Tombstone
Born: 2000 – AF2 expanion franchise
Folded: August 29, 2006
First Game: April 7, 2001 (L 64-60 vs. Augusta Stallions)
Last Game: July 29, 2006 (L 53-33 @ Arkansas Twisters)
ArenaCup Championships: None
Arena
Macon Coliseum (7,182)12005 Macon Knights Media Guide
Opened: 1968
Marketing
Team Colors: Texas Orange, Air Force Blue & Black
Dance Team: The Knightingales
Mascot: Maximus (the Knight)
Ownership
Owners: Beverly Olson
Background
The Macon Knights were a minor league Arena Football franchise based in Middle Georgia during the early 2000’s. The team competed in Arena Football 2 (AF2), a small-market developmental league that served the bigger budget Arena Football League (AFL) at the time.
Team founder Beverly Olson was the only female owner/operator of an Arena Football franchise in either AF2 or the AFL during the Knights era.
In Competition
The Knights were a top performing club in AF2 during their first three seasons under the direction of Head Coach Kevin Porter, a former NFL cornerback with the Kansas City Chiefs and New York Jets.
2002 saw Macon’s best regular season performance with a 13-3 record. But the Knights enjoyed their greatest success the following year. After a 10-6 regular season mark, the Knights won three playoff rounds (including two road victories) to advance to Arena Cup IV against the Tulsa Talons. The Knights hot steak finally wore off in Tulsa, falling 58-40 before 7,184 in the title game on August 23, 2003.
After the 2003 season, the Arena Football League’s New Orleans Voodoo franchise plucked Porter from the minors for their head coaching vacancy. Porter took five Knights veterans with him, including top offensive specialist Jacques Rumph and top defensive specialist Denario Smalls.
The talent drain and turnover led to a 3-13 finish in 2004 as Macon missed the playoffs for the first time. The Knights bounced back to finish .500 (8-8) in both 2005 and 2006.
The Knights folded in August 2006 shortly after completing their sixth season. Arena Football 2 went out of business after ten seasons in September 2009.
Macon Knights Video
“Dost thou feel me now?” Undated Macon Knights 30-second local TV spot.
Links
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