The Detroit Fury were an arena football team based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. They were a member of the original Arena Football League from 2001 to 2004 and played at The Palace of Auburn Hills, also the home of the NBA's Detroit Pistons. They were the first team to play in Detroit since the Detroit Drive, four-time ArenaBowl champions, before that franchise relocated to Worcester, Massachusetts, and were rebranded the Massachusetts Marauders. The team was co-owned by William Davidson, who owned the Pistons, along with William Clay Ford, Jr., son of the owner of the National Football League Detroit Lions.[1]
| Detroit Fury | |
|---|---|
| Established 2001 Folded 2004 Played in The Palace of Auburn Hills in Auburn Hills, Michigan | |
 | |
| League/conference affiliations | |
Arena Football League (2001–2004)
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Current uniform | |
| Team colors | Black, purple, silver, and burgundy |
| Personnel | |
| Owner(s) | William Davidson and William Clay Ford, Jr. |
| Head coach | Mouse Davis (2001–2002) Al Luginbill (2003) Tom Luginbill (2004) |
| Team history | |
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| Championships | |
| League championships (0) | |
| Conference championships (0) Prior to 2005, the AFL did not have conference championship games | |
| Division championships (0) Prior to 1992, the AFL did not have division | |
| Playoff appearances (2) | |
| Home arena(s) | |
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History
editEight years after the departure of the Detroit Drive to Massachusetts, Detroit Pistons owner Bill Davidson and William Clay Ford, Jr., son of Detroit Lions owner William Clay Ford, Sr., came together to purchase an expansion franchise in the original Arena Football League. [2] A name the team contest was held in 2000 to generate public interest with over 3000 submissions. The name Detroit Fury, submitted by teenager Todd Nye, was selected as the winner. The Fury played their home games at The Palace of Auburn Hills, home of the Pistons at the time and had three coaches in four years: legendary coach Mouse Davis, former NFL Europe and XFL head coach Al Luginbill and his son Tom Luginbill, who coached the Tennessee Valley Vipers in af2. The Fury made the playoffs in their first season and again in 2003. Unfortunately, the Fury did not have the same success as its predecessors before them.
The owners were unable to find a buyer for their franchise and, on September 20, 2004, the AFL announced the termination of this franchise,[3] and that its players would be made available to the remaining teams in a dispersal draft.
Season-by-season
edit| Season | W | L | T | Finish | Playoff results |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 7 | 7 | 0 | Lost Wild Card Round (Arizona) 52–44 | |
| 2002 | 1 | 13 | 0 | ||
| 2003 | 8 | 8 | 0 | Won Wild Card Round (Grand Rapids) 55–54 Lost Quarterfinals (Tampa Bay) 52–48 | |
| 2004 | 5 | 11 | 0 | ||
| Totals | 22 | 41 | 0 | (including playoffs) | |
Notable players
editIndividual awards
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All-Arena players
editThe following Fury players were named to All-Arena Teams: OL/DL R-Kal Truluck (2)
All-Rookie players
editThe following Fury players were named to All-Rookie Teams: OL/DL R-Kal Truluck
References
edit- ^ "Detroit lands Arena Football team". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. December 2, 1999. Retrieved March 14, 2014.
- ^ "Detroit lands Arena Football team". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. December 2, 1999. Retrieved March 14, 2014.
- ^ "Detroit Fury announces it will fold after failing to find buyer". The Argus-Press. September 21, 2004. Retrieved March 14, 2014.
External links
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