2010 Arkansas Diamonds season
The 2010 Arkansas Diamonds season was the franchise's eleventh season as a football franchise, first in the Indoor Football League, and only season as the "Arkansas Diamonds". The team, led by head coach Danton Barto, played their home games at the Verizon Arena in North Little Rock, Arkansas.[1] The Diamonds finished the regular season with an 11-3 record (6-1 in division play) and first place in the 2010 Lonestar East Division. The team's playoff run ended with a loss to the Billings Outlaws in the Intense Conference Finals. For the 2011 season, the team relocated to Texas as the Allen Wranglers.
| 2010 Arkansas Diamonds season | |
|---|---|
| Owner | Jim Smith |
| Head coach | Danton Barto |
| Home field | Verizon Arena North Little Rock, Arkansas |
| Results | |
| Record | 11-3 (regular season) |
| Division place | 1st, Lonestar East |
| Conference place | 2nd, Intense Conference |
| Playoff finish | Lost in conference finals |
Off-field moves
After the af2 league folded following the 2009 season, the Arkansas Twisters initially joined the newly formed Arena Football 1 but shifting league structure and concerns for stability lead to a November 2009 announcement that the team had jumped to the Indoor Football League.[2] However, the rights to the names and logos of the former af2 teams belonged to Arena Football 1.[3] Given the option of paying to buy or lease the trademarks, the Arkansas franchise chose instead to hold a "name the team" contest in late January and became the "Arkansas Diamonds" for the 2010 season.[4][5][6] (There had been another unrelated "Arkansas Diamonds" in the Southwest Independent Soccer League from 1989 to 1991 and in 1994 in the United States Interregional Soccer League.[7] Arkansas is the site of the only diamond mine in the United States.[8]) The new team colors for 2010 were Carolina blue, black, and gray.[9]
Diamonds head coach Danton Barto had been coaching the Manchester Wolves in af2 for the 2008 and 2009 seasons.[10] He was the head coach of the Las Vegas Gladiators of the Arena Football League in 2007. In 2005, Barto was head coach of the Memphis Xplorers and led them to win ArenaCup VI, the 2005 af2 championship.[9]
As the season came to a close, rumors circulated (later proved true) that the team's ownership wanted to move the franchise as soon as possible for financial reasons.[11][12] One reporter compared the team's playoff run to the 1989 comedy Major League in which the players rally to win in order to frustrate the owner's relocation plans.[1][11] Two months after the playoffs, in September 2009, team owner Jim Smith announced that the franchise was relocating to Allen, Texas, a prosperous suburb of Dallas.[13]
Roster moves
The team held its first open tryout for the 2010 season on December 12, 2009, at the D1 Sports Training Center in Little Rock, Arkansas. Prospects paid $50 to register and were judged on their performance in the 40-yard dash and 20-yard shuttle, vertical jump and agility challenges, plus select skills specific to each position.[14] To expand its search for players, the team held a second open tryout on January 17, 2010, on the campus of Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, Arkansas.[15]
On December 15, the team announced that its first official player signing for the 2010 season was arena football quarterback James Pinkney. He had spent the 2009 season as the quarterback of the af2's Manchester Wolves.[16]
The Diamonds opened their 2010 training camp on February 15, less than two weeks before the start of the 2010 season. The camp used the practice facilities at Jacksonville High School in Jacksonville, Arkansas, and Cabot High School in Cabot, Arkansas.[17]
In post-season honors, Diamonds defensive lineman Luis Vasquez was named all-IFL second team.[18][19]
Schedule
Win Tie Loss Bye
Regular season
| Week | Day | Date | Kickoff | Opponent | Results | Location | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Final Score | Team Record | ||||||
| 1 | Sunday | February 28 | 4:05pm | at Corpus Christi Hammerheads | W 26-18[20] | 1-0 | American Bank Center |
| 2 | Bye | ||||||
| 3 | Friday | March 12 | 7:35pm | San Angelo Stampede Express | W 33-26 | 2-0 | Verizon Arena |
| 4 | Saturday | March 20 | 7:05pm | Austin Turfcats | L 29-31 | 2-1 | Verizon Arena |
| 5 | Saturday | March 27 | 7:00pm | Abilene Ruff Riders | W 53-34[21] | 3-1 | Verizon Arena |
| 6 | Saturday | April 3 | 7:05pm | Corpus Christi Hammerheads | W 35-21[22] | 4-1 | Verizon Arena |
| 7 | Bye | ||||||
| 8 | Saturday | April 17 | 7:05pm | at San Angelo Stampede Express | W 23-10[23] | 5-1 | San Angelo Coliseum |
| 9 | Saturday | April 24 | 7:00pm | at Abilene Ruff Riders | W 26-23[24] | 6-1 | Taylor County Expo Center |
| 10 | Saturday | May 1 | 7:05pm | West Texas Roughnecks | W 71-28[25] | 7-1 | Verizon Arena |
| 11 | Saturday | May 8 | 7:05pm | Omaha Beef | L 33-71[26] | 7-2 | Verizon Arena |
| 12 | Saturday | May 15 | 7:11pm | at West Texas Roughnecks | W 41-29 | 8-2 | Ector County Coliseum |
| 13 | Saturday | May 22 | 7:05pm | at Amarillo Venom | L 20-35[27] | 8-3 | Cal Farley Coliseum |
| 14 | Saturday | May 29 | 6:30pm | at Austin Turfcats | W 21-16 | 9-3 | Luedecke Arena |
| 15 | Friday | June 4 | 7:35pm | Amarillo Venom | W 68-41[28] | 10-3 | Verizon Arena |
| 16 | Bye | ||||||
| 17 | Saturday | June 19 | 6:30pm | at Austin Turfcats | W 54-40 | 11-3 | Luedecke Arena |
Playoffs
| Round | Day | Date | Kickoff | Opponent | Results | Location | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Final Score | Team Record | ||||||
| 1 | Saturday | June 26 | 7:05pm | Corpus Christi Hammerheads | W 44-29[29] | --- | Verizon Arena |
| 2 | Saturday | July 3 | 7:05pm | Amarillo Venom | W 46-31[30] | --- | Cal Farley Coliseum[19] |
| 3 | Saturday | July 10 | 7:00pm | Billings Outlaws | L 42-53[31] | --- | Rimrock Auto Arena at MetraPark[9] |
Standings
| 2010 Lonestar East Division | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W | L | T | PCT | GB | DIV | PF | PA | STK | |
| y-Arkansas Diamonds | 11 | 3 | 0 | 0.786 | — | 6–1 | 533 | 423 | W3 |
| x-San Angelo Stampede Express | 10 | 4 | 0 | 0.714 | 1.0 | 4–2 | 603 | 521 | W3 |
| x-Corpus Christi Hammerheads | 6 | 8 | 0 | 0.429 | 5.0 | 3–4 | 501 | 567 | L2 |
| Austin Turfcats | 2 | 12 | 0 | 0.143 | 8.0 | 1–7 | 428 | 606 | L10 |
Roster
| 2010 Arkansas Diamonds roster | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Quarterbacks
Running Backs
Wide Receivers
| Offensive Linemen
Defensive Linemen
| Linebackers Defensive Backs
Kickers
| Injured Reserve
Exempt List
Rookies in italics | |||
References
- ^ a b Carlisle, Candace (November 1, 2010). "Cowboys disappointing? Check out Wranglers". Dallas Business Journal. Retrieved October 12, 2012.
- ^ "Arkansas Twisters Join IFL". Our Sports Central (Press release). Arkansas Twisters. November 19, 2009. Retrieved October 14, 2012.
- ^ "Legal issue forces change by Dusters". Amarillo Globe-News. January 29, 2010. Retrieved October 13, 2012.
- ^ "Twisters taking suggestions for new name". Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Associated Press. January 29, 2010. Retrieved October 14, 2012.
- ^ "Twisters now the Diamonds". Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. February 4, 2010. Retrieved October 13, 2012.
- ^ Walker, Nick (February 5, 2010). "Twisters fans take shine to Diamonds nickname". Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. p. 25. Retrieved October 13, 2012.
- ^ "Sockadillos cruise past Diamonds". Austin American-Statesman. February 25, 1991. p. D3.
- ^ "Twisters Change Name to Arkansas Diamonds". KARK-TV. February 5, 2010. Archived from the original on January 17, 2013. Retrieved October 17, 2012.
- ^ a b c Zimmer, Mike (July 8, 2010). "Arkansas to test Outlaws on both sides of the ball". Billings Gazette. Retrieved October 14, 2012.
- ^ "Arkansas Twisters Name Barto Head Coach". Our Sports Central. November 19, 2009. Retrieved October 14, 2012.
- ^ a b Henry, Dave (July 6, 2010). "The Short List". Amarillo Globe-News. Retrieved October 14, 2012.
- ^ Irvin, Lindsay (September 16, 2010). . Arkansas Sports 360. Archived from the original on January 2, 2011. Retrieved October 25, 2012.
- ^ Welch, Matt (September 16, 2010). "Indoor football team bound for Allen, team name contest begins". Allen American-Star. Retrieved October 14, 2012.
- ^ "Arkansas Twister Announce First Open Tryout Date". Our Sports Central. December 8, 2009. Retrieved October 14, 2012.
- ^ "Twisters Looking Statewide For Players". Our Sports Central. January 11, 2010. Retrieved October 14, 2012.
- ^ "Arkansas Twisters Sign James Pinkney As Signal Caller". Our Sports Central. December 15, 2009. Retrieved October 14, 2012.
- ^ "Arkansas Diamonds Training Camp Begins". Our Sports Central. February 15, 2010. Retrieved October 14, 2012.
- ^ Hirsch, Jeremy (June 24, 2010). "Storm's Terry, Tubbs Named 2nd Team All-IFL". KELO-TV. Retrieved October 14, 2012.
- ^ a b Henry, Dave (July 3, 2010). "Fancy meeting you here; Venom WR started year with opponent". Amarillo Globe-News. Retrieved October 14, 2012.
- ^ Rivera, Rudy (March 1, 2010). "Hammerheads fall in opener". Corpus Christi Caller-Times. Retrieved October 13, 2012.
- ^ "Diamonds rough on Riders, who lose 3rd straight". Abilene Reporter-News. March 27, 2010. Retrieved October 14, 2012.
- ^ "Hammerheads allow early TD off open kickoff, never recover". Corpus Christi Caller-Times. April 4, 2010. Retrieved October 13, 2012.
- ^ Whitson, Mike (April 18, 2010). "Stampede slip after half". San Angelo Standard-Times. Retrieved October 14, 2012.
- ^ Richards, Joey D. (April 25, 2010). "Riders blow 11-point lead in loss to Diamonds". Abilene Reporter-News. Retrieved October 14, 2012.
- ^ Buehler, Kevin (May 1, 2010). "Indoor Football League: Roughnecks fall in Arkansas". Odessa American. Retrieved October 14, 2012.
- ^ "Football: Sankey engineers win by the Beef". Omaha World-Herald. May 8, 2010. Retrieved October 14, 2012.
- ^ Henry, Dave (May 23, 2010). "Venom defense takes shine off Diamonds". Amarillo Globe-News. Retrieved October 14, 2012.
- ^ Crise, Doug (June 5, 2010). "Arkansas blasts Venom". Amarillo Globe-News. Retrieved October 14, 2012.
- ^ "Arkansas ousts Corpus Christi from playoffs". Corpus Christi Caller-Times. June 28, 2010. Retrieved October 13, 2012.
- ^ Henry, Dave (July 4, 2010). "Amarillo bows out; Arkansas tops Venom, 46-31". Amarillo Globe-News. Retrieved October 14, 2012.
- ^ Zimmer, Mike (July 10, 2010). "Outlaws move on to the title game". Billings Gazette. Retrieved October 14, 2012.
External links
- Texas Revolution official website