The
Orlando Thunder was a member of the
World League of
American Football from 1991 to 1992 (known
as
NFL Europe from 1995 onwards).
The team
played their games in the 70,000 seat Citrus Bowl
, and was coached by Don
Matthews in 1991 and Galen Hall in
1992. The team's most visible point was their colors - the
League wanted to develop new colors which hadn't been used for
teams before, hence the vermilion and green that the
Raleigh-Durham Skyhawks wore, and
the fluorescent green jerseys that the Thunder sported.
The team's general managers were
Lee Corso
and
Dick Beam. In 1991 the team played to
a 5-5 record, and in 1992 the team had an outstanding 8-2 record,
and made it to the World Bowl II championship game before losing to
the
Sacramento Surge 21-17. Despite
the team's success early on however, the Thunder's attendance
figures fell from over 19,000 per game in its first year, to just
over 16,000 per game its second year, and the team was
folded.
Notable players include
Kerwin Bell and
Scott Mitchell, a
left-handed quarterback who went on to play in the NFL for the
Miami Dolphins and
Detroit Lions.
The
Orlando Sentinel held a poll in
1991 and 1992 to find the top Thunder fan. The winner both years
was restaurant manager Mike "Thunder Clap" Williams.
The team's jersey was recently voted 2nd worst football jersey of
all-time by
ESPN voters.
[188498]

Orlando Thunder Cheerleaders
1991

Orlando Thunder Cheerleaders
1991

Orlando Thunder Cheerleaders with
Mascot
Season-by-season
|
| 1991 |
5 |
5 |
0 |
2nd North American East |
-- |
|
| 1992 |
8 |
2 |
0 |
1st North American East |
Lost World Bowl II (Surge) |
|
| Totals |
14 |
8 |
0 |
(including playoffs)
1991 season
Results
Week 1: Orlando 35, San Antonio Riders 34
Week 2: Orlando 58, Raleigh-Durham Skyhawks 20
Week 3: London Monarchs 35, Orlando 12
Week 4: Barcelona Dragons 33, Orlando 13
Week 5: Birmingham Fire 31, Orlando 6
Week 6: New York/New Jersey Knights 42, Orlando 6
Week 7: Frankfurt Galaxy 17, Orlando 14
Week 8: Orlando 45, Sacramento Surge 33
Week 9: Orlando 20, Raleigh-Durham Skyhawks 14
Week 10: Orlando 33, Montreal Machine 27 (OT)
1992 season
Results
Week 1: Orlando 13, Ohio Glory 9
Week 2: Montreal Machine 31, Orlando 29
Week 3: Orlando 28, Ohio Glory 3
Week 4: Orlando 39, New York/New Jersey Knights 21
Week 5: Orlando 16, Montreal Machine 8
Week 6: Orlando 38, Frankfurt Galaxy 0
Week 7: Orlando 39, San Antonio Riders 21
Week 8: Orlando 9, London Monarchs 0
Week 9: Birmingham Fire 24, Orlando 23
Week 10: Orlando 13, Barcelona Dragons 10
Semifinals: Orlando 45, Birmingham Fire 7
World Bowl II: Sacramento Surge 21, Orlando 17
Staff
External links
|
|
1992 Orlando Thunder staff |
|
Head
Coaches
Offensive Coaches
- Passing Game Coordinator/Quarterbacks – Ken Karcher
- Running Backs – Pete Levine
- Wide Receivers – Wes Chandler
- Offensive Line – Bill MacDermott
|
| |
|
| Defensive
Coaches
|
|