After unsuccessful runs in New Jersey and Las Vegas, the Gladiators have finally hit it big during their first season in Cleveland
By Peter Schwartz -- When Jim Ferraro purchased the New Jersey Red Dogs in 2000, one of his first decisions was to change the name of the team to the Gladiators just prior to the start of the 2001 season. The hope was that re-branding the team would lead to better results.
But it didn’t happen.
After a 2-12 season in 2001, the Gladiators improved to 9-5 in 2002 but lost to Orlando at home in the first round of the playoffs. Perhaps it was just a stepping stone to bigger and better things.
It was actually a stepping stone across the county to Sin City.
Just weeks before the start of the 2003 season, the Gladiators packed their bags and relocated to Las Vegas where they kept the same nickname. After going 31-50 during their five year stay in Vegas, it was time to bag their bags once again. This time, it was back east to Cleveland with a fresh start and a familiar face to help turn things around. Ferraro turned to his friend and former Cleveland Browns quarterback Bernie Kosar to come on board as part owner and team President. It was that decision that helped lead to the hiring of new head coach Mike Wilpolt who admitted that he had to think long and hard before taking the job.
“With the situation in Vegas and how it was, it had me a little nervous,” said Wilpolt this past Thursday during an interview on “This Week In The AFL“ on Sirius Satellite Radio. “But when Bernie Kosar became involved, he was a big part of why I actually decided to join the franchise. Bernie has been fabulous for us. He was a big selling point on getting the franchise turned around and doing things the correct way.”
The Gladiators certainly enjoyed a change of fortune as they went 9-7 during their first season in Cleveland and will host the Orlando Predators in a Wild Card playoff game on Monday night at the Quicken Loans Arena (7 p.m. ET ESPN2, ESPN2 HD). Their playoff fate wasn’t decided until the final week of the season, but after a victory over Columbus coupled with a New York loss to Philadelphia, it meant an opportunity to open the postseason in front of their home fans.
“It’s very special,” said quarterback Raymond Philyaw who helped guide the offense to a franchise record 901 points. “At the beginning of the season, one of the goals was to make the playoffs and the next goal was to have a home game. It was like two dreams coming true in less than 24 hours. Right now, we’re just trying to keep riding high. Nobody wants this to end.”
Keeping it going will not be easy against a 9-7 Predators team that is in the playoffs for the 17th straight season. The Gladiators come into the game already owning a victory over Orlando during the regular season after beating the Predators 62-43 back on May 9th in Cleveland. This time around, the Gladiators fully expect a battle from a playoff tested team led by a great head coach in Jay Gruden.
“They are definitely a good team,” said Wilpolt. “Jay does a great job of having them ready to play when it comes playoff time. He just gets them cranked up. We’ve got our work cut out for us.”
In that first game against Orlando, the Gladiators scored on every possession with the exception of running out the clock at the end of the game. On the flipside, the Cleveland defense came up with a few stops including a fumble recovery and a pair of turnovers on downs while also holding Orlando to a field goal during a second quarter possession. The Gladiators aren’t banking on the Predators coming up with a similar performance.
“This won’t be the same Orlando team,” said Philyaw.“ This is going to be the playoff team that I know Orlando is capable of being. I expect them to come out and give us a run for our money. Its not going to be easy, but the good thing about it is that we’re going to be playing at home.”
During their inaugural season in Cleveland, the Gladiators averaged just over 14,000 fans per game and that figure might have been a little higher had they had some better luck with the weather. They will be looking to use that tremendous home-field advantage on Monday night.
“Hopefully we can pack the house,” said Philyaw.
From their season opening win over New York in front of over 17,000 fans to wrapping up a playoff berth in Week 17, the Gladiators are certainly off to a good start in terms of exercising the demons that plagued them during their years in New Jersey and Las Vegas. They have created a buzz in a city that is clamoring for a championship.
“We’re excited with how things have gone for us this first year here in Cleveland,” said Wilpolt.
And maybe the best is yet to come. It’s a first year that’s not over just yet, but there’s no question that the Gladiators have turned the corner as a franchise. By establishing a strong fan base and hosting a playoff game, the bad memories of the down years in Jersey and Vegas have diminished.
They have truly become “Gladiators”.
Peter Schwartz is a regular contributor to arenafootball.com and is the co-host of “This Week In The AFL” on Sirius Satellite Radio.
