The Washington Commandos were an arena football team based in Fairfax, Virginia. The Commandos were founded in 1987 and were an inaugural member of the Arena Football League (AFL), and were based in Landover, Maryland. After not playing during the 1988 season, the team returned for the 1989 season as the Maryland Commandos. Following the 1989 season, the Commandos moved to Fairfax, Virginia, where they once again became known as the Washington Commandos. The team never achieved much success at either of its locations, winning four games in three seasons, including a winless 1989 season.
The Commandos had the honor of playing in the first AFL regular season game on June 19, 1987, losing to the Pittsburgh Gladiators 48–46 at the Civic Arena.[1][2] The Commandos picked up their first win in franchise history the following week, when they defeated the Denver Dynamite, by a score of 36–20 in their home opener.[3] The Commandos finished the season with a 2–4 record,[4] a disappointment, but the team was in every game except one, losing three games by a total of six points.
After a one-year hiatus, the Commandos returned to play in 1989 and operated as the "Maryland Commandos", playing their only home game that year at the same venue as in 1987, Landover's Capital Centre.[5] The team went 0–4 in the abbreviated 'travelin' season of 1989. The Commandos coaching staff consisted of Ray Willsey, Mike Hohensee, Mike Dailey, and Jerry Kurz. Hohensee, Dailey, and Kurz would all become members of the Arena Football Hall of Fame.
The team returned to the Washington name for their final season in 1990. They were coached by Hohensee, who had been promoted from his assistant position.[6] The Commandos started the season 0–3.[7]
In 1999, Washington Redskins owner Daniel Snyder announced that he would bring an expansion team to DC to be called the Washington Warriors.[9] (At the time, there was speculation in the media that Snyder actually wanted to change the name of the Redskins to the Warriors, due to the controversy over the NFL's team monicker.) But after a ten-year wait and the AFL's canceling its season in 2009, that never materialized.[10]
All-time regular season and postseason record (1987–1990)
Referencesedit
^"Arena Football Debuts". The New York Times. June 21, 1987. Retrieved September 19, 2013.
^Gary Tuma (June 20, 1987). "Gladiators smashing in 48-46 win". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved September 19, 2013.
^"Commandos win home-opener". The Free Lance-Star. June 29, 1987. Retrieved September 19, 2013.
^"Commandos 52, Gladiators 31". www.apnewsarchive.com. Associated Press. July 24, 1987. Retrieved September 19, 2013.
^Kevin James Shay (September 3, 2013). "Arena Football League considering putting team at proposed Shady Grove venue". www.gazette.net. Post-Newsweek Media, Inc./Gazette.Net. Retrieved September 19, 2013.
^Tom Boggie (June 9, 1990). "Firebirds Host Commandos In Arena Football Opener". The Daily Gazette. Retrieved September 19, 2013.
^David Fink (June 23, 1990). "Barretta leads Glads over Commandos". Pittsburgh Post=Gazette. Retrieved September 19, 2013.
^"ArenaFan Online : Washington Commandos - Team History - 1990". www.arenafan.com. ArenaFan.
^Are You Ready for the Washington Warriors?, Bryan Curtis, Slate.com, May 6, 2002
^Cheap Seats Daily: Washington Warriors Won't Ever Play in the AFL?, Dave McKenna, Washington City Paper, August 5, 2009
^Leonsis close to securing Arena Football League team for D.C., WTOP Radio website, February 10, 2016
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Not to be confused with Washington Commanders the current National Football League team The Washington Commandos were an arena football team based in Fairfax Virginia The Commandos were founded in 1987 and were an inaugural member of the Arena Football League AFL and were based in Landover Maryland After not playing during the 1988 season the team returned for the 1989 season as the Maryland Commandos Following the 1989 season the Commandos moved to Fairfax Virginia where they once again became known as the Washington Commandos The team never achieved much success at either of its locations winning four games in three seasons including a winless 1989 season Washington CommandosEstablished 1987Folded 1990Played in Patriot Center in Fairfax VirginiaLeague conference affiliationsArena Football League 1987 1989 1990 Current uniformTeam colorsRed blue white PersonnelHead coachMike HohenseeTeam historyWashington Commandos 1987 1990 Maryland Commandos 1989 ChampionshipsLeague championships 0 Conference championships 0 Prior to 2005 the AFL did not have conference championship gamesDivision championships 0 Prior to 1992 the AFL did not have divisionHome arena s Capital Centre 1987 amp 1989 Patriot Center 1990 Contents 1 History 1 1 Inaugural season 1987 1 2 Move to Maryland 1989 1 3 Return to Virginia 1990 2 Return of the AFL in Washington 3 Notable players 3 1 Final roster 3 2 Arena Football League Hall of Famers 3 3 All Arena players 4 Head coaches 5 Season by season results 6 References 7 External linksHistory editInaugural season 1987 edit Main article 1987 Washington Commandos season The Commandos had the honor of playing in the first AFL regular season game on June 19 1987 losing to the Pittsburgh Gladiators 48 46 at the Civic Arena 1 2 The Commandos picked up their first win in franchise history the following week when they defeated the Denver Dynamite by a score of 36 20 in their home opener 3 The Commandos finished the season with a 2 4 record 4 a disappointment but the team was in every game except one losing three games by a total of six points Move to Maryland 1989 edit Main article 1989 Maryland Commandos season After a one year hiatus the Commandos returned to play in 1989 and operated as the Maryland Commandos playing their only home game that year at the same venue as in 1987 Landover s Capital Centre 5 The team went 0 4 in the abbreviated travelin season of 1989 The Commandos coaching staff consisted of Ray Willsey Mike Hohensee Mike Dailey and Jerry Kurz Hohensee Dailey and Kurz would all become members of the Arena Football Hall of Fame Return to Virginia 1990 edit Main article 1990 Washington Commandos season The team returned to the Washington name for their final season in 1990 They were coached by Hohensee who had been promoted from his assistant position 6 The Commandos started the season 0 3 7 In 1987 and 1989 the team played its home games at the Capital Centre later known as USAir Arena in Landover Maryland For the 1990 season the team was based at the Patriot Center on the campus of George Mason University in Fairfax Virginia 8 Return of the AFL in Washington editIn 1999 Washington Redskins owner Daniel Snyder announced that he would bring an expansion team to DC to be called the Washington Warriors 9 At the time there was speculation in the media that Snyder actually wanted to change the name of the Redskins to the Warriors due to the controversy over the NFL s team monicker But after a ten year wait and the AFL s canceling its season in 2009 that never materialized 10 In 2016 it was announced that Ted Leonsis of Monumental Sports owner of the NBA s Washington Wizards WNBA s Washington Mystics and the NHL s Washington Capitals was launching an expansion franchise that would play at the Verizon Center in Washington DC in 2017 11 12 The Washington Valor played from 2017 until 2019 when the league was suspended Notable players editFinal roster edit Washington Commandos rosterQuarterbacks Tony Burris Mike RhodesWide receivers Defensive backs Chris Armstrong Charlie Brown Derrick Donald Russell Hairston Ray Puryear Jim Rafferty Rob Sterling Running backs Linebackers Jeff Blankenship Mickey Paige John Rymiszewski Fred Smalls Fernando McWherterOffensive linemen Defensive linemen Patrick Cain Matt Conerly Anthony Corvino Rod Ferguson Jeff Garneca Chuck Harris Bill Leach Andrew Marlatt Rodney Smith Wide receivers Linebackers Dan Burmeister Alvin Blount 20 Wade LockettKickers Dan PlockiRookies in italicsRoster updated March 13 201326 Active 0 Inactive 0 PSArena Football League Hall of Famers edit Washington Commandos Hall of FamersNo Name Year Inducted Position s Years w Commandos Mike Dailey 2012 Assistant Coach 1989 1990 Dwayne Dixon 1998 WR DB 1987 Mike Hohensee 2012 Asst Head Coach 1989 199067 Jon Roehlk 1999 OL DL 1987All Arena players edit The following Commandos players were named to All Arena Teams QB Rich Ingold 1 WR DB Dwayne Dixon 1 Lenny Taylor 1 Chris Armstrong 1 OL DL Jon Roehlk 1 Michael Witteck 1 Chuck Harris 2 K Dale Castro 1 Head coaches editName Term Regular season Playoffs AwardsW L T Win W LBob Harrison 1987 2 4 0 333 0 0Ray Willsey 1989 0 4 0 000 0 0Mike Hohensee 1990 2 6 0 250 0 0Season by season results editArenaBowl Champions Division Champions Wild Card Berth League LeaderSeason Team League Division Regular season Postseason resultsFinish Wins Losses TiesWashington Commandos1987 1987 AFL 3rd 2 4 0Maryland Commandos1989 1989 AFL 5th 0 4 0Washington Commandos1990 1990 AFL 6th 2 6 0Totals 4 14 0 All time regular season record 1987 1990 0 0 All time postseason record 1987 1990 4 14 0 All time regular season and postseason record 1987 1990 References edit Arena Football Debuts The New York Times June 21 1987 Retrieved September 19 2013 Gary Tuma June 20 1987 Gladiators smashing in 48 46 win Pittsburgh Post Gazette Retrieved September 19 2013 Commandos win home opener The Free Lance Star June 29 1987 Retrieved September 19 2013 Commandos 52 Gladiators 31 www apnewsarchive com Associated Press July 24 1987 Retrieved September 19 2013 Kevin James Shay September 3 2013 Arena Football League considering putting team at proposed Shady Grove venue www gazette net Post Newsweek Media Inc Gazette Net Retrieved September 19 2013 Tom Boggie June 9 1990 Firebirds Host Commandos In Arena Football Opener The Daily Gazette Retrieved September 19 2013 David Fink June 23 1990 Barretta leads Glads over Commandos Pittsburgh Post Gazette Retrieved September 19 2013 ArenaFan Online Washington Commandos Team History 1990 www arenafan com ArenaFan Are You Ready for the Washington Warriors Bryan Curtis Slate com May 6 2002 Cheap Seats Daily Washington Warriors Won t Ever Play in the AFL Dave McKenna Washington City Paper August 5 2009 Leonsis close to securing Arena Football League team for D C WTOP Radio website February 10 2016 AFL Lands New Team in Nation s Capital ArenaFootball com March 10 2016External links editWashington Commandos at ArenaFan com Maryland Commandos at ArenaFan com Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Washington Commandos amp oldid 1162610637, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
