Nashville Venom Explained

Nashville Venom
Helmet:Nashville Venom Helmet Logo 2015.png
Founded:2013
Folded:2015
City:Nashville Municipal Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee
Colors:Green, Silver, Black, White
Coach:Billy Back
Owner:Jeff Knight
Terry Burns
General Manager:Billy Back
Cheerleaders:Snake Charmers
Mascot:Freddie Fangs
League:Professional Indoor Football League (2014–2015)
  • American Conference (2014)
Team History:
  • Nashville Venom (2014–2015)
No Conf Champs:1
Conf Champs:
  • 2014
No Div Champs:0
No League Champs:1
League Champs:
  • 2014
No Playoff Appearances:2
Playoff Appearances:
  • 2014, 2015
Arena Years:

The Nashville Venom were a professional indoor football team, one of eight franchises of the Professional Indoor Football League (PIFL).[1] Based in Nashville, Tennessee, the Venom were members of the American Conference. The team began play in 2014 as an expansion team. The team played at Nashville Municipal Auditorium in Nashville, which opened in 1962.

The Venom were the second indoor/arena football team to call Nashville home, and the first since the Arena Football League's Nashville Kats (1997–2001 and 2005–07).

After two seasons and the folding of the PIFL, the Venom ceased operations in 2015.

Franchise history

2014

See main article: 2014 Nashville Venom season. In November, 2012, it was announced that the Venom would be the eighth and final expansion team of the Professional Indoor Football League for the 2014 season.[2] A few days after being introduced it was announced by Managing Partner Jeff Knight that Billy Back would be the first coach in Venom history.[3] The Venom began their inaugural season on March 29, 2014, in Huntsville, Alabama against the Alabama Hammers. Their first home game was on April 5, against the Harrisburg Stampede.[4] The Venom finished the regular season 10-2, the best record in the league, and won the American Conference regular season title. Their nine All-PIFL selected players were the most of any team.[5] In the American Conference Championship Game, the Venom defeated the Columbus Lions 44-39 to advance to PIFL Cup III.[6] On July 12, 2014, the Venom won their first PIFL Cup Championship, defeating the Lehigh Valley Steelhawks 64-43.[7]

2015

See main article: 2015 Nashville Venom season. Following the 2015 PIFL season, the league folded and the franchise folded soon afterward.

Players of note

Awards and honors

The following is a list of all Venom players who have won league awards:

All-League players

The following Venom players have been named to All-League Teams:

Head coaches

Coaching staff

Season-by-season results

League ChampionsConference ChampionsDivision ChampionsWild Card BerthLeague Leader
SeasonTeamLeagueConferenceDivisionRegular seasonPostseason results
FinishWinsLossesTies
20142014PIFLAmerican1st1020Won American Conference Championship 44–39 vs. Columbus
Won PIFL Cup III 64–34 vs. Lehigh Valley
20152015PIFL3rd 740Lost Semi-Finals 35–54 vs. Richmond
Totals1760All-time regular season record (2014–2015)
21All-time postseason record (2014–2015)
1970All-time regular season and postseason record (2014–2015)
* Season currently in progress

Notes and References

  1. Hester, Matthew. "PIFL Sinks Their Fangs Into Nashville." Professional Indoor Football League. November 11, 2013. Retrieved November 11, 2013.
  2. Web site: Indoor football set to return to Nashville . J. R. Lind . November 9, 2013 . SouthComm Inc. . www.nashvillepost.com . December 30, 2013.
  3. Web site: Indoor football returns to Nashville . November 12, 2013 . Audra Martin . WorldNow and WKRN . www.wkrn.com . December 30, 2013.
  4. http://www.nashvillevenom.com/schedule.html "2014 Regular Season Schedule."
  5. Web site: 2014 All-PIFL Teams Announced . July 7, 2014 . OurSports Central . www.oursportscentral.com . July 14, 2014.
  6. Web site: Nashville Venom advance to PIFL title game . Lauren Moore . The Tennessean . www.tennessean.com . July 7, 2014.
  7. Web site: Nashville Venom win first indoor football title . Lauren Moore . July 13, 2014 . The Tennessean . www.tennessean.com . July 14, 2014.