd_id=240152 January 17, 2013 dead mdy-all Arkansas Democrat-Gazette AF2 Turnovers doom Twisters in road loss 37 http://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2009/jul/26/af2-turnovers-doom-twisters-road-loss-20090726/ July 26, 2009 October 26, 2012 Jimmy Watson Shreveport Times Wings take title; Bossier-Shreveport claims second straight Southwest Division championship 1 https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/shreveporttimes/access/1808445361.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Jul+26%2C+2009&author=Jimmy+Watson&pub=The+Times&edition=&startpage=1&desc=Wngs+take+title https://archive.today/20130131212357/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/shreveporttimes/access/1808445361.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Jul+26,+2009&author=Jimmy+Watson&pub=The+Times&edition=&startpage=1&desc=Wngs+take+title dead January 31, 2013 July 26, 2009 October 26, 2012 Jeremy Wayne KMVT-TV Burn Torch Twisters In First Round Playoff http://www.kmvt.com/sports/52275897.html August 1, 2009 October 25, 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120229135055/http://www.kmvt.com/sports/52275897.html February 29, 2012 SWX Right Now KHQ-TV Shock advance to the second round of playoffs http://www.swxrightnow.com/Global/story.asp?S=10832870 August 2, 2009 October 25, 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20140524023112/http://www.swxrightnow.com/Global/story.asp?S=10832870 May 24, 2014 dead Associated Press Victoria Advocate Twisters join new AF1 league http://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/2009/sep/29/bc-fbo-arkansas-twisters-af1/?sports&nfl September 29, 2009 October 25, 2012 Our Sports Central Arkansas Twisters Arkansas Twisters Join IFL http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3931073 November 19, 2009 October 14, 2012 Associated Press Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Twisters taking suggestions for new name http://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2010/jan/29/twisters-taking-suggestions-new-name/?sports January 29, 2010 October 14, 2012 Amarillo Globe-News Legal issue forces change by Dusters http://amarillo.com/stories/012910/loc_15670365.shtml January 29, 2010 October 13, 2012 Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Twisters now the Diamonds http://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2010/feb/04/twisters-now-diamonds/?latest February 4, 2010 October 13, 2012 KARK-TV Twisters Change Name to Arkansas Diamonds http://arkansasmatters.com/fulltext/?nxd_id=290002 February 5, 2010 October 17, 2012 https://archive.today/20130117042028/http://arkansasmatters.com/fulltext/?nxd_id=290002 January 17, 2013 dead mdy-all External links 2009 Arkansas Twisters Team History at ArenaFan.com Texas Revolution official website Category:Arkansas Twisters seasons Arkansas Twisters 2009 Arkansas Twisters 2009