Erie RiverRats

USFootball team
color1 = #CDAD00
color2 = #003F87

pixels = 150px
founded = 2007
league = American Indoor Football Association
history = Erie RiverRats (2008-)
Pittsburgh RiverRats (2007)
arena = Louis J. Tullio Arena
city = Erie, Pennsylvania
colors = Blue, Gold, White
president = Jeff Hauser
coach = Steven G. Folmar
GM = Jeffrey Moran
game Director = Donald P. Seroka
championships = 0
titles = 0
cheerleaders =
dancers = ERIEsistables
mascot = None

The Erie RiverRats are a 2007 expansion team of the American Indoor Football Association. The team plays its home games at the Louis J. Tullio Arena in Erie, Pennsylvania.

History

The RiverRats began play in 2007 as the Pittsburgh RiverRats, playing that season's home games at the Rostraver Ice Garden in Rostraver Township, Pennsylvania.

The RiverRats played their first game on February 3, 2007 on the road in Tupelo, MS but lost 54-34 to the Mississippi Mudcats. 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.

Andrew Haines founded the RiverRats and sold the majority of the team to Jeff Hauser before the first game in 2007, after he had been ousted as president of the league. Haines maintains a minority stake in the franchise.

The majority owner of the Pittsburgh RiverRats organization was Jeff Hauser, a Merrick, NY native with local ties to the Mon Valley and a 1987 graduate of the Katz Graduate School of Business at the University of Pittsburgh. He currently lives with his wife and three children.

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.

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. Unfortunately, the Rats were eliminated in the first round, losing 42-24 to the eventual conference champions Reading Express.

On January 8, 2008 the RiverRats announced they would be leaving the Mon Valley in favor of Erie for the 2008 season. They will replace the city's previous AIFA team, the Erie Freeze. [http://www.erieriverrats.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=175&Itemid=1] The RiverRats have several Freeze connections, including many of the Freeze's best players: QB/WR David Dinkins, cornerback Jovon Johnson (himself an Erie native), ace kicker J.R. Cipra, center Jonathon Sitter, and defensive tackle Roosevelt Benjamin. League owner Michael Mink stated that he considers the RiverRats to be a consolidation of the original RiverRats and the Freeze [ [http://www.oursportscentral.com/radio/mediaplayer.php?showid=194 This Week in the AIFA] radio show. Our Sports Central. 17 January 2008.] with the team retaining the RiverRats name, franchise and management structure.

The team signed Rod Rutherford, a former NFL backup, as the starting quarterback in the middle of the 2008 season. It is said that Dinkins recommended Rutherford to the team, and Dinkins (who originally was playing quarterback) moved to wide receiver to accommodate his arrival.

At the end of the 2008 season, five RiverRats (QB Rod Rutherford, OL Anthony Peluso, K J.R. Cipra, LB Glenroy Watkins, & LB Roosevelt Benjamin) were named onto the AIFA Eastern Conference All-Star team. [http://www.erieriverrats.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=274&Itemid=1]

Fun Facts

* When Erie scores a Touchdown at home, "Jump Around" by House of Pain is played. This is a tradition similar to the one used by the Freeze, when "Freeze Frame" by J. Geils Band was played.

Season-by-season

-
colspan="6" align="center" | Pittsburgh RiverRats (AIFA)
-
2007 || 7 || 7 || 0 || 4th Northern || Lost NC Round 1 (Reading)
-
colspan="6" align="center" | Erie RiverRats (AIFA)
-
2008 || 10 || 4 || 0 || 2nd EC Northern || Lost ECN Round 1 (Reading)
-
2009 || -- || -- || -- || -- || --
-!Totals || 17 || 13 || 0
colspan="2"| (including playoffs)
###@@@KEYEND@@@###

2007 Season Schedule

2008 Season Schedule

¶ Exhibition match

References

External links

* [http://www.erieriverrats.com/ Official Web Site]
* [http://www.americanindoorfootballleague.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=642&Itemid=2 Press release]
* [http://www.courttimesportscenter.com/ Official Web Site of the Court Time Sports Center]
* [http://www.thestatguys.com/AIFA/2007/PIT.HTM RiverRats' 2007 Stats]
* [http://www.thestatguys.com/AIFA/ERR.HTM RiverRats' 2008 Stats]