Massachusetts Marauders

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Massachusetts Marauders
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Massachusetts Marauders
Founded 1988
Folded 1994
League Arena Football League
Conference American
Team history Detroit Drive (1988–1993)
Massachusetts Marauders (1994)
Based in Worcester, Massachusetts
Arena Joe Louis Arena (1988-1993)
Worcester Centrum (1994)
Colors Maroon, Black, White
              
Head coach Don Strock
Championships 4: (1988, 1989, 1990, 1992)
Conference titles 4: (1989, 1990, 1991, 1993)
Division titles 1: (1992)
Playoff berths 7: (1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994)

The Massachusetts Marauders were a professional arena football team that was based in Worcester, Massachusetts. They were a member of the Arena Football League (AFL) from 1988 to 1994. The team was established in Detroit in 1988, as the Detroit Drive and was a member of the AFL in 1988. The club then moved to Worcester, Massachusetts in 1994 and played in that city through the end of the 1994 season.

The franchise has four AFL championships, all while it was based in Detroit. The first three occurred in back-to-back-to back fashion from 1988 to 1990, and the final one occurred in 1992.

History

Detroit Drive (1988–1993)

Detroit Drive logo

Expansion (1988)

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Main article: 1988 Detroit Drive season

In 1987, Mike Ilitch began negotions with the Arena Football League (AFL), to join for the 1988 season.[1] The Drive began play in 1988 as a member of the AFL.[2] Under head coach Tim Marcum, the Drive finished the regular season 9-3 after starting the season 2-3.[3][4] Two of the Drive's losses came at the hands of the Chicago Bruisers, who finished the season with one loss. The Drive would get a chance at revenge when they advanced to ArenaBowl II against the Bruisers,[5] and they were able to defeat the Bruisers 24-13.[6]

Back-to-back (1989)

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Main article: 1989 Detroit Drive season

With the AFL suspending operations prior to the 1989 season,[7] the league was revived and decided to play a short season, but that forced the Drive to begin the 1989 season by replacing quarterback Rich Ingold, who didn't want to take the pay cut of the short season.[8] The Drive won ArenaBowl III 39-26 over the Pittsburgh Gladiators.[9]

3-peat (1990)

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Main article: 1990 Detroit Drive season

Head Coach Tim Marcum stepped away from the Drive in 1990 to join the University of Florida's football staff, and was replaced by Perry Moss.[10] The Drive bolstered their offense by signing quarterback Art Schlichter[11] (Who would become the AFL's MVP in 1990). Moss lead the Drive to a 6-2 regular season record and they remained a dominant force, leading the going to ArenaBowl IV, where they defeated the Dallas Texans 51-27.[12]

The return of Marcum (1991)

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Main article: 1991 Detroit Drive season

Marcum returned to coach the Drive in 1991.

A fourth title (1992)

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Main article: 1992 Detroit Drive season

In 1992 the Drive played in the Northern Division. The Drive won ArenaBowl VI, claiming their fourth title in 5 seasons.

Final season in Detroit (1993)

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Main article: 1993 Detroit Drive season

Ilitch sold the Drive so that they would not compete with the Tigers for attendance.[13] Shortly after his purchase of them, the Tigers began their worst drought in team history, posting a losing record in every season from 1994 to 2005.[original research?] Ilitch still claims that he only kept the Drive because they were constant contenders.[citation needed]

The Drive had, arguably, the best management team in the league. Owner Mike Ilitch, General Manager Gary Vitto, and Head Coach Tim Marcum are all in the AFL Hall of Fame. Following the 1992 season, Ilitch purchased the Detroit Tigers of Major League Baseball and Vitto was transferred to the Tigers front office. Marcum assumed GM duties for 1993 and led the team to its final Arena Bowl.

Massachusetts Marauders (1994)

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Main article: 1994 Massachusetts Marauders season

The team's on-field success did not mean equivalent business success; although the team was the most profitable in the AFL, setting attendance records, owner Mike Ilitch sold the team following his purchase of the Detroit Tigers in 1993. The team competed in 1994 as the Massachusetts Marauders playing their home games at the Worcester Centrum, but folded after going 8-4 in their first and only season. Whereas the Drive averaged over 14,000 fans a game during their six seasons in Detroit, the Marauders averaged less than 7,400 a game. Nearly three years after the Marauders folded, Dan DeVos purchased the franchise out of bankruptcy court, and in 1998 they became the Grand Rapids Rampage, who played until 2008.

Future of AFL in Detroit

Detroit later received a second Arena Football team, the Detroit Fury. The Fury played from 2001 to 2004 in The Palace of Auburn Hills and were co-owned by William Davidson, owner of the Detroit Pistons and William Clay Ford, Jr., son of the owner of the Detroit Lions. The Fury were never as successful as the Drive, compiling a 22-41 record and averaging 8,152 fans per game before they folded in 2004.

While the Drive's history was relatively brief, they had an inarguable importance in the history of Arena Football, with ArenaBowl trips every year of their existence, and creating the first dynasty in the Arena Football League.

Notable players

Arena Football League Hall of Famers

Massachusetts Marauders Hall of Famers
No. Name Year Inducted Position(s) Years w/ Marauders
 ?? John Corker 2002 OL/DL 1988-1993
98 Dwayne Dixon 1998 WR/LB 1988-1991
-- Mike Ilitch 2002 Owner 1988-1993
27 George LaFrance 2011 WR/DB 1988-1993
-- Tim Marcum 1998 Head Coach 1988-1989, 1991-1993
-- Perry Moss 2000 Head Coach 1990
1 Gary Mullen 1998 WR/DB 1989-1992
 ?? Tate Randle 1998 WR/LB 1988, 1990-1992
44 Alvin Rettig 1998 FB/LB 1988-1993
62 Jon Roehlk 1999 OL/DL 1988-1993
-- Gary Vitto 1999 General Manager 1988-1993

Individual Awards

All-Arena players

The following Marauders players have been named to All-Arena Teams:

Notable coaches

Head coaches

Note: Statistics are correct through the end of the 1994 Arena Football League season.

Name Term Regular Season Playoffs Awards Reference
W L T Win% W L
Tim Marcum 1988-1989, 1991-1993 40 8 0 .833 10 2 [14]
Perry Moss 1990 6 2 0 .750 2 0 [15]
Don Strock 1994 8 4 0 .667 1 1 [16]

Video games

The Drive and Marauders both appeared on the game EA Sports Arena Football as hidden bonus teams.

Season-by-season

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Main article: List of Massachusetts Marauders seasons

References

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External links

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