Georgia Fire

Georgia Fire
Established 2014
Folded 2014
Played in Rome, Georgia
at the Forum Civic Center
League/conference affiliations
Professional Indoor Football League (2014)
  • American Conference (2014)
Current uniform
Team colorsRed, Black, Gold, White
       
Personnel
Owner(s)PIFL
General managerJeff Gonos
Head coachCosmo Dematteo
Team history
  • Georgia Fire (2014)
Championships
League championships (0)
Conference championships (0)
Division championships (0)
Home arena(s)

The Georgia Fire were a professional indoor football team based in Rome, Georgia. They were members of the American Conference in the Professional Indoor Football League (PIFL) during the 2014 season.

The Fire joined the PIFL in 2014 as an expansion team, after the PIFL was forced to find a replacement team for the Albany Panthers, who were kicked out of their home arena by city official in Albany.[1] They are the latest franchise to play indoor football after the Rome Renegades of the now-defunct National Indoor Football League (NIFL).

The Fire played their home games at the Forum Civic Center in Rome.

Franchise history

[edit]

With complications surrounding the Albany Panthers franchise for the 2014 season, the Professional Indoor Football League (PIFL) introduced the Fire to replace the Panthers for the 2014 season. With the league running the team, PIFL Executive Director, Jeff Ganos was named the franchise's general manager and Cosmo DeMatteo was named the team's innaurgal head coach on February 27, 2014.[2] With the season starting on April 5, 2014, the Fire were given the Panthers roster, where players who didn't wish to play for the new franchise, refused to report.[3] In the first game in franchise history, the Fire knocked off defending PIFL Champions, the Alabama Hammers by a score of 57-55.[4]

Players of note

[edit]

Final roster

[edit]
Georgia Fire roster
Quarterbacks
  • -- Barry Brunetti
  •  7 Cecil Lester
  • 10 Chris Mitchell

Running backs

  • 21 Xavier Stinson

Wide receivers

  •  6 Antwontis Cutts
  •  9 Ronald Davis
  • -- Terrence Ebagua
  •  4 John Harris
  •  1 Johnny Lester
Offensive linemen
  • 50 Jeremy Buchanan
  • 59 Brandon McElroy
  • 72 Jason Peacock
  • 77 Aaron Wheeler

Defensive linemen

  • 94 Clinton Barley
  • 92 Joe Marshall
  • 19 Elisee Pmoplius
  • 15 Jerome Raymond
Linebackers

Defensive backs

  • 17 Boubacar Cissoko
  • 27 Robert Durham
  •  3 Kieron Jones
  •  2 Demetrie McCray
  • 16 Billy McGahee

Kickers

  • 13 Ryan Gates
Injured reserve
  • 99 Ishmyl Johnson DL
  • 75 Kevin McAlmont OL
  • 11 Clenton Rafe WR
  • 12 Nathan Wade WR

Exempt list

  • currently vacant

Failure to report-exempt

  • -- Archie Alexander OL
  • -- Vauchard Goodridge DL
  • -- Darian Payne LB
  • -- James Stallons QB
  • -- Derrick Wimbush FB
  • rookies in italics
  • Roster updated June 5, 2014
  • 26 Active, 9 Inactive

All-League players

[edit]

The following Fire players were named to All-League Teams:

Coaches of note

[edit]

Head coaches

[edit]
Name Term Regular season Playoffs Awards
W L T Win% W L
Cosmo DeMatteo 2014 4 8 0 .333 0 0

Coaching staff

[edit]
Georgia Fire staff
Front office
  • General manager – Jeff Ganos
 

Head coach

  • Head coach – vacant

Season-by-season results

[edit]
League Champions Conference Champions Division Champions Wild Card Berth League Leader
Season Team League Conference Division Regular season Postseason results
Finish Wins Losses Ties
2014 2014 PIFL American 3rd 4 8 0
Totals 4 8 0 All-time regular season record (2014)
0 0 - All-time postseason record (2014)
4 8 0 All-time regular season and postseason record (2014)

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Panthers owner: City doesn't want us here". www.walb.com. Worldnow and WALB. February 18, 2014. Retrieved April 22, 2014.
  2. ^ "DeMatteo and Gonos to Lead Fire". www.oursportscentral.com. OurSports Central. February 27, 2014. Retrieved April 22, 2014.
  3. ^ "Fire to have first training camp this week". www.northwestgeorgianews.com. Rome News-Tribune. March 19, 2014. Retrieved April 22, 2014.
  4. ^ "Fire Burn Hammers For Inaugural Win". www.oursportscentral.com. OurSports Central. April 7, 2014. Retrieved April 22, 2014.
[edit]