2010 Alabama Vipers season

The 2010 Alabama Vipers season was the 10th season for the franchise, and the first under their current name, as well as the first in the Arena Football League. The team was coached by Dean Cokinos and played their home games at Von Braun Center. The Vipers failed to make the playoffs after posting a 7–9 record and finishing 5th in the American Conference.

2010 Alabama Vipers season
Head coachDean Cokinos
OwnerDoug MacGregor
Home fieldVon Braun Center
700 Monroe Street
Huntsville, AL 35801
Results
Record7–9
Division place4th AC South
Playoff finishdid not qualify

Standings
South Division
Team W L PCT PF PA DIV CON Home Away
z-Jacksonville Sharks 12 4 .750 893 806 4–2 8–2 7–1 5–3
x-Tampa Bay Storm 11 5 .687 926 812 3–3 8–4 6–2 5–3
x-Orlando Predators 8 8 .500 865 845 4–2 7–3 4–4 4–4
Alabama Vipers 7 9 0.437 812 860 1–5 7–9 5–3 2–6

z - Clinched division and conference's best record
x - Clinched playoff berth

Regular season schedule

The first game for the Vipers was on April 3 on the road against the Battle Wings. Their first home game will be a week later against the Sharks. Their final regular season game was at home in Week 18 against the Blaze on July 31.[1]

Week Day Date Kickoff Opponent Results Location Report
Score Record
1 Saturday April 3 8:05 pm at Bossier–Shreveport Battle Wings L 48–54 0–1 CenturyTel Center
2 Friday April 9 8:30 pm Jacksonville Sharks W 63–49 1–1 Von Braun Center
3 Saturday April 17 9:05 pm at Utah Blaze W 63–54 2–1 E Center
4 Bye
5 Saturday May 1 8:30 pm Milwaukee Iron W 75–67 3–1 Von Braun Center
6 Saturday May 8 8:00 pm at Tulsa Talons L 56–62 3–2 BOK Center
7 Saturday May 15 8:30 pm Orlando Predators L 31–48 3–3 Von Braun Center
8 Saturday May 22 8:30 pm Bossier–Shreveport Battle Wings W 56–19 4–3 Von Braun Center
9 Friday May 28 8:05 pm at Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz L 39–65 4–4 Cox Convention Center
10 Saturday June 5 8:05 pm at Iowa Barnstormers W 45–44 5–4 Wells Fargo Arena
11 Saturday June 12 8:30 pm Tampa Bay Storm L 55–61 5–5 Von Braun Center
12 Saturday June 19 8:30 pm Dallas Vigilantes W 55–52 6–5 Von Braun Center
13 Bye
14 Saturday July 3 7:05 pm at Jacksonville Sharks L 47–62 6–6 Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena
15 Saturday July 10 7:30 pm at Orlando Predators L 34–45 6–7 Amway Arena
16 Saturday July 17 8:30 pm Tulsa Talons L 41–68 6–8 Von Braun Center
17 Saturday July 24 7:30 pm at Tampa Bay Storm L 29–53 6–9 St. Pete Times Forum
18 Saturday July 31 8:30 pm Utah Blaze W 68–64 7–9 Von Braun Center
All times are EDT

Roster

Alabama Vipers roster
Quarterbacks

Fullbacks

  • 44 Billy Eubanks

Wide receivers

 Offensive linemen
  • 55 Lorenzo Breland
  • -- Germayle Franklin
  • 77 Joe Holmes
  • 85 Ray Norell
  • 68 Troy Reddick

Defensive linemen

 Linebackers

Defensive backs

Kickers

  • 16 Brian Jackson
 Injured reserve
  • -- Travis Blanchard WR/DB
  • 21 Quentin Burrell DB
  •  3 Robert Durham DB
  •  5 Michael Johnson WR
  •  4 Alonzo Nix WR
  • 64 Steve Sene OL/DL

Exempt list

  • Currently vacant

Suspended list

  • Rookies in italics
  • Roster updated June 11, 2010
  • 24 Active, 8 Inactive

Regular season

Week 1: at Bossier–Shreveport Battle Wings
1 2 34Total
Vipers 7 13 72148
Battle Wings 13 20 02154

at CenturyTel Center, Bossier City, Louisiana

  • Date: April 3
  • Game time: 8:05 pm EDT
  • Game attendance: 2,974
  • Referee: Scott Vaughn
  • Recap

The Vipers lost their season opener in a close game. On the game's final play, needing a touchdown to tie, Alabama receiver Michael Johnson caught a pass, faked a lateral, and ran down the sideline. Having been tackled into the walls that border the sideline, he handed the ball to a teammate who ran into the end zone. The officials signaled a touchdown, but after a brief discussion amongst themselves, they overturned the original ruling because a player who is forced into the wall is considered out of bounds. Johnson was ruled down at the 5-yard line, but because there was no time remaining on the clock, the Vipers could not run another play, resulting in a 54–48 loss.[2] Quarterback Kevin Eakin threw for 288 yards, but only 2 touchdowns. Dan Alexander had 5 touchdowns on 10 carries.

Week 2: vs. Jacksonville Sharks
1 2 34Total
Sharks 7 21 71449
Vipers 7 14 142863

at Von Braun Center, Huntsville, Alabama

  • Date: April 9
  • Game time: 8:30 pm EDT
  • Game attendance: 4,007
  • Recap

After giving up the first touchdown on the 2nd half and at that point trailing by 14 points, the Vipers scored the game's next 5 touchdowns to take a 56–35 4th quarter lead. The 21 point cushion held, as the Vipers went on to win 63–49 for the team's first victory of the season. Dan Alexander led the team in rushing again, with 40 yards and 4 touchdowns. Quarterback Kevin Eakin threw for 244 yards and also had 4 touchdowns.

Week 3: at Utah Blaze
1 2 34Total
Vipers 21 14 141463
Blaze 19 13 14854

at E Center, West Valley City, Utah

  • Date: April 17
  • Game time: 9:05 pm EDT
  • Game attendance: 4,898
  • Referee: Steve Strimling
  • Recap

The game featured many lead changes and both teams matched touchdown for touchdown almost all night, but it was the Vipers who came out with the win, improving to 2–1 on the season. Leading by only 3 points at the start of the 4th quarter, Alabama's defense kept the Blaze out of the end zone until the game was all but over, while the offense was able to build a 17-point lead. Kevin Eakin threw for 375 yards and 5 touchdowns, and Larry Shipp led all receivers with 199 yards and 4 touchdowns. Dan Alexander rushed for 4 touchdowns in the win.

Week 4: Bye

Week 5: vs. Milwaukee Iron
1 2 34Total
Iron 7 33 131467
Vipers 7 28 192175

at Von Braun Center, Huntsville, Alabama

  • Date: May 1
  • Game time: 8:30 pm EDT
  • Game attendance: 5,070
  • Recap

The Vipers won their third straight game and handed the Iron their first loss of the season with a 75–67 win. It was back and forth all night, with Milwaukee leading at the half with a 7-yard passing touchdown with a few seconds left in a high scoring 2nd quarter. In the 3rd quarter, the Vipers took a 54–53 lead on a Brian Jackson field goal from 8 yards out. Their lead would carry into the 4th quarter, when Alabama took control of the game with a pair of touchdown passes by Kevin Eakin. Larry Shipp had a 48-yard rushing touchdown with just over a minute left. The Iron scored a touchdown with 39 seconds remaining to cut Alabama's lead to 8 points, but the Vipers recovered the ensuing onside kick and ran the clock out for the win. Eakin finished with 221 yards and 7 touchdowns. C.J. Johnson was the leading receiver with 91 yards and 3 touchdowns.

Week 6: at Tulsa Talons
1 2 34Total
Vipers 14 14 141456
Talons 6 7 292062

at BOK Center, Tulsa, Oklahoma

  • Date: May 8
  • Game time: 8:00 pm EDT
  • Referee: Joe Pester
  • Recap

The Vipers' 3-game winning streak was snapped after coming up short against the Talons. Alabama led at halftime 28–13, but by the end of the 3rd quarter, the game was tied 42–42. The Vipers did not score in the 4th quarter until there was less than a minute remaining. By that time, they had allowed two Tulsa touchdowns and a safety to fall behind 56–42 before Larry Shipp's 22-yard touchdown reception. Tulsa found the end zone again on their ensuing drive to make it a 14-point game again. Backup quarterback Tony Colston answered by running for a touchdown from 10 yards out. Now only down 62–56, the Vipers attempted an onside kick but did not recover it. The Talons took possession and ran out the clock for the win.

Starting quarterback Kevin Eakin threw for 281 yards and 3 touchdowns, but had to leave the game in the 4th quarter after suffering a sprained right ankle. Eakin had a similar injury in ArenaCup IX.[3] Shipp's and Michael Johnson's receiving stats were almost identical. Shipp caught 8 passes for 119 yards and 2 touchdowns, while Johnson caught 8 passes for 120 yards and just a single touchdown.

Week 7: vs. Orlando Predators
1 2 34Total
Predators 3 7 142448
Vipers 3 21 0731

at Von Braun Center, Huntsville, Alabama

  • Date: May 15
  • Game time: 8:30 pm EDT
  • Game attendance: 4,007
  • Recap

Week 8: vs. Bossier–Shreveport Battle Wings
1 2 34Total
Battle Wings 13 0 6019
Vipers 14 21 71456

at Von Braun Center, Huntsville, Alabama

  • Date: May 22
  • Game time: 8:30 pm EDT
  • Game attendance: 3,701
  • Recap

Week 9: at Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz
1 2 34Total
Vipers 13 7 13639
Yard Dawgz 16 16 132065

at Cox Convention Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

  • Date: May 28
  • Game time: 8:05 pm EDT
  • Game attendance: 5,139
  • Referee: Chris Sneed
  • Recap

Week 10: at Iowa Barnstormers
1 2 34Total
Vipers 14 12 01945
Barnstormers 7 21 13344

at Wells Fargo Arena, Des Moines, Iowa

  • Date: June 5
  • Game time: 8:05 pm EDT
  • Game attendance: 8,143
  • Referee: Brad Van Vark
  • Recap

Week 11: vs. Tampa Bay Storm
1 2 34Total
Storm 13 28 101061
Vipers 7 13 142155

at Von Braun Center, Huntsville, Alabama

  • Date: June 12
  • Game time: 9:30 pm EDT
  • Game attendance: 5,994
  • Recap

Week 12: vs. Dallas Vigilantes
1 2 34Total
Vigilantes 14 17 71452
Vipers 20 13 71555

at Von Braun Center, Huntsville, Alabama

  • Date: June 19
  • Game time: 8:30 pm EDT
  • Game attendance: 5,260
  • Recap

Week 13: Bye

Week 14: at Jacksonville Sharks
1 2 34Total
Vipers 6 21 02047
Sharks 6 28 72162

at Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena, Jacksonville, Florida

  • Date: July 3
  • Game time: 7:05 pm EDT
  • Recap

Week 15: at Orlando Predators
1 2 34Total
Vipers 14 0 61434
Predators 21 10 7745

at Amway Arena, Orlando, Florida

  • Date: July 9
  • Game time: 8:00 pm EDT
  • Game attendance: 10,504
  • Referee: Greg Lefils
  • Recap

Week 16: vs. Tulsa Talons
1 2 34Total
Talons 0 28 211261
Vipers 14 14 71348

at Von Braun Center, Huntsville, Alabama

  • Date: July 17
  • Game time: 8:30 pm EDT
  • Game attendance: 4,298
  • Recap

Week 17: at Tampa Bay Storm
1 2 34Total
Vipers 10 0 61329
Storm 0 26 21653

at St. Pete Times Forum, Tampa, Florida

  • Date: July 24
  • Game time: 7:30 pm EDT
  • Game attendance: 15,685
  • Referee: Tom Symonette
  • Recap

Week 18: vs. Utah Blaze
1 2 34Total
Blaze 14 14 132364
Vipers 21 21 141268

at Von Braun Center, Huntsville, Alabama

  • Date: July 31
  • Game time: 8:30 pm EDT
  • Game attendance: 5,136
  • Recap
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References
  1. "AFL 2010 Regular Season Schedule" (PDF). Arena Football League. 31 December 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 31 March 2010. Retrieved 17 March 2010.
  2. Bill Bryant (April 3, 2010). "Alabama Vipers drop opening AFL game". The Huntsville Times. Retrieved April 4, 2010.
  3. Ankle injury could sideline Vipers quarterback
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