Arena Football League team season
The 1987 Denver Dynamite season was the first season for the Denver Dynamite. Businessman and owner of the Denver Nuggets, Sidney Shlenker announced the forming of the Denver Dynamite.[1] The franchise played in the inaugural four-team "demonstration" season of 1987.[1] Despite the team and league's doubters,[2] the Dynamite tied for the best record in the league with the Pittsburgh Gladiators, going 4–2. On August 1, 1987, the team participated in ArenaBowl I, which they won 45–16 over the Gladiators.[1] The Dynamite were led on offense by quarterback Whit Taylor,[3] and wide receiver Gary Mullen (Mullen won ArenaBowl I MVP).[1][4] After winning the ArenaBowl, Head Coach Tim Marcum was named the league's first ever Coach of the Year.[1] After leading the Dynamite to the Despite averaging the league's best attendance with over 12,000 a game,[1] it did not return for the league's second season due to Shlenker refusing to abide by the AFL's financial rules.[1]
Regular season
Schedule
Week | Date | Opponent | Results | Game site |
Final score | Team record |
1 | June 20 | at Chicago Bruisers | W 52–44 (OT) | 1–0 | Rosemont Horizon |
2 | June 27 | at Washington Commandos | L 20–36 | 1–1 | Capital Centre |
3 | July 3 | Washington Commandos | W 73–57 | 2–1 | McNichols Sports Arena |
4 | July 11 | Pittsburgh Gladiators | L 32–49 | 2–2 | McNichols Sports Arena |
5 | July 17 | at Pittsburgh Gladiators | W 32–31 | 3–2 | Civic Arena |
6 | July 24 | Chicago Bruisers | W 52–35 | 4–2 | McNichols Sports Arena |
Standings
|
Team | W | L | T | PCT | PF | PA | PF (Avg.) | PA (Avg.) | STK |
y-Pittsburgh Gladiators | 4 | 2 | 0 | .667 | 268 | 199 | 44.6 | 33.1 | L 2 |
x-Denver Dynamite | 4 | 2 | 0 | .667 | 261 | 252 | 43.5 | 42 | W 2 |
Washington Commandos | 2 | 4 | 0 | .333 | 288 | 273 | 48 | 45.5 | W 1 |
Chicago Bruisers | 2 | 4 | 0 | .333 | 217 | 310 | 36.1 | 51.6 | L 1 |
y – clinched regular-season title
x – clinched playoff spot
Playoffs
Roster
1987 Denver Dynamite roster |
Quarterbacks Wide Receivers/Defensive Backs - 21 William Cotman
- 1 Gary Mullen
- -- Richard Rodgers
- -- Clyde Skipper
- 40 Steve Trimble
| Running Backs/Linebackers Offensive Linemen/Defensive Linemen | Wide Receivers/Linebackers Kickers - -- Marty Coyne
- -- Lazlo Mike-Mayer
- -- Marco Morales
Rookies in italics Roster updated February 1, 2013 22 Active, 0 Inactive, 0 PS → More rosters |
Stats
Offense
Quarterback
Player | Comp. | Att. | Comp% | Yards | TD's | INT's | Rating |
Whit Taylor | 76 | 138 | 55.1 | 1050 | 21 | 8 | 93.6 |
Stuart Mitchell | 30 | 74 | 40.5 | 419 | 7 | 2 | 71.8 |
Marty Mornhinweg | 3 | 4 | 75 | 30 | 0 | 0 | 95.8 |
Running backs
Wide receivers
Player | Rec. | Yards | TD's |
Gary Mullen | 26 | 502 | 11 |
Durell Taylor | 25 | 283 | 6 |
Chris Brewer | 21 | 255 | 4 |
Steve Trimble | 20 | 340 | 5 |
Richard Prather | 8 | 65 | 1 |
Richard Rodgers | 7 | 49 | 1 |
William Cotman | 1 | 7 | 0 |
Whit Taylor | 1 | −2 | 0 |
Defense
Player | Tackles | Solo | Assisted | Sack | INT | Yards | TD's |
William Cotman | 26.5 | 24 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 0 |
Keith Smith | 23 | 22 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Gary Mullen | 21 | 20 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 23 | 0 |
Steve Trimble | 19 | 17 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Richard Prather | 16 | 15 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Rob DeVita | 12.5 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Clyde Skipper | 12 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 10 | 0 |
Chris Brewer | 12 | 9 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Kelly Kirchbaum | 11 | 9 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Chuck Harris | 9 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Patrick Cain | 7 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Richard Rodgers | 6.5 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 23 | 0 |
Larry Friday | 6.5 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Jon Norris | 5 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Phil Forte | 3 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Durell Taylor | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Lazlo Mike-Mayer | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Marco Morales | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Special teams
Kick return
Kicking
Player | FGM | 4pg | FGA | Pct. | XPM | 2pt | XPA | Pct. | Pts. |
Marco Morales | 2 | 0 | 12 | 16.7 | 11 | 0 | 18 | 61.1 | 17 |
Lazlo Mike-Mayer | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0.0 | 8 | 0 | 11 | 72.7 | 8 |
Marty Coyne | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
Awards
Position | Player | Award | All-Arena team |
Head Coach | Tim Marcum | Coach of the Year | – |
Fullback/Linebacker | Chris Brewer | none | 1st |
Wide Receiver/Defensive Back | Gary Mullen | none | 1st |
Quarterback | Whit Taylor | none | 2nd |
Fullback/Linebacker | Durell Taylor | none | 2nd |
Offensive/Defensive Lineman | Patrick Cain | none | 2nd |
Offensive/Defensive Lineman | Kelly Kirchbaum | none | 2nd |
References
- ^ a b c d e f g Joey Bunch (October 22, 2012). "Denver Dynamite exploded in Arena League's first season, then fizzled out". The Denver Post. Retrieved January 23, 2013.
- ^ Buddy Martin (June 20, 1987). "Arena football: Try to avoid the temptation". Star-News. Retrieved January 28, 2013.
- ^ Brent Wiseman (December 2, 2003). "Whit Taylor to be honored as "SEC Legend"". www.vanderbilt.scout.com. MSN. Archived from the original on 2012-03-03. Retrieved January 28, 2013.
- ^ "Arena Football League Championship : Taylor Leads Dynamite, 45–16". Los Angeles Times. August 2, 1987. Retrieved February 1, 2013.
External links
- 1987 Denver Dynamite page at ArenaFan.com
Denver Dynamite |
---|
- Founded in 1987
- Folded in 1991
- Based in Denver, Colorado
|
Franchise | |
---|
Arena | |
---|
Head coaches | |
---|
Playoff appearances (4) | |
---|
ArenaBowl appearances (1) | |
---|
Hall of Fame members | |
---|
|
Denver Dynamite ArenaBowl I champions |
---|
|