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RAGE WILL RETURN IN 2014
Mark K. Trueblood, AFD Staff Writer - 6/17/2013
(Orlando)
– Amid rumors their team would be folding after the 2013 Florida
Football Alliance (FFA) championship game appearance, the
Orlando Rage will return for an 11th season in 2014. The
announcement was made on the team’s official Facebook page this
afternoon at 2:24 pm ET, and has been confirmed by team
President, Chris Morrison.
In a text message to Amateur
Football Digest confirming the news, team President Chris
Morrison stated: “…Rage will be around in 2014. Going
professional in 2015.”
When contacted by phone, Morrison
stated that he will step down as team President and assume a
consultant role with the organization next season. A group of
local investors and former players have agreed in principle to
the terms of purchasing the Rage with plans to move the team to
the next level of competition in the professional ranks in 2015,
most likely at the indoor level.
“The new ownership group
will look at all viable options concerning what professional
league to compete in for 2015”, said Morrison. “Everything is on
the table in that sense.”
Word started
to spread around the FFA and Facebook this past March that the
Rage were reportedly considering not returning to competitive
organized football after the 2013 season concluded. Adding fuel
to such chatter was the fact that five of the 12-member Rage
coaching staff from this past season have departed and joined
the newly founded Osceola Ravens. The Ravens have plans to join
the FFA in 2014.
When asked if the Rage would return to
the FFA, Morrison stated that he and the new ownership group
have not decided what league the team will compete in as an
adult amateur organization.
“We would like to see how the
landscape of each league shapes up this summer before deciding
what is best for our organization”, said Morrison.
According to the notice on the Rage Facebook page, the team will
be scheduling tryouts sometime this August.
The Rage have been one of the most
successful teams in adult amateur American football on and off
the field during their 10-year history. They won two leagues
titles while members of the now defunct Southern States Football
League, and two more league championships as members of the FFA,
with the most recent being in 2012. Their overall win-loss
record of 96-28-0 (.774) is one of the best in the State of
Florida. The team has been ranked in the Top-25 of the nation
every year in one poll or another since 2009.
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Alliance Bowl VI Championship
Weekend
The 2013 Florida Football Alliance Championship Weekend will be held
in Miami, Florida May 24-26 at Tropical Park Stadium. The Weekend
will feature Alliance Bowl VI, which will showcase the Orlando Rage
vs. Miami Magic City Bulls.
All Stars from both
Conferences
will
square off in the 6th Annual All Star Classic. The weekend will also
feature the Florida Football Alliance Awards Banquet which will be
held at the beautiful
Celebration Ballroom
and the Fun filled and Famous Meet and Greet which will be hosted at
the
Courtyard Marriot.
To get more information and Purchase tickets to the Alliance Bowl,
All Star Game or Banquet please click ....here
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déjà vu: Rage vs. Bulls in Alliance Bowl VI |
May 1, 2010,
Jacksonville, Fl., Alliance Bowl III- Rage 40, Bulls 34 O/T.
April 30, 2011, Daytona Beach, Fl., Alliance Bowl IV- Bulls 56, Rage
50.
May 25, 2013, Miami, Fl. Alliance
Bowl VI- ????
On May 25th the two best franchises in the FFA-and likely in the
NATION-will square off in Miami in Alliance Bowl VI.
The Bulls come into the game undefeated and a a league-leading
offense that averaged 37 points per game during the regular season.
The Rage will arrive with only one loss and an offense that averaged
just under 500 yards per game in the regular season.
Interestingly, the teams have been knocking heads since 2005 in the
former SSFL where the pair each won-and lost one-to each other.
Since the Rage joined the FFA in 2010, each has defeated the other
in Alliance Bowls III and IV, but the Rage hold the advantage by
defeating the Bulls in regular season play in 2012.
Two storied franchises will collide in Miami on May 25! |
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RAGE DEFEAT 'CANES-Advance to Conference Championship Game |
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Winter Garden, Fl.
May 11, 2013
The Orlando Rage took the
field Saturday night in the NFC Championship game. The winner would
advance to the League championship, Alliance Bowl; the loser would
go home.
Traveling to Orlando were the
Bradenton Gladiators. The Rage and Glad's, as division rivals, faced
each other twice before this year with the Rage winning both times.
The Gladiators were looking to break the Rage's four-game winning
streak over them.
The Gladiators got off
to a quick start returning the opening kick off for a touchdown. The
Rage then matched the Gladiators' score when Rage QB Kyle Israel ran
the ball in for a short touchdown run. Unfortunately for Rage fans,
the score by Israel was the last they'd see of him for the night as
he suffered an injury on the play.
The back
up quarterback duo of Rage coach (and back up QB) Peejay Jack and
"Wildcat" QB Levi Raines took over the helm. The Gladiators managed
another score before halftime making the score 14 to 7 at the half.
"After losing Kyle [Israel] on the
opening drive, I was glad that the score was still close at half
time" commented Rage head coach, Ron Scarlata.
In the second half the Gladiators added two more scores on a 27 yard
touchdown pass by QB Nick Kirby to WR B Bean and a 38 yard field
goal by Phil Chaltis making the score Glad's 24, Rage 14 late in the
third quarter. The Rage then scored on a short run by Raines. The
drive was highlighted by a long pass from Raines to WR Preston
McGann.
Finally, taking over on their
own 22 yard line and with 9:24 in the game, the Rage mounted the
drive that would decide the outcome of the game. Taking the ball the
distance the Rage offense, led by Levi Raines, ran all but 1:45 off
the clock as Raines powered in for the game's final score. Rage 28,
Gladiators 24.
The Rage will
participate in Alliance Bowl VI on May 25 against the Miami Magic
City Bulls for the league championship.
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Rage Kick Off Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign |
The Orlando Rage along with
the Florida Football Alliance will kick off a league-wide Breast
Cancer Awareness Campaign this weekend. "Every player, owner and
staff member in the League has been affected in some manner by
breast cancer" commented Rage president Christopher Morrison. This
season the FFA decided to do something about it by declaring April
13 as the kick off of the campaign. Team throughout the FFA will be
wearing pink on their uniforms in honor of the event.
"An estimated 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in
the United States" Morrison added "with over 39,000 deaths in the US
this year alone". In efforts to bring awareness to the nation's
second most common cancer the Rage will don pink this weekend. Look
for the Rage this Saturday-and every remaining Saturday-with their
"Pretty In Pink" look. |
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RAGE HIT HOME RUN WITH CHALLENGED KIDS |
Altamonte Springs, Fl.
April 13, 2013
The Orlando Rage were scheduled to travel
to Bradenton to take on the Bradenton Gladiators at 7:05 pm on
Saturday. But the Rage's "Big Win" took place at 11...:30 am in the
unlikely location of Eastmonte Park n Altamonte Springs.
Kyle
"Little Kyle" Darroch has become a regular fixture on the Rage
sidelines in 2013. Afflicted with CP, "Little Kyle" is confined
mostly to a wheelchair.
Saturday "Little Kyle" wanted to show off
some of his athletic skills and invited the Rage to attend his
"Buddy Ball" game.
Central Florida Bambino Buddy Ball is a Babe
Ruth Baseball sponsored League for mentally or physically challenged
children in central Florida.
Before reporting to the team bus,
Rage players, staff and their families came out to cheer "Little
Kyle" and his teammates on.
The kids won, the Rage won and many
life-lessons were learned......lessons taught BY the kids!
For information about donating or volunteering for Buddy Ball, click
the link below:
http://cfbuddyball.baberuthonline.com/engine.asp?area=league&aid=789&content=cpage&cpgid=3318 |
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"TWO KYLES"=ONE BIG NIGHT FOR LITTLE FANS |
Winter Park, Fl.
February
25, 2013
On the eve of
the Orlando Rage's biggest game of the season, Rage president
Christopher Morrison received a simple e-mail:
From: "Julie Bailey"
To: "Chris Morrison"
Subject: Re: Web Referral
My son Logan
Bailey (14yrs) invited his friend Kyle Darroch (13yrs)
who loves football but has cerebral palsy so he is in a wheel chair
to come to the game
tonight. Is there any way they may be able
to meet some of the players?
Thanks!
Julie Bailey
Logan and
Kyle made it to their first ever Rage game and were able to witness
a big "W" for the Rage. More importantly, they got to MEET the
Rage.
Just before kick off the entire
Rage team took a few moments out of pre-game warm-ups to meet their
biggest "little fans" by exchanging hand-shakes and "high-fives"
with Logan and Kyle. Little Kyle even got a chance to have his
picture taken with "big Kyle" Israel.
From: "Julie Bailey"
To:
"Chris Morrison"
Subject:
Re: Web Referral
Chris,
We are truly
touched by the outpouring of kindness from all the Rage
players and staff. Logan and Kyle enjoyed meeting the
players and enjoyed the game. As you can see, Kyle is a
bright and wonderful young man. He inspires us all in the
way that he always takes on the challenges life has given
him with enthusiasm and positive attitude. Our deepest
gratitude to all the Rage players for showing him how much
you care. YOU GUYS ROCK !!!!!! Looking forward to March 9.
Thank You,
Brent & Julie Bailey
P.S. Sent you an
attached picture of the two Kyles.
Sometimes it's the little things
that leave the biggest impressions...
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Kyle and Kyle at February 23rd Rage game |
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2009 Winter National Champions-2009/2010 Winter-Spring National Champs/2011
Winter-Spring National Champs |
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2011 Conf. & Division Champions, 2010 FFA Champions, 2009 SSFL Champions, 2008 SSFL Champions |
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