The Oklahoma Defenders were a professional indoor football team and a charter member of the Champions Professional Indoor Football League (CPIFL). Based in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the Defenders played their home games at the Cox Business Center.
It was announced in August 2014, that the team would go dark and cease all operation for the 2015 season, with the goal to return in the 2016 season. Many expect the team to fold and not return for the 2016 season.
The Defenders are the second arena/indoor team based in Tulsa, following the Tulsa Talons which played in arenafootball2 from the league's inaugural season in 2000 until its final season of 2009, and later in the Arena Football League from 2010 until 2011, after which the Talons moved to San Antonio.
History The Defenders began play in 2012 as a member of the American Professional Football League. The Defenders experienced immediate success, finishing the regular season with a 9–3 record, tied for second place with the Council Bluffs Express. However, the Defenders would get the #3 seed because of the Express holding the head-to-head tiebreaker. In the teams' first-round playoff game, the Defenders lost to the Express 37–32.
For the 2013 season, the Defenders played in the Champions Professional Indoor Football League. They posted a 3–9 record in their inaugural season in the CPIFL. The team's sophomore season in 2014 in the CPIFL was not much better with a duplicate 3–9 record.
It was announced in August 2014, that the team would go dark and cease all operation for the 2015 season, with the goal to return in the 2016 season.Lohman, Rich. "Oklahoma Defenders go dormant." Tulsa Today. Accessed July 15, 2015.
Final roster Oklahoma Defenders roster Quarterbacks
Running backs
Wide receivers Offensive linemen
Defensive linemen Linebackers
Defensive backs
Kickers Injured Reserve Currently vacant Transfer List
Refuse to Report Currently vacant
Season-by-season
| colspan="6" align="center" | Oklahoma Defenders (APFL) |- | 2012 || 9 || 3 || 0 || 3rd League || Lost semi-final (Council Bluffs) |- | colspan="6" align="center" | Oklahoma Defenders (CPIFL) |- | 2013 || 3 || 9 || 0 || 8th League || -- |- | 2014 || 4 || 8 || 0 || 7th League || -- |- !Totals || 16 || 20 || 0 |colspan="2"| (including playoffs)
2014
Season schedule + 2014 Schedule Week Date Kickoff Opponent Results Final score Team record1March 1 (Sat)7:05pmKansas Koyotes72-6 1-02March 8 (Sat)7:05pm@Dodge City Law56-492-03March 16 (Sun)3:05pmWichita Wild44-502-14March 22 (Sat)7:05pmSioux City Bandits46-332-25 Bye6April 5 (Sat)7:05pm@Lincoln Haymakers73-613-27April 12 (Sat)7:05pmBloomington Edge58-593-38April 19 (Sat)7:05pm@Kansas Koyotes64-55 4-39April 26 (Sat)7:05pm@Wichita Wild37-674-410May 3 (Sat)7:05pm@Sioux City Bandits52-604-511May 10 (Sat)7:30pmDodge City Law33-564-612May 17 (Sat)7:05pmSalina Bombers40-604-713 Bye14May 31 (Sat)7:05pm@Kansas Koyotes63-754-8
Past seasons
2013
Season schedule + 2013 Schedule Week Date Kickoff Opponent Results Final score Team record1March 9 (Sat)7:30pmWichita Wild26-700-12March 16 (Sat)7:30pm@Kansas Koyotes62-401-13 Bye4March 30 (Sat)7:30pm@Kansas City Renegades47-541-25April 6 (Sat)7:30pm@Salina Bombers31-501-36April 14 (Sun)7:30pmMid-Missouri Outlaws36-342-37April 20 (Sat)7:30pmBloomington Edge39-442-48April 26 (Fri)7:05pm@Lincoln Haymakers40-462-59May 4 (Sat)7:05pm@Wichita Wild7-732-610May 11 (Sat)7:30pmKansas Koyotes48-203-611May 18 (Sat)7:30pmKansas City Renegades28-653-712May 26 (Sun)4:30pm@Omaha Beef21-593-813 Bye14June 8 (Sat)7:30pmSalina Bombers34-463-9
2012
Season schedule + 2012 Schedule Date Time Opponent Location Score March 247:05 PM@ Sioux City BanditsTyson Events Center, Sioux City, IAL 40–70March 317:05 PMCouncil Bluffs ExpressExpo Square Pavilion, Tulsa, OKW 56–41April 77:05 PMCheyenne WarriorsExpo Square Pavilion, Tulsa, OKW 54–9April 217:05 PMSioux City BanditsExpo Square Pavilion, Tulsa, OKL 29–31April 287:05 PM@ Kansas KoyotesLandon Arena, Topeka, KSW 67–20 May 127:05 PM@ Springfield WolfpackMediacom Ice Park, Springfield, MOW 58–22May 197:05 PM@ Colorado LightningColorado Sports and Events Center, Monument, COW 2-0 (forfeit)May 267:05 PMSpringfield WolfpackExpo Square Pavilion, Tulsa, OKW 74–2June 27:05 PMKansas KoyotesExpo Square Pavilion, Tulsa, OKW 48–19June 167:05 PM@ Mid-Missouri OutlawsMathewson Exhibition Center, Sedalia, MOW 75–10June 237:05 PM@ Council Bluffs ExpressMid-America Center, Council Bluffs, IAL 39–62June 307:05 PMMid-Missouri OutlawsTulsa Convention Center, Tulsa, OKW 88–41July 77:05 PM@ Council Bluffs Express - APFL PlayoffsMid-America Center, Council Bluffs, IAL 32–37 Source:
References
External links Oklahoma Defenders official website