| 2007 Pittsburgh RiverRats season | |
|---|---|
| Owner | Jeff Hauser |
| Head coach | Shawn Liotta |
| Home field | Rostraver Ice Garden 101 Gallitin Rd Belle Vernon, PA 15012 |
| Results | |
| Record | 7-7 |
| Division place | 4th |
| Playoff finish | Lost North Quarterfinals (Express) 24-42 |
The 2007 Pittsburgh RiverRats season was the 1st season for the American Indoor Football Association (AIFA) franchise. The Explosion began play in 2007 as the Pittsburgh RiverRats, playing that season's home games at the Rostraver Ice Garden in Rostraver Township, Pennsylvania.[1] The "RiverRats" name and logo were originally supposed to be used by the Reading Express, but that team chose the Express branding instead, freeing it up for use by another American Indoor Football League (AIFL) team.[2] In August 2006, more arguments came about the RiverRats name as a team in the Eastern Indoor Football League, called the 3 River Rats, had intentions of suing the RiverRats to retain the naming rights of the team.[3]
On August 20, 2006, the RiverRats signed quarterback David Dinkins, formerly of the Erie Freeze of the AIFA, and designated him as the team's franchise player for the 2007 season.[4]
The RiverRats played their first game on February 3, 2007 on the road in Tupelo, MS, but lost 54-34 to the Mississippi Mudcats.[5] Their first home game was on February 18, 2007 which they lost 35-28 to the Reading Express. Pittsburgh won its first home game by beating the Danville Demolition 47-21 on March 4, 2007, and then won its first away game by beating Danville a second time, on March 9, 2007, by a score of 34-29.[6] On May 19, 2007, the RiverRats set an AIFA single game record when they scored 86 points in a single game.[7]
The team finished their inaugural season at a respectable 7-7 record, good for fourth place in the Northern Conference and a wild-card playoff berth.[8] However, the RiverRats were eliminated in the first round, losing 42-24 to the eventual conference champions Reading Express.[9]
Schedule
Regular season
| Date | Opponent | Home/Away | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| February 3 | Mississippi Mudcats | Away | Lost 34-54 |
| February 18 | Reading Express | Home | Lost 28-35 |
| February 23 | Canton Legends | Away | Lost 11-45 |
| March 4 | Danville Demolition | Home | Won 47-21 |
| March 9 | Danville Demolition | Away | Won 34-29 |
| March 17 | Johnstown Riverhawks | Away | Lost 13-43 |
| March 30 | Johnstown Riverhawks | Home | Won 47-42 |
| April 14 | Florence Phantoms | Home | Won 66-60 |
| April 21 | Huntington Heroes | Away | Lost 34-55 |
| April 28 | Canton Legends | Home | Won 62-33 |
| May 6 | Reading Express | Away | Lost 40-57 |
| May 12 | Erie Freeze | Away | Won 52-45 |
| May 19 | Erie Freeze | Home | Won 86-72 |
| May 25 | Huntington Heroes | Home | Lost 26-69 |
| June 9 | Reading Express (Playoffs) | Away | Lost 24-42 |
Standings
| Team | Overall | Division | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wins | Losses | Percentage | Wins | Losses | Percentage | |
| Northern Division | ||||||
| Reading Express | 14 | 2 | 0.875 | 12 | 1 | 0.923 |
| Canton Legends | 10 | 4 | 0.714 | 9 | 3 | 0.750 |
| Huntington Heroes | 10 | 4 | 0.714 | 9 | 3 | 0.750 |
| Pittsburgh RiverRats | 7 | 7 | 0.500 | 6 | 6 | 0.500 |
| Johnstown Riverhawks | 6 | 9 | 0.400 | 5 | 6 | 0.417 |
| Danville Demolition | 1 | 12 | 0.077 | 1 | 11 | 0.083 |
| Erie Freeze | 1 | 13 | 0.071 | 1 | 11 | 0.083 |
| Southern Division | ||||||
| Lakeland Thunderbolts | 11 | 2 | 0.846 | 9 | 2 | 0.818 |
| Mississippi MudCats | 11 | 3 | 0.786 | 9 | 3 | 0.750 |
| Tallahassee Titans | 11 | 3 | 0.786 | 9 | 3 | 0.750 |
| Carolina Speed | 7 | 7 | 0.500 | 5 | 6 | 0.417 |
| Montgomery Bears | 5 | 9 | 0.357 | 4 | 8 | 0.333 |
| Florence Phantoms | 4 | 9 | 0.308 | 4 | 7 | 0.364 |
| Baltimore Blackbirds | 1 | 12 | 0.077 | 1 | 7 | 0.111 |
| Gulf Coast Raiders | 0 | 3 | 0.000 | 0 | 3 | 0.000 |
- Green indicates clinched playoff berth
- Purple indicates division champion
- Grey indicates best league record
References
- ↑ Phil Axelrod (August 5, 2006). "River Rats to debut in American Indoor Football League in 2007, will play in Rostraver". www.post-gazette.com. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved December 26, 2013.
- ↑ Shawn Liotta (August 18, 2010). "Reading Express Moving to IFL". www.shawnliotta.com. Shawn Liotta. Retrieved December 26, 2013.
- ↑ Jeff Oliver (August 7, 2006). "Legal fight looms over name". www.triblive.com. Trib Total Media, Inc. Retrieved December 26, 2013.
- ↑ "RiverRats sign 2005 AIFL MVP Dinkins". www.oursportscentral.com. OurSports Central. August 20, 2006. Retrieved December 26, 2013.
- ↑ "RiverRats Fall to Mississippi in Season Opener". www.oursportscentral.com. OurSports Central. February 7, 2007. Retrieved December 26, 2013.
- ↑ "RiverRats rally to beat Danville". www.triblive.com. Trib Total Media, Inc. March 10, 2007. Retrieved December 26, 2013.
- ↑ Jeff Oliver (May 21, 2007). "RiverRats score 86 to reach AIFA playoffs". www.triblive.com. Trib Total Media, Inc. Retrieved December 26, 2013.
- ↑ "RiverRats Prepare For First Round Playoff Matchup Against Reading". www.oursportscentral.com. OurSports Central. June 7, 2007. Retrieved December 26, 2013.
- ↑ Brian Rippey (June 10, 2007). "Express rolls past Pittsburgh". www2.readingeagle.com. Reading Eagle Company. Retrieved December 26, 2013.